ISO 8347:2025

Overview

ISO 8347:2025 - Measurement procedures associated with the chain of custody in native tropical forest management areas - establishes a standardized process to measure and monitor selective logging in native tropical forests to reinforce traceability of timber origin. The standard uses remote sensing, georeferenced documentation and standardized metrics/indicators to perform consistency checks between declared harvesting (forest management plans and transport/commercial documents) and what can be observed on the ground via spatial monitoring. Wood volume measurement, exact coordinates of each log, species identification and compliance audits are outside the scope.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope limitation: Applies only to native tropical forests; planted forests are excluded.
• Documentation requirements: Verification relies on approved forest management plans (FMP), harvesting permits and geospatial documentation submitted by the responsible party.
• Remote sensing data & accuracy: Independent georeferenced information (satellite, airborne, other remote sensing) is used with defined accuracy requirements to detect canopy opening and subtracted vegetation.
• Standardized metrics and indicators: Mathematical models correlate the area of vegetation removed (from remote sensing) to the expected number of extracted trees linked to declared logged wood. These indicators act as alerts for inconsistencies.
• Consistency checking procedures: Methods to compare georeferenced data provided by the responsible party with independent observations, evaluate spatial patterns of production areas and assess temporal alignment with declared harvest periods.
• Limitations and exclusions: The standard explicitly does not ensure exact log coordinates, exact wood volumes, species ID, chain-of-custody compliance, social/labour/tax compliance, biomass/carbon accounting, nor does it function as a Management Systems Standard (MSS).
• Additional clauses: Contains provisions for claims and whistleblowing and references to normative terms and remote sensing accuracy criteria.

Practical applications

• Strengthening documentation-based traceability for timber buyers, primary processors and downstream supply-chain actors who need independent assurance of timber origin.
• Supporting auditors, third-party verifiers and certification schemes with geospatial consistency checks that flag potential documentary fraud or illegal harvesting.
• Enabling governments, NGOs and responsible forest managers to monitor selective logging impacts and detect discrepancies between declared harvests and observed canopy changes.
• Informing due-diligence processes for market access requirements where “deforestation-free” proof is required.

Who should use ISO 8347:2025

• Forest managers and operators in native tropical regions (for planning and compliance support)
• Remote sensing and geospatial service providers (to supply validated monitoring products)
• Auditors, certification bodies and regulatory agencies (for independent consistency checks)
• Timber traders, importers and large buyers seeking enhanced origin assurance

Related standards and context

ISO 8347:2025 was prepared by ISO/TC 287 (Sustainable processes for wood and wood-based products) and is designed to complement existing chain-of-custody and certification frameworks by providing a remote-sensing-based methodology for origin verification without replacing legal or social requirements.