CSA Sustainable Forest Management Certification

The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) is a not-for-profit membership-based association that has developed over 2000 standards since it inception in 1919. The Standards Council of Canada, an agency of the federal government, accredits CSA to Canada's National Standards System.

In response to heightened awareness about forest management, CSA developed Canada's National Standard on Sustainable Forest Management, CAN/CSA-Z809. The standard, which utilizes a continual improvement approach, requires public participation, a practical demonstration of sustainable forest management practices and management commitment. The standard, which is based on international criteria for sustainability, requires that SFM plans take into account environmental, social and economic factors. Also required is third-party certification to the standard followed by an annual surveillance audit. Download the CSA's brochure here.

Sustainable Forest Management Certification
Canfor continues to be a leader in third-party Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) certification of its forestry operations.

Canfor maintains certification under the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standard for Sustainable Forest Management (CAN/CSA-Z809-02) for its Forest Management Agreement area at Grande Prairie, Alberta, for its Tree Farm Licences at Chetwynd, Prince George and Vavenby, British Columbia, for its Forest Licences at Fort St John, Houston, Prince George , Fort Nelson, Vanderhoof, Vavenby, Quesnel and Radium, British Columbia and for its Pulpwood Agreements at Fort St John and Fort Nelson, British Columbia. A new certification to the CSA SFM standard has been acquired for Canfor's Forest Licence at Mackenzie, British Columbia.

Currently 96% of the allowable annual cut from Canfor's forest tenures is certified to the CSA SFM standard. Plans are in place to complete the certification of the remaining operations in Alberta and Quebec during the next year. Canfor is committed to having sustainable forest management certification in place for all of its tenures.

Canfor's forestry operations have implemented 14 SFM plans certified to the CSA SFM standard. Each of these plans has been developed and is maintained with the active participation of locally based public advisory group, which includes a broad range of stakeholders. The public participation process works according to clearly defined operating rules that have been developed and agreed to by the participants. All elements of the SFM plans including the public process are subject to annual internal and external surveillance audits.   

The SFM plans, associated reports and audit summaries are available below.

• Canfor North Region Update Report Dec 2008
• Canfor Central Region Update Report Nov 2008
• Canfor South Region Update Report Nov 2008