FSC milestone: The total forest area certified according to FSC standards has passed 100 million hectares worldwide. FSC certified forests are now found in 84 countries around the world, reflecting the scheme's success in the global marketplace. Source: www.fsc.org.

A recent study conducted by the Rainforest Alliance presents several remarkable conclusions: The deforestation rate in FSC certified parts of the Guatemalan Maya Biosphere Reserve is 20 times lower than in other parts, where harvesting is strictly prohibited. And wildfires affected only 0.1% of the FSC-certified areas, compared to 7-20 % of the non-certified areas. Read more

Social criteria were among issues discussed at an inter-national meeting in Copenhagen on timber procurement policies. Public timber buyers face many challenges, however it seems clear that the solution involves well-recognized forest certification schemes. Read more

The NGOs have left the working group revising the Danish  timber procurement policy. The move is a protest against the decision to endorse both the FSC and PEFC schemes without the use of underlying criteria. Go to press release 

The FSC’s accreditation unit Accredited Services International (ASI) has suspended the certification body SGS Qualifor from FSC certification activities in Poland, following major violations of the FSC accreditation requirements. Read more

Tartu University has launched the first FSC-certified newspaper in Estonia: The university's international newsletter. The newspaper is printed by the printing house Ecoprint, which holds an FSC certificate through NEPCon's services. Source: Tartu University.

An new position paper from the PEFC Council deals with the carbon issue and forest certification. Among other issues, the PEFC demands that only sustainably managed forests should qualify for carbon credits. And, that sustainable forest management must be demonstrated through credible certification. Read more

A new draft FSC forest management standard developed in Latvia may hold the key to ensure access to certification even for the smallest forest properties – also in other countries. The standard introduces innovative approaches such as the partial transfer of the responsibility for FSC compliance to certified logging companies. NEPCon is co-managing the project and will be responsible for conducting a field test of the standard. Read more

 ....that by obtaining an FSC certificate through NEPCon, you are entitled to use the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal?  
The Rainforest Alliance Certified seal is already widely used on responsibly produced bananas, coffee, and tea - and increasingly on wood products, too. For example, the seal currently appears alongside the FSC logo on the final Harry Potter book.