Forest Certification and Climate Change

INTERNATIONAL TRAINING ON FOREST CERTIFICATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE

COURSE BACKGROUND

Forests play a critical role in combating climate change, primarily through carbon sequestration. As climate change impacts intensify, effectively linking forest management and climate action with market-based tools like forest certification becomes increasingly important. Many stakeholders, however, lack a clear understanding of how forest certification can specifically support climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.

ECAS Institute recognizes the growing need to integrate climate values into sustainable forest management. We aim to provide a robust understanding of how forest certification standards can be leveraged for carbon management and climate change mitigation. This course helps bridge the knowledge gap between forest land values, ecological services, and climate action.

This training is designed to clarify the connection between forest certification and climate change. It will cover valuing carbon sequestration, integrating climate strategies into certification standards, and recognizing climate benefits in wood products and supply chains. By enhancing this understanding, ECAS seeks to empower landowners, professionals, and conservationists to utilize certification as a tool for climate resilience and mitigation.

COURSE OBJECTIVES OF THE TRAINING

Upon completion of this training, participants will gain:

1. An understanding of valuing working forests for carbon sequestration.
2. Knowledge of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies as integrated into forest certification standards.
3. The ability to identify climate benefits for forest certification in wood products.
4. Skills in distinguishing climate benefits in the chain of custody standards.
5. Methods for ensuring climate values of harvested wood products (HWPs) through certification.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

This course is designed to provide learners with a robust understanding of forest land values and ecologic services linking carbon management and climate change mitigation activities with forest certification. You will gain:

• Valuing working forests for carbon sequestration.
• Climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in forest certification standards.
• Climate benefits for forest certification in wood products.
• Distinguishing climate benefits in the chain of custody standards.
• Ensuring climate values of harvested wood products (HWPs) through certification.

DURATION AND PROGRAM

This is a structured training course, designed to deliver focused knowledge on the intersection of forest certification and climate change. The program format will combine expert instruction with practical insights and relevant case studies. The detailed program schedule and logistics will be communicated upon registration.

TARGET PARTICIPANTS

This course was designed with landowners, natural resource professionals, conservationists, educators, and extension agents in mind. However, all interested individuals are invited to register.

• Landowners
• Natural Resource Professionals
• Conservationists
• Educators
• Extension Agents

TRAINING MODULES

This course will explore the critical link between forest certification and climate change across several key areas:

No	Module	Details
1.	Valuing Forests for Carbon Sequestration	This module introduces the fundamental concept of carbon sequestration in forests and its importance as an ecological service, providing methods for its valuation within a working forest context. The carbon cycle and the role of forests as carbon sinks. Methods for quantifying carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems. Economic and ecological valuation of forest carbon. The concept of “working forests” and their role in climate mitigation.
2.	Climate Change Strategies in Forest Certification Standards	This module delves into how existing forest certification standards address and integrate climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies within their principles and criteria. Overview of major forest certification schemes (e.g., FSC, PEFC) and their climate-related requirements. Principles for climate-smart forest management. Adaptation strategies for forests facing climate change impacts. Mitigation strategies: enhancing carbon stocks and reducing emissions from forest management.
3.	Climate Benefits in Certified Wood Products	This module explores how forest certification provides climate benefits through the production and use of wood products, distinguishing between benefits in forest management and the supply chain. Life cycle assessment of wood products versus other materials. Carbon storage in harvested wood products (HWPs). The role of certified wood products in low-carbon construction and economies. How certification signals climate benefits to consumers and markets.
4.	Chain of Custody Standards and Climate Value	This module focuses on the importance of Chain of Custody (CoC) certification in ensuring the climate integrity of forest products as they move through the supply chain. Understanding Chain of Custody certification and its role. Distinguishing climate benefits verified through CoC standards. Preventing leakage and ensuring traceability of certified climate values. Implications for supply chain management and responsible sourcing.
5.	Ensuring Climate Values of Harvested Wood Products (HWPs) Through Certification	This module brings together the concepts of HWP carbon storage and certification, focusing on how certification ensures and communicates the climate value of these products. Detailed accounting for carbon in Harvested Wood Products. How certification verifies sustainable sourcing for HWPs. Communicating the climate benefits of certified HWPs to stakeholders. Policy and market drivers for certified HWPs in climate strategies.

TRAINING STYLE

The modules will be taught through PowerPoint presentations, and lectures and will include a case study/field visit, breakout sessions, case studies and other interactive discussion components.

The course will also include a few guest speakers, both in person and via Zoom and other online learning platforms for overseas speakers. This provides useful real-world insights alongside the more theoretical aspects of the course.

The conference faculty shall consist of experienced decision makers, as well as practitioners and representatives from established educational and research institutions active around climate change, engineering and international development. Throughout the course, theoretical presentation of concepts will be moderated and more group discussions and plenary engagements will be optimized. PowerPoint presentations will be made by facilitators and resource persons, to highlight key concepts before embarking on group work.

GENERAL NOTES

• Training manuals and additional reference materials are provided to the participants.
• Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be issued with a certificate.
• We can also do this as a tailor-made course to meet organization-wide needs. Contact us to find out more: info@ecasiafrica.org.
• Payment should be sent to our bank account before the start of training and proof of payment sent to: info@ecasiafrica.org.

ABOUT ECAS INSTITUTE

The ECAS Institute designs and delivers independent and targeted training, research, and consulting services. Our work focusses on climate change and resilience building, carbon markets, renewable energy, nature-based solution, biodiversity conservation, agriculture and food systems, We are located in Nairobi Kenya and work across the African region. We have implemented training and research assignments in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Somalia, Malawi, Rwanda, Congo, and South Africa. Globally, we have supported our partners from the UK, Denmark, Italy, Sweden, Germany, and USA.