The Eastern Ontario Model Forest (EOMF), in partnership with the Ontario Woodlot Association (OWA), is pleased to offer private and community forest owners, throughout Ontario, an affordable, efficient and supportive system to achieve forest certification through the EOMF Forest Certification Program.

Forest certification provides assurance to forest owners, managers, operators, consumers, and the local community that the management, recreational use, and production of wood products from a certified forest maintains the health of the forest, the stability of the ecosystems, and the livelihoods of local communities. In many cases, certification can help improve or restore forest values. Certification applies to forested landscapes, including wetlands, natural meadows, old fields, and natural, non-treed areas. It is a voluntary, market-based system.

In January 2003, the Model Forest received a Forest Stewardship Council^® (FSC^®) Group Forest Management Certificate (FSC^® C018800). In February 2024, the Model Forest expanded their Certification Program and achieved Sustainable Forestry Initiative^® (SFI^®) (SFI-02042) certification. Both certificates are managed by the Model Forest on behalf of private and community forest members. It allows for many forest owners to share in the benefits and costs of certification, under one umbrella.

FSC is an international, membership-based, non-profit organization that supports environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests. FSC has developed a set of Standards, based on 10 core principles and criteria, that ensure sustainable forest management.

SFI is an international, non-profit organization that believes that sustainable forests are critical to our collective future. SFI enacts forest conservation through collaboration in standards, conservation, community, and education with an emphasis on practical solutions demonstrated by progress on the ground.

Forest owners interested in joining the Program must indicate their commitment to managing their forest to one or both of the Certification Standards and the Model Forest Policies and Procedures.

Today, the Model Forest manages a successful and growing Forest Certification Program consisting of:

• Private forest owners;
• Community forests;
• Commercial forest owners; and
• Maple syrup producers.