Certification and regulation of forestry practices in the United States: Implications for intensively managed plantations

Public acceptance of intensive forest management depends on consistent adherence to high standards of environmental performance. In the United States, environmental standards for forest management are set and enforced through a complex array of interlocking state and federal laws. Environmental performance is enhanced through extensive voluntary participation in programs that promote forest stewardship. Currently, there is considerable interest in new approaches that couple forest management certification with ecolabeling (FMC/EL). Proponents have emphasized possible marketing advantages for producers of certified products, but have not demonstrated that FMC/EL is a cost-effective option for improving environmental performance.