Links and further info

There are several verification systems and programmes operating that are not approved forest certification schemes, but that may be used to meet some of the requirements for legality, sustainability or chain of custody.

Legality verification systems

Timber Legality & Traceability Verification (TLTV) by SGS  is the voluntary, company-level programme that provides third party verification that requirements for legality have been met at the forest source.  

Verification of Legal Origin (VLO) and Verification of Legal Compliance (VLC) by SmartWood (SW) SmartWood is a programme of the Rainforest Alliance, for forest owners and managers. SmartWood has developed standards for a legality verification and provides SmartStep. 

Origine et Légalité du Bois (OLB – origin and legality of wood) by Bureau Veritas (BV) is a system that was developed to assist forest companies in proving the legality of their activities and wood supply, primarily in tropical areas.

Legal Harvest Verification (LHV) by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) is a relatively new verification standard developed and managed by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS). The second standard consultation phase was concluded in March 2010 and the latest version of both the forest and CoC is 19 July 2010.

CertiSource offers ‘verified legal’ timber certification, using an independent ISO accredited Certification Body to carry out an audit of timber legality against the Certisource Standards, policies and procedures (the ‘Certisource Legality Verification System’). 

Stepwise technical support programmes

The Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN) is a WWF initiative designed to eliminate illegal logging and encourage responsible forest management. 

The Forest Trust (TFT) is a global non-profit organisation that helps companies and communities deliver Responsible Products.

Rainforest Alliance’s SmartStep. A Phased Approach to FSC Certification

The Tropical Forest Foundation (TFF) The Tropical Forest Foundation's Reduced Impact Logging (RIL) programme is a set of practices that support a more responsible, sustainably managed forest by harvesting in a way that minimizes damage.

Timber Trade Action Plan (TTAP) is a project funded by the European Union that aims to reduce the trade in illegal wood products and contribute to sustainable forest management.

Other links

Forest Legality Alliance  is a joint effort of the World Resources Insitute and the Environmental Investigation Agency, supported by the United States Agency for International Development and companies in the forest sector. Our goal is to reduce illegal logging through supporting the supply of legal forest products.

Illegal-logging.info The purpose of this website is to provide background information on the key issues in the debate around illegal logging and the trade in illegal timber, together with news stories, information on events, key documents and links to other relevant websites.

FSC Controlled wood  To allow manufacturers to provide FSC labeled products, FSC has introduced the ‘FSC Mixed Sources’ label which allows manufacturing companies to mix FSC certified material with non-certified material.