Protecting, respecting, and upholding the rights of Indigenous Peoples is an integral component of the FSC system. To achieve this, FSC has embedded the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) at the core of FSC’s normative framework, thereby emphasizing the importance of engagement, involvement, and consent of the Indigenous rights holders in the FSC certified forest management.
However, FPIC cannot be applied in the context of Indigenous Peoples living in Voluntary Isolation (IPVI) due to their right and decision to remain uncontacted. This has represented a gap in FSC’s normative framework, which FSC is actively working to bridge through the development of these Advice Notes.
The FSC Board of Directors (M102) requested the secretariat to develop an Advice Note on IPVI in June 2025.
The process is conducted in two phases:
- In Phase 1 (June 2025 to November 2025) an Advice Note to Peru was developed
- In Phase 2, which started in January 2026, a globally applicable Advice Note will be developed
Protecting the life of Indigenous Peoples living in Voluntary Isolation
Paulina Tibanlombo, Pasi Miettinen.
forestmanagemet@fsc.org
Phase 1: Developing a country specific Advice Note to Peru (June - November 2025)
- Pasi Miettinen, Senior Reviewer and Analyst, FSC secretariat, Process lead
- Alba Solis, Director, FSC Peru
- Lorena Martinez, Supply Chain Integrity Manager (SIU) , FSC secretariat
- Nadia Gomez, PIPC Representative for South America
- Stefan Salvador, Director Policy Operations, FSC secretariat
- Keith Moore, ASI consultant
Phase 2: Developing a global Advice Note (January 2026 - ongoing)
- Paulina Tibanlombo, Policy Officer, FSC secretariat, Process lead
- Pasi Miettinen, Senior Reviewer and Analyst, FSC secretariat
- Stefan Salvador, Director Policy Operations, FSC secretariat
- Elson Fernandes, Executive Director, FSC Brazil
- Lorena Martinez, Supply Chain Integrity Manager (SIU) , FSC secretariat
- Maria Luisa Salvatierra, Executive Director,FSC Bolivia
- Nadia Gomez, PIPC Representative for South America
- Leo van der Vlist, Director at Netherlands Center for Indigenous Peoples (NCIV)
Joint revision of FSC Principles and Criteria, International Generic Indicators, and other Forest Management normative documents
You can stay informed of the developments on this process by staying tuned to this process page and by participating in potential consultations and webinars.
History
A summary of steps taken and process to date
FSC will organize a membership webinar to discuss the way forward on addressing the Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation on 13 August 2026, at 15:00-17:00 CEST Register here.
FSC conducted public consultations on the draft of ADV-STD-20-007-XX, Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and in Initial Contact (IPVIIC), with a global scope, and on the corresponding advice note for certification bodies. The consultation period ran from 4th March to 4th April 2026. Consultation was available in English, Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese on the FSC Consultation Platform.
The feedback is addressed in the synopsis reports: one for the global Advice Note itself, one for the corresponding certification bodies. Thereafter, the secretariat received additional feedback from the membership and the Indigenous Foundation, resulting in an additional Annex in the latest version of the global Advice Note. The latest draft advice note is available here, and one for the corresponding certification bodies here.
FSC has published the Advice Note for Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and in Initial Contact (IPVIIC) in Peru. The Advice Note has been effective from 11 March 2026. It applies to any person or entity applying for or holding FSC Forest Management Certification in Peru when operating in or near areas connected to IPVIIC. Please find the Advice Note on page 51 in the FSC Directive on Forest Management Evaluations here.
FSC conducted a public consultation on the draft Advice Note for Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact (IPVIIC) in Peru. The consultation invited stakeholders to provide feedback on the proposed requirements and was supported by a series of public webinars, including a dedicated session for Peruvian organizations and interested stakeholders. The Consultation Report is available here.
An FSC Technical Working Group was established to support the development of the Advice Note. During its initial discussions, the group recognized the unique circumstances of the Peruvian context and agreed to prioritize the development of a country-specific Advice Note for Peru before continuing work on a globally applicable document.
At its 102nd meeting, the FSC Board of Directors requested the Secretariat to develop an Advice Note providing guidance for forest managers on respecting the rights and livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact (IPVIIC).
Investigation into the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Isolation and Initial Contact (PIACI) in relation to FSC Forest Management Certification in Peru.