Celebrating success: Stories of FSC certification

The stories in this book showcase some examples of the benefits that FSC certification has brought to communities, companies and forests around the world. These range from social benefits, supporting communities’ own abilities to organize and manage their forests, to economic incentives to manage forests better, to improved environmental outcomes for forests, natural ecosystems and wildlife. Celebrating success: Stories of FSC certification

SSC Wood Technologies SLIMF group in Chile’s Araucania Region

This Chilean case describes a commercial venture managed by a subsidiary of SSC Americas, SSC Wood Technologies S.A. (SWT), based on the large native timber resource in the secondary forests of the region. The SLIMF group consists of small forest owners who mainly produce small 25-45 cm diameter sawlogs which are bought by SWT for processing at its sawmill in Curacautin. Chile Araucania Case Study

COATLAHL Cooperative - Honduras

The COATLAHL Cooperative in Honduras first obtained FSC certification in 1996. The cooperative holds a group FSC certificate on behalf of 14 small timber-producing community groups, who manage natural broadleaf forests totalling 19,500 ha of natural broadleaf forests. Coatlahl provides marketing and sales services and has a furniture workshop with a certified supply chain. Their main products are sawn timber and solid wood furniture. This case study describes some of the challenges they have faced, and overcome, in order to find markets for their FSC certified products and meet the demands of a trading relationship with an international client. Honduras Case Study (high res pdf)

Koperasi Hutan Jaya Lestari (KHJL) - Indonesia

This Indonesian case describes the successful formation of a 550 member cooperative, the Koperasi Hutan Jaya Lestari (KHJL), which received FSC group certification in 2005, and supplies teak for use in the international furniture market. 30% of the profit is divided amongst members; the cooperative also lobbies government for reform of unjust forestry laws, distributes government aid related to agriculture and forestry, and is starting a small loan program. Indonesia Case Study (high res pdf)

Non-timber forest products group certificate - Nepal

This Nepali case describes the alliances for capacity building and marketing which led to the achievement of an FSC group certificate covering more than 24 non-timber forest products (NTFPs) used in making handmade papers, essential oils, Ayurvedic medicines and supplements, and a variety of other herbal medicinal and beauty products for sale in international markets. This certificate - the first for NTFPs in Asia - includes 21 community forest user groups. Nepal Case Study (high res pdf)

Forest Producers Association of Coruche (APFC) Group Scheme in Central Portugal

This case describes a group certification scheme for owners of small and medium mixed forest in central Portugal. The principal products are cork, roundwood, and pine nuts. Formed to seek FSC certification and respond to the international market demand for certified cork stoppers, the group benefits from a market premium for certified eucalyptus wood. APFC Portugal Case Study

FLOPEN (Grupo de Gestão Florestal da FLOPEN) - Portugal

This Portuguese case describes how multiple, small, privately owned forests in the Coimbra Region achieved certification where there was no prior history of application of silvicultural planning or operations and much initial scepticism about certification. FLOPEN (Grupo de Gestão Florestal da FLOPEN) was the first multiple-ownership, micro-properties group scheme to be certified in Portugal. Portugal Case Study (high res pdf)

Northwest Certified Forestry - US

This US case is an example of a successful group FSC forest management model designed to support family forest owners and small forests generally access a growing market for certified products. The group, run by Northwest Certified Forestry (a program of the Northwest Natural Resource Group), has grown from an initial 7 members in 2005 to 80 members in 2008, and has expanded from the State of Washington to neighbouring Oregon. US Case Study (high res pdf)

FSC Dialogue

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