Motion 49/2021, titled “FSC Ecosystem Services Procedure as a Mitigation Mechanism to Meet Global Market Demand for Net-Zero and Net-Positive Targets,” represents the second phase of the revision of the Ecosystem Services Procedure. The conceptual phase of this Motion 49/2021 concluded with the need to develop two separate normative documents, distinct from the Ecosystem Services Procedure. These are: 1) the Procedure for High-Quality Carbon Credits, and 2) the Procedure for Biodiversity Credits.
Motion 49 requires that the Ecosystem Services Procedure be used for demonstrating progress toward science-based targets in achieving net zero, as well as climate-positive, net-positive targets for biodiversity and water, using a mitigation hierarchy approach. For this purpose, it requires that Ecosystem Services Procedure be used for compensation or neutralization within and beyond value chains, i.e., with neutralization mainly focusing on the residual emissions in the case of carbon.
- Clarify the concepts of mitigation hierarchy, neutralization, and compensation of residual impacts beyond value chains.
- Provide analysis of technical requirements to address the requirements of the M49/2021 in the Ecosystem Services Procedure as related to:
- Mitigation hierarchy, compensation, and neutralization of residual impacts beyond value chains;
- Use of FSC-verified ES impacts for making claims towards achieving science-based targets at all stages of the mitigation hierarchy, including water neutrality, net-positive or no-net-loss biodiversity, net-zero climate impacts, and integrated nature-positive strategies.
- Provide an analysis of the risks related to the above-mentioned concepts/requirements and the feasibility of the options to safeguard against them.
Mohammad Qasim, ecosystemservices@fsc.org
To be defined
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History
A summary of steps taken and process to date
FSC has announced the opening of registration for the Consultative Forums supporting:
- The Sub-Chambered Working Group for the Development of High-Quality Carbon Credits, and
- The Sub-Chambered Working Group for the Development of Biodiversity Credits.
FSC-PRO-30-007: Procedure for High-Quality Carbon Credits
Interested stakeholders are encouraged to register according to their area of expertise related to forest carbon crediting projects:
- Forest Carbon Crediting Methodologies (e.g., Improved Forest Management (IFM), Afforestation/Reforestation (A/R))
- Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MMRV), including GIS/Remote Sensing
- Social Safeguards (e.g., FPIC, benefit-sharing mechanisms, grievance redress, etc.)
- Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC)
If interested, please register here.
FSC-PRO-30-008: Procedure for Biodiversity Credits
Interested stakeholders are encouraged to register according to their area of expertise related to biodiversity crediting projects:
- Biodiversity Crediting Methodologies
- Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MMRV), including GIS/Remote Sensing
- Social Safeguards (e.g., FPIC, benefit-sharing mechanisms, grievance redress, etc.)
- Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC)
If interested, please register here.
The FSC International Board of Directors (BoD) has approved the establishment of 1) Sub-Chambered Working Group for the Development of High-Quality Carbon Credits and 2) Sub-Chambered Working Group for the Development of Biodiversity Credits.
The members of the Working Group for High-Quality Carbon Credits collectively bring expertise related to forest carbon projects, including Forest Carbon Project Development and Implementation, Forest Carbon Crediting Methodologies, Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MMRV), including GIS and Remote Sensing as well as Social Safeguards, such as Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), benefit-sharing mechanisms, and grievance redress, particularly in the context of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs).
Similarly, the members of the Working Group for Biodiversity Credits bring expertise related to biodiversity crediting schemes and projects, including Biodiversity Crediting Methodologies, MMRV, including GIS and Remote Sensing and Social Safeguards, such as FPIC, benefit-sharing mechanisms, and grievance redress, with a particular focus on the inclusion and participation of IPLCs.
The names of the selected members for both Working Groups will be updated here soon.
FSC has opened two calls for applications for Working Group members;
1) For the development of <FSC-PRO-30-007 High-Quality Carbon Credits>. The Terms of Reference (ToR) can be found here. Please use the following documents for applying;
a) Application Form.
b) Privacy Statement.
2) For the development of <FSC-PRO-30-008 Biodiversity Credits>. The ToR can be found here. Please use the following documents for applying;
a) Application Form.
b) Privacy Statement.
Please send the application documents to Mohammad Qasim by July 23, 2025 (Process Lead/Products Manager – Carbon and Biodiversity); m.qasim@fsc.org
FSC launches 60-day public consultation on conceptual report to implement Motion 49/2021. The report is available in English, Spanish and French at the bottom of the page. The public consultations can be accessed on the FSC Consultation Platform.
Webinars were held during January 2025 to present the conceptual reports and discuss key aspects of the consultation. The presentation materials are now available here.
Additional material for support:
Handbook of the Conceptual Report to implement Motion 49/2021, available in English, Spanish and French.
Motion 49 Two-Pager Summary, which provides a concise view of the motion and,
Technical analysis: "Operationalizing compensation or/and neutralization in the ES PRO 30-006"
The consultancy analyzes the suitability of ES PRO for all stages of the mitigation hierarchy aligned with the science-based targets.
The Policy Steering Group approves conducting the revision of the Ecosystem Services Procedure in two phases.
Phase 2 will fully implement Motion 49/2021, in particular the use of FSC verified ES impacts for compensation or neutralization of residual impacts beyond value chains.
