For the first time FSC is conducting a full review of the Principles and Criteria.

Documents under consultation

The vote on the revised Principles and Criteria opened on 01 November 2011. For further information please click here.

About the FSC Principles and Criteria

The FSC Principles and Criteria is the core document for FSC forest management certification and can only be changed by a vote from the FSC mmbership. The P&C describe how a forest should be managed to meet the social, environmental and economic needs of the present and future generation. It forms the basis for all FSC forest management policies and standards.

About the P&C Review

Since their adoption almost 15 years ago, FSC has never consistently reviewed the FSC Principles and Criteria . Some changes have been made at different FSC General Assemblies, though the current version of the P&C has few differences from the original document. More recently, FSC started a process to conduct a limited review, focusing on the applicable motions from the 2005 General Assembly and the Plantations Review process.

A first draft was developed by the FSC Board of Directors, and following a public consultation period in 2008, more than 80 comments were received. In general, the comments were supportive of the changes proposed, with only a few of proposals on which there seemed to be diverging views among stakeholders.

Some of the concerns raised valid points that should be addressed. Based on the recommendation from the Policy and Standards Committee, the FSC Board of Directors decided that the review process of the Principles and Criteria should be broadened to a full review. Furthermore, it also decided that a new Working Group, balanced by FSC sub-chamber, should be established to lead the process.

The Review and Revision Process follows FSC Procedure for the Development and Approval of FSC Social and Environmental Standards (FSC-PRO-01-001 Version 2-0).

Review and Revision Process

Announcement of the launch of the Review and Revision

FSC announced the launch of the Review and Revision of the FSC Principles and Criteria on September 3, 2008.

Announcement: Expanded Review and Revision of FSC P&C (pdf)

Working Group

FSC has established a sub-chamber balanced Working Group for the Review and Revision of the Principles and Criteria. The six selected members are: John Palmer (Environmental North), Bastiaan Louman (Environmental South), Ben Vickers (Social North), Luis Astorga (Social South), Alan Thorne (Economic North), Timothy Synnott (Economic South). Read the full announcement and the Terms of Reference for details on each of the Working Group members and their task.

Working Group for the Review and Revision of FSC P&C

Terms of Reference of the Working Group for the Review and Revision of the FSC P&C

Advisory Group

The intent of the Advisory Group is to support the P&C Review Working Group in ensuring that the actual and potential views of all FSC stakeholder groups receive due consideration. For further information on the role of the Advisory Group please refer to the Advisory Group Terms of Reference.

The application process for the Advisory Group is now closed. FSC will keep all applicants up to date on further developments.

Terms of Reference of the Advisory Group for the Review and Revision of the FSC P&C

Consultative forum

A consultative forum has been established in order to ensure that all stakeholders possibly affected by the P&C Review and Revision have the opportunity to comment on revised drafts. The consultative forum consists of all FSC members, all National Initiatives, all FSC accredited certification bodies. Other stakeholders are invited to register for participation in the consultations by registering online here.

Background Information on the Consultative Forum for the P&C Review

Draft 2-0

The first public draft (Draft 2-0) was published for comments from the 3rd of July to 04th of September 2009. The draft, the publicly available comments on the draft as well as a summary of the comments can be downloaded here:

FSC-STD-01-001 V5-0 D2-0 FSC Principles and Criteria (English)

FSC-STD-01-001 V5-0 D2-0 FSC Principles and Criteria (Spanish)

FSC-STD-01-001 V5-0 D2-0 Summary of Comments (English)

FSC-STD-01-001 V5-0 D2-0 Summary of Comments (Spanish)

FSC-STD-01-001 V5-0 D2-0 Compilation of Comments

Draft 3-0

The second public draft (Draft 3-0), including responses to comments on Draft 2-0, was published for comments from the 11th of March to the 10th of May 2010. The draft as well as the publicly available comments, a summary of comments and responses can be downloaded here:

FSC-STD-01-001 V5-0 D3-0 FSC Principles and Criteria (English)

FSC-STD-01-001 V5-0 D3-0 FSC Principles and Criteria (Spanish)

FSC-STD-01-001 V5-0 D3-0 Compilation of Comments

FSC-STD-01-001 V5-0 D3-0 Summary of Comments and Responses (English)

