Consumers will know that a company certified to the CSA standard uses a sustainable means of harvesting, renewing, protecting and managing the forest ecosystem. The standards are being developed in an open and transparent fashion by a multi-stakeholder group, and will reflect a balance of social, environmental and economic values. Along with industry, environmental, scientific, aboriginal, consumer and labour groups are also participating. The standards will be tough. Forest management performance above and beyond forest regulations will be required.
Certification is meant to be a badge of significant achievement.
Part of the requirement will be the establishment of local stakeholder advisory committees which will participate in the decision-making process. Participating companies will be audited by independent, accredited auditors. When that much emphasis is put on environmental standards in a systematic way, it inevitably leads to improvements. Once certified, a company will never want to lose that status. Errors in forest operations, both random and routine, will become less prevalent.