Summary
Are you a forest owner in Wallonia? As a public or private owner, you can have your forest certified, irrespective of the surface area of your property.
More than half of Wallonia’s private and public forests have already obtained certification.
PEFC: A LABEL WITH BENEFITS
There are two recognised forestry certification systems in Belgium:
- the PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) label
- the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) label
Wallonia has been supporting the development of PEFC certification since 2002. By certifying your forest, you are helping to promote wood as a renewable and ecological resource and are taking part in a long-term process to protect forests.
PEFC certification brings many advantages, which are listed under the ‘benefits’ section below.
WHY A CERTIFICATION SYSTEM?
This certification system strikes a balance between wood production and the social and environmental functions of the forest. PEFC is a label that promotes environmentally friendly forest management which is socially beneficial and economically viable at the same time.
YOUR OBLIGATION: SIGNING THE PEFC CHARTER
The PEFC charter includes all the commitments the signatory owner agrees to make. It is part of the Walloon certification standards.
PEFC reviews its standards every 5 years to ensure the continuous improvement of certified forests. For any plot of forest land, the owner is asked to provide a management plan. Audits are carried out regularly to check that you comply with the rules on the ground.
Private owners must pay for the certification. There is no deadline for incorporating PEFC management; you can apply at any time during the year.
WHO DO I CONTACT?
- Are you a private owner? You will need to contact the Société Royale Forestière de Belgique (SRFB) [Royal Forestry Society of Belgium]
- Are you a public owner? The Forest Resources Department of SPW Agriculture Ressources Naturelles Environnement (ARNE) is currently responsible for public certification. This role will be transferred to Filière Bois Wallonie in 2024.
Interested? See how it works under ‘Procedure’ below.
In detail
Any owner, private or public, of a plot of woodland in Wallonia.
Sign and respect the 14 commitments of the PEFC charter.
- Your image: nowadays, buyers of wood-based products want to be sure that they are not contributing to the destruction of forests. With the PEFC label, you are testifying to the sustainable management of your forest
- Open up to new markets and have more opportunities to sell your wood
- Are you a private owner? You need to contact the Société Royale Forestière de Belgique (SRFB) [Royal Forestry Society of Belgium]. Find out what steps to take to apply for your certification on their website.
- Are you a public owner? Contact the Forest Resources Department (see contact details below)