www.pefc.orgPromoting sustainable forest management

About PEFC

PEFC is the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes. It is one of the world’s largest schemes for sustainable forest management certification.

PEFC provides compatibility and quality assurance between international forest certification schemes and covers 31 national forest certification schemes including:

PEFC principles1

PEFC is your assurance that wood for paper and timber products comes from forests that are sustainably managed. The following principles are part of PEFC certified forestry:

  • No more wood is harvested than is regrown.
  • Trees are replanted or naturally regenerated after harvesting.
  • Workers’ rights and welfare are protected.
  • Local employment is encouraged.
  • Indigenous peoples’ and owners’ rights, ie, those who earn their livelihoods from and/or live in the forest, are respected.
  • Forests are maintained as habitats for wild animals and plants.
  • Functions of forests for the protection of water, soil and climate are protected.
  • Biodiversity of forest ecosystems is conserved.
  • The origin of the wood raw material is verified.
  1. Source: It’s good to buy certified wood [PDF, 2 pages, 2.15 MB], PEFC consumer information brochure