FSC-STD-01-001 D3-0 Resumen de los Comentarios y las Respuestas (Spanish)

P&C Review Workshop in Bonn

Upon request by the P&C Review WG the FSC Board of Directors decided that further communication and discussion efforts are needed to address concerns and questions raised in comments on Draft 3-0 of the revised P&C. See:

P&C Review and Revision Update (English)

P&C Review and Revision Update (Spanish)

Following this decision a sub-chamber balanced workshop with 24 FSC members and the P&C Review Working Group was conducted on the 15 and 16 November. The objective of this workshop was to provide a platform for the participants to discuss with the P&C Review Working Group major concerns and questions of specific importance to one or more of the sub-chambers.

The final work shop report can be downloaded here:

P&C Review Workshop Report

In preparation of the workshop a 12 briefing papers were published on this website to provide background information on the issues to be discussed. These papers can be downloaded here:

P&C Review Briefing Paper on Engagement

P&C Review Briefing Paper on Mosaics and Landscape Values

P&C Review Briefing Paper on Restoration

P&C Review Briefing Paper on Preservation of Natural Forests

P&C Review Briefing Paper: Primacy of Natural Forests?

P&C Review Briefing Paper on Conversion

P&C Review Briefing Paper on Sustained Yield

P&C Review Briefing Paper on Biodiversity Conservation

P&C Review Briefing Paper on Regeneration Practices

P&C Review Briefing Paper on Economic Viability

P&C Review Briefing Paper on Carbon

P&C Review Briefing Paper on Customary Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Draft 4-0

Following the P&C Review Workshop and after soliciting further feedback from the workshop participants and other FSC members the P&C Review Working Group and the P&C Review Steering Committee agreed to postpone the vote on the final draft of the revised Principles and Criteria. It was decided to conduct a survey on a new draft (Draft 4-0). The survey aimed at assessing the presence of remaining elements of significant disagreements within the membership needing further discussion and resolution. The FSC membership is the final decision making body on revisions to the P&C. For this reason the survey on the draft was for members of FSC AC only.

The survey was conducted between the 20th of March and 19th of May 2011.

Draft 4-0, Explanatory Notes and Rationales for Draft 4-0, a summary of the changes between the current P&C and Draft 4-0 can be downloaded here:

FSC-STD-01-001 V5-0 D4-0 FSC Principles and Criteria (English)

FSC-STD-01-001 V5-0 D4-0 Principles and Critera (Spanish)

FSC-STD-01-001 V5-0 D4-0 Explanatory Notes and Rationales (English)

FSC-STD-01-001 V5-0 D4-0 Explanatory Notes and Rationales (Spanish)

FSC-STD-01-001 V5-0 D4-0 Summary of Changes (English)

FSC-STD-01-001 V5-0 D4-0 Summary of Changes (Spanish)

FSC-STD-01-001 V5-0 D4-0 Only Survey Report (Spanish+English)

FSC-STD-01-001 V5-0 Draft 4-0 Compilation of Comments

P&C Review Workshop in Kota Kinabalu

The key issues identified through the survey on Draft 4-0 (see above) were taken to a workshop taking place on the 25th and 26th of June 2011 in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, in conjunction with the General Assembly. The objective of the workshop was to agree on solutions to those key issues for which there was not yet not a broad consensus in the FSC membership.

The final report of the workshop can be downloaded here:

Report of the P&C Review Workshop of the 25th and 26th of June 2011

The proposed framework for the workshop as well as an update to the proposed framework can be downloaded here:

Proposed framework and agenda for the P&C Review Workshop

Update on proposed framework and agenda for the P&C Review Workshop

The compilation of comments on issues identified for discussion at the workshop can be downloaded here:

FSC-STD-01-001 V5-0 Draft 4-0 Compilation of Comments (Excerpt Workshop Issues)

Approval of the revised P&C

The vote on the revised Principles and Criteria opened on 01 November 2011 and will close on 31 January 2012 for further information click here.

The Board of Directors has sent a message to all members of FSC A.C. with a recommendation to vote to approve the revised Principles and Criteria:

Letter of the FSC Board of Directors (English)

Letter of the FSC Board of Directors (Spanish)

Contact

For any questions or comments, please email the FSC Policy and Standards Unit at m.fecht @fsc.org fecht @fsc.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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