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The Forest Stewardship Council
Setting the Standard for Responsible Forestry
Forestry certification and potential links with
climate change mitigation
Liviu Amariei
Senior Accreditation Advisor
Accreditation Business Unit
6 December 2003
FSC Trademark

1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C. FSC-SECR-0002
CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan
 International Forest Management
Standards-Setting & Accreditation Body
 Founded in 1993
 Non-Profit Membership Organization
 600 Members from more than 60 Countries
FSC Trademark

1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C. FSC-SECR-0002
CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan
The mission statement
The Forest Stewardship Council A.C.
(FSC) shall promote environmentally
appropriate, socially beneficial, and
economically viable management of the
world's forests.
FSC Trademark

1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C. FSC-SECR-0002
CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan
Forest Certification is:
 Assessment of on-theground forest practices
against a negotiated set
of standards
FSC Trademark

1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C. FSC-SECR-0002
CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan
ACCREDITATION BODY
Accreditation standards
CERTIFICATION
BODY
(independent, third party)
Forest stewardship standards
FORESTRY OPERATION
FSC Trademark

1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C. FSC-SECR-0002
CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan
Main activities
Standardization
(P&C, other International, National and Regional Standards)
Accreditation
(12 accredited certification bodies, 3 applicants)
Policy guidance and assistance
Educational activities
FSC Trademark

1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C. FSC-SECR-0002
CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan
 Balanced, Multi-Stakeholder Participation
 Representation of environmental, economic,
and social interests
 Participation of industry, environmental
groups, community groups, governments
FSC Trademark

1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C. FSC-SECR-0002
CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Belize
Bolivia
Brazil
Canada
China
Costa Rica
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Guatemala
Honduras
Indonesia
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Latvia
Malaysia
FSC Trademark

Mexico
Namibia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Poland
Russia
Singapore
Solomon Islands
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
United Kingdom
United States
Vietnam
Zambia
Zimbabwe
1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C. FSC-SECR-0002
Certification to FSC
standards is expanding:
 40,000.000 ha
 560 forests and
2600 manufacturing
companies in 66 countries
 8000+ products labeled
with FSC “checkmark &
tree” logo
CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan
Embraced by Leading Retailers:
FSC Trademark

1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C. FSC-SECR-0002
CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan
Adopted by Forest Products Companies
FSC Trademark

1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C. FSC-SECR-0002
CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan
Supported by Responsible Companies &
Institutions
FSC Trademark

1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C. FSC-SECR-0002
CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan
Endorsed by Recognized Environmental
Organizations
WWF
Greenpeace
Friends of the Earth
The Wilderness Society
Natural Resources Defense Council
Sierra Club
World Resources Institute
FSC Trademark

1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C. FSC-SECR-0002
CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan
“In our opinion,
FSC sets the
highest standard.”
Suzanne Apple
Vice President
Community Affairs &
Environment
The Home Depot
FSC Trademark

1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C. FSC-SECR-0002
Forest Certification to FSC
standards is the global “gold
standard” for
forest
management.
The most important asset:
the CREDIBILITY
Values:
participation
multi-stakeholder
balance
transparency
accountability
truth in labeling
CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan
Forests as carbon sinks: important issues to consider
Political implications:
how individual countries honor international commitments
Social aspects:
plantations, access for local communities, labor issues
Environmental impacts:
biodiversity, conversion, pesticide use
FSC Trademark

1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C. FSC-SECR-0002
CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan
Forestry certification and climate change
The 1st link
Forestry Carbon projects should:
 Ensure not only carbon sequestration, but also
measurable social, environmental and
economic benefits
 Operate according to an internationally recognized
forestry standard such as the
FSC Principles and Criteria for forest management
FSC Trademark

1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C. FSC-SECR-0002
CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan
The FSC forestry standard: 10 Principles and 56 Criteria for
responsible forest management representing an international
frame standard for the development of national or regional
performance-based standards.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Compliance with laws
Tenure and use rights
Indigenous people’s rights
Community relations and
workers rights
5. Benefits from the forests
FSC Trademark

1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C. FSC-SECR-0002
6.
7.
8.
9.
Environmental impact
Management plans
Monitoring and Assessment
Maintenance of High
Conservation Value forests
10. Plantations
CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan
Forestry certification and climate change
The 2nd link
Measurement of carbon sinks
In addition to the management standard for forestry carbon
projects, certification could be applied as an effective
mechanism for the verification of claims and commitments
related to carbon sequestration in forests.
FSC Trademark

1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C. FSC-SECR-0002
CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan
An international standard for
forestry carbon projects?
Some pre-requisites:
a widely accepted methodology for measuring
carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems
forestry accepted by a wide range of stakeholder
groups as a valid means for the mitigation of climate
change
availability of funds for standards development work
FSC Trademark

1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C. FSC-SECR-0002
CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan
Subject to the availability of a widely accepted methodology
for measuring carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems, as
an international standardization body FSC could participate
in the development of a comprehensive standard for forestry
carbon projects, considering not only management aspects,
but also criteria and norms for verifying claims and
commitments related to carbon sequestration in forests.
FSC Trademark

1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C. FSC-SECR-0002
CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan
FSC Trademark

1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C. FSC-SECR-0002
CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan