Imaflora

History

The history of Imaflora (Institute for Agricultural and Forest Management and Certification) starts in 1995, when a group of professionals decides to establish an organization with the objective of developing and promoting the so-called forest management in Brazil. Forest management is a system for controlling deforestation that enables a forest enterprise to exploit forest resources with low environmental impact, while conserving biodiversity and respecting socioeconomic criteria.

The first organization to address forest management in a global scale was the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which was established in 1993 by a group of stakeholders from 26 countries that included loggers, environmentalists, social movements, indigenous people, and artisans. At the time, FSC became recognized worldwide for developing innovative criteria for assessing forest enterprises for the purpose of certification. The creation of the FSC label, which identifies areas adopting responsible production methods and which ensures that products have been adequately managed, was the next step.

The first important project developed by Imaflora was the Forest Certification Program. As this program was launched, Imaflora became the first NGO in the southern hemisphere to use FSC criteria in the assessment of forest enterprises. FSC standards were adapted to conditions in Brazil, taking into account the innumerous challenges and difficulties involving forest conservation in this country of continental proportions.

In 1996, Imaflora expanded its scope and established the Agricultural Certification Program, based on the principles of the forest certification program. In addition, it began offering training and capacity building programs with the objective of introducing the forest certification theme to forest producers, government agencies and civil society in general. Since that time, Imaflora has also developed activities to influence public policies and encourage responsible consumption – activities that are an integral part of all of its projects and programs, and that are essential to accomplish Imaflora’s mission.

Please, check other milestones of the maflora history:

• 1995

  Imaflora is established

• 1996

  Participatory mapping of a portion of the Tapajós National Forest

• 1997

  First forest management certification in the Amazon Region, granted to Madeireira Mil, Inc

• 1998

  Klabin do Paraná, Inc. forest certification

• 2000

  Establishment of the Alliance for Sustainable Consumption and publication of Hitting the Target 1 bulletin

• 2002

  First certification of community forest management in the Amazon Region – Cachoeira and Porto Dias communities

• 2002

  First agricultural certification – DaTerra Coffee enterprise

• 2002

  Design and construction of a wooden house made with certified wood to house Imaflora Headquarters

• 2003

  Agenda 21 of Vila Manaus completed

• 2004

  Organization of the First Certified Brazil Trade Fair

• 2005

  Publication of Guide for public consultations on conservation units

• 2006

  First South-South Cooperation Project, in partnership with the Republic of Cameroon

• 2006

  Public Consultations on the establishment of State Forests in northern Pará

• 2008

  Certification of commercial and family groups that produce yerba-maté (Ilex paraguariensis) in Argentina

• 2008

  Publication of the first independent studies on the impact of Imaflora certification programs