ADV-STD-60-004_03 V1-0
During the FSC General Assembly in October 2025, members approved Motion 45/2025, “Moving beyond fixed thresholds to outcome‑based conservation for Intact Forest Landscapes (IFLs).” At the same time, the Motion 23 pilots, focused on revising IFL indicators using a landscape approach, were progressing toward completion by the end of 2025.
Given the strong linkages between Motion 23/2020 and Motion 45/2025, as well as the overlap in their development timelines, the Board decided to initiate the implementation of Motion 45 and to establish interim measures for IFLs, drawing on lessons learned from the pilots.
The BM104 decision record on interim measures for IFLs states:
“c. Include the development of interim IFL requirements for areas outside the pilot landscapes within M23 countries. These interim requirements could also be used instead of the current IFL requirements in other countries with tropical forests. The Secretariat shall engage with the Standard Development Groups of M23 pilot countries, in collaboration with Network Partners, to develop a proposal for these requirements and eligibility criteria for the other countries in which they could be applied, to be presented to the BoD at BM105. The proposal shall also include an engagement and an implementation plan.”
The interim measures serve as a transition from current requirements, building on Motion 23 results while moving toward implementation of Motion 45/2025 and the subsequent revision of the Principles and Criteria.
For FM areas outside the M23 pilot landscapes, the requirements will be implemented through an Advice Note. This Advice Note is expected to be approved by the Policy and Standards Committee in June and to enter into effect on 1 July 2025, pending the Board’s decision.
These interim requirements will be available to opt‑in countries (specifically, countries with IFLs that did not participate in the M23 pilots), allowing them to apply revised IFL requirements as they transition toward the final requirements resulting from Motion 45/2025.
Development of clear requirements for IFL areas outside the M23 landscapes and related opt-in solutions (i.e. eligibility criteria for other countries to apply such requirements ), to be issued through an Advice Note.
Andrea Cornejo; Rebeca Sanhueza
The WG is composed as follows:
Alan Rigolo / Elson Fernández, FSC BRASIL, WG Members
Andrea Cornejo, FSC Policy and Performance Unit (P&P), Process Lead
Carey Bhojedat, FSC P&P, Country Requirements, Reviewer and Advisor
Douglas Muir, FSC P&P, Process supervisor
Pasi Miettinen, FSC P&P, Reviewer and advisor
Rebeca Sanhueza, FSC P&P, Process Lead Support
Stefan Salvador, FSC P&P, Reviewer
Willy Lawyer / Patrick Piemme Epie, FSC P&P AFRICA, WG Members
Yadid Ordonez / Alba Estefania Solis, FSC P&P LATIN AMERICA / FSC PERU, WG Members
Revision of requirements for Intact Forest Landscapes (IFL) conservation
You can stay informed of the developments on this revision process by staying tuned to this process page.
Timeline
A summary of steps taken and process to date
FSC organized two public webinars to support stakeholder understanding of the consultations on the Advice Notes related to the implementation of Motion 45/2025 on Intact Forest Landscapes (IFLs). The webinars provided an overview of the objectives, scope, and proposed requirements contained in the Advice Notes, as well as an opportunity for participants to ask questions and provide feedback directly to FSC and Technical Working Group representatives.
The webinars were conducted in English, with interpretation available in Spanish and French. Presentation slides from the webinars are available at the end of this webpage.
Launch of Public Consultation of the Advice Note for voluntary application, ADV-STD-20-007_18 V4-0: IFL Requirements for Tropical Natural Forests. Exempt: Brazil, Peru, and the Republic of Congo in English, Spanish, and French. The consultation runs from 3 April to 1 May 2026. Participate in the consultation of the Advice Note ADV-STD-20-007_18 V4-0 here FSC Consultation Platform.
The PSG approved the constitution of the Working Group to develop requirements for FM areas outside Motion23/2020 landscapes and opt-in solutions, related to a hybrid process.
The Board decided that as part of interim measures towards Intact Forest Landscapes while transitioning to the full implementation of the recently approved Motion 45/2025 “Moving beyond fixed thresholds to outcome-based conservation for Intact Forest Landscapes (IFLs)”, interim IFL requirements for (FM) areas outside the pilot landscapes within M23 countries shall be developed.
Read more: BM 104 Decision record