FORESTCARE: Evaluating progress toward sustainable forest management in Alberta

Forest certification programs establish standards for sustainable forest ma nagement (SFM), and processes for evaluating the practices of companies rel ative to those standards. FORESTCARE is a volunteer, provincial-level certi fication program initiated by the Alberta Forest Products Association, its members, and stake-holders. Using a participating woodlands operation in no rthern Alberta as a test case, we examined how SFM criteria are applied in the FORESTCARE program, and whether measurable progress is evident. We also compared the FORESTCARE audit process with corporate and government audits performed in the same year. The test case revealed specific, measurable ch anges in management that represent actual or potential progress toward SFM. However, the improvements could not be directly attributed to the FORESTCA RE Program. Recommendations are provided for strengthening FORESTCARE proce sses and practices.