
As a professional retailer, you have thousands of FSC certified wood species and products to choose from globally to meet your consumers' expectations. Contact us for a license, we are ready to help.
As a construction professional, you have thousands of FSC-certified wood products and species to choose from globally to meet your construction or design needs. Contact us to get certified, we are ready to help.
The Policy and Standards Committee plays a crucial role in the standard setting process.
The PSC is a six-person group of advisors to the FSC Board of Directors on a wide range of issues including the approval of new and revised FSC policies, and national forest stewardship standards.
Log in here
Membership doesn’t just give you a seat at the decision-making table. It allows you to become part of a vibrant international group of individuals and organizations. Start your application via the members’ portal today.
Members have exclusive access to dedicated resources personalized to their needs in the FSC members’ portal.
Visit the portal here.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) regards climate change as a very serious threat to global humanity. Climate change undermines the natural ecosystems on which we rely for our basic needs – food, health, and shelter – and many of the products that support our livelihoods and economies.
More than 25 years ago, the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio failed to produce an agreement to stop deforestation. In response, a committed a group of businesses, environmentalists and community leaders banded together to create a revolutionary concept: a voluntary, market-based approach that would improve forestry practices worldwide. That meeting marked the birth of the Forest Stewardship Council. 25 years ago we pioneered certification for sustainable forestry, and we remain the most trusted sustainable forest management solution thanks to our committed and diverse stakeholders.
Since it was founded in 1993, FSC has grown to become the world’s most respected and widespread forest certification system. Maintaining and consolidating this leading position means working to update, promote and grow the FSC system. FSC also demands constant awareness of cutting edge issues in a context of rapid economic and environmental change, and the capacity to extend existing partnerships and alliances and build new ones.
Due to their direct line of communication with consumers, retailers can influence the decisions made by consumers, and in this way, drive sustainability trends forward. A Globescan survey found that 50% of the surveyed consumers worldwide recognise the FSC label and they trust that FSC is effective in protecting forests. As consumers are increasingly looking for information on the sustainability of the products they buy, the role of retailers in conveying such messages is becoming even more relevant. The FSC label is therefore a powerful tool that can help retailers to communicate their commitment to sustainable forest management.
Intact forest landscapes (IFLs) are the last remaining large unfragmented forest areas, undisturbed by roads or other industrial infrastructure, in which there has been no industrial harvesting in the past 30-70 years. Most IFLs consist of dense and open forest (81 per cent) with the remainder being swamps, rocky terrain, grasslands, rivers, lakes, etc. IFLs occur in 60 countries, and 65 per cent of the world’s total IFL area is concentrated in Canada, Russia and Brazil.
FSC-certified forests are distributed all over the world. FSC has been collecting maps of certified operations, while understanding the different conditions experienced by different forest managers and respecting the confidentiality of some of this data.
The FSC Global Strategic Plan 2015-2020 clarifies FSC’s identity and role in the global forest system to ensure that our trajectory fits the challenges that the world’s forests and forest stakeholders face. In the 25 years since our founding, we have created a certification system that mobilises the force of the market, offering people a way to create positive impact in forests and communities through their purchasing decisions.
FSC National Standards revision processes were initiated in 2015 in the Congo Basin, in the Republic of CONGO, Cameroon and Gabon.
The revised national forest management standards of Cameroon and Gabon apply to all types and scales of forests (FMUs, Communal Forests, Community Forests) including forest plantations. These standards do not apply to non-timber forest products. The revision process has mainly consisted in adapting the FSC Principles and Criteria version 5 and including important indicators related to Intact Forest Landscapes, timber monitoring, ILO fundamental conventions, promotion of women, as well as strengthening indicators related to workers' rights, rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, among others.
This process began with the establishment of Standards Development Groups (SDG) in each of the countries involved. The approval and publication of the revised standards of the different countries takes place according to the following publication schedule:
CAMEROON
Cameroon's revised national standard was approved and published by FSC on September 28, 2020. It came into force on December 29, 2020.
REPUBLIC OF CONGO
As for the Republic of Congo, its standard was approved and published on October 6, 2020 and came into force on January 6, 2021.
GABONESE REPUBLIC
Launched within the framework of the policy of generalizing the certification of responsible forest management, the national standard FSC Gabon was approved and published on December 15, 2020 and its entry into force is scheduled for March 15, 2021.
It is important to note that these new national standards have also been simplified and better adapted to the specific context of each country to facilitate not only their use by forest concession managers but also understanding by auditors. These standards have also been aligned with the legality requirements of the VPA-FLEGT agreements for the countries where these agreements have been signed (Cameroon and the Republic of Congo).
FSC welcomes the completion of its draft standards and encourages forest concessions to comply with them for the valuation of their forest products on the national and international markets.
FSC would particularly like to thank its various partners involved in promoting responsible forest management in the Congo Basin and more specifically the members and experts of the FSC Standards Development Groups in the countries concerned for their availability during the long period of revision of national FSC standards.
If you have any questions about the new standards, please contact:
For Cameroon: Professor Roger Ngoufo, Chair of the FSC standard development group: ngoufocew08@yahoo.fr
For the Republic of Congo: Inès Gady Strarov Cabare Mvoukani, Chair of the FSC standard development group: inesgady@yahoo.fr
For Gabon: Mr. Emmanuel Bayani, Chairman of the FSC standard development group: e.bayani1968@gmail.com / scoutgabon@yahoo.fr
An innovative approach to wood sample testing. FSC is part of a leading partner in an innovative project, reinventing how wood sample collection and forensic sciences can help us protect our forests worldwide. Traditional wood identification technologies have long made it possible for scientists to determine the genus, and/or family of a timber of a small piece of wood using forensic techniques. In short, the tests can tell both FSC and authorities whether a product is made from the genus, family and sometimes species of timber which it is claimed to be.
Businesses that use the world’s resources have a duty to ensure they’re responsibly sourced and cared for. Because of this, and as part of our dedication to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, FSC is proud to introduce the Vancouver Declaration.
How FSC certification can help companies meet Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (FLEGT) and EUTR timber legality requirements.
Seen on thousands of product labels around the world, the FSC trademarks – most recognisably the famous FSC logo – are trusted by ethical consumers worldwide.
FSC works to take care of our forests and those who rely on them: by protecting plant and animal species, Indigenous Peoples rights, forest workers’ safety, and much more. Follow us to get inspired, learn about forests and find out how you can help take care of forests for future generations.
Concerned about accelerating deforestation, environmental degradation and social exclusion, a group of timber users, traders and representatives of environmental and human rights organisations met in California in 1990.
We have a selection of media resources and materials related to FSC and our work available for journalists to use.
Please find more information on the website of FSC International.
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FSC in Eastern Africa sub region’s existing and future growth is focused to the following countries:
The FSC Southern Africa region consists of the following countries:
FSC certification ensures that products come from well managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits. Forest owners and managers may want to become FSC certified to demonstrate that they are managing their forests responsibly. Along the supply chain, FSC certification can provide benefits such as access to new markets.
FSC is an international membership association, governed by its members.
These members may be organizational – which means that they represent their institution or organization – or individual. Members are from diverse backgrounds and include representatives of environmental and social non-governmental organizations, the timber trade, forestry organizations, indigenous people's organizations, community forestry groups, retailers and manufacturers, and forest certification organizations, as well as individual forest owners and interested parties.
Forest-based textiles, such as rayon, viscose, modal or lyocell are increasingly being used in the fashion industry. If cellulose fibres come from well-managed forests they can be more environmentally friendly than synthetic fibres, such as nylon or polyester, or even natural fibres, such as cotton.
A large portion of FSC’s work includes consultations with its members and stakeholders. These consultations are on a large variety of topics, including trademark revisions, standards, policies and many more.
The consultation platform allows you to review documents and provide feedback at the same time.
Open the platform here
During this unprecedented and difficult time, many foresters are continuing to work in FSC certified forests. In many rural areas, these jobs provide vital stimulus to local economies and communities, and are considered “essential services.” Please make a donation to support community foresters and all the people working hard to manage forests during the COVID-19 crisis. Donations collected will be bundled and directed to communities working in forests around the world. FSC is working with organizations representing foresters and your support will ensure that forests continue to be managed in responsible ways during a time of global crisis. > Donate now
Policies, Standards and Procedures are being developed or revised. Our development, review and revision process is comprehensive, transparent, inclusive and robust, aiming to promote stability and predictability with the FSC system.
After an organization has been excluded from the FSC scheme and they demonstrate real commitment to change, we bring them together with those who’ve been affected by destructive activities. Through extensive collaboration and consultation, we work out how to remedy the harm caused and make sure it doesn’t happen again.
If anyone connected to FSC is involved in destructive forestry activities, inside or outside certified areas, we take action.
As the original pioneers of forest certification, we have 25 years of experience in sustainable forest management. We use our expertise to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests, bringing together experts from the environmental, economic and social spheres.
Forests are incredibly valuable, not only for the survival of people but for the rest of the planet. By looking after forests, we preserve one of our best defences against climate change. Forests are also home to many endemic and endangered species. We find medicinal plants, food and other non-timber forest products in certified forests.
Earth observation is continuously improving, and FSC is utilising this technology internally and through strategic partnerships to improve our transparency and our services to stakeholders. Geographic information system (GIS) mapping of certified forest area is just the beginning.
Integrity is a core value for FSC: a fundamental principle and value of who we are, how we work, and what we stand for. With its enhanced data security and traceability, blockchain technology has enormous, game-changing potential that reaches far beyond the realm of finance. And people around the world are researching, experimenting with, and increasingly deploying the technology to address the big problems of our time, from the refugee crisis to climate change. FSC is exploring how to best utilise this technology to improve supply chain integrity in the FSC system.
Wood identification technologies make it possible to trace the timber species and harvest location. Traditional wood anatomy enables scientist to determine genus and family, and even species, depending on the circumstances.
In 2016, FSC established the New Approaches project to develop alternative and additional ways to support smallholders and communities striving to achieve certification.
