 |
Top 10 questions about FSC
There are so many labels. Why should I buy FSC?
What is the Forest Stewardship Council?
What is the problem and what solutions does FSC offer?
How does FSC certification make a difference in the world’s forests?
Why should I become FSC certified?
Who makes the FSC rules?
What changes do FSC rules require foresters to make?
Who can become an FSC Member?
Why was FSC created?
How is FSC funded?
For aditional information click here
There are so many labels. Why should I buy FSC?
Trying to do the right thing and buying responsibly produced
products can be confusing. The FSC label makes it easy to make the
right choice when buying timber or paper products. Here is why
choosing FSC makes a difference:
Only FSCprohibits conversion of natural forests or other habitat around the
world
prohibits the use of highly hazardous pesticides around the world
prohibits the cultivation of genetically modified trees (GMOs)
respects the right of indigenous peoples around the world
controls each certified operation at least once a year – and if
they are found not to comply, the certificate is withdrawn
Check out the FSC Principles and Criteria for more detail about
FSC's requirements.
This is why FSC is the only forest certification system that is
supported by all major environmental groups. And a number of
certification assessments, such as the US and the Australian green
building council only accept FSC as proof of sustainability.
The range of FSC products grows every day. Today, almost every
product is available in FSC quality and generally they are not more
expensive than non-certified products, but often better quality. To
find FSC products, check out the
FSC Certificate Search or contact
the FSC office near you.
Find FSC products
Independent research and other voices confirm FSC as leading forest
certification system (English/Spanish)
What others say -
why FSC;
WWF;
Greenpeace
_________________________________________________________________________________
What is the Forest Stewardship Council?
FSC is an independent,
non-governmental, not for profit organization established to promote
the responsible management of the world’s forests.
It provides standard setting,
trademark assurance and accreditation
services for companies and organizations interested in responsible
forestry.
Products carrying the FSC label are independently certified to
assure consumers that they come from forests that are managed to
meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future
generations.
FSC has offices in more than 45 countries.
More information on FSC governance
_________________________________________________________________________________
What is the problem and what solutions does FSC offer?
Forests
provide us with clean water, fresh air and they even help combat
global warming. They also provide food, medicine and important
natural resources, such as timber and paper. If managed responsibly,
forests and plantations benefit forest people and the global
community. However, in some countries as much as 80% of the timber
is harvested illegally. This often involves violation of human
rights and destruction of protected forests.
FSC certification offers forest managers rewards for managing their
forests the FSC way – following the highest social and environmental
criteria there are. In some instances rewards can be in the form of
price premiums. But increasingly, FSC certification is rewarded with
improved access to environmentally sensitive markets. Also, more and
more governments and leading businesses specify FSC certified
materials in their purchasing programs.
_________________________________________________________________________________
How does FSC certification make a difference in the world’s forests?
All FSC certified forests must comply with
FSC’s rules about how the
forests should and should not be managed. When a forester decides to
become FSC certified, he or she will make changes to comply with the
relevant FSC requirements and become FSC certified. This is how FSC
has a direct and permanent positive impact on the world’s forests
and the people living from, in and around the forest.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Why should I become FSC certified?
Being FSC certified shows that
you comply with the highest social and environmental standards on
the market. As public concern about the state of the world’s forests
and timber resources increases, FSC provides you with a simple
solution to complex environmental and social issues. The FSC label
is an effective way to get public and consumer recognition of your
responsible practices. This gives you credibility with customers and
business partners as well as financial institutions and watchdog
organizations.
FSC certification helps to protect your brand and reputation and it
allows you to access highly environmentally sensitive markets.
Increasingly, governments and other organizations specify FSC
certified products in their purchasing programs.
Because FSC is the only globally valid standard it is also the only
standard that is no barrier to trade under the World Trade
Organization (WTO).
_________________________________________________________________________________
Who makes the FSC rules?
The overarchingFSC
Principles and Criteria
were adopted by the FSC membership and can only be changed or
amended by a vote of the FSC membership. Everybody interested in the
fate of the world’s forests can become an
FSC member.
FSC members meet at least every three years to a General Assembly.
The FSC General Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the
FSC.
At the FSC International Secretariat, a group of international
specialists develop the FSC policies and standards. All policies and
standards are derived from the FSC Principles and Criteria. And
again, it is the members who ultimately define what rules need to be
further developed or reviewed and through their representatives on
the FSC Board of Directors have final say in what rules are adopted.
All policies and standards go through at least two rounds of public
consultations. In these consultations everybody interested in the
fate of the world’s forests can comment.
