Consultation on the Advice Note on Addressing Conversion

FSC invites you to participate in a public consultation to revise the Advice Note on Maximum hectare Threshold for “very limited portion". This Advice Note is compiled under Forest Management Evaluations (FSC-DIR-20-007) on page 45. The current version of the Advice Note establishes that, in addition to the 5% limit of a management unit, the “very limited portion” of a forest that could be exempted from FSC’s zero deforestation rules shall not exceed 1,000 hectares. This threshold was introduced in response to Motion 37/2021 of the 9th FSC General Assembly.  The current version also specifies that chamber-balanced standard development groups may set a lower hectarage threshold and clarifies that the Advice Note does not apply retroactively to conversions prior to its effective date of 1 October 2023.

The draft Advice Note, now titled Converted area constituting ‘very limited portion’ in IGIs 6.9–6.11 and accounting for restoration (FSC-ADV-20-007-23 V3-0), introduces an amendment to FSC’s definition of a ‘very limited portion’ of a forest that could be exempted from FSC’s zero deforestation rules. FSC does not accept the conversion of forests or other areas with High Conservation Values (HCV). An exemption can only be granted for a 'very limited portion' of a forest management unit and only if the conversion results in substantial conservation and social benefits. Areas converted after 2020 are not eligible for certification, while earlier converted areas from December 1994 onwards can only be certified if a remedy for the environmental and social harms caused by the conversion is provided.

The public consultation will be open from 12 September to 12 October 2025. Stakeholders are invited to review the draft Advice Note and provide feedback.