Certification Program

Pan-Canadian Woodlot Certification Program

The Pan Canadian Woodlot Certification Program is dedicated to the promotion of Sustainable Forest Management by private woodlot owners across Canada. It has been developed in response to public expectations about forest management, and to the desire of woodlot owners to improve the management of their lands and strengthen their position in a market which increasingly demands forest products from lands whose management has been certified.

The Pan Canadian Woodlot Standard is designed for use on private woodlots in Canada. Woodlot owners seeking certification to this standard must conform to the requirements of the standard. These requirements are outlined in this Program Manual.

The Northumberland County Woodlot Owners Association (The Association) has developed a Woodlot Certification Program for their members with the intent of providing a group certification to participating members. The Association will administer the program and provide the necessary evidence for external verification of the Program when National Certification or Mutual Recognition by other Forest Certification Standard setting bodies becomes available.

The Woodlot Certification Program has been developed in accordance with the requirements of the Pan Canadian Woodlot Standard and Certification Program. Recognizing that this program is evolving, it is the intent of The Association to evolve their Program to continue to meet these requirements.

A Provincial Implementation Committee representing the interests of New Brunswick Private Woodlot Marketing Boards has been established. This committee will oversee the implementation of the Pan Canadian Woodlot Certification Program in New Brunswick, and will provide interpretation of the standard as required. This committee will be made up of representatives of Marketing Boards participating in the Woodlot Certification Program.

The process of granting certification is illustrated in the flow chart provided below. As the administration of group certification under this new program develops, this site will be updated to reflect these changes.