FSC

Forest Stewardship Council

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a globally recognized, non-profit organization that sets standards for responsible forest management. FSC certification ensures that forests are managed in ways that preserve biodiversity, respect the rights of workers and local communities, and promote economic sustainability.

There are two main types of FSC certification:

  • Forest Management (FM): For forest owners and managers to prove their operations are environmentally sound, socially beneficial, and economically viable.
  • Chain of Custody (CoC): For companies that process, manufacture, or trade forest-based products and want to ensure materials come from FSC-certified sources.

The FSC certification scheme is designed to:

  • Promote environmentally appropriate forest use that conserves biodiversity and ecosystem integrity.
  • Ensure socially beneficial forest management that respects local rights and community development.
  • Support economically viable practices that benefit present and future generations.
  • Provide a credible assurance system for businesses and consumers that products come from responsible sources.

FSC certification is suitable for:

  • Forest owners and managers (government, private, or community-based).
  • Manufacturers and processors of wood, paper, packaging, or furniture.
  • Traders and distributors in forest product supply chains.
  • Retailers or brands seeking certified input materials.
  • Exporters aiming for access to environmentally regulated international markets.

To be certified, forest operations must comply with these 10 principles:

  1. Compliance with laws and FSC Principles.
  2. Workers’ rights and employment conditions.
  3. Indigenous peoples’ rights.
  4. Community relations.
  5. Benefits from the forest.
  6. Environmental values and impacts.
  7. Management planning.
  8. Monitoring and assessment.
  9. High Conservation Values (HCV).
  10. Implementation of management activities.


Standards and Guidelines