India has made considerable progress in the field of sustainable forestry and sustainable wood products through the issuing of its first-ever PRAMAAN certification under the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme (IFWCS), on 29 September 2026. The historic certification was presented by India's Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, with the Andhra Pradesh Forest Development Corporation (APFDC) being one of the first recipients.
522.1) What is PRAMAAN?
PRAMAAN means Programme for Recognition and Accreditation of Sustainable Management Practices for Agroforestry and Natural Forestry Resources. It is the certification system which was designed under Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme which was initiated by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in December 2023.
The purpose of this scheme is to develop a credible system in India for the recognition of sustainable forest management, agroforestry and responsible wood-based sector practices. This framework of the system is developed on the basis of the sustainability criteria and indicators taking into consideration the conditions of India.
522.2) Andhra Pradesh Takes the Lead
The initial certificates mark the move by PRAMAAN from its status as a policy to being put into practice. APFDC received its initial certificates which were in respect of plantation areas spanning about 33,000 hectares. Field and management audits were performed before issuing of the certificates.
This development is especially significant considering the fact that forest and plantation produce has been increasingly requiring demonstration of legality, traceability and sustainable sourcing in both local and international markets. Certification offers producers an avenue of proving that their forest resources are sustainably managed.
Apart from APFDC, a bamboo grower in association with the Odisha Bamboo Development Agency was among the first to be issued with PRAMAAN certificates. This indicates that the PRAMAAN scheme is not only meant for large forestry organizations but other stakeholders in the forest/agroforestry value chain as well.
522.3) Connecting Sustainability with Markets
One of the major aims of PRAMAAN is to build more connections between sustainable resource management and market opportunities. Certified forestry and agroforestry products could be accepted by buyers in search of responsible sourcing.
It becomes very relevant because the international market starts to establish more stringent demands regarding the deforestation free supply chain, due diligence and responsible sourcing. The Union Environment Minister noted that PRAMAAN is the tool that would allow the Indian producers and forest-based businesses to meet such demands.
Thus, the program is not just a tool for identification of proper forestry practice. It tries to build the system where environment-friendly activities, economic opportunities and social protections could go hand in hand.
522.4) A Science- and Standards-Based Framework
The PRAMAAN scheme has structured criteria for evaluating forestry/agroforestry activities. The previous knowledge about the certification scheme suggested that the evaluations were based on environment, economy, and socio-economic considerations, such as sustainable harvesting, livelihood issues, and so on.
Regarding forest management, the Indian Forest Management Standard forms the basis for assessing the compliance of forest management practices with the required criteria. The purpose of the scheme is to make the evaluation process more transparent and consistent.
The Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal, is the operational body responsible for the scheme and the certification process connected to the first certificates.
522.5) Why the First Certificates Matter?
The certification of the first PRAMAAN certificates is a crucial point in India's effort to develop a national forest certification system. It offers a means for recognizing the practice of sustainable management and may boost the marketing visibility of responsibly sourced forest and agroforestry products.
For Andhra Pradesh state, the milestone places its forest development corporation in the lead of this new certification initiative. For India, PRAMAAN has the potential to become an important link between forest conservation, sustainable production, farmers' well-being and market expectations.
The increasing participation of forest divisions, plantations, agroforestry systems and forest-based enterprises in the scheme will determine the true influence of PRAMAAN based on the credibility of assessments and the transparency of the certification process.
Thus, the first certificates granted on 29 September 2026 are not only a certification milestone but also represent India's effort to make sustainability and responsible forest management an essential part of its forest products economy.
Team Yuva Aaveg-
Adarsh Tiwari
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