Confronting Sustainability: Forest Certification in Developing and Transitioning Countries

Abstract

In the last quarter century a growing body of scientific research has revealed that the world’s forests are under stress. Data collected on biodiversity, species decline and deforestation reveal widespread deterioration of forest ecosystem structure and function. Research on social and community conditions has documented growing uncertainty about the ability of forest dependent communities to rely on forests for their livelihoods. Analyses of economic globalization and technological innovations have detailed an acceleration of forest exploitation alongside increasing uncertainty for domestic forest sectors about where global trends are headed. Taken together, existing research has revealed a complex, yet fragile relationship between forest use and natural functioning forest ecosystems. In the face of this body of knowledge, and consensus that many problems are intensifying, domestic and international governmental responses have been strongly criticized as woefully inadequate, and far too slow, to address the myriad problems facing global forest management.