Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
Column | Details |
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Introduction | – Established: 1993. – Mission: To promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests. – Scope: Operates globally, setting standards for responsible forest management and providing certification for forest products. |
Objectives | – Environmental Protection: Ensure that forest management preserves biodiversity and ecological processes. – Social Equity: Respect the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities. – Economic Viability: Support sustainable economic benefits from forest resources. |
Members (Dec 2024) | – Global Presence: Comprises members from environmental, social, and economic sectors worldwide. – India’s Status: Active presence through FSC India, promoting sustainable forest management and responsible consumption of forest products. |
Reports/Indices | – Annual Reports: Document activities, financials, and impacts. For example, the FSC Annual Report 2021 outlines global actions and achievements. – Facts & Figures: Provides data on certified forest areas and supply chain certifications. |
Instruments | – FSC Certification: Includes Forest Management (FM) and Chain of Custody (CoC) certifications to ensure responsible sourcing and production. – FSC Labels: Indicate that products come from responsibly managed forests. |
Structure | – General Assembly: The highest decision-making body, comprising members from environmental, social, and economic chambers. – Board of Directors: Elected by the General Assembly to provide strategic direction. – National Offices: Implement FSC policies and standards at the country level. |
Subsidiary Organs | – FSC International Center: Coordinates global activities and standard-setting. |
Committees | – Policy and Standards Committee: Develops and reviews FSC policies and standards. – Finance Committee: Oversees financial management and sustainability. |
Initiatives | – FSC Global Strategy 2021–2026: Aims to enable resilient forests by emphasizing forest stewardship as a means to combat climate change and biodiversity loss. – FSC Climate Coalition: Launched at COP27 to enhance the role of forests and FSC standards in combating climate change, ensuring benefits for Indigenous Peoples, smallholders, and forest stewards. – Biodiversity Assessment: Initiated during COP15 to fast-track biodiversity assessments in FSC-certified forests, demonstrating the value of responsible forest stewardship for biodiversity. |