Project title

FSC Policy to Address Conversion

Type

Policy

Start date

May 2018

End date

August 2022

Purpose of the document

Develop a high-level conversion policy considering compensation for past conversion, in terms of:
a. restoration and/or conservation for environmental values: and
b. restitution for socio-economic values.

Strategic alignment

At the General Assembly 2017 in Vancouver, Canada the membership approved Motion 7 recognizing the strategic importance of addressing the issues around conversion of natural forest-related ecosystems to plantations and the need for alignment of the diverse ways in which conversion is treated in different parts of the FSC normative framework.

Working group

Name - Sub Chamber
Justin Mercer – Economic North 
Francisco Javier Rodriguez Aspillaga - Economic South 
Annika Terrana – Environmental North
Michal Zrust- Environmental South
Dr. Marcus Colchester – Social North 
Dharam Pal Singh, Verma- Social South

Timeline

1 August 2024

FSC has published the second version of advice note ADVICE-20-007-23 "Maximum hectare threshold for very limited portion." The effective date remains October 1, 2023. You can read the news article here.

The advice note is compiled under FSC-DIR-20-007 FSC Directive on FSC Forest Management Evaluations

10 May 2024 – 26 June 2024

FSC is consulting a revised version of the Advice note ADV-20-007-23 concerning the maximum threshold in hectares for the allowed 5% of 'very limited portion' of conversion. Please read the synopsis report here

1 August 2023

FSC publishes Advice Note on Maximum hectare threshold for “very limited portion”. Read the synopsis report of the focused consultation held from 14 April to 15 May 2023 here and the news item here.

July 2023

FSC publishes compilation of most relevant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the Policy to Address Conversion and the Advice Note on requirements for certificate holders introduced by the Policy to Address Conversion and M37/2021. See FAQ here.

June 2023

FSC hosts information webinars on Policy to Address Conversion and Remedy Framework. Review the slides here.

15 May 2023

FSC publishes Advice Note on requirements for certificate holders introduced by the Policy to Address Conversion and M37/2021. Read the synopsis report of the focused consultation held between 16 and 29 March 2023 here and the news item here.

15 April 2023

FSC publishes International Generic Indicators V(2-1). Read the synopsis report of the focused consultation held from 31 January to 16 February 2023 on the draft IGI for Criteria 6.9, 6.10 and 6.11 here. And read the synopsis report of the focused consultation held from 16 to 29 March 2023 on the draft IGI for Criteria 4.2, 4X and 4.8 here, and news item here.

15 March 2023

FSC publishes Policy to Address Conversion, FSC Remedy Framework, and updated version of FSC Principles and Criteria V(5-3) addressing Motion 37/2021 and Motion 40a/2021. Read news item here.

February 2023

Based on the approved Motion 37 of the 9th FSC General Assembly, FSC plans to hold a focused consultations on:

  • updating FSC-STD-60-004 International Generic Indicators to reflect the updated P&C V5-3;
  • an Advice Note on implementing updated IGIs for the updated C6.9 and 6.10 and new 6.11 in national forest stewardship standards; and
  • an Advice Note on setting a hectare threshold for a ‘very limited portion’ of minimal conversion.

To receive more information and/or provide feedback on one or more of these consultations, please email Diana Franco Gil (d.franco@fsc.org)

January 2023

See an updated process timeline here.

See an overview of the most noteworthy changes in this Factsheet.

October 2022

At the General Assembly, FSC members approve Motion 37, the changes to the Principles and Criteria needed to implement the Policy to Address Conversion.

Read the news item here.

August 2022

The Policy to Address Conversion was approved by the FSC Board of Directors.

26 and 27 April 2022
Webinar on the FSC Remedy Framework

These webinars will present the FSC Remedy Framework, which is a holistic document incorporating the former Policy for Association Remediation Framework and Conversion Remedy Procedure.

Webinars were held at

  • 26 April at 08:00 (CET) - This session was simultaneously translated to Bahasa Indonesia.
  • 27 April at 16:00 (CET) -This session was simultaneously translated to Spanish.

Listen to a recording of the presentation here

Read answers to webinar questions here

5 and 6 April 2022
Webinars on Policy for Association and Policy to Address Conversion and their connection to the FSC Remedy Framework

These webinars introduced two policies and the FSC Remedy Framework, followed by information on the specific aspects of the Policy for Association and Policy to Address Conversion, which are open for consultation.

Read the answers to the webinar questions here

Listen to a recording of the presentation here.

11 March to 10 May 2022

Latest draft of the Policy to Address Conversion available as part of the consultation on the FSC Remedy Framework

Read the draft 5-4 of the Policy to Address Conversion 

Read FSC’s statement

Read the summary of consultation material

Provide your feedback here

See updated timeline

Read supporting materials (Introductory Booklet, FAQ, Sample Cases)

Read the summary of the study on the economics of remedy of conversion

Read the synopsis report of the public consultation here

January 2022

Updates are announced based on aligning the process with the FSC Remedy Framework. Read the full statement here

October 2021
New Publications Out

Publication of FSC white paper on conversion – analysis, reflections & recommendations related to ownership loopholes

Read the white paper here.

