Trees outside forests certification – a gamechanger for Indian tree growers

29 August 2024 Organisation news

The Network for Certification and Conservation of Forests (NCCF) – our national member for India – launched their PEFC-endorsed national Trees Outside Forests (TOF) certification standard in New Delhi last week.

“In India, trees outside forests resources play a vital role in the timber production sector, contributing significantly to meeting the country's wood fibre needs. Currently, TOF resources are estimated to fulfil more than 85% of the industrial wood requirements,” said Abhilasha Guleria, Assistant Director of NCCF.

“A significant portion of the timber production from TOF resources comes from marginal and small landholders.”

Together with the Netherlands and Portugal, India is among the first three PEFC national members to achieve PEFC endorsement for their national requirements of TOF certification.

That means that in these countries, people and organisations with trees growing outside of forests can now achieve PEFC certification of their sustainable management practices.

Contribution to the SDGs

The event was held with the presence of Eduardo Rojas Briales, Chair of PEFC International, and Richard Laity, Manager of PEFC in Asia Pacific, and enriched by the active participation of key stakeholders who play a crucial role in advancing sustainable forestry practices across various industries.

The endorsed TOF standard is “an action to reality”, said Eduardo Rojas Briales, recognising the contribution of millions of small farmers to the forestry sector.

“It is crucial to establish a consistent, adaptable framework that supports the widespread yet strategic contribution of millions of farmers to the wood supply, ensures the certification of these resources, and diversifies the income streams of small farmers,” he added.

In his opening speech, he emphasised the immense potential of forestry in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in preserving vibrant rural areas with living standards equal to their urban counterparts.

He also reaffirmed the founding principles of PEFC, including its bottom-up governance, key achievements, and emerging priorities, all guided by the meaningful mission to unlock the full potential of forests.

Global concept – locally tailored

While the definition of trees outside forests is similar around the world, their occurrence and function vary widely, calling for national requirements.

In line with the PEFC bottom-up approach, each country develops their own national standard based on PEFC’s international TOF requirements, part of the PEFC Sustainable Forest Management Benchmark standard. 

The development of India’s TOF started from the recognition that trees outsides forests are the major supply of raw materials to market; however, so far, there has not been any working model for smallholders to organise themselves and get their wood certified.

“The PEFC endorsement is a game-changer, bringing global recognition to India’s TOF standards and paving the way for the sustainable growth of our timber industry,” highlighted R. R. Rashmi, Member of the NCCF Governing Board.

Ready for international requirements

“The exporting wood-based industry, including furniture, pulp and paper, and handicrafts, largely benefit from this TOF certification, because it ensures a reliable supply of certified raw materials, meeting the increasing demands for legality and traceability in international timber regulations, such as the EUDR,” said A. M. Singh, Director General of NCCF.

In the panel discussion after the launch, A.K. Bansal, PEFC International Board Member, also concluded that the newly launched TOF certification will support small forest owners and certified entity to access the global carbon market.

Have a look at India's national TOF Standard