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Forest certification as a global environmental governance tool: What is the macro‐effectiveness of the Forest Stewardship Council?

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  • Axel Marx
  • Dieter Cuypers

Abstract

Sustainable forest management is a key challenge for local and global governance. The Forest Stewardship Council has emerged as one of the solutions to global forest deterioration and is generally regarded as the prime example of certification as a global governance tool. This article examines the macro‐effectiveness of certification on halting deforestation and examines the relationship between certification and governance institutions. The article finds that the macro‐effectiveness of certification on halting deforestation is still limited due to the “stuck at the bottom” problem of developing countries, which are kept out of the certification process, and the market‐driven nature of certification initiatives. The article does not find a relationship between certification and governance institutions at the macro level. It does find, however, significant variation in certification uptake between countries, pointing to the potential of this policy tool. The implications of the results are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Axel Marx & Dieter Cuypers, 2010. "Forest certification as a global environmental governance tool: What is the macro‐effectiveness of the Forest Stewardship Council?," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 4(4), pages 408-434, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:reggov:v:4:y:2010:i:4:p:408-434
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-5991.2010.01088.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sabel, Charles & O'Rourke, Dara & Fung, Archon, 2000. "Ratcheting labor standards : regulation for continuous improvement in the global workplace," Social Protection Discussion Papers and Notes 23071, The World Bank.
    2. Ralph Espach, 2006. "When is Sustainable Forestry Sustainable? The Forest Stewardship Council in Argentina and Brazil," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 6(2), pages 55-84, May.
    3. Cashore, Benjamin & van Kooten, G. Cornelis & Vertinsky, Ilan & Auld, Graeme & Affolderbach, Julia, 2005. "Private or self-regulation? A comparative study of forest certification choices in Canada, the United States and Germany," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 7(1), pages 53-69, January.
    4. Lars H. Gulbrandsen, 2004. "Overlapping Public and Private Governance: Can Forest Certification Fill the Gaps in the Global Forest Regime?," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 4(2), pages 75-99, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rana, Pushpendra & Sills, Erin O., 2024. "Inviting oversight: Effects of forest certification on deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    2. Charline Depoorter & Axel Marx, 2022. "Seeing the trees for the forest: Adoption dynamics of the Forest Stewardship Council," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 44(4), pages 1788-1806, December.

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