PRAMAAN Certificates under the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme

About PRAMAAN Certificates

• PRAMAAN stands for Programme for Recognition and Accreditation of Sustainable Management Practices for Agroforestry and Natural Forestry Resources.
  • It is a nationally accepted, credible and transparent framework for certification of forests, wood and non-timber forest products.
• Operating Agency: Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal
• Accreditation Body: Certification bodies are accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) under the Quality Council of India.
• First Certificates: The certificates were given to Andhra Pradesh Forest Development Corporation (APFDC) and a farmer associated with the Odisha Bamboo Development Agency (OBDA).
  • These certificates are given under the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme.
• Key Features
  • Independent Certification: Certification is based on independent third-party audits rather than self-declaration alone. 
  • Standards: Forest Management certification follows the Indian Forest Management Standards under the National Working Plan Code (NWPC) 2023.
  • Market Linkages: PRAMAAN promotes domestic and international market linkages for certified forests and agroforestry products.
  • International Recognition: Its accreditation architecture is benchmarked against international certification frameworks for recognition among global buyers and regulators.
  • Inclusive Approach: The scheme brings farmers, rural and tribal communities, and forest-dependent communities into a structured certification system.

About Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme