INTRODUCTION TO FSC FOREST CERTIFICATION
FSC: Is the only globally recognized non-governmental organization developing forest certification standards
FSC-FM (FSC Forest Management) Certificate: Forest Management Certification. Issued to a specific forest or forests. Fully meets the requirements related to environmental, social and economic standards as required by FSC
PRINCIPLES AND CRITERIA OF FSC FOREST CERTIFICATION
Forest owners must comply with current laws and regulations, treaties, conventions and international agreements to which Vietnam is a party.
Forest owners must maintain and/or improve the socio-economic welfare of (new) workers
Forest owners must identify and maintain the legal and customary rights of indigenous peoples to the tenure, use and management of lands, territories and resources affected by management activities. (P3 P&C V4).
In Vietnam, the term “Ethnic People” is used to refer to “Indigenous People”. The Vietnamese government does not use the term “indigenous people” for any ethnic group, but in general, ethnic people living in mountainous areas are considered Indigenous Vietnamese.
Forest owners must contribute to maintaining or enhancing the economic and social well-being of local communities.
The Forest Owner shall effectively manage the products and services of the Management Unit to maintain or enhance long-term economic stability and social and environmental benefits.
The Forest Owner shall maintain, conserve and/or restore the ecosystem services and environmental values of the Management Unit and shall avoid, correct or mitigate adverse environmental impacts.
The Forest Owner shall have a Management Plan that is consistent with the management policies and objectives and commensurate with the scale, intensity and risks of the management activities. The Management Plan shall be implemented and updated based on monitoring information to promote adaptive management. Planning records and associated procedures shall be adequate to guide staff, inform affected and interested stakeholders and justify management decisions.
The Forest Owner shall demonstrate that progress towards achieving management objectives, the impacts of management activities and the condition of the Management Unit are monitored and evaluated in a manner commensurate with the scale, intensity and risks of the management activities to implement adaptive management.
The Forest Owner shall maintain and/or improve High Conservation Values within the Management Unit through the application of a precautionary approach.
Management activities carried out by/for the Forest Owner in the Management Unit shall be selected and implemented in accordance with the Forest Owner's economic, environmental and social policies and objectives and in compliance with the Principles and Criteria of this standard.
TYPES OF FSC FOREST CERTIFICATIONS
- FM Forest Management Certificate
- Chain of Custody Certificate CoC
- CW Certificate
Certificate
