Approximately 83% of Finland’s commercial forests—equivalent to 16.9 million hectares—are certified under the PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) system. This means that the vast majority of Finnish forests meet rigorous standards for sustainable forest management. On a global scale, PEFC certification covers around 296 million hectares of forest—nearly nine times the land area of Finland—highlighting its role as a major international certification system. PEFC goes beyond legal requirements by promoting responsible forestry practices and safeguarding forest biodiversity worldwide.
For forest owners and others who move around in the forest, PEFC forest certification is most clearly visible, for example, in the form of conservation tree groups/conservation trees that are left in all stages of forest management. Dead trees are also saved and decayed wood is increased by creating artificial stumps. Mixed tree cover is maintained and protective thickets are preserved. Wooded protection strips are left on the edges of watercourses, small bodies of water and bogs.
In addition to setting high standards for sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation, PEFC certification also includes less visible but equally important requirements. These include measures to combat the grey economy and initiatives to enhance forest education among children and young people. The certification also emphasises the importance of training and guiding forest owners in responsible forestry practices, further strengthening the long-term sustainability of forest resources.
Versowood is committed to PEFC forest certification and PEFC’s chain of custody (CoC) certification. The PEFC-CoC certification verifies that our wood raw material is responsibly sourced. Our chain of custody is audited annually by an independent third party. Through Versowood, you can also include your forest in the scope of regional PEFC group certification in connection with wood trade. Contact your local forest expert and ask for more information. PEFC certification is proof to everyone that your forests are managed sustainably and with respect for diversity.
Discover PEFC
PEFC, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, is a leading global alliance of national forest certification systems. As an international non-profit, non-governmental organization, we are dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management through independent third-party certification.
Facts and Figures
With over 280 million hectares of PEFC-certified forest, we are the largest forest certification system in the world. To this must be added more than 20,000 companies that have obtained PEFC chain of custody certification, demonstrating their commitment to responsible sourcing of certified products.
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