Forest certification is based on the general principles developed  within international agreements and processes, in which the Republic of Belarus is taking part, such as: Convention on Wildlife in Europe (Bern, 1979),  Convention on Biological Diversity (Rio-de- Janeiro, 1992), Montreal process (1994), and others. 

Development of forest certification is one of the ways of further integration of the Republic of Belarus into European and worldwide  systems of relationships and obligations  in the field of economy, ecology, and human rights. 

Forest certification is based on the  provisions of the Forest Code of the Republic of Belarus, acting normative and legal documents of  Belarus in the field of forestry management, state standards and criteria of sustainable forest management,  other regulatory documents. 

In order to ensure implementation of the action plan on realization of Convention on National Security of the Republic of Belarus, particularly related to establishment of forest certification system (Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus  as of 7 August 2002, No. 218рп), a program  envisaging “Development of criteria and indicators of sustainable forest management of Belarus” was elaborated in 1999. The program was approved by the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Belarus and State Committee of Standardization. The  program also ensures: (i)  implementation  of the common policy to improve ecological level of forestry management; (ii)  sustainable forest management and forest utilization on the principles of ecologically  responsible, economically profitable and socially oriented  management of forest resources and their multi-purposive and non-exhaustible use; and (iii) meeting of obligations of Belarus to international community in relation of sustainable forest management. National system of sustainable forest management of Belarus comprises 8 criteria  and 63 indicators, which are  approved by the order of the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Belarus  as of  14  March  2017 No. 57.

Forest certification activities in the Republic of Belarus are carried out in line with the  Law of the Republic of Belarus «On  assessment of compliance to the requirements of the technical normative legal documents in the field of technical norming and standardization», and with due regard to the requirements of PEFC Council. The activities are done in cooperation with the  governmental bodies,    enterprises and organization of o forest sector, scientific and educational institutions,  civic organizations. 

 

Forest certification is carried out: (i)  within National system of  the Republic of Belarus of confirmation of compliance  for forest management, forest products and processed forest products; (ii) Forest Code: (iii)  acting normative and legal documents on forestry; (iv) state standards for sustainable forest management and forest use; and (v) other  documents, criteria and indicators  regulating reproduction, conservation and protection of forest,   hunting management,  commercial, intermediate and secondary forest use,  wood and non-wood forest products. 

Republican Association For Forest Certification System (hereinafter- RAFCS) was established July 2005 following initiative of the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Belarus for the following purposes:  to implement common policy in the field of forest certification;  to improve level of forestry management;  to develop international cooperation within the Pan-European process. The founders of the Association were Minsk regional  forest production enterprise and Public organization  «Belarusian Society of Foresters».

In October 2005 positive decision on membership of the Belarusian Association for Forest Certification System was made by  the General Assembly of PEFC Council.

As of now, 113 organizations and institutions are members of the PAFCS.

RAFCS represents National forest certification system of the Republic of Belarus in PEFC Council.

Republican Association  for Forest Certification System is non-commercial organization uniting  stakeholders: (i)  interested in improvement of  quality of management of forests, forest use and forest resources; (ii) interested in expansion of export  possibilities and competitiveness of forest products  produced by the national enterprises, organizations that are entitled by the government  for forestry management; (iii)  forest industry; (iv) scientific and research organization and educational institutions;  and (v) non-governmental public organizations.

Association supports goals and principles  stated in  PEFC Charter. 

The goals of the Association are as follows:

•  Coordination, development and further implementation of forest certification; 
•  Facilitation achievement of the goals and  main tasks of forest certification in the Republic of Belarus; 
• Integration of the Republic of Belarus into international forest certification system;  
•  Representation of the National forest certification system in PEFC Council; 
•  Facilitation of functioning of National forest certification system in the Republic of Belarus, and practical organization of forest certification activities in the forest complex of the country; 
•  Study of the international experience  in the field of  sustainable forest management and forest use, objective analysis of the forest certification systems in other countries.