ISSUES IN FOREST CERTIFICATION Improvements Crucial to Successful Implementation of Forest Certification Why Certification is Relevant ROOTS OF FOREST CERTIFICATION: ITS DEVELOPMENTAL HISTORY, TYPES OF APPROACHES, AND STATISTICS Origins of the Concept of Forest Certification Other Relevant Initiatives in Forest Certification The Certification of Environmental Claims in Industrialized Countries Analysis of Forest Certification Approaches Current Statistics and Characterization of Certified Forests by Ownership Type and Land Area DEFINITIONS AND CURRENT VALUES INTEGRATED INTO CERTIFICATION PROTOCOLS Defining Terminology Value-Laden Issues of Certification CASE STUDY AND EVALUATION OF THE DOMINANT CERTIFICATION PROTOCOLS Relevance of Toumey Forest to Assess Certification Protocols Analysis of the Elements Comprising the Dominant Certification Protocols as structured in January 1998 Case Study: Student Evaluation of Protocols at Yale's Toumey Forest INDICATORS RELEVANT FOR INCLUSION IN ASSESSMENTS: TYPES, MINIMUM NUMBER, AND THOSE DERIVED FROM NON-HUMAN VALUES Indicators Selection Criteria Non-Value-Based Parameters Relevant for Incorporation into Certification Social Legacies Constraining Natural Resource Uses DIRECT AND INDIRECT IMPACTS OF NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON THE ECOSYSTEM Introduction Forest Management Activities Leading to Regeneration Forest Management Activities Not Associated with Regeneration Infrastructure Related to Forest Management Activities Summary SYNTHESIS DISCUSSION OF ISSUES RELEVANT TO CERTIFICATION Necessity of Assessing the Landscape's Matrix Within Which a Management Unit is Embedded Social and Natural Science Links Public Participation in Certification Importance and Participation of Non-Industrial Private Forests Certification: Constraints and Opportunities for Non-Industrial Private Forest Landowners Estimating Price Premiums Necessary to Pay for Forest Certification Chain of Custody as an Impediment to Certification Challenges and Opportunities for Tropical Timber Certification: Mexico's Experience CHALLENGES AND BENEFITS OF CERTIFICATION Summary Discussion of the Advantages and Challenges of Certification Reason for Forestland Owners Not To Become Certified The Past and Future Goals of Certification