Context:
Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav recently handed over the first PRAMAAN certificates under the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme (IFWCS) in New Delhi. The event was organised by the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal, the operating agency of the scheme.
First PRAMAAN Certificates:
The certificates were awarded to the Andhra Pradesh Forest Development Corporation (APFDC) for plantations covering 33,000 hectares and to Govind Mohapatra, a farmer associated with the Odisha Bamboo Development Agency (OBDA). The plantations underwent rigorous field and management audits before certification.
What is PRAMAAN?
PRAMAAN stands for Programme for Recognition and Accreditation of Sustainable Management Practices for Agroforestry and Natural Forestry Resources. It is a national certification framework for forests, wood and non-timber forest products (NTFPs). Its objective is to promote sustainable management and connect certified forest and agroforestry products with domestic and international markets.
About Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme:
The IFWCS was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in December 2023. It seeks to promote sustainable forest management while strengthening the market value of certified forest and tree-based products. Its framework incorporates the Indian Forest Management Standards, linked to the National Working Plan Code (NWPC), 2023.
The Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme (IFWCS) provides certification for:
- Forest Management
- Tree Outside Forest (TOF) Management
- Chain of Custody (CoC)
Independent Certification:
A key feature of PRAMAAN is that certification is based on independent third-party audits rather than voluntary self-declaration alone. Certification bodies are accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) under the Quality Council of India (QCI). Its accreditation architecture is benchmarked against international certification frameworks, supporting recognition among domestic and global buyers and regulators.
Significance for Global Trade:
PRAMAAN can help Indian producers and exporters respond to growing international requirements relating to due diligence, legal sourcing and deforestation-free timber. Certification provides verifiable sustainability credentials and can improve the marketability and traceability of Indian forest and agroforestry products.
Livelihood Dimension:
PRAMAAN is also significant for rural and tribal communities, smallholder farmers, women’s Self-Help Groups and forest-dependent communities involved in NTFP collection, agroforestry, bamboo cultivation and other tree-based activities. Certification can help connect sustainably produced goods with premium and compliant markets, potentially creating additional livelihood opportunities.
Significance for India:
The scheme seeks to combine economic development with ecological stewardship by promoting sustainable forest management and responsible tree-based production. It can strengthen India's position in sustainable forest-product supply chains while supporting Trees Outside Forests, agroforestry and forest-based livelihoods.
Conclusion:
India should expand PRAMAAN while ensuring accessible certification, transparent third-party auditing, digital traceability and greater participation of smallholders and forest-dependent communities. Strengthening domestic and international market linkages can make sustainability certification both an environmental and livelihood instrument.
