What does FSC do?

FSC has ten basic principles that form the basis of all FSC certifications in the
world:

1. Laws, agreements and FSC principles
   Forestry activities must comply with national laws and all international
   agreements concerning forestry signed by the country.
   Forestry activities must also comply with FSC principles and criteria.
   
    
2. Terms and conditions of ownership and use
   Ownership and/or right of use of the forest must be clearly defined,
   documented and legally established.
   
    
3. Indigenous peoples’ rights
   The legal and customary rights of indigenous peoples to own, use and
   manage their territories and resources must be recognised and respected.
   
    
4. Community relations and forest workers
   Forestry activities must maintain and/or enhance the social and economic
   conditions of people who work in the forest and of the local communities.
   
    
5. Benefits from the forest
   Forestry activities must encourage the efficient use of the forest’s multiple
   products and services, thereby ensuring economic viability and a wide range
   of environmental and social benefits from the activities.
   
    
6. Environmental impact
   Forestry activities must conserve the forest’s biodiversity and the
   associated values, water resources, soil and unique and fragile ecosystems
   and landscapes, thereby maintaining the forest’s ecology and integrity.
   
    
7. Management plan
   A management plan for the forest must be prepared and followed.
   The scope of the plan must be appropriate to the scale and intensity of
   the forestry activities and it must be kept up to date. The objectives and
   the means of achieving them must be clearly stated in the plan.
   
    
8. Monitoring and assessment
   The forestry activities must be monitored to regularly assess the condition
   of the forest, yields of forest products, chain of custody and the environ-
   mental and social impact of the activities. The scope of the monitoring must
   be appropriate to the scale and intensity of the forestry activities.
   
    
9. Maintenance of natural forests
   Virgin forests, ancient forests and forests of high environmental, social or
   cultural value must be maintained. Such areas must not be replaced by
   plantations or used for other purposes.
   
    
10. Plantations
    Plantations and planted forests must be planned and managed in accor-
    dance with FSC principles 1-9. While plantations can provide a variety of
    social and economic benefits and contribute to satisfying the world’s need
    for forest products, they should complement the management of, reduce
    pressures on and promote the restoration and conservation of natural
    forests.

Read more about FSC at www.fsc.org