UP Forest Corporation certified by international agency

Lucknow, March 14 (IANS) International agency FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) has granted certification to the Uttar Pradesh Forest Corporation (UPFC) for good and efficient forest management, an official said Saturday.

According to a government spokesperson, with this certification, forest products from the state will gain more acceptability in the international market.

With this the prices of products made out of forest materials will rise and more revenue would be collected. Needless to say, this will also enhance the prestige of Uttar Pradesh at the global level, he told IANS.

The certification includes 13 forest divisions including Shivalik, Najeebabad, south Kheri, north Kheri, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, Bijnore, Gonda, Bahraich, Shrawasti, Gorakhpur, Katrania Ghat and Suhelwa.

Under this, 3,49,296 hectare of forest area and 41 plant species like Sagaun, Khair, Saal, Sheesham are included.

The certification to UPFC was given by SCS Global Services, accredited by the FSC.

According to the state spokesman, through this certification, rights of local people would be assimilated and their role, contribution into securing and conserving the forests.

The FSC certified forest area in Uttar Pradesh accounts for 39.1 percent of the certified forest area in south Asia.

The primary objective of FSC, an international agency constituted after the Earth Summit held in 1992 in Rio, is to certify able forest management at international level.