Forest certification is a market driven mechanism and relies both on customer interest and on the development, operation and control of a certification system at the production or marketing stage. I recognise the fact that certification can be an expensive undertaking for private forest owners.
The cost of certification varies depending on the size and complexity of each plantation. Costs can be relatively high for small or medium sized properties but they can be reduced if several forests are assessed together. To make certification affordable and relevant for small owners certification bodies have developed schemes to certify several woodlands together. Such certification can reduce costs considerably and may be a viable option for private forest owners in Ireland.
The forest service and the national council for forest research and development facilitate the development of a forest audit protocol. It is being developed through stakeholder involvement and will be a readily understandable system to facilitate sustainable forest management and voluntary certification.