Third-party, performance-based

Two state forests and one county forest have completed pilot programs testi ng verification of sustainable forest management by outside organizations. Among other goals, each agency wanted to assure citizens that their forests were well managed and to create models for nonindustrial private forestlan ds. All three agencies' performance was certified, and areas marked for imp rovement had already by targeted by staff. The certifed then evaluated the certifiers and found them generally professional and technically competent, if occasionally unrealistic. Reaction from environmental organizations, wh ich are cautious about promoting certification for public lands, has been m ixed.