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Normative Document under revision

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.

Background

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.

Process objectives (Conceptual Phase)
  • 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.
Process Lead

Mohammad Qasim, ecosystemservices@fsc.org

Working Group

To be defined

Get Involved

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History

A summary of steps taken and process to date 

June 23, 2025 - July 23, 2025
Open Calls for Working Group Members Applications

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

December 16, 2024 – February 14, 2025

FSC launches 60-day public consultation on conceptual report to implement Motion 49/2021. The report is available in EnglishSpanish 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 EnglishSpanish 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"

February 2024 to November 2024

The consultancy analyzes the suitability of ES PRO for all stages of the mitigation hierarchy aligned with the science-based targets.

September 2023

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.

ToRs

Motion_49_TOR_Biodiversity_Credits.pdf
PDF, Size: 658.89KB
Motion_49_TOR_High_Quality_Carbon_Credits.pdf
PDF, Size: 668.22KB

Working Group Application Documents

FSC GD_Privacy Statement_Biodiversity Credits.docx
DOCX, Size: 45.17KB
FSC GD_Privacy Statement_Carbon Credits.docx
DOCX, Size: 44.77KB
WG_Biodiversity Credits_Application-form.xlsx
XLSX, Size: 35.27KB
WG_Carbon Credits_Application-form.xlsx
XLSX, Size: 35.66KB

Conceptual Report

Conceptual_Report_Phase_II_Revision_ES_PRO_30-006_M49_2021_EN.pdf
PDF, Size: 879.61KB
Rapport_Conceptuel_Phase_II_Revision_ES_PRO_30-006_M49_2021_FR.pdf
PDF, Size: 926.44KB
Reporte_Conceptual_Fase_II_Modificacion_ES_PRO_30-006_M49_2021_SP.pdf
PDF, Size: 892.49KB

Handbook

2_Conceptual_Report_for_Phase_II__Revision_M49_Handbook.pdf
PDF, Size: 5.48MB
2_Rapport_Conceptuel_Phase_II__Motion_49_Manuel_FR.pdf
PDF, Size: 6.10MB
2_Reporte_Conceptual_Fase_II_Modificacion_ES_PRO-30-006_M49_Cuadernillo_SP.pdf
PDF, Size: 6.27MB

Related Documents

3_Motion_49_Two_Pager_summary.pdf
PDF, Size: 288.64KB
Webinars_Conceptual_Report_forPhase II ES Revision_M49_0.pdf
PDF, Size: 6.34MB
4_Final_Technical_Analysis_Operationalizing_compensation_or_and_neutralization_in_the_ES_PRO.pdf
PDF, Size: 862.41KB