Abstract: Forest certification as a market incentive mechanism and “soft” policy tool,and forest policies and regulations as a compulsory “hard” policy have played a supplementary role in promoting sustainable forest management and strengthening forest governance. Now forest certification has become a niw tool to strengthening of forest policy and governance,which includes promoting the discussion of forest issues and forest policy among stakeholders,the development and implementation of national laws and regulations,the awareness and capacity of sustainable forest management of public forest,and the international policy dialogue. The relationship between forest certification and forest policy and the impact of forest certification on forest policy and governace are analyzed,and its potential role in China’s forest governance are also discussed in the paper.

Key words: forest certification, sustainable forest management, forest policy, forest governance, tool