Certification Resources
FSC has an array of resources to help you navigate the certification process. The links below provide an overview, and more comprehensive materials can be downloaded from the document centre. Please consider subscribing to our newsletter for the latest updates from across the FSC system.
Milan Reska
FSC forest management certification confirms that the forest is being managed in a way that preserves biological diversity and benefits the lives of local people and workers, while ensuring it sustains economic viability.
Tailored certification pathways for small-scale, family and community forests
FSC works with small-scale, family and community forest owners to make certification more accessible, practical and cost-effective. We adapt our certification system to fit their realities, from land tenure and forest size to governance and technical capacity.
Through inclusive development and pilot testing, FSC has shaped certification pathways that reduce barriers and support local implementation. These core certification offerings are part of FSC’s Global Strategy and have proven effective in helping smallholders gain access to responsible forest management.
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FSC chain of custody certification provides a credible assurance that products which are sold with an FSC claim originate from well-managed forests, controlled sources, or reclaimed materials.
FSC has established a certification system that requires the support of several third-party actors to operate it on the ground, maintain independence and integrity, and ultimately ensure sustainable management of the world’s forests.
The annual administration fee (AAF) is a fee charged by FSC to accredited certification bodies. The AAF for chain of custody certification is calculated according to the AAF policy using the value of certificate holders’ forest products turnover in the certification body’s portfolio.
The majority of FSC’s income comes from the AAF and is used to fund FSC’s activities. As such, the AAF is a vital contributor to achieving FSC’s mission of Forests for All Forever.
This is an area with relevant trademark resources for certification bodies. If you are a certification body, please log in. If you have forgotten your log in details, please contact us.