Combining Organic and FSC Certification of Non-Timber Forest Products

Given the common goals and shared values of organic and FSC-based certification there ought to be potential for cooperation between the programs that could reduce costs and increase benefits to producers. While ultimately it will be producers, manufacturers and consumers who decide which (if any) certification program they prefer, it should be in the shared interest of both the organic movement and FSC to cooperate where possible to increase social and environmental gains, as well as benefits to program participants. This report provides background about both programs; information from recent research into potential collaboration between the two; and suggestions for future efforts to increase the uptake and benefits of combined FSC and organic certification of non-timber forest products. From Dovetail Partners