Protecting forests globally and locally

Forests are vital for biodiversity, climate resilience, and livelihoods. At PEFC, we believe global sustainability starts on the ground - and that's why our approach combines internationally recognised benchmarks with forest management standards developed at national and regional levels.

Embracing forest diversity through localised standards

Forests differ greatly in ecosystem type, cultural value, ownership models, and legal frameworks. Rather than applying one global standard, PEFC endorses national and regional certification systems tailored to diverse local realities. This ensures each standard is relevant, implementable, and effective in its specific context.

Inclusive, multi-stakeholder development

Effective forest management requires input from everyone it affects. We ensure that national and regional standards are developed through transparent, multi-stakeholder processes - bringing together forest owners, local communities, Indigenous peoples, industry representatives, and civil society to shape sustainable forest management in their regions.

Endorsement ensures international recognition

Before a national or regional system can be endorsed by PEFC, it must undergo an independent, rigorous assessment against our international Sustainability Benchmark. This process evaluates whether the system meets strict environmental, social, and economic requirements. A global public consultation ensures transparency and broad stakeholder input.

Only once the system fully complies is it endorsed. This thorough review ensures that all PEFC-certified forest area, regardless of location, meets the same high standards of sustainable forest management.

Systems often go beyond baseline requirements

While every endorsed standard must comply with PEFC’s core criteria, many go further. Some include additional requirements for biodiversity protection, living wages, or specific social safeguards, reflecting local priorities and pushing beyond minimum thresholds. This flexibility allows systems to innovate and respond to their own sustainability challenges.

For example, in the Congo Basin, the regional PAFC certification system is the first to require operators to map forest carbon stocks and assess greenhouse gas emissions associated with forestry operations.

One label, trusted everywhere

PEFC’s endorsement process ensures that although forest certification systems are developed nationally or regionally, they are globally recognised as meeting the same high standards. 

In practical terms, this means that forest and tree-based products originating in a PEFC-certified forest are considered PEFC-certified anywhere in the world - and are eligible to carry the PEFC label (as long as the certification is carried along the full supply chain, from forest to final product). 

So, when you buy a PEFC-certified product, it doesn’t matter which country it came from: you can be confident it comes from a forest managed responsibly to the strictest requirements for sustainability, legality, and social protection.