The Bonn Initiative was launched by FSC during the COP23 climate change event. This initiative builds on the Vancouver Declaration, with signatory companies, such as IKEA and SIG, supporting the development of scientifically-rigorous methodologies to quantify the climate benefits of FSC certification.
Small forest owners and communities are at the heart of FSC. We have launched a number of different initiatives over the last 25 years, and we have achieved a lot. The wealth of knowledge and resources we have built up was harnessed to inform our latest project, launched to look into new and innovative solutions. It is called the New Approaches for Smallholders and Communities Certification project.
Specific steps taken by FSC to ensure compliance with timber legality laws.
FSC owns a portfolio of trademarks worldwide. These trademarks form part of the foundation on which the FSC system is built. We're vigilant in protecting our valuable trademarks and take swift measures to deal with identified cases of violations. We enjoy a synergetic relationship with our stakeholders who are instrumental and integral in helping unearth and resolve cases of infringement.
Principle 1 of the FSC Principles and Criteria requires forest managers to comply with all applicable laws and regulations in the country of harvest, and with international treaties.
FSC issues three different types of certificates: Forest Management, Chain of Custody and Controlled Wood. The different types of certificates relate to different stages of production and subsequent progress of forest products through the value chain. Verification against all FSC requirements ensures that materials and products with the FSC label are from responsibly managed forests.
The FSC Board of Directors (BoD) established the Policy and Standards Committee (PSC) in order to streamline, facilitate and accelerate decision-making processes in relation to normative FSC documents.
Ecosystem services are the benefits that people obtain from nature. Forests provide society with a wide range of benefits, from reliable flows of clean water to productive soil and carbon sequestration. In FSC certified forests, valuable ecosystem services are protected – and in 2018, FSC introduced a procedure to demonstrate and communicate about the positive impact of responsible forest management on ecosystem services. These verified positive impacts aim to facilitate payments for ecosystem services and provide access to other benefits, thereby adding business value for those who responsibly manage forests and those who take action to preserve forest ecosystem services.
FSC certification can raise a furniture company’s credibility across the supply chain. As consumers are increasingly looking for information on the sustainability of the products they buy, the role of furniture companies in responsible sourcing is becoming even more relevant. The FSC label is therefore a powerful tool that can help furniture companies to communicate their commitment to sustainable forest management.
As a packaging professional, you have thousands of FSC-certified wood products and species to choose from globally to meet your clients expectations. Contact us to get certified, we are ready to help.
With more than 75,000 organizations holding FSC chain of custody certification, FSC is the leading sustainable forest management solution, providing the highest global assurance of supply chain integrity from forest to end user. FSC is not restricted to products on a store shelf, however. Your business has the opportunity to use the FSC trademarks to promote your projects! By complying with the FSC Standard for Project Certification, the projects you manage can be FSC-certified, allowing you to manage several projects in a continual basis or a one-time project certification, whichever is more convenient for you.
FSC owns a portfolio of trademarks worldwide. These trademarks form part of the foundation on which the FSC system is built. We're vigilant in protecting our valuable trademarks and take swift measures to deal with identified cases of violations. We enjoy a synergetic relationship with our stakeholders who are instrumental and integral in helping unearth and resolve cases of infringement. Find out more.
FSC Board of Directors is accountable to the FSC members. It is made up of twelve elected representatives, with four elected from each of the chambers for a four-year term.
FSC’s position papers are short essays that present our position and/or approach on a given topic relevant to the FSC system. We strive to adhere to an evidence-based approach in our framing of the issue and subsequent approach and/or recommendation(s). Please find a list of papers below.
FSC’s principle decision-making platform, the triennial General Assembly, has been postponed to 2021.
The cycle of creating and revising FSC normative documents begins with identifying the need for a new normative document or the revision of an existing one. This need can be communicated to us by contacting FSC International directly or by looking out for a review consultation on our Consultation Platform.
FSC is the world’s most trusted sustainable forest management solution. We take our integrity seriously. Since no system is perfect, we take action when a problem is detected or reported.
This is an area with relevant trademark resources for certification bodies. If you are a certification body, please log in. If you have forgotten your log in details, please contact us.
Corporate social responsibility and sustainability are more than just buzzwords. Consumers and societies expect businesses to be part of the solution when it comes to environmental and social issues. For any business associated with productive forests and forest products, working with FSC makes sense. We can help your business with improved efficiency, market access, meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and more. We have tailored solutions for different sectors, from furniture to pulp and paper. And we provide additional tools for businesses that choose to work with us, such as marketing materials to promote your collaboration with FSC.
FSC has a strong focus on securing workers’ rights by incorporating core labour requirements into its system. These requirements include effective abolition of child labour, elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour, the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation, respect of freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining.
Indigenous Peoples make up some five per cent of the world’s population – that’s one in twenty of us. Belonging to around 5,000 different groups or communities, Indigenous Peoples usually have (or had) their own language, cultures and traditions, influenced by their ancestral homelands.
To provide forest materials to a growing world population, production must be increased. At the same time, we are faced with a global need to stop deforestation and forest degradation, and the need to protect high conservation values, including intact forest landscapes. To stop biodiversity loss and retain forest ecosystem services, much more forest area should be protected.
The Forest Stewardship Council International (FSC International) consists of the entities FSC Asociación Civil (FSC AC), FSC International Center GmbH (FSC IC) and FSC Global Development GmbH (FSC GD). FSC GD and FSC IC are subsidiaries of FSC AC. FSC has a number of regional offices, sub-regional offices and independent national offices around the globe. There are a number of local FSC offices across the world. If you would like to find out more about a specific local office, please visit the relevant website using the list below.
There are some forestry practices we believe are so destructive that they cannot be tolerated, even if the wrongdoing happens in forests that aren’t FSC certified. We conduct extensive investigations when we receive credible allegations that an organization associated with FSC is involved in destructive activities. Organizations found responsible for these activities face exclusion from the FSC scheme.
Part of FSC's vision is a shift in global forest trends – from social and environmental degradation to sustainable use, conservation, restoration and respect for forests and those that depend on them. FSC pioneered forest certification decades ago, and we continue to innovate, whether that means certification in new sectors or using more efficient, digital tools.
It is essential to limit inaccurate claims in FSC-certified supply chains. This is especially true for high-risk supply chains. Transaction verification is the verification process required by the FSC chain of custody standard to ensure that FSC output claims made by certificate holders are accurate and match the FSC input claims of their trading partners.
Governments help shape the world, not only through policy decisions but also in their day-to-day practices. Find out how procurement in the public sector can promote sustainable forest management.
FSC works to improve forest management worldwide, and through certification creates an incentive for forest owners and managers to follow best social and environmental practices. The growing demand for FSC certified products tells forest owners that businesses and consumers prefer products from well managed forests.
The FSC Principles & Criteria (P&C) describe the essential elements or rules of environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable forest management. There are ten principles setting out this vision; each principle is supported by several criteria that provide a way of judging whether the principle has been met in practice.
Becoming FSC certified shows that you comply with the highest social and environmental standards on the market. Public concern about the state of the world’s forests and timber resources is increasing, and FSC provides you with a credible solution to complex environmental and social issues
Create your own campaigns to tell your sustainability story.
You can now listen to a variety of forestry-related topics on the go with our podcast series. Our podcasts feature a range of interviews with experts from different sectors, covering topics from value chains to digitalisation.
Supporters pledge to go beyond current commitments and increase the share of materials and products sourced from responsibly-managed forests. As support grows, this declaration will have a positive impact on three core areas of sustainability: environmental, social and economic.
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Demand for packaging to be renewable and responsibly sourced has never been greater. As consumers are increasingly looking for information on the sustainability of the products they buy, the role of retailers and packaging producers is becoming more relevant. In a global consumer survey conducted by Globescan, 82% of the respondents who recalled purchasing FSC labelled products said they are influenced by the label when buying. The FSC label is therefore a powerful tool that can help retailers and brand owners to communicate their commitment to sustainable forest management.
If you have an active FSC certificate, you can add the ‘Forests For All Forever’ logo and assets to all your communications with consumers, clients and suppliers to tell your sustainability story by showcasing your efforts to fight against climate change.
You can add the ‘Forests For All Forever’ logo and assets to all your communications with consumers, clients, investors and suppliers to tell your sustainability story showcasing your efforts to fight against climate change.
Responsible sourcing of wood can benefit construction projects in many ways. Wood is more carbon and energy efficient in comparison to other building materials. However, wood can originate from unsustainable forest management practices which can undermine its benefits. This risk can be mitigated by sourcing FSC certified wood. FSC is the world’s most trusted sustainable forest management solution that adds environmental, social and economic benefits to construction projects. It also helps in meeting different environmental regulations like EUTR, the US Lacey Act etc.
The work of FSC is helping achieve 40 targets under 14 sustainable development goals (SDGs). FSC helps achieve sustainable forest management in the world, one of the targets of SDG 15 (Life on Land). The broad environmental, social, and economic focus of the FSC forest stewardship principles also contribute to the SDGs focused on poverty, equality, natural resources, production and consumption patterns, decent work, climate change, inclusive and accountable societies, and global partnerships.
This website is owned by:
FSC Global Development GmbH
Legally represented by:
Managing Director, Mr. Kim Bering Becker Carstensen
Registered Office:
Adenauerallee 134
53115 Bonn
Deutschland / Germany
Phone: +49 (0)228 367 66-0
Fax: +49 (0)228 367 66-30
E-mail: info@fsc.org
Handelsregister / Commercial register: Bonn HRB15990
USt.-Id Nr. / VAT No: DE 258067376
A career at FSC means joining a great team, working together for a great cause. Our diverse staff bring their various expertise to find solutions to promote sustainable forest management.
Wood is a wonderful material: beautiful to look at, easy to work with, renewable, recyclable, carbon-efficient, low-energy and high-performance. FSC-certified timber is a strong pillar for more sustainable timber industries, such as construction and furniture. Not only does FSC certification ensure the use of environmentally-appropriate forest management practices in the production of wood, but it is also increasingly useful for companies participating in the green building industry, as well as helping ensure compliance with changing timber regulations and meeting increasing consumer demand for eco-friendly options.
