PRAMAAN & Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme (IFWCS)

Why in News?

Recently, First PRAMAAN certificates under the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme (IFWCS) were awarded.

• Organised by – Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal, as the scheme's operating agency.
• Certificates were given to:
  • Andhra Pradesh Forest Development Corporation (APFDC) – plantations covering 33,000 hectares.
  • A bamboo farmer from Odisha, associated with the Odisha Bamboo Development Agency (OBDA).
• Certification Categories – It offers certification in the following categories:
  • Forest Management
  • Tree Outside Forest Management
  • Chain of Custody
• Forest Management Certification
  • Assessment is conducted according to the Indian Forest Management Standard (IFMS).
  • IFMS is part of the National Working Plan Code (NWPC), 2023.
  • Certification relies on independent third-party audits.
  • Certification is not solely dependent on voluntary self-declaration.
• Accreditation Architecture
  • Certification bodies are accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) operates under the Quality Council of India (QCI).
  • The accreditation architecture is benchmarked against international certification frameworks.
  • This approach aims to enhance acceptance among both domestic and international buyers and regulators.
• Significance
• Environmental – It promotes sustainable forest management.
  • It supports responsible and deforestation-free sourcing of timber.
  • It enhances the ecological and social value of forests and agroforestry systems.
• Economic & Trade – It enables Indian producers to comply with emerging global sustainability and due diligence requirements.
  • Certification can facilitate access to premium domestic and international markets.
  • It strengthens sustainable forest-product supply chains in India.
• Livelihood – It integrates smallholder farmers, tribal communities, and forest-dependent populations into formal certification systems.
• Potential beneficiaries include:
  • Women Self-Help Groups
  • Marginal landholders
  • NTFP collectors/processors
  • Agroforestry and tree-based farmers
  • Farmer Producer Organisations/Companies.

Reference

PIB | PRAMAAN 1^st Certificates