Interim IFL indicators for FM areas outside Motion 23/2020 landscapes and opt-in solutions

ADV-STD-20-007-XX 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 indicators for areas outside the pilot landscapes within M23 countries. These interim indicators 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 indicators 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 indicators as they transition toward the final indicators resulting from Motion 45/2025.

Development of clear indicators for IFL areas outside the M23 landscapes and related opt-in solutions (i.e. eligibility criteria for other countries to apply such indicators), to be issued through an Advice Note.

Andrea Cornejo ; Rebeca Sanhueza

policyinnovation@fsc.org

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.