The FSC Board of Directors unanimously adopts FSC rules and
procedures. The FSC Directors are appointed by vote of the FSC
members.
In a number of countries, FSC has
national representations. They can
initiate and facilitate a national standard setting process – again,
involving all members and members and interested public. National
FSC standards are adaptations of the international FSC rules to more
specifically address the national situation.
How FSC standard setting works
More about FSC governance
_________________________________________________________________________________
What changes do FSC rules require foresters to make?
The FSC Principles and Criteria describe how the forests have to be managed
to meet the social, economic, ecological, cultural and spiritual
needs of present and future generations. They include managerial
aspects as well as environmental and social requirements. In fact
FSC rules are the strictest and FSC’s social and environmental
requirements the highest.
The 10 principles and 56 criteria
form the basis for all FSC forest
management standards. Based on these 10 principles, the
FSC has
developed further rules (called policies or standards) that further
define and explain certain requirements stipulated in the 10
principles.
Here is a summary of some of the points the FSC Principles and
Criteria require. Many of the points listed below will appear almost
basic – but in many places, even these basic requirements are not
fulfilled. This is where FSC can have the biggest positive impact.
- Prohibit conversion of forests or any other natural habitat
- Respect of international workers rights
- Prohibition of use of hazardous chemicals
- Respect of Human Rights with particular attention to indigenous
peoples
- No corruption – follow all applicable laws
- Identification and appropriate management of areas that need
special protection (e.g. cultural or sacred sites, habitat of
endangered animals or plants)
More info about the FSC Principles and Criteria
_________________________________________________________________________________
Who can become an FSC Member?
Everybody who supports the idea of
improved forest management around the world can become an FSC
member. FSC members are divided into Social, Environmental and
Economic chambers. Each of these chambers is divided in Economic
North (industrialized countries) and Economic South (developing
countries). Each chamber carries the same vote. This guarantees that
no one interest can dominate.
Join FSC
FSC governance
_________________________________________________________________________________
Why was FSC created?
FSC certification is widely regarded as one of
the most important initiatives of the last decade to promote
responsible forest management worldwide. Why is this and what prior
efforts have been made? r>
Concerns and large-scale public debates about the state of world’s
forests escalated globally in the 1980’s and led to a gridlock
between different stakeholders fighting about environmental, social
and economic interests. Initiatives from governments and
international organizations did not manage to reduce forest
destruction worldwide and the need to substantially improve forest
management practices persisted.
In the late 1980’s, tropical timber boycotts proclaiming to save the
last tropical forests, not only failed, but worse, caused opposite
effects in many cases. Conversion of forests to more economical land
uses continued and in some cases accelerated.
The clear need for an effective mechanism to improve forest
management and conservation worldwide was further emphasized in 1992
at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in
Rio de Janeiro. The World Summit in Rio de Janeiro agreed that
progress towards sustainable development is the shared
responsibility of social, environmental and economic interests
although no legally binding commitments were agreed.
Disillusioned by the continuous failure of international
negotiations progressive forest industries, social groups and
environmental organizations came together to develop an alternative
solution. Rather than boycotting poor practices, they wanted to use
market forces to promote socially beneficial, environmentally
appropriate and economically viable forest management.
For the first time, leading social, environmental and economic
players from the Global South and Global North joined in an
international process with equal and equitable voices,
decision-making powers and responsibilities and founded FSC. To this
day, FSC provides a platform for these different interest groups to
work together in a dynamic environment where each interest group has
a voice and an equal say.
Since its inception countless stakeholders around the world have
worked with the FSC in its equitable participatory processes in
support of responsible forest management. However, also since its
early days, FSC was often criticized by conservative industries
which did not believe in sharing decision-making with social and
environmental stakeholders. Much like conservative industries, some
environmental stakeholders believe that confrontational campaigns
are a more appropriate conservation tool than equitable
participatory solutions-oriented approaches. FSC will continue to
try to engage conservative industries as well as confrontational
NGOs in its approach.
FSC believes that it is part of the solution for the conservation of
natural forests and that a full set of different complementary
conservation strategies are necessary to protect and maintain the
world’s forests.
A short history
_________________________________________________________________________________
How is FSC funded?
Currently about 60% of FSC (International) funds
comes from the support of charitable foundations, government donors
and business contributions. The other 40% are collected from fees
(membership, accreditation and others) and services rendered.
Over the next few years, FSC will reverse the ratio between donor
funds and commercial funds to 60% income from commercial activities
and fees and 40% from donations.
FSC National offices are financially independent of FSC
International.
|
|
|
