Global forest products company UPM, global conservation organisation WWF and DNV were today awarded the Forest Leadership 2006 Partnership Award for a joint forest certification project.
The Forest Leadership Partnership Award recognises commendable teamwork between different organisations, such as conservation organisations and corporations, to further sustainable forestry.
Forest certification is a tool through which consumers can be sure the raw wood material in their paper and wood products comes from well-managed forests.

Both Nordic and global
Forestry is a huge industry worldwide. In DNV's home area the Nordic countries, there are many big global forestry companies like Norske Skog, SCA, Stora Enso, UPM-Kymmene and M-real.
“The forest certification process has only just started in a few countries,” says Kimmo Haarala, operations manager and lead auditor, DNV Certification, Finland. “Receiving the Award is important in the branding of DNV as a global certification body that also has professionals in this area of expertise.”
And DNV is preparing to offer climate change services for the forestry sector.
"DNV Canada is establishing a business unit that will be responsible for leading DNV’s world-wide forestry climate change certification services. This unit will join DNV’s global network of over 150 trained GHG auditors," says Patrick Hardy, manager of climate change services in Eastern and Central Canada.
Parallel testing
UPM promotes all credible forest certification standards and is publicly committed to increasing the amount of certified wood used in its products, a position supported by the WWF. Therefore it was easy to find a common basis for the "Parallel testing of forest certification standards" project. The aim of the parallel test was to promote sustainable forestry and the harmonious development of different forest certification schemes. DNV’s global auditing experience made it possible to carry out the testing in a structured manner.
Differences in certification standards
"The results highlighted real differences between certification standards on the ground, and also showed that there are issues of consistency within the different certification schemes," says Kimmo Haarala. "Five of the standards tested were shown to have a balanced approach to promoting the economic, social and environmental management of forests, but with some differences in emphasis."
UPM, WWF and DNV also believe that the test results identify ways of driving forward the discussion on certification.