Forests, climate change and FSC

Summary: This factsheet details the link between forests and climate change as well as the benefits of FSC certification. A short introduction of FSC activities in climate change mitigation is also provided. Download in pdf

Mitigating climate Change through responsible forestry

Summary: Keeping the world’s remaining forests standing and intact is imperative  to avoid catastrophic climate change becoming a reality by the end of this century. it is the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)’s mission  to provide effective mechanisms that make this task achievable. Based on a truly multi-stakeholder governance model, FSC is widely recognized as the leading international forest certifcation scheme. FSC certifcation can both increase and complement theeffectiveness of forest climate projects. Download in pdf

Connecting carbon management with credible forest certification standards

Summary: FSC  standards  serve  as  the  most  credible  and internationally  recognized  benchmark  for  responsible forest  management.  They  ensure  that  social  and environmental safeguards are maintained. FSC welcomes collaboration to promote the role of FSC certifcation in frameworks for forest carbon projects that mitigate climate change while guaranteeing acceptable, social and environmental standards. Download in pdf

FSC statement: Forest and climate change

August 2008 – The FSC Board of Directors developed the statement. It lays the foundation for FSC’s potential role in climate change mitigation and is in line with the goals of the overarching FSC Global Strategy released in 2007. Download in PDF

Other publications

Risks and co-benefits of biodiversity conservation in REDD + in Bornean rainforests

Summary: This study from the university of Tokyo describes through concrete projects in Bornean forests that improving forest management with a long-term forets management plan, reduced-impact logging, and strict compliance with SFM standards added a considerable amount of carbon within 13 years as compared with conventional business-as-usual forest practices. FSC forest management is described as a powerful mitigation option. Download in PDF

The potential role of Responsible Forestry in REDD 

Summary: The reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation must include multiple approaches, including protecting intact natural forest, restoring degraded forest, and improving forestry practices where logging is expected to occur. Responsible forestry is one of the few ways to derive economic benefits from standing forests by reducing the impact of logging, set aside high conservation value forests, and ensure the conservation of ecosystem services and biodiversity while protecting the rights of local and indigenous peoples to manage and use forest lands and resources. Participation in REDD must be limited to responsible companies that meet strict standards such as FSC. Download on the Woods Hole Research Center Website

FSC Certification Keeps Trees Standing and Forests Intact

Summary: After forests are subjected to years of unsustainable, mismanaged or illegal logging, they are often then cleared to raise crops, ranch cattle or cultivate palm oil. In other words, forest degradation often paves the way for deforestation. But the responsible management of forests and harvesting of timber and non-timber forest products can prevent forest loss by providing communities with an economic incentive to keep their forests standing. The world’s most rigorous standard for responsible forestry is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, a system built on internationally respected principles and criteria. FSC-certified tropical forests conserve and maintain greater carbon stocks than conventional logging operations, resulting in fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Download Rainforest Alliance document in PDF

The Hidden Frontier of Forest Degradation

Summary of Chapter 4 (section IFM with Forest certification-p.19) : A variety of strategies exist to address each of the three major drivers of forest degradation: logging, fire, and fuelwood collection. For logging, this report from TNC and RA reviews aspects of “Improved Forest Management” (IFM) and focus on how IFM is operationalized through certification by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). FSC includes IFM practices that reduce emissions by (1) reducing area logged, (2) reducing emissions per unit volume harvested, and (3) reducing the probability of subsequent forest conversion. There are other elements of IFM practices associated with FSC that can offset these emissions reductions; however, under most conditions the net impact of FSC certification is likely to reduce emissions. Download in PDF on TNC website