This book examines the historical roots of forest certification, factors that guide the development of assessment protocols, the players involved, factors determining who are and who are not customers for being certified, the benefits of certification, and the strengths and weaknesses of existing certification protocols. TOC:Roots of certification.- Certification: who benefits, characterization of the clientele, geographic location of clientele, and which groups are excluded from becoming certified.- Terminology and issues intrinsic to certification.- Direct and indirect impacts of natural resource management practices on the ecosystem and their relationship to certification criteria.- Case study and evaluation of the dominant certification protocols.- Synthesis discussion of issues relevant to certification.- Challenges and benefits of certification.