Forest Stewardship Council

Description

The Forest Stewardship Council is an international non-profit organization that sets standards for responsible forest management and forest-product supply chains.

Independent certification bodies use FSC standards to assess forests and businesses. Governments, companies and consumers rely on FSC certification to verify that wood, paper and other forest products come from forests managed to protect biodiversity, workers’ rights and the rights of Indigenous Peoples. FSC does not carry out audits itself; it accredits certification bodies and sets the rules those bodies must follow. Its ten principles and criteria form the basis of every FSC standard, including national standards adapted to local conditions.

FSC is a membership organization governed by forest owners, timber industries, social groups and environmental organizations, split into environmental, social and economic chambers that share voting power equally between north and south. Decisions are made by a General Assembly, a Board of Directors and an executive director. Over 160 million hectares and more than 70,000 organizations are certified to its standards, with local network partner offices in around 70 countries.

The organization was established in 1993 in response to concerns about global deforestation. Its international centre is based in Bonn, Germany. FSC also runs traceability and monitoring tools, such as chain-of-custody certification and satellite-based forest monitoring, to track certified material through supply chains and confirm its origin.