Forest Management (FM) Certification

Forest Management (FM) certification is a market-based conservation initiative that aims to promote the environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of forests. The idea behind certification is straightforward. A logging company demonstrates to operate with high standards both in ecological and socio-economic aspects related to forest management. Consequently, it obtains the approval of a third-party certifying agency and thereby gains access to markets willing to pay higher prices for sustainably harvested forest products.

Some Facts about FSC Certification:

  1. FSC is the oldest certification scheme (in place since 1993),
  2. FSC is the main scheme being used for certifying tropical natural forests,
  3. The FSC scheme is considered to be the complete one, and
  4. Results of the evaluation process are published on public summaries that are available online.

Forest Managers or owners who want to prove that their forest operations are socially beneficial and managed in an environmentally appropriate and economically viable manner can apply for forest management (FM) certification.

Commercial plantations, which could range from a few acres (hectares) to thousands of acres (hectares), are owned and managed by individuals, farmers, companies, co-operatives or other such organizations. These plantations, in many cases, have environmental and social problems. FSC certification for plantations initiates improvement in forest management practices and leads to sound environmental practices, socially beneficial and economically viable plantation forest stewardship. FSC certification of commercial cultivation like that of teak, eucalyptus, rubber plantations, captive plantations of paper manufacturing companies may lead to a good business case for owners of such plantations.