FSC chain of custody certification provides credible confirmation for products with environmentally and socially responsible sources to access the market.
FSC works with the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling Alliance (ISEAL) and other ISEAL members to develop an information and data standard for sustainability. This work is supported by the ISEAL Innovation Fund.
From forest to store, we are committed to creating credible supply chains. As a result, transparency and simplification are key priorities for FSC.
FSC does not issue certificates itself. Independent certification bodies carry out the forest management and chain of custody assessments that lead to FSC certification. FSC sets the standards for forest management and chain of custody certification, and defines the procedures that certification bodies should follow in their certification assessments.
FSC provides businesses with new tools to demonstrate and communicate the positive impact that their purchases, investments and financial support have on the conservation and restoration of forest ecosystem services.
FSC regards compliance with relevant legislation regulating timber trade and related matters as an essential component of responsible forest management.
From endemic species to sacred sites, all natural habitats – especially forests – inherit conservation values. Those biological, ecological, social or cultural values of outstanding significance are known as 'high conservation values,' or HCVs.
The development of the FSC standards is managed internationally by FSC International. The development process is participatory FSC standards. It is transparent, democratic, non-discriminatory and provides an opportunity for stakeholders to engage.
Our objective is to promote responsible management of the word's forests that is to say a management that is environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable.
By following the seven steps of the Ecosystem Services Procedure, forest managers demonstrate how their management practices conserve or restore valuable forest ecosystem services. Once these positive impacts are verified by an FSC accredited certification body, the resulting ecosystem services claims can be used to tell impact stories about the forest and attract financial and non-monetary benefits.
Find out more about the benefits of FSC-certification and the difference certification makes on the ground through our video series. Share these videos on your channels and help to promote sustainable forestry and forests for all, forever
Sample testing of FSC-certified products allows buyers, sellers, and traders to ensure that the products they receive from their suppliers are really what they are claimed to be. If you’d like to submit a product for testing, please fill in the form below, and we will get back to you with a quote and shipping documents. Generally, traditional wood anatomy testing costs USD$100 per component tested and isotope testing costs between USD$600-800 per component tested. Bulk discounts for traditional wood anatomy testing can apply.
As a professional, you have thousands of FSC-certified wood products and species to choose from globally to meet the expectations of your clients and end-consumers. Contact us to get certified, we are ready to help.
Consumer demand is growing for products that are environmentally sustainable and socially beneficial. So choose the materials you can trust to deliver better results for forests, people and businesses. Choose wood, paper and packaging with the FSC label.
As a furniture professional, you have thousands of FSC-certified wood products and species to choose from globally to meet your clients expectations, and the ones of end-consumers. Contact us to get certified, we are ready to help.
If your organization holds a valid FSC certificate, you can add the ‘Forests For All Forever’ logo and assets to all your communications with consumers, clients, investors and suppliers to tell your sustainability story showcasing your efforts to fight against climate change.
You can add the ‘Forests For All Forever’ logo and assets to all your communications with consumers, clients, investors and suppliers to tell your sustainability story showcasing your efforts to fight against climate change.
We are pleased to welcome you, whether you are a new Certificate Holder or renewing your commitment to responsible forest management. We work to improve forest management worldwide, and we value your commitment to our mission. We're pleased that you've chosen to join our efforts to ensure the world’s forests meet the social, ecological, and economic rights and needs of the present generation without compromising those of future generations. The FSC team is here to help you better understand the system and help you take full advantage of your certification. We look forward to working with you!
FSC’s e-training platform gives you access to a variety of online courses related to FSC’s work. Find out more.
Discover how brands from all over the world communicate their sustainability stories using the FSC branding framework and use our assets to create your campaign. Visit the toolkit.
We have updated the look and feel of the public search. This is the one stop location for inquiries about certificates and their status. Updates to data can take up to 24 hours. Start the search!
Effective engagement with a variety of stakeholders is a crucial part of our strategy as an organization, and a determining factor in the success of our projects. From solutions forums to direct engagement with governments and other important partners, we take an active role in many dialogue platforms.
Are you ready to help change how forests are managed around the world? Through our governance model, FSC members have real influence.
Visit the Members' Portal here.
Rubber is used in many items of our daily lives, including shoes, tyres, footballs, condoms and even medical products, such as catheters and gloves. When it is not managed responsibly, it can have grave negative impacts on the environment, communities and workers' livelihoods.
FSC has an array of resources to help you navigate the certification process. The links below provide an overview, and more comprehensive materials can be downloaded from the document centre. Please consider subscribing to our newsletter for the latest updates from across the FSC system.
Forests have always produced more than the quintessential forest products such as furniture, construction materials, pulp and paper. However, technological advancements are expanding the potential for surprising and innovative forest products to replace less sustainable alternatives. FSC certification adds an additional guarantee that the forests where these products are sourced are managed responsibly.
The fibre value chain encompasses the packaging, paper and hygiene sectors, all of which source pulp for the production of a variety of products – from tissues to paperboard and printing paper. According to recent FSC/GlobeScan global consumer research, people expect companies to do more to protect the environment, and increasingly check information about a product before they buy it. Sustainable forest management practices allow the packaging and paper sectors to highlight their commitment to responsible sourcing and to enhance their brand reputation.
Our facts and figures map provides a new way to see the growth in global forest area certified to FSC Principles and Criteria, as well as the global supply chain certification growth.
FSC international members come from all across the globe and represent the global South and global North, with interests spread across three chambers: social, environmental and economic.
FSC labels can be found on millions of products around the world – from toilet rolls to your favourite book, to that milk carton in your fridge, and other food products. What does the label mean? Simply put: by choosing products with FSC labels, you are helping to take care of the world’s forests.
Each label provides information about the origin of the materials used to make the finished and labeled product.
FSC does not issue certificates itself. Independent certification bodies carry out the forest management and chain of custody assessments that lead to FSC certification. The certification bodies are held to account by Assurance Services International.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), more than 25 per cent of the world’s population rely on forests for their survival. Ensuring that the rights of forest-dependent communities are prioritised is really important to us. FSC-certified organizations around the world must meet certain requirements to prove they adhere to relevant principles.
We are introducing digital audit reporting to the FSC system in 2020/2021. This will enable us to appropriately access audit data and easily identify trends, impacts and risk areas to evaluate and improve the FSC system.
We are dedicated to compiling evidence to demonstrate outcomes and impacts of FSC certification. Currently, the two main sources of evidence are internally generated data and independent scientific studies.
How does FSC intend to generate social, environmental and economic benefits on the ground? In this section, we explain the mechanisms linking our standards with our mission to promote responsible forestry.
Go deeper into our investigations and our work with organizations currently excluded from the FSC scheme, and those who have been re-admitted after taking remedial action.
We are committed to data-driven monitoring. FSC is continuously updating traditional methods of data collection and analytics, in order to help us expand data sources and conduct more comprehensive and innovative data projects. These projects will be carried out by the Data Analytics, Evaluation and Learning Programme.
FSC strives to identify the best feasible approach to reduce the use of chemical pesticides in FSC-certified forests and plantations, and to prevent, minimise and mitigate the related environmental and social impacts.
If anyone connected to FSC is involved in destructive forestry activities, inside or outside certified areas, we take action.
The forests of the Congo Basin are considered the second lung of the planet after the Amazon, known for their biodiversity and low human density. The countries that make up the Congo Basin are:
On June 16–17, 2022, a working group of experts representing the economic, environmental, and social sectors in charge of developing FSC Standards for Cameroon, met in Yaoundé to start a partial review process of the existing national standard.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) - Africa will host a side event on July 7 at 14:30–16:00 during the 19th Meeting of Parties (MoP) of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP), which will take place at the Radisson Blu Okoumé Palace Hotel in Libreville, Gabon, on July 5- 8 2022.
You are invited to join us at WOODEX for Africa 2022: Visit us at stand W715
The Technical Working Group (TWG) for the development of the FSC Interim National Standard (INS) has the pleasure to invite you to the Second public consultation on the draft 2 or (V1.3) of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) INS for forest management in Ghana. This process has started and ends17 July 2022.
Tractors Company Ltd based in -Iringa, Tanzania recently secured a market to export its organic charcoal briquettes to the European Union (EU) countries. This accomplishment was as a result of the firm obtaining the Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™) certificate issued for briquetted charcoal and other wood products, the first of its kind in Eastern Africa.
The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 and since then has grown into one of the largest environmental movements working with 50,000 partners in over 192 countries to drive positive action for our planet.
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 March the International Day of Forests (IDF) in 2012. This year the theme is "Forests and sustainable production and consumption."
Workers Day was first commemorated in 1889 when an international federation of socialist groups and trade unions designated May 1 as a day in support of workers, in commemoration of the Haymarket Riot in Chicago (1886), which was the first recorded full day work stoppage in the USA.
Thank you to everyone who supported our International Day of Forests Campaign. We share what some of our certificate holders did to celebrate our forests.
Detpak South Africa is proud to have celebrated its 10th year of Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) Chain of Custody Certification in February 2022. (FSC-C109574)
Frida joined the Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™) in March 2022 as the Marketing and Communications Specialist for the Eastern Africa subregion.
Mr Price Group has signed a promotional license agreement with FSC® Southern African for use in South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zambia, Botswana, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Mr Price Group is an omni- channel fashion- value retailer, based in South Africa.
Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™) forest management certification confirms that the forest is being managed in a way that preserves biological diversity and benefits the lives of local people and workers, while ensuring it sustains economic viability.
Congolaise Industrielle des Bois (CIB), a subsidiary of Olam Agri, has become the first company in Africa to complete a Forest Stewardship Council™(FSC™) certified project with the construction of a restaurant for employees of the Wildlife Conservation Society Congo (WCS) and Fondation Nouabale Ndoki (FNN).
FSC International invites you to share your feedback on the FSC Remedy Framework which is open for consultation via the public consultation platform, until 10 May 2022, along with specific aspects of the FSC Policy to Address Conversion and FSC Policy for Association.
