Forest Program

The Forest Program puts into practice the FSC Principles & Criteria through the development of standards and policies, by  evaluating  their national adaptation and by the definition and management of different forest features such as High Conservation Values or Pesticides.

Chain of Custody Program

FSC chain of custody certification (CoC) verifies FSC certified forest products through the production chain. FSC CoC certification is for companies that manufacture, process or trade in timber or non-timber forest products and want to demonstrate to their customers that they use responsibly produced raw materials. FSC chain of custody helps companies to strengthen their sourcing policies and comply with public or private procurement policies where FSC is the preferred option.

Social Policy Program

The continued implementation of FSC’s Social Policy Program is a chief strategic objective for FSC. The FSC Global Strategy priority areas of credibility, equity, market access, and strengthening the FSC network are integral to the program and form the basis of program goals.  

A major focus of the Social Policy Program is to make FSC certification more accessible and beneficial for smallholders (small and low intensity managed forests (SLIMFs), and community-based forestry operations). Other key focus areas are certification policy issues related to forest workers and indigenous peoples. The Social Policy Program is currently implementing several projects and new policy initiatives related to these focal areas.  Pilot projects include testing the certification of forestry contractors in Europe, and testing dual FSC-Fairtrade certification for small and community producers in the South.

Monitoring and Evaluation Program

The M&E Program aims to describe FSC’s impact on the ground. The program helps different FSC companies and units conduct surveys, and provides them with background information on FSC related issues to support their publications and other activities. To evaluate developments in forest management certification the M&E Program, together with stakeholders, developed impact indicators for forest management against which auditors will report in public certification reports.

The program worked closely with International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling (ISEAL), to set up a monitoring system in line with the ISEAL requirements. Individual scientists and authors from different organizations and backgrounds often approach FSC with complex research questions and the program enables us to maintain a high level of responsiveness to enquiries of researchers and organizations interested in outcomes and impacts of certification.  This ensures that these stakeholders understand the complexity of the FSC system, and that their publications contribute to raising awareness and understanding about forest management certification.

Ecosystem Services Program

The overall objective of the Ecosystem Services Program is to increase the applicability and relevance of FSC certification for forest management activities focusing on the provision of ecosystem services. Program activities include the strategic analysis and testing of existing as well as innovative approaches for FSC towards certification indicators, monitoring methodologies and reward mechanisms. A cornerstone of the Program is the “Strategic Framework for an FSC Climate Change Engagement” that has been finalised in 2011 and will be implemented over the coming years.