Read the FAQs of the white paper here.

 

Publication of the study on evaluating the potential for FSC certification in Chile & Indonesia on converted land

Read the study here.

September 2021

Updated Motion 7 processes timeline. 

May 2021
Update: Next steps for finalization of conversion policy

Read the news item here

April 2021
FSC-POL-01-007 Policy on Conversion Version V1-0 crosswalk - Revisions between draft 3-0 and current draft 4-0

Read the document here

February 2021
Next steps for finalization of conversion policy

Read the document here.

December 2020
Updated Motion 7 processes timeline
September 2020
Publication of FSC green paper on conversion - 1994 Cut-Off Date & Beyond

Read the paper here

24 September and 21 October 2020
7 September 2020 to 6 November 2020
Public consultation for the third draft of the FSC Policy on Conversion
14 January 2019 to 5 February 2020
17 December 2019 to 16 February 2020
Public consultation for the second draft of the FSC Policy on Conversion
5 November 2019
Composition of the Technical Working Group is announced

Read the news item here.

14, 20 August, 17 September 2019
1st August to 30 September 2019
Public consultation for the first draft of the FSC Policy on Conversion
25 to 28 June 2019
Third meeting of the Working Group in Bonn (Germany)
19 to 22 February 2019
Second meeting of the Working Group in Bonn (Germany)
2 to 5 October 2018
First meeting of the Working Group in Bonn (Germany)
28 August 2018
Composition of the Working Group is announced
05 to 26 June 2018 (Extended until 18 July)
Open call for FSC members to join Working Group for developing FSC Policy on Conversion
05 June 2018
Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Working Group approved by the Steering Committee

Documents

FSC-POL-01-007_V1-0_D5-4-EN_Policy to Address Conversion.pdf
PDF, Size: 487.17KB
FSC statement_FSC One Remedy Framework_11 Mar 2022.pdf
PDF, Size: 118.28KB
FAQs_FSC Remedy Framework_supporting consultation materials.pdf
PDF, Size: 319.46KB
Informational Booklet_FSC Remedy Framework_Supporting Materials.pdf
PDF, Size: 1.96MB
Sample Cases_FSC Remedy Framework_supporting materials.pdf
PDF, Size: 592.91KB
FSC-POL-01-007_V1-0_D5-4-ES_Politica FSC para Abordar la Conversion.pdf
PDF, Size: 474.87KB
Nota de prensa FSC_Marco de Remediacion FSC_11 Mar 2022.pdf
PDF, Size: 115.36KB
Preguntas Frecuentes_Marco de Remediacion FSC.pdf
PDF, Size: 2.15MB
Material Informativo_Marco de Remediacion FSC.pdf
PDF, Size: 7.38MB
Ejemplos de casos_Marco de Remediacion FSC.pdf
PDF, Size: 1.45MB
FSC-POL-01-007_V1-0_D5-4-FR_Politique pour Aborder la Conversion.pdf
PDF, Size: 499.99KB
Material Pendukung Kerangka Kerja FSC_PAC_0.zip
ZIP, Size: 5.74MB
FSC statement_FSC One Remedy Framework_18 Jan 2022_0.pdf
PDF, Size: 384.69KB
FAQs_White Paper.pdf
PDF, Size: 437.30KB
SmartCert_FSC_ConversionPolicy_CaseStudy_V5.pdf
PDF, Size: 1.16MB
Spanish_FSC statement_FSC One Remedy Framework_18 Jan 2022_Final_0.pdf
PDF, Size: 348.27KB
Spanish_FSC statement_FSC One Remedy Framework_18 Jan 2022_Final_0.pdf
PDF, Size: 348.27KB
ES_FSC Green Paper on Conversion_September 2020.pdf
PDF, Size: 1.57MB
TOR WG_Policy on Conversion_Amended on 11 October 2018_spa.pdf
PDF, Size: 0.99MB
IND_FSC statement_FSC One Remedy Framework_Jan 2022_7.pdf
PDF, Size: 358.21KB
White Paper_Analysis, Reflections & Recommendations Related to Ownership Loopholes.pdf
PDF, Size: 1.05MB
Synopsis_of_Consultation_Comments_FSC-PRO-01-007 & FSC-POL-01-007
PDF, Size: 1.65MB
FAQs Policy to Address Conversion and related advice notes
PDF, Size: 558.72KB
Synopsis_Report_focused_consultation_Advice_Note_Very_Limited_Portion_of_conversion
PDF, Size: 711.38KB
Synopsis report_ADV_20_007_23_final.pdf
PDF, Size: 1.10MB