Gabon Advanced Wood Sarl (GAW) is a company in Gabon which holds a timber concession. It recently obtained a new Forest Stewardship Council ™ (FSC™) forest management certificate CU-FM/COC-882475 for its Ogooué concession in the south of Gabon, located in the Haut Ogooué and Ogooué Lolo provinces.
Around 1.1 million tonnes of paper and paper packaging are recovered for recycling in South Africa every year. This accounts for just under 70% of paper products available for recovery in the country.
Because of the association of the forest sector in Russia and Belarus with armed conflict, no FSC-certified material or controlled wood from these countries will be permitted to be traded.
The Global Client Survey is an opportunity for FSC certificate holders and promotional licence holders to provide feedback on FSC. It is important for us to understand your needs, concerns and priorities. Moreover, the survey results will help fine-tune our service delivery and the value that FSC provides.
Among consumers, environmental concerns are becoming more important than ever and sustainability now rivals conventional factors such as price and brand as influencers of consumer shopping choices.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has scheduled the targeted revision of the National Risk Assessment (NRA) and National Forest Stewardship Standard (NFSS) for South Africa for 2022/23. As per the FSC processes (FSC-PRO-60-006 and FSC-PRO-60-002), we will establish a chamber balanced working group to support both processes. These processes will be chaired and coordinated by FSC Southern Africa.
The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) mission is to promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests.
FSC Friday 2021 was a great success, with the theme “Save our Forests. Save our Climate” really striking a chord with participants at events and social media as well as online audiences around the world.
The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) has helped bring about a paradigm shift from previous practices to profitable and environmentally responsible production of charcoal by Namibian communities.
Quietly winding its way through the woodlands in eastern Zambia, the Luangwa river passes through the Mbizi Farm, where it is welcomed and celebrated as the aorta of this region, delivering much needed water to villages, farmers and other communities. Where it reaches the FSC™ certified Mbizi Safari Ranch, it takes a breather from the many demands it endures along its long and arduous journey.
Upcoming documentary shows how well-managed logging concessions are areas where animals and ecosystems thrive and support highly sensitive species such as gorillas survive.
One of the major issues of discussion in the last few years in the forestry sector is ecosystem services. How can they be implemented in the field? What is their potential to assure funding for the sustainable forestry activities in the Congo Basin?
‘We have not inherited the forests from our ancestors, we have borrowed these resources from our future generation’, Hon. Keriako Tobiko, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
The Ministry of Environment and Forestry Cabinet Secretary, Honorable Keriako Tobiko, on Friday 8th October 2021, officially launched the Interim National Standard of Kenya at Karura Forest Grounds, Nairobi, Kenya.
Did you know?
More than 30% of the commercial forestry landscape in South Africa is protected for ecological conservation benefits.
Tanzania is set to fast-track forest certification to take care of forests and ensure a sustainable supply of forest products and services.
The Guidelines for the identification, management and monitoring of High Conservation Values (HCV) in the Congo Basin forests are being finalized by the Congo Basin HCV Regional Working Group (HCV-RWG).
What solutions will COP26 bring to the climate change debate? The world waits with bated breath as the international score card will be completed on signatories’ progress in achieving their climate change goals.
"The good news is that even a small amount of time in nature can have an impact on our health. A two-hour forest bathe will help you to unplug from technology and slow down. It will bring you into the present moment to de-stress and relax you. When you connect to nature through all five of your senses, you begin to draw on the vast array of benefits the natural world provides.”
(From Dr Qing Li’s book ‘Shinrin-yoku, The Art and Science of Forest-Bathing’.)
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has released new core labour requirements in its chain of custody certification standard to provide added protection for the rights of workers in all FSC certified operations.
Three-day intensive course on High Conservation Values (HCV) from September 28th to 30th in Sabie, South Africa.
A story of cover loss with great potential for viable recovery.
Libreville, July 29th - FSC, through its network partner FSC Netherlands and its regional office FSC Africa, is engaging in a partnership agreement with Ark2030 to promote the protection and restoration of forest ecosystems in the central African country of Gabon.
On May 16, Parfait Mimbimi Esono passed away at his home in Ekou-Mdoum by Ambam (Meyo center) in the Republic of Cameroon.
FSC suspends and terminates several FSC certificates in the plywood supply chain.
Mpact® is proud to introduce their range of fresh produce trays, made from fluted board. These trays are engineered for packaging of fresh fruit and vegetables such as tomatoes, berries, leafy greens, stone fruit & avocados.
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has a long history of engaging with forest owners, managers, and timber markets on responsible forest management, promoting a new generation of sustainable timber plantations, restoring forest landscapes, and supporting forest-based interventions for wildlife and freshwater climate and people.
Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™) Southern Africa has released online training on the FSC Ecosystem Services Procedure.
The Forest Stewardship Council® is pleased to announce that New Clicks South Africa Limited has signed a promotional license agreement with FSC®.
A passionate and exciting debate is going on in FSC about the best way to ensure robust stewardship of the forests of the world.
“This is not certifiable”. The heavy sediment in the muddy water running from the harvesting site was the last straw and thus rang the words of the first FSC forest management audit in South Africa.
The Forest Stewardship Council® is pleased to announce that New Clicks South Africa Limited has signed a promotional license agreement with FSC®.
On 24 September 2021 we celebrate FSC Friday.
The global target of this project supported by the PPECF is to guarantee the economic viability of an abundant species allowing the survival of responsible management systems in Central Africa. The diversification of species to be offered on the markets is becoming a necessity.
FSC Eastern Africa is happy to announce the production of information materials on FSC certification
The Government of Gabon has issued a groundbreaking decision to certify 100% of Gabonese forest concessions to FSC Standards. This project is supported through a grant from the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
On the occasion of the celebration of the International Day of Forests, March 27, 2021, the regional office of FSC Congo Basin, represented by Mr. George Akwah Neba, coordinator of FSC Congo Basin, and Ms. Nathalie Bouville, FSC Africa Communication Manager, took part in a planting activity.
In April 2021, the regional office of FSC Congo Basin in Gabon and the consulting firm TEREA have jointly organized environmental education sessions in the elementary school Gros Bouquet 1 in Libreville, Gabon.
"Forest for all forever", the FSC motto translates into the permanency of our planet's forests through responsible forest management while leaving no one behind.
The New Forests Company (NFC) is Eastern Africa’s latest recipient of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody certificate (COC) for its forestry operations in Uganda.
A paper tower rolls at a snail’s pace in the emergency lane of a busy street. You have seen these waste collectors before.
The theme for World Health Day 2021 is “Building a fairer, healthier world for everyone
FSC National Standards revision processes were initiated in 2015 in the Congo Basin, in the Republic of Congo, Cameroon and Gabon.
With 25 years of operations in Uganda, Busoga Forestry Company Ltd has a long history of helping communities. In addition to their plantation activities, the company supports community initiatives to improve water access for domestic use in nearby villages.
Nile Fibre Board (NFB), a subsidiary of Nile Plywoods, becomes the newest FSC Forest Management certificate holder in Uganda after taking over Global Woods AG.
A revised FSC Pesticides Policy means new rules for foresters to follow. But more importantly, suggests Manushka Moodley, it should change the way we think.
Launched on 17 March 2021, the “Commercialisation of Bush Biomass in Communal Areas through FSC certification” pilot project supports community forests to test suitable methods for harvesting and processing bush biomass in communal areas through sustainable charcoal production. The initiative is implemented by the Directorate of Forestry and the GIZ Bush Control and Biomass Utilisation Project in partnership with the De-bushing Advisory Service, a division of Namibia Biomass Industry Group with technical expertise by the CMO group.
Find below the Terms of References for this consultancy
An exclusive interview with Dr David Lindley from World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) South Africa, by Gerard Busse, Marketing Manager, Forest Stewardship Council South Africa
2021 marks the start of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration which aims to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide. The intended outcome is to increase eco-logical resilience and productivity by putting trees and forests back into degraded forest landscapes at a massive scale. It is thus no surprise that the theme this year for the United Nation’s International Day of Forests on the 21 March 2021 is “Forest restoration: a path to recovery and well-being”. (FAO 2021)
As we celebrate World Wetlands Day on 02 February, let us reflect on the 2021 theme “Wetlands and Water”, which highlights the contribution of wetlands to the quantity and quality of freshwater on our planet.
As of May 1st, FSC is happy to announce that the Kenya Interim National Norm is effective.
Arrival of Esteban Toja in the FSC Congo Basin staff
From Monday 30 November to Thursday 3 December 2020, a training session on FSC certification was organized for Forestry Officials and held in the Auditorium of the Ministry of Ministry of Water, Forests, Sea and Environment, in charge of the Climate and Land Use Plans.
On Tuesday 17 November 2020, the FSC members of Gabon held an important meeting at the Hotel Hibiscus de Louis in Libreville, Gabon.
FSC Africa is happy to welcome its new Sub Regional Coordinator as of January 1st, 2021.
FSC started discussions with Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to assess potential collaboration
and possible commencement of the certification process for forests in Kenya.
Interview with Women in Forestry Chairwoman and South Forestry Sector Charter Council (FSCC) Executive Director Khosi Mavimbela
The Detpak Grace Bag is a sophisticated, beautiful and stylish generic paper bag option for anyone wanting to differentiate their packaging options.
The standard becomes effective on 15 March 2021.
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Better Globe Forestry (BGF) Limited, a forestry company working in Kenya since 2004 and in Uganda since 2009, has embarked on a journey to obtain FSC certification for its forestry operations in Kenya, to begin with.
ALDI SÜD and ALDI Nord won this year’s Sustainability Heroes Award in the category “Social Commitment” for their charcoal project in Namibia which was realized in cooperation with FSC International. The prize was awarded to a project in which the two leading discount store chains have been supporting sustainable charcoal production in Namibia since 2019. As part of the project, the charcoal was certified according to the Forest Stewardship Council™’s (FSC) ecologically and socially responsible standards.
