Endowment Adopts View on Forest Certification

At its November 5-6, 2007 meeting, the U.S. Endowment Board of Directors agreed to consider how forest certification fit into strategic focal initiatives. By unanimous consent the Board adopted its “View on Forest Certification.” “The U.S. Endowment believes that forest certification can yield benefits to forest landowners and consumers (whether commercial or individuals) and ensure that forests are appropriately managed. … While we strongly support forest certification … we do not believe that there is an appropriate place for the Endowment in either endorsing individual systems or in providing financial support to programs… We do believe that existing certification systems might be augmented by market development, education and promotion efforts to further the “locally owned/grown; locally produced and locally consumed” movement and its inherent community benefits.” While this does not imply that the Endowment will not work with local initiatives where certification is a project component, it does make clear the organization’s approach to the issue at the macro scale. For the full statement as adopted, please see “Approach to Key Issues.”