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 Overview of
CSA Z809 (CSA)
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) is an independent,
non-profit association for the development, by consensus, of Canadian standards and
product certification. The CSA formed a technical committee (with representation from the
various forestry stakeholders across the country, including government, landowners,
processors, First Nations, researchers, tourism and recreational users) to develop a
voluntary national sustainable forestry management standard for Canada, the CSA Z809 which
was published in 1996.
The technical committee adapted the Canadian
criteria, that were established by the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers to determine
Canada’s sustainable forest management (SFM) practices on a national scale, into a voluntary standard that certifies
that a specified defined forest area (DFA) is being managed sustainably at a local level.
These 6 criteria take into account the environmental, social and economic benefits derived
from forests:
- Conservation of biological diversity;
- Maintenance and enhancement of forest ecosystem condition
and productivity;
- Conservation of soil and water resources;
- Forest ecosystem contributions to global ecological cycles;
- Multiple benefits to society;
- Accepting society’s responsibility for sustainable
development.
The CSA SFM system has both a performance and a system
framework. The system approach is consistent with the EMS in the ISO 14001 series. The
performance criteria are set for each DFA through the rigorous public consultation process
with stakeholders and through locally based indicators. An organization must address the
21 critical elements set by the CCFM and address the local values identified in the public
participation process, plus it may identify additional controls that apply to the DFA
being audited. CSA requires that indicators have been established for all critical
elements of the CCFM criteria, that the public participation process was involved in
setting these indicators, and that an organization demonstrate its commitment to continual
improvement in its SFM performance as measured by these indicators.
CAN/CSA-Z809 is the auditing document and the main document
for an assessment. CAN/CSA-Z808 is the Guidance Document for Z809 which describes in
detail the essential elements of a CSA SFM System for a Defined Forest Area, including the
nature of the commitment, the requirements for public participation, the management
framework, a review of actions, and continual improvement. Other key documents are the
Interpretations Documents PLUS 9015 and PLUS 9015S and the three communiques on Public
Participation, Criteria & Indicators and Volume Based Licences.
A review process is underway to evaluate revisions to CSA
Z808 and Z809 that would encourage greater uptake of the system.
April 2002
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