The Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal commenced its Week-long training course on "Forest Certification and Commercial Agro-Forestry" for IFS officers from various states on December 11, 2023.

The speakers for the first day of the training course were - A K Johari, Former PCCF, Assam, Dr. K. Ravichandran, Director, IIFM Bhopal and Dr. Manmohan Yadav, Professor & Course Director, IIFM.

A K Johari, who was also a member of National Working Plan Code revision committee highlighted the salient features of the National Working Plan Code 2023. He informed the participating officers that the NWPC 2023 has formerly adopted the principles of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) which were developed by IIFM under the Bhopal-India process. He further emphasized that henceforth all working plans for the forest divisions in the country shall be mandatorily prepared using this new code before the approval of the govt. of India.

Dr. K Ravichandran in his address informed that the Indian Forest Management Standard developed by IIFM has been incorporated in the new working plan code. The working plan will be reviwed mid-term, after 5 years of commencement using these standards. Dr Ravichandran further informed that moving ahead India has come out with its own certification scheme namely Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme (IFWCS). This scheme will be applicable not only to all the government owned forest lands but also for the commercial plantation raised on farmers lands. This scheme matches with any international forest certification scheme and this would help certified products to gain access to domestic and international markets. He further informed that the IIFM has been designated as the scheme operating agency for the implementation of IFWCS.

Dr. Manmohan Yadav discussed in detail the evolution of the concept of Sustainable Forest Management and Forest Certification. Dr Yadav highlighted key features of the global forest certification schemes - Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC) and the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme. Dr. Yadav highlighted that the European Union and other regions are bringing stringent regulations for imports of wood / timber products in their countries.