Ecosystem services refers to the benefits that we obtain from nature, and looks at elements such as water, carbon, biodiversity, soil, recreational services.
FSC is pleased to announce that it will not increase the annual administration fee (AAF) in 2021.
Busoga Forestry Company Ltd. (BFC) a subsidiary of Green Resources AS is the proud recipient of a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody certificate (COC) which has lifted the market appeal for its quality products from a sustainably managed resource.
Operating in the Iringa Region in the Southern highlands of Tanzania, Tractors Ltd, locally known as Mkaa Endelevu is the leading producer of sustainable and organic charcoal briquettes and other bio-waste products which include bio-char, wood vinegar, and the wood preservative – wood tar.
The official publication of the revised FSC national standards for forest certification in Cameroon and Congo.
As Namibia sees climate change increasingly affecting the country, FSC certification has become a sustainable, environmentally and economically beneficial solution, providing better working conditions and future prospects for thousands of small farmers.
As part of its ZERO packaging waste to landfill commitment, Woolworths set ambitious targets of phasing out single-use plastic bags as well as for all its packaging to be reusable or recyclable by 2022.
FSC forest management certificate holders now have a customized, cost-effective and practical tool at their disposal to calculate forest carbon.
The standard becomes effective on 06 January 2021
Two major retailers in South Africa sign Trademark Licence Agreement with FSC
The standard will be effective on 29 December 2020.
Holding the line and moving forward: the roots for a green recovery
FSC Celebrates Forests for All Together on FSC Friday, on Friday, September 25th
In June, FSC Africa organized a webinar training on Ecosystem Services for the Congo Basin stakeholders.
On a chilly Friday in June, Bongiwe Mafuya pulled on her facemask and signed an agreement with FSC® outside the ERS offices near Matatiele. She was joining the CMO Group Scheme, through which FSC-certified charcoal from her emerging business, KwaBhaca Nature Solutions (KwaBhaca means the home of the Bhaca tribe), will be sold into export markets.
Article from STTC review including interviews from ATIBT and FSC General Directors.
Cameroon approved! Final stretch for the Republic of Congo and Gabon.
A milestone for smallholder certification has been achieved in the midst of difficult times with the coronavirus pandemic and increased unemployment in South Africa.
For the first time in Africa, a FSC-certified charcoal production project is rolling out on traditional communal land, linking informal microenterprises in remote areas with big business and markets around the world.
According to a recent Accenture global survey (Webber, 2020) 83% of people surveyed believe it’s important or extremely important for companies to develop products that are meant to be reused or recycled
The South African wooden pole market is a subsector within the forestry sector and forms part of the Forestry Master Plan currently under development. This plan is part of the Public and Private Growth Initiative process.
With over 280 bird species, a variety of mammals and a wide range of plants, Kikonda Central Forest Reserve in Kyankwanzi District, west of Kampala close to the oil city of Hoima has become a model for biodiversity conservation, community empowerment and responsible forest management.
Forestry experts, managers, and owners in Kenya stand to benefit immensely from the rising levels of awareness in forest certification promoted by organized groups with a goal: to strengthen the sharing of knowledge and information for the implementation of responsible forest management and trade in responsibly sourced forest products in Kenya.
Wood identification technologies can make it possible to identify harvest location of timber species Traditional wood anatomy enables scientists to determine genus and family, and sometimes species, depending on the circumstances.
To give a voice to Indigenous Peoples on the continued management and preservation of the world’s forests, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has established the FSC Indigenous Foundation.
We secure Life on Land through responsible management of our forests
The coronavirus pandemic has had, and will continue to have, far-reaching social and economic consequences.
As a key actor in sustainable forest management, the FSC is very involved in the conservation of biodiversity, particularly when it comes to protecting endangered species. We review below some of the actions geared towards the protection of nature in Africa carried out by FSC-certified forestry companies.
FSC's support against the trade of endangered species
Rural communities in South-eastern Tanzania are reaping the fruits of responsible forest manage-ment practices having clinched a multi-million shilling contract to supply FSC certified sawn timber to Grumeti Reserves Eco Lodge in the famous Serengeti National Park.
In the current global health crisis, Africa is the least affected continent with the fewest number of COVID-19 positive cases. However, the pandemic is present in Africa, particularly in South Africa, Egypt and Morocco.
Faced with extreme climate conditions, Namibian farmers have learnt to diversify their activities, especially by producing FSC certified charcoal
What is the impact in the Congo Basin of the FSC rules for protecting Intact Forest Landscapes (IFL)?
National Standards close to being approved
A key step towards responsible forest management in Kenya
The interim national standard for eSwatini will become effective on 14 July 2020.
Given the developments around the global outbreak of COVID-19 and the extensive travel restrictions, we have adjusted our requirements.
For the last few weeks, nature's sounds can be heard again in cities, forests and natural settings are rediscovered. Many speculate about how the world will be different when the covid19 crisis is over. Environmental concerns will be at the forefront of policies. Will it really? Won't all those good intentions soon be forgotten?
Like many organizations around the world, FSC International held its very first virtual staff meeting a few weeks ago.
Namibia has achieved 1,6 million hectares of FSC Forest Management certified area with approximately 320 land owners/managers.
Forestry South Africa research and protection director Dr Ronald Heath talks about how the commercial forestry industry is leading the way in conserving and rehabilitating areas of high biodiversity value and challenges people to think differently about plantations.
Finally, some good news in these difficult times! In total, over 2.9 million hectares of forests are now FSC certified in the Republic of Congo.
FSC forest management standards place strict requirements on forest managers to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem functions.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals, also referred to as the Sus-tainable Development Goals are a universal commitment to ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring human well-being.
A cooperation agreement was signed between the Ministry of Forests of Gabon and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in Libreville on January 31, 2020.
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National standards of 3 countries in the Congo Basin submitted to FSC international by end of 2019
Sustainable forest management has become a vital issue for consumers and governments around the world. Training is an essential part of FSC’s efforts to raise public awareness on the way we use the world’s forest resources.
Namibia’s natural ecosystem is endangered by a terrible drought and the proliferation of invasive species
Gabon is the first country in Africa to take part in the FSC tree library project.
FSC welcomes a new Coordinator for Congo Basin
The ForestStewardship Council (FSC) is currently conducting a pioneering training programme for Indigenous Peoples of the Congo Basin.
FSC Congo Basin took part in the Gabon Wood 2nd edition from 24 to 26 June 2019 in Libreville, Gabon.
To increase business opportunities and new markets for Kenya’s wood sector, the private and public agencies must commit to encourage and promote forest certification for sustainable production and sourcing of wood and related products.
Did you know that buying certified tropical woods products helps preserve the forest?
Our Marketing Manager, Gerard Busse recently attended the South African Initiative on Voluntary Sustainability Standards Conference held in Pretoria earlier this month.
The Forest Stewardship Council is proud to announce the launch of a comprehensive new standard for responsible forest management in Namibia
Gerard Busse is our new Marketing Manager
A vivid account from one of FSC International staff visiting the Congo Basin
Public consultation on FSC policy conversion. Time to register and participate in our webinars
Much has changed at Amathole Forestry Company (Pty)Ltd (AFC) over the past 20 years, but one thing has been constant: it has retained its FSC Forest Management certification throughout this time.
The MTO Group’s Cape plantations in South Africa celebrates more than 20 years of FSC Forest Management certification.
On May 24th,2019, after a three-year journey, UTGA (Uganda Timber Growers Association) obtained the first FSC Group scheme certification in Uganda. It is the first group scheme for plantations in the sub region.
E&C Charcoal and York Timbers are celebrating over 20 years of FSC CoC certification. Both companies were among the first in Africa, and the world, to obtain this certification.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is currently conducting a pioneering training programme for indigenous peoples of the Congo Basin.
Training is for FSC forest management certificate holders, certification bodies and stakeholders who are interested in the ecosystem services concept.
FSC-certified charcoalfrom Namibia exported to Europe consists exclusively of thorn bushes. The invasive species threatens the natural ecosystem there.
FSC is proud to introduce to you its new Regional Director, Harrison Ochieng Kojwang.
The forests of the Congo Basin constitute the second largest area of dense tropical forests in the world, after the Amazon.
NFSS and Risk Assessment for South Africa – Documentsavailable for download
A public consultation on the 2nd Draft of the National Forest Stewardship Standard for Namibia was carried out for 60 days between 23 August – 22 October 2018.
CMO will be offering a variety of courses across the FSC Standards in 2019
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) welcomes the recent announcement by the Republic of Gabon which has mandated for all forestry companies operating in the country to be FSC certified by 2022. This move will increase the global area of FSC certification by around 13 million hectares in the next 5 years.
New Forests Rwanda Limited has officially received Forest Stewardship Council certification for the Nyungwe Buffer zone plantation in Rwanda.
Braam Steenkamp of the Warburton Sawmill and farm in Warburton Mpumalanga, South Africa is the winner of the 2018 Sappi Forests’ Forest Stewardship Council Group Scheme Farmer of the Year award.
LevasFlor, an FSC Certified company operating out of Mozambique, is planning to expand their market to Europe and South Africa by 2020. The company founded in 2006 operates a forest concession of 46 000 hectares of Miombo woodlands in Sofala Province.
Tanzania have become the second African country to publish its FSC National Forest Stewardship Standards based on the latest version of the FSC Principles & Criteria.
I spent the last week of August at back to back conferences in Nairobi on the topic of Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) which is the modern jargon for planting trees (and much more too).
The Namibian SDG is seeking comments on the field tested Draft of NFSS for Namibia. Public consultation will be open for comment for 60 days from 23 August – 22 October 2018
This draft of the NRA for eSwatini has been developed through the collaboration of a Working Group with national representatives from the environmental, social, and economic interest groups as well as stakeholder engagement with key experts
Uganda becomes the first country in Africa to publish the FSC National Forest Stewardship Standard (NFSS) based on Version 5 of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Principles and Criteria (P&C). The standard will be effective from 1st September 2018.
Prior to the business encounter on 18 June, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Congo Basin office held a meeting for their French-speaking members in Libreville, Gabon.
