Forest Stewardship Council

What is it about?

Description Some timber traders as well as social and environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) negotiated the establishment of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in San Francisco in 1991 (Cadman, 2011). Two years later, representatives from ten countries met in Toronto, Canada, for the founding meeting of the FSC. Finally, as a result of the intensive negotiations, the FSC was registered in 1994. It created a new model of a market-based protection instrument to promote responsible forest management and trade (WWF, 2014/2020). According to Pattberg (2005), the FSC is based on the principles of sustainable development. The standards of responsible forest management defined by the FSC make it possible to promote globally and nationally responsible forest management.

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Photo by Ken Shono on Unsplash

Photo by Ken Shono on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Summary The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a member organization of individuals and communities operating at the national and international levels. Environmental organizations, indigenous interest groups, trade unions, foresters, and large retailers established it to create and implement forest management guidelines and rules in 1993. In the standardization process it has developed, the FSC has sought to combine ethical views related to the environment with social and business principles. The organization is led by the General Assembly (GA), which has three chambers (economic, social, and environmental). The GA elects a director board to which each chamber sends three members. The FSC’s operational work is the responsibility of an international secretariat under the supervision of the executive director appointed by and responsible to the director board. The FSC’s work is based on the internationally agreed principles and criteria which define which practices are considered “environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world’s forests.” Over the years, FSC has supported the activities of its stakeholders nationally and globally through responsible forest management standards. If the forest management is found to comply with the FSC forest management standards, the landowner will be issued a certificate entitling them to market their products as certified wood and use the FSC logo. Despite many good achievements, the FSC has been criticized since its establishment. For example, the legitimacy of the FSC has been questioned, and its policies and activities have been criticized.