Pop Quiz

[TRUP]

Forest Certification: What does it mean, and how does it affect people who wheel in Michigan?
The reason I titled this thread 'Pop Quiz' is because I'm looking for those who may already know something about forest certifiaction. I was first introduced to this phrase this weekend, so I know blotto about it.
DISCUSS.

[TRUP]

Here is the web definition of forest certification
.
Growing environmental awareness and consumer demand for more socially responsible businesses helped third-party forest certification emerge in the 1990s as a credible tool for communicating the environmental and social performance of forest operations.

There are many potential users of certification, including: forest managers, investors, environmental advocates, business consumers of wood and paper and individuals.

With forest certification, an independent organization develops standards of good forest management, and independent auditors issue certificates to forest operations that comply with those standards. This certification verifies that forests are well-managed—as defined by a particular standard—and ensures that certain wood and paper products come from responsibly managed forests.

This rise of certification led to the emergence of several different systems throughout the world. As a result, there is no single accepted forest management standard worldwide, and each system takes a somewhat different approach in defining standards for sustainable forest management.

Third-party forest certification is an important tool for those seeking to ensure that the paper and wood products they purchase and use come from forests that are well-managed and legally harvested. Incorporating third-party certification into forest product procurement practices can be a centerpiece for comprehensive wood and paper policies that include factors such as the protection of sensitive forest values, thoughtful material selection and efficient use of products.

Forest certification is the tool the DNR uses in Michigan to determine public access to areas defined as forests.

[miffy]

I think it just has to do with protecting the trees, flowers and such. Stay on the trails and tread lightly kind of stuff.

[Trail_Fanatic]

There are currently 2 organizations performing Certification on Michigan Forests ( I'd have to look up their names).

Unfortunately they don't all have the same guidelines and objectives.
One of our 2 is pretty much just into how to grow good trees for timber, the other is just a masked anti-access attempt. This one is going to be more and more of a pain in our arse as time goes on.

Carla Boucher, Legal Council for the United Four Wheel Drive Associations is working to have realistic 4x4 road standards put in place in ALL Certification programs.

Let's all hope she's successful!

[TRUP]

There are currently 2 organizations performing Certification on Michigan Forests ( I'd have to look up their names).

Unfortunately they don't all have the same guidelines and objectives.
One of our 2 is pretty much just into how to grow good trees for timber, the other is just a masked anti-access attempt. This one is going to more and more of a pain in our arse as time goes on.

Carla Boucher, Legal Council for the United Four Wheel Drive Associations is working to have realistic 4x4 road standards put in place in ALL Certification programs.

Let's all hope she's successful!
"timber" & "anti-access" :eek:
Excellant response, Trail_Fanatic.