On 19 June 2018, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Congo Basin office in partnership with FSC Netherlands hosted a Business Encounter in Gabon.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is looking to achieve Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification for their 3 national parks by 2020.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Africa was of the exhibitors at the 2018 Gabon Wood, Woodworking & Forestry Show.
I have long been inspired by FSC’s mission to attach concrete value to responsible management of forests, especially in those countries where under-resourced law enforcement has led to negative perceptions about the ethics of forest products originated there.
In February 2018, FSC International approved the proposal to develop a National Risk Assessment (NRA) for eSwatini.
On 12 June 2018, The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) hosted a meeting in Maputo with various stakeholders to continue the process of developing FSC National Forest Stewardship Standard (NFSS) for Mozambique.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Director General Kim Carstensen, the Interim Regional Director, Mr. Steve Ball and the East Africa Project Manager, Mrs. Annah Agasha met with the Uganda Minister of Water and Environment Hon. Sam Cheptoris on 02 June 2018 in Kampala.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Africa conducted a 3-day FSC forest management course in Nairobi, Kenya from 19-21 February 2018
A public consultation to generate feedback on the first draft of the Namibian NFSS was carried
out for 61 days between 01 February 2018 and 02 April 2018.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Director General Kim Carstensen will meet with the Uganda Minister of Water and Environment Hon. Sam Cheptoris on 02 June 2018 in Kampala.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is pleased to announce it has appointed Steve Ball as FSC Interim Regional Director for Africa.
The National Risk Assessment (NRA) was approved on 03 April 2018 and shall be used in implementing V3-1 of the standard.
FSC Africa Regional Director Chris Burchmore Steps down
Bush encroachment is estimated to affect up to 26 million ha (32%) of Namibia’s land and has severe negative consequences on key ecosystem services, especially agricultural productivity and groundwater recharge. Agricultural productivity in Namibia has declined by two thirds throughout the past decades, mainly due to the negative impact of bush encroachment. The phenomenon affects both commercial and communal farming in Namibia, mostly the central, eastern and north-eastern regions.
The Uganda Timber Growers Association (UTGA) in collaboration with FSC Africa embarked on the roadmap to meet the Forest Stewardship Council (FSCTM) standard for responsible forestry. UTGA are using the flexibility of the group certification model and starting off with a small pilot group of six members. working towards attaining the certificate by the end of 2018.
Forestry has a bright future in Africa with a potential to create employment opportunities for local communities those are the words of Barry Cole is a timber farmer in Sutherland, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification system has been around for over 20 years. The FSC issues three different types of certificates: Forest Management, Chain of Custody and Controlled Wood. The different types of certificates relate to different stages of production and subsequent progress of forest products through the value chain. Verification against all FSC requirements ensures that materials and products with the FSC label are from responsibly managed forests.
The process to develop a National Forest Stewardship Standard (NFSS) in Namibia is underway!
The process to develop a National Forest Stewardship Standard (NFSS) in Namibia is underway!
FSC Africa will be facilitating a course for Lead Auditors in Forest Management and Chain of Custody in February 2018, Douala, Cameroon.
The year 2017 was a very busy and fruitful one for FSC Africa and culminated into the 8th FSC General Assembly in Vancouver, Canada.
The Tanzanian Standards Development Group (SDG) received notification in July 2017 from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Policy and Standard Unit (PSU) that a decision had been made by the Policy and Standard Committee (PSC) over the Tanzanian National Forest Stewardship Standards (NFSS).
FSC Southern Africa hosted its 3rd on-site Chain of Custody (CoC) course at the SGS Training Centre in Johannesburg on 4-5 December 2017. The course provided both potential certificate holders and certified companies with an improved understanding of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) CoC requirements.
In its 65th meeting in March 2014 the FSC International Board of Directors requested the FSC Secretariat to develop a FSC system wide solution for certificate holders’ compliance with fundamental workers’ rights (as expressed in the ILO Core Conventions and defined in the 1998 ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work).
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is proud to announce that Woolworths South Africa and Woodlands Dairy have become the first African companies to sign “The Vancouver Declaration” which was launched on 10 October 2017 at the FSC General Assembly.
Forest Stewardship Council certified Mpingo Conservation & Development Initiative (MCDI) plans to expand sawn timber production to two more villages in Tanzania 2018.
Sappi the world largest producers of dissolving wood pulp were one of the silver sponsors of the 2017 FSC General Assembly.
Woodlands Dairy a local, Eastern Cape based processor of farm fresh milk, who produce, and package high quality dairy products has become one of the signatories of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) “Vancouver Declaration” which was launched on 10 October 2017 at the FSC General Assembly.
Confirmation of inaccuracies in the charcoal supply chain will lead to mandatory transaction verification and fibre testing starting in quarter four of 2017
The FSC priority project: ‘Streamline the Normative Framework’ was initiated in early 2017 to develop and test tools that incorporate principles of risk management into the development and revision processes of normative documents
FSC Africa is looking for an individual consultant or company to conduct a gap analysis study in Uganda for a smallholder group that aims to acquire FSC group certification in 2018.
First days of the FSC 08th General Assembly have been a great opportunity to discuss – maybe for the first time for all Congo Basin stakeholders together - specific issues related to Congo Basin forests, especially around Intact Forest Landscapes (IFLs), Motion 65 implementation at the sub-regional level and next milestones to be taken.
Forestry company global-woods faces Uganda’s major challenge of land tenure by understanding exactly why farmers encroach on reserves: they do it to make a living for themselves and their families.
Twenty years ago, the South African Forestry Company (SAFCOL) plunged into the dark: it obtained one of the earliest FSC certificates in the world for its Komatiland Forests (KLF) operations.
Harvesting native bush to produce an FSC-certified fuel log called Bushblok is a crucial leg in the race to save Namibia’s wild cheetah from extinction. At the same time, the operation encourages growth of a biomass industry with spin-offs that include more jobs and better income.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is proud to announce that Woolworths South Africa has become the first African company to sign “The Vancouver Declaration” which was launched on 10 October 2017 at the FSC General Assembly.
Controlled Wood claims allow uncertified materials to be used in products with FSC “Mix” labels
Read about how FSC enable a local community in Uganda to engage.
Read about the journey of the South African Forestry Company (SAFCOL) 20 years journey of their Komatiland Forests (KLF) operations being FSC certified and howFSC certified Bushblok assist with cheetah conservation in Namibia
Case Study – South Africa
Important issue regarding the upcoming FSC GA
“Sustainable forestry is good business. It shows, for instance, as better planning of operations, financial management, cooperation with local people – and at the end of the day, as better products, too,” says Chris Burchmore, Director of FSC Africa.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is implementing the New Approaches project as a priority project globally. Launched as a FSC global project in 2016, New Approaches to Smallholder Certification (New Approaches) aims to improve access to, and uptake of, the FSC system by small forest owners and communities.
SDG News covering the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Gabon and Republic of Congo
Thanks to PPECF-COMIFAC and WWF-US support, the FSC Congo Basin Office started in 2015 to develop a Regional Guideline to identify, manage, and monitor High Conservation Values (HCV) from the Congo Basin forests.Thanks to PPECF-COMIFAC and WWF-US support, the FSC Congo Basin Office started in 2015 to develop a Regional Guideline to identify, manage, and monitor High Conservation Values (HCV) from the Congo Basin forests.
Woodlands Dairy a local, Eastern Cape processor of farm fresh milk, who produce and package high quality dairy products has achieved 100% FSC logo on package.
In an unprecedented collaborative effort, Woolworths, Avery-Dennison and Rotolabel have jointly put the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) seal of approval on labelling material.
The FSC Principles and Criteria (P&C) set out the global requirements for achieving FSC forest management certification.
The South African National Risk Assessment (NRA) process began in early 2017 with the establishment of a NRA Working Group
On 8 September 2017, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, Universal Paper Manufacturers (UPM) opened doors to their new Green Field Tissue Mill in Ga-Rankuwa outside Pretoria.
FSC Africa in partnership with the Builders and Workers International (BWI) Africa Middle East Region hosted an FSC training session in Durban, South Africa on 13 -15 September 2017.
SDG-SA would like to thank all those who submitted comments on the Draft 3 forest-tested version of the SA national FSC standard.
A year after the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted, implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) it introduced has gained momentum.
In December of 2016, China announced that it will be banning all commerce in ivory by the end of 2017, a move that would shut down the world’s largest ivory market and could deal a critical blow to the practice of elephant poaching in Africa.
FSC joined the Global Partnership on Forest Landscape Restoration in 2016. In 2017, FSC is taking an exciting step to participate in the Global Partnership on Forest Landscape Restoration, which aims to restore 150 million hectares of the world’s deforested and degraded land by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030.
During our 2016 members meeting in Johannesburg, our members asked us to create more platforms and opportunities to improve communication between different chambers and also create a more unified Africa membership base.
As part of efforts to protect the country’s hardwood forests, the Mozambican parliament unanimously passed a bill that will ban the export of unprocessed timber logs.
At a factory in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, workers steam-cook beans in big metal containers, before cooling and packaging them for sale. The beans can be reheated in 15 minutes or less, requiring far less firewood than the two to three hours it would take to cook them from scratch.
The FSC General Assembly is FSC’s highest decision-making body.
Every three years, members of the social, environmental and economic chambers of FSC come together to discuss a sustainable future for the world’s forests and the people who inhabit them.
There will be many exciting training opportunities available for interested stakeholders throughout 2017.
The Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC) international Board of Directors has approved a new approach for addressing misleading and false claims in the FSC system. The set of actions compliments the newly revised CoC standard.
Villagers of south-eastern Tanzania have been working hard to save a small scruffy tree from obliteration. In the process, they have found that they are saving themselves.
1 January 2017 – The FSC Board of Directors has approved revised FSC chain-of-custody standards FSC-STD-40-004 V3-0 and FSC-STD-20-011 V4-0. The revised standards will become effective on 1 April 2017.
