Forest management (FM) certification
- © Milan Reska / FSC
As forest managers or owners, FSC certification is a way of ensuring that your careful and long-term forest management is recognized. Certification is voluntary. It involves an inspection of the forest management by an independent organization to check that it passes the internationally agreed FSC Principles and Criteria of good forest management.
To sell material from an FSC certified forest with the FSC logo, a forest manager must also achieve FSC chain of custody certification. The FSC label shows that it comes from a well-managed forest and enables you to pass on the benefits of certification to your customers.
Frequently asked questions
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Do the FSC Principles and Criteria only apply to forests?
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The FSC Principles and Criteria apply to natural forests, plantations and also includes some non-forest vegetation types.
As a rule of thumb the FSC Principles and Criteria generally apply to the growing of trees which can also extend to forest and 'non-forest' land-uses as they contribute to the mission of FSC.
We have developed a number of advice notes on the applicability of the FSC Principles and Criteria from bamboo to windbreakers. You can find all available advice notes in the document center.
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Which safeguards exist against timber from unacceptable sources entering my supply chain?
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FSC has developed tools that help FSC certified companies to avoid wood produced from sources that are considered to be socially and environmentally damaging. There are strict requirements to control the non-certified material in FSC-Mixed Sources products.
The non-certified material must comply with FSC Controlled Wood standards and be independently verified before it is mixed with certified material. It specifically helps manufacturers and traders to avoid wood that has been:
- Illegally harvested
- Harvested in violation of traditional and civil rights
- Harvested in forests that have been identified to be of particular biological and/or cultural value
- Harvested from conversion of natural forest (or other natural habitat)
- Harvested from genetically modified trees
Find out more in the FSC statement on Controlled Wood
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What is forest management certification?
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As a forest manager or owner, certification is a way of ensuring that your careful and long-term forest management is recognized. Certification is voluntary. It involves an inspection of the forest management by an independent organization to check that it passes the internationally agreed FSC Principles and Criteria of good forest management.
FSC accredited certification bodies certify and audit each individual forest management operation. If forest management is in full compliance with FSC requirements, the FSC certificate is awarded. If minor non-compliances are noted, the certificate can be issued with conditions that have to be met within a clearly determined time frame. If the forest management is not fully compliant with FSC requirements, preconditions are noted which have to be fulfilled before the FSC certificate can be awarded.
FSC is the only global forest management certification system that requires regular yearly controls of each forest management operation certified to its standards.
FSC accredited certification bodies audit each FSC certificate at least once a year. If during these audits the certification body finds that a company has non-compliances with FSC requirements, Corrective Action Requests (CARs) are issued and the company is required to make the prescribed changes within a given time frame or else it will loose its FSC certificate. Depending on the seriousness of the infringement, the time line can vary from one year for minor administrative infringements to three months or less for major infringements.
To trade the forest products with the FSC logo and claim, the forest manager or owner must also obtain FSC chain of custody certification. It offers a guarantee that the product comes from a well-managed forest and enabling you to pass on the benefits of certification to your customers.
Learn more about the benefits of becoming FSC certified
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How do I get forest management certified?
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FSC does not issue certificates itself. The certification process is carried out by independent organizations called certification bodies. They assess forest management against the FSC Principles and Criteria as well as national standards. This allows FSC to remain independent from the assessment process and supports the integrity of the FSC certification system.
The first step is to contact an FSC accredited certification body. We recommend you follow our recommended 5 steps towards FSC certification.
FSC also offers two special options to smallholders and low intensity managers to make certification more accessible and affordable: FSC SLIMF certification and FSC Group certification. Find out more at www.fsc.org/smallholders
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How much does forest management certification cost?
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The costs, timescale and resources required for FSC forest management certification can vary considerably as it depends on the size and complexity of the woodland and its setting.
FSC has developed different models for small or low intensity managed forests and small forests that may wish to become certified by joining a group certification of similar forest owners. Find out more about these models at www.fsc.org/smallholders.
Category: Forest Management Certification
