Continuous Improvement Procedure
The procedure allows small-scale forest owners and communities to be initially certified based only on a subset of forest management requirements, offering flexible steps towards conformity with the remaining requirements within a defined timeframe.
Community, Family and Forests Work Area
The Continuous Improvement Procedure (CIP) is based on the idea that sustainability is a journey rather than a fixed point. It invites smallholders and communities to join the global FSC community of certificate holders, even if not all responsible forest management practices are in place yet. Certification is possible by meeting a set of core requirements and committing to a stepwise Action Plan that leads to full compliance with the FSC standard within five years.
Certification can be a demanding and costly process. By spreading the investment over five years, this procedure allows certificate holders to benefit from access to FSC-certified markets early on, helping them reinvest in better forest management and cover future certification costs. It also offers clarity on the next steps needed to reach full conformance.
Learn more about how this procedure was developed, click the link below.
What does a Continuous Improvement journey look like?
Here are some theoretical examples of how different forest owners might use the procedure:
- Community forests in Honduras producing certified wooden furniture for international buyers, using CIP to strengthen their forest management while gaining market access early.
- Forest families in Brazil currently harvesting Brazil nuts and latex, using CIP to gradually add certified timber production and increase income.
- Villages in Indonesia joining forces in a cooperative to certify their teak forests step by step, aiming to reach global buyers with sustainable wood products.
Due to a mismatch of technical capacities and limited resources, many smallholders and communities face challenges in fully conforming to FSC standards.
You can find more resources here, including a factsheet on this procedure. For the most up-to-date version of the procedure, please consult the Document Centre page for FSC-POR-30-011 by clicking on the button below.
Continuous Improvement Procedure e-Training
To support the uptake of the Continuous Improvement Procedure (CIP) and help prospective certificate holders understand its requirements, this free e-learning course is available in all three official FSC languages: English, Spanish, and French.
The training offers a clear and accessible overview of the CIP, making it easier for stakeholders around the world to understand the stepwise approach to FSC certification for SLIMF and Community Forests.
You can access the training in your preferred language below.
You also may be interested in