India joins PEFC

India has become the latest country to join the list of 40 countries that have their national forest certification systems recognized by PEFC.

With the recognition of Japan, China and Indonesia in 2014, the Indian organization Network for Certification and Conservation of Forests  (NCCF), represents another boost for the growth of the PEFC system in the Asian region.

According to Ben Gunneberg , general director of PEFC International: "NCCF has worked hard during the past year to involve the interested parties and establish their position to facilitate the development of the Indian forest certification system." "The forest certification will help to publicize the advantages of the wood used responsibly, which is especially important in a country with rapid middle class growth and a great demand for resources," Gunneberg added.

For his part, Sachin Raj Jain, coordinator of NCCF has expressed his gratitude to the organization: “We appreciate the support that PEFC has offered us so far and we commit ourselves to even more strengthening efforts in the development of our own national certification system«.

India has approximately 40 million hectares of forest area, 25% of its total area.