The Policy and Standards Director and the Steering Committee of Motion 65 have approved a new advice note for the interpretation of the default clause of Motion 65 (ADV-20-007-018 V1-0). It became effective on 1 January 2017.
All FSC stakeholders are invited to join a consultation on the possible introduction of a voluntary FSC Carbon Footprint Procedure. This procedure would assist FSC certificate holders in quantifying the greenhouse gas emissions and climate benefits related to FSC-certified materials and products. The consultation period runs from 29 November 2016 to 10 January 2017.
Take a look at this great advert for Danao, Danone.
This will be the last opportunity to comment prior to submission to the FSC for approval. Closing date for stakeholder comment is 30th January, 2017.
This is a reminder to take part in the FSC Controlled Wood Strategy Survey. The results of this survey will help shape the future of the Controlled Wood Program and FSC in general. Therefore, we strongly encourage you, as an FSC stakeholder, to make your opinions known.
In this guest special, Chairperson of the FSC International Board of Directors, Rulita Wijayaningdyah describes her first-hand experience of gender equality, and inequality, in the forestry industry.
Dear FSC Network partners,
We are happy to announce that the FSC Controlled Wood Strategy survey is online! If your e-mail address was on one of the mailing lists FSC IC has access to, you should have received an invitation e-mail with a personalized link.
Authored and first published by Meindert Brouwer in his book Central African Forests Forever.
The rainforest concession of timber producer IFO in the north of the Republic of Congo is the largest FSC-certified single Forest concession in Africa.
ASI opened a public consultation on 20 October, to gather input on the 2017 Assessment Schedule. We invited ASI Stakeholders via the ASI Newsletter.
On 22 September, the African Development Bank (AfDB) announced that it had granted approval for $24 million to be channelled towards restoring degraded forest reserves and doubling a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified forest plantation in Ghana.
On 13-14 October, FSC staff and members gathered at the Leriba Hotel and Spa in Johannesburg, South Africa for what promised to be a very eventful two days! This was the third in a global series of regional members meetings.
A global first: a brand new campaign that celebrates the (keyboard) power of South Africans was launched in October 2016. The campaign aims to help ordinary South Africans understand what impact the content of their shopping baskets and smart devices can have on saving the planet and empowering local communities.
On 13-14 September, a group of 36 experts from allover the world (all linked to East and southern Africa), with different professional backgrounds assembled in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This diverse group of individuals were invited by FSC to provide their input to the first Eastern and Southern Africa expert engagement workshop on smallholder certification.
The 11th Scientific Conference of FSK took place from 27-30 September in Eldoret, Kenya. The FSK is a membership organization of professional foresters in Kenya.
Every year, FSC celebrates a global day of awareness around responsible forest management on the last Friday of September.
FSC invites all stakeholders to comment on a draft report containing generic criteria and indicators for compliance with the principles of the International Labour Organization (ILO) core conventions. The consultation period opens on 10 October 2016 and closes on 08 December 2016.
Last month, after extensive stakeholder feedback, the FSC International Board of Directors decided to revise the default indicator in motion 65 due to the potential for significant undesired side effects in priority Intact Forest Landscape (IFL) countries. As a result, FSC is seeking input on updated guidelines for motion 65 implementation in Brazil, Canada, the Congo Basin, and Russia through a public consultation that will close on 6 December 2016.
FSC is calling on certificate holders and trademark service licence holders to participate in its 2016 Global Market Survey. We would like to thank those who have already completed the survey – your feedback is really appreciated.
The Controlled Wood strategy process, headed by the FSC Board Strategy Planning committee, is now underway! If you are confused about the current state of Controlled Wood (CW), or just want to know more about it, you can now listen to our podcast.
Following the first meeting of the High Conservation Values (HCV) Regional Working Group and the second Intact Forest Landscapes (IFL) Solutions Forum, held in June and July 2016 respectively, a joint meeting was organized on 01st September 2016 in Paris by WWF and ATIBT (Association Technique Internationale des Bois Tropicaux) to discuss the outcomes of these two important working sessions and plans to move forward, in collaboration with FSC.
The concept of High Conservation Values (HCV), initially developed as part of the FSC Principles and Criteria, is applied widely today in relation to the management of natural resources, in forestry, agriculture, biofuels/biomaterials, and other areas.
Whilst recognising that smallholders are yet to be fully integrated in the supply chain of forest products, the Farm Forestry Small Producers Association of Kenya (FFSPAK) has decided to work closely with FSC East Africa Office to promote FSC certification amongst its country-wide membership.
On 09 September 2016, the use of Alpha-Cypermethrin, Cypermethrin and Deltamethrin in South Africa was approved by the FSC pesticides committee for specific certificate holders.
It has come to our attention that due to a server malfunction, the message sent yesterday regarding the language preference selection for the FSC Africa newsletter was received multiple times by some stakeholders.
The National FSC standard development process is on track and the innovative approach adopted by the Standard Development Group (SDG-SA) has attracted international attention and commendation. SDG-SA elected at the outset to develop a Standard tailored to the South African timber plantation industry that could be applied to all scales of forestry, very much in line with the FSC’s global strategic plan.
FSC International recently permitted the launch of the South African National Risk Assessment (NRA) process. The NRA Working Group is yet to be established and a proposal submitted to FSC International.
FSC Africa has commenced the process of the Centralised National Risk Assessment (CNRA) in Swaziland with Category 3.
After extensive stakeholder feedback, the FSC International Board of Directors has decided to revise the default indicator in motion 65 due to the potential for significant undesired side effects in priority IFL countries. The board also concluded that guidelines for Indigenous Cultural Landscapes (ICLs) would need to be integrated into the implementation of motion 65.
The decision record of FSC International Board Meeting (BM) 72 provides a quick overview of important decisions made during the latest board meeting.
With the release of a new guidance document on gender equality, empowering women in the workplace is expected to take centre stage in FSC’s national forest standards.
It has come to the attention of the FSC Africa office that fraudulent claims of on-site visits by fraudsters posing as FSC International are on-going in various countries in Southern Africa.
At Sustainable brands 2016 in Cape Town in May, Tetra Pak, South African Airways (SAA) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) came together to share their views on the importance of building market demand from environmentally conscious consumers to move sustainable commodities further into the mainstream.
Effective 16 August 2016, Accreditation Services International (ASI) has lifted the suspension of FSC-accredited certification body Exova BM Trada. The company is qualified for FSC Chain of Custody (CoC) certification worldwide and to date has issued over 2400 valid FSC CoC certificates.
On 30 September 2016, FSC offices, certificate holders, members, and partners will host a series of events around the world designed to celebrate and raise awareness about responsible forest management and the role that FSC plays in it.
FSC Africa attended the 2016 Namibian Charcoal Association Conference in early August 2016, delivering a presentation and addressing queries at the exhibition that followed.
In 2006, FSC set out to develop a web-based platform that would integrate forest management data with independently generated maps which would be accessible to all FSC stakeholders.
A guide to where you’ll find responsibly-sourced FSC forest products at the Rio Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games
FSC Southern Africa has commenced the process of the Centralised National Risk Assessment (CNRA) in Swaziland with Category 3.
During the 2011 FSC General Assembly, the FSC Membership passed Policy Motion 51 to ‘Strengthen the Controlled Wood System’. The motion includes a revision of the Controlled Wood Standard (FSC-STD-40-005), an evaluation of existing risk assessments, the phasing out of company-developed Risk Assessments and the development of FSC National Controlled Wood Risk Assessments.
The FSC Africa team is growing! We are proud to welcome two new staff members.
Progress has been made towards finalizing National Forest Stewardship Standards for a number of countries:
Registration is now open for FSC International Membership Regional Meetings. Members will have the opportunity to prepare for FSC General Assembly 2017 through the meetings.
A recent workshop in Brazzaville brought together a HCV Regional Working Group and 35 experts from the fields of HCVs and Intact Forest Landscapes in order to determine the way forward for developing a FSC HCV Congo Basin Regional Guideline. Outcomes included a clear timeframe for the development of a draft document, and a strategy for the increased involvement of indigenous and local communities in the process.
An interest-balanced working group has been established to revise the FSC Pesticides Policy. The working group comprises six stakeholders and three technical experts, who together represent both Southern and Northern perspectives of the social, environmental, and economic interests of FSC. The group will be responsible for developing a practical and realistic approach to pesticide use for FSC.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is proud to announce that South African Airways (SAA) has signed a memorandum of understanding to become one of the growing number of FSC partners in Africa. This decision reinforces the airline’s commitment to sustainability and to bolstering its environmental performance. It is also aground-breaking partnership, as SAA is the first airline worldwide to partner with FSC.
In mid-June 2016, the African Forest Forum (AFF) in partnership with the Forestry Research institute of Ghana (FORIG) and the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) organized the second short training course on Forest Certification in Accra, Ghana. The first course was aimed at the East and Southern Africa sub regions, and the second at the West and Central Africa sub regions.
From 9-11 June 2016, FSC Africa staff members attended the 4th bi-annual WoodEx exhibition, where we displayed a variety of FSC certified products ranging from packaging to wooden flooring, shutters and even lawn dressing.
A new book by conservationist and author Meindert Brouwer provides an interesting first-hand account of the realities of FSC certification in the Congo Basin as seen through the eyes of Congolese workers. “Central African Forests Forever” is Brouwer’s third book and covers themes ranging from forests to climate change and the empowerment of women.
We sat down with him to talk about his journey as an author and what led to his latest work.
High Conservation Values are defined by FSC as areas that are of particularly high importance for social or environmental reasons.
A cornerstone of the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) ethos of protecting forests for future generations is raising consumer awareness and encouraging ethical choices.
Public consultation on the FSC-STD-40-004 V3-0 Chain of Custody Certification standard is now open.
The first draft of the SA National FSC standard was released for public comment in early January this year. The Draft standard was emailed to an extensive mailing list of stakeholders from all three FSC chambers and across the spectrum of growers in South Africa. A downloadable version of the draft standard can be found here.
As stipulated by Policy Motion 12 of the 2014 Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) General Assembly (GA) – a motion that was supported by the Environmental, Social and Economic chambers – a chamber-balanced working group was established to address conversion related issues.
On a recent field-visit, Annah Agasha Project Manager at the FSC Africa Regional Office in Uganda, took a closer look at the Ssese Island Nature Conservation and Tourism Association (SENCATA) project activities and discussions with SENCATA’s project managers. The main objective was to evaluate the association’s progress on its 2015 SHF project activities.
FSC is looking for stakeholders and technical experts (not exclusive to FSC membership) to join an interest-balanced working group to revise our pesticides policy. The group will identify the best feasible approach to reducing the use of chemical pesticides in FSC-certified operations, and to preventing, minimizing and mitigating the environmental and social impacts of chemical pesticide use.
The Forest Stewardship Council Board of Directors recently approved the Requirements for Sourcing FSC Controlled Wood (FSC-STD-40-005 V3-0). The standard has now been published on the FSC International website, and it is planned that it will enter into force on 1 July 2016.
An extension of the Forest Certification of Ecosystem Services (ForCES) project was announced during the project’s fifth annual meeting, held in Edinburgh, United Kingdom in November. Participants welcomed the extension, and during the meeting agreed an action plan for the final year of the project.
El Corte Inglés’ recent campaign showcased FSC’s new Forests For All Forever branding and promoted FSC-certified paper products.
Below is a new paper by FSC’s Chief Advocacy Officer, John Hontelez, on the impact of deforestation, what it is and how it may be curtailed.
At COP21, FSC highlighted the varied solutions and tools available to governments and businesses in fighting climate change.
50 Per Cent LabellingThreshold Extended Until New Chain of Custody Standard Becomes Effective
Authored and first published by ISEAL Alliance.
Sourcing FSC certified paperboard helps global carton manufacturer engage with customers and mitigate risk
The high conservation value (HCV) concept was developed by the Forest Stewardship Council at the end of the 1990s and has since been widely applied to identify and to attribute social and/or environmental values to particular landscape features.
This month FSC Denmark has re-launched the Lesser Known Timber Species website and database. The old database was the world leader of its kind and heavily used. The new version comes with more species, more functionality, more pictures and a renewed focus on end-use of a species. The goal is to increase the use of FSC certified lesser known timber species as a way to support forest biodiversity as well as economy.
FSC is currently looking for a Communications Manager Africa (m/f) to be based in South Africa.
Deadline for applications: 28 February 2016.
FSC is currently looking for a Sub-Regional Coordinator Southern Africa (m/f) to be based in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Deadline for applications: 21 February 2016.
FSC is currently looking for a HCV Officer (m/f) for the FSC Congo Basin Office.
Deadline for applications: 14 February 2016.
The first draft of the National FSC Standard has been released for public consultation (see standard here). This is the first phase of a 6-month consultation period (see timetable here). The consultation period for Version 1.0 is 04 January to 29 February 2016.
FSC is delighted to inform you that the first draft of the revised trademark standard FSC-STD-50-001(V2-0) is now out for public consultation, accompanied by a discussion paper containing two alternative models of making on-product claims with FSC labels.
The FSC East Africa office recently facilitated an exchange of information forum in Kenya.
WWF and PPECF (Programme to Promote Certified Operations in Central Africa, implemented by COMIFAC, the Commission of Central African Forests and funded by KfW, the German Development Bank) are the main supporters for FSC activities conducted in Congo Basin.
During 2015, FSC Congo Basin Office participated in the major events of the forestry sector in Congo Basin establishing a visible and significant presence in the region.
Africa’s interests are strongly represented in FSC’s efforts to develop a solution for certificate-holders to comply with workers’ rights, with Jeanette Clarke heading the southern chapter of the Social Chamber and Paul Opanga acting as coordinator of the consultative forum.
Timber, often from plantations smaller than a hectare, is the major income source in the Manguzi and Ozwathini areas in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal.
Timber, often from plantations smaller than a hectare, is the major income source in the Manguzi and Ozwathini areas in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal.
Sustainable use of forest products from East Africa got a boost with a three-day training session in FSC Management Certification in Morogoro, Tanzania earlier this year.
South Africa’s premier green building convention hosted by the Green Building Council of South Africa drew over 700 paying delegates for a week of networking, knowledge-sharing and inspiration towards a future that is full of better buildings.
Is your country participating in the Transfer Process? Are you developing or transferring your national standard to Version 5 of the Principles and Criteria (See here for a detailed, clear explanation of the process)?
The global forestry sector could play a powerful role in empowering rural women through land tenure, delegates at the In Good Company (IGC) forest stewardship workshop heard in Durban recently.
The world’s emerging markets, including Africa, generally have a bounty of natural resources, but the perception that these resources are being stripped and consumed wholesale by developed economies must be reconsidered.
Two newly-released studies show that a corporate commitment to environmental sustainability not only fulfils an ethical responsibility, but also delivers tangible returns to the bottom line.
Following months of development, the new FSC 2015 Market Info Pack is available for download here. The pack is a powerful business-to-business tool that represents the evolution of the state of FSC certification and a comprehensive overview of forest-product sectors and market trends.
Please join the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in welcoming Italcotto and CMO Logistics to the growing number of organisations with FSC Trademark License Agreements (TLAs).
FSC recently published a new advice note within the FSC Directive on Chain of Custody Certification (FSC-DIR-40-004).
Motion 65 in Congo Basin will be addressed within the implementation of a project called the HCV (High Conservation Values) Congo Basin Roadmap (Roadmap can be downloaded here).
After two rounds of consultations and following feedback from key stakeholders (forest managers, Greenpeace, WWF, FSC members, international experts and PPECF Programme managers), a roadmap to define the modalities of identification, monitoring and management of High Conservation Value (HCV) areas in Congo Basin forests was finalised in July.
The Standard Development Group of Democratic Republic of Congo (see image) has been strengthened by the efforts of the PSU Officer for Congo Basin over the last eight months.
In Gabon, the Standard Development Group (see image) has completed the examination of the International Generic Indicators after four working sessions, and is currently working on the first draft.
The Congolese Standard Development Group met five times in 2015 and is now reviewing Draft 0 of the new National Standards, which will be sent out for public consultation in the coming weeks.
The Cameroonian Standard Development Group (see image) has held four technical working sessions this year to work on transfer of International generic Indicators to National Standard for Cameroonian Standards.
Tanzania began developing a new standard based on the New Principles and Criteria after the Standard Development Group (SDG) was constituted in a meeting held on 17th February.
In 2013 the FSC released the revised Principles and Criteria, followed in 2014 by a set of International Generic Indicators (IGIs).
With the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals highlighted this month, Director General Kim Carstensen explains why all claims to ‘sustainability’ should not be considered equally…
FSC director Kim Carstensen explains that achieving sustainable forest management requires understanding that the forest provides far more than the value of its timber
Timber, often from plantations smaller than a hectare, is the major income source in the Manguzi and Ozwathini areas in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal.
Timber, often from plantations smaller than a hectare, is the major income source in the Manguzi and Ozwathini areas in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) calls on business to support the global efforts to limit climate change through new initiatives such as those taken by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
FSC Director Kim Carstensen believes responsibly run forest plantations can play a huge role in biodiversity, sustainability and climate change mitigation, which is why many warrant FSC certification.
BONN, Germany (14 August 2014) – The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) announced today that it decided to lift the disassociation from the Danzer Group, after independent verification confirmed that the company had met the criteria required by FSC.
FSC Certification of Tropical Forests, Markets and Marketing
From January 1st 2014 FSC will introduce a revised Annual Administration Fee Policy (FSC-POL-20-005 V2) for all certified companies within the FSC system. The Annual Administration Fee (AAF) was established to support FSC’s core functions and services for, the Certificate Holders (CH), and has not been adjusted since 2008.
From October 1st 2013, Mathieu Auger-Schwartzenberg is appointed as FSC’s Sub Regional Coordinator for Congo Basin. Mathieu will be based in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
On the invitation of the His Excellency Henri Djombo, Minister of Forestry and Sustainable Development of the Republic of Congo, an FSC delegation led by FSC’s Director General Kim Carstensen and including FSCs Regional Director for Africa, Chris Burchmore and the FSC Global Network Director, Gemma Boetekees, visited stakeholders in The Republic of Congo from 17 to 20 July 2013. The visit by FSC covered Brazzaville and Pokola, centre of the FSC certified forest concessions of Congolaise Industrie de Bois (CIB) of OLAM.
FSC’s current global strategy includes several objectives related to promoting responsible forest management in natural forests in the tropics.
FSC international is very pleased to announce that Chris Burchmore has been appointed as FSC’s Regional Director for Africa, starting on the 1st of June. He will establish the Regional Office for Africa in South Africa, and will coordinate the establishment of an East Africa Coordinator and a Congo Basin Coordinator, who will both be part of the African Regional Office. His mission will be to lead and coordinate the establishment and implementation of a FSC African Regional Strategy, in close cooperation with FSC Network Partners in Africa and FSC International.
FSC certification has proved to be a powerful tool that has advanced the application of strict monitoring standards for forest management in tropical Africa.
Rougier is a major stakeholder among certified tropical timber companies in Africa, and member of FSC France. On 25 March 2013, Rougier announced FSC certification of three concessions in Cameroon’s Mbang Forest, operated by its subsidiary Société Forestière et Industrielle de la Doumé (SFID).
In January 2011, the world’s first FSC certified woodwind instrument was put on sale, sourced from certified forests in Tanzania.
Decision due to reputational risks for FSC linked to stakeholder disputes in the Democratic Republic of Congo
FSC and PEFC, the two organisations together accounting for some 98% of the world’s certified forests and chain of custody certificates, called upon members of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to not support a proposal for an ISO standard to be developed for certified forest products as it stands.
Old growth forests, identified as high conservation values through FSC certification, protect habitat for the endangered Amur tiger in the Russian Far East
FSC certification brings better wildlife management in Gabon’s forest concessions.
FSC certification of community forests helps access international markets for non-timber forest products and leads to better forest management.