FSC contractor cert Latvia … The field test of a new model for the FSC certification of smallholders has been concluded with good results: A group of small private forest operations are now FSC certified, based on their use of certified …

NEPCon is now an FSC certifier … NEPCon is now an independent FSC certification body. This implies that NEPCon will no longer be providing FSC services on behalf of the Rainforest Alliance. However, the close collaboration between NEPCon and the …

Is Chain of Custody certification a “myth”? … Doubts over timber industry Chain of Custody (CoC) certification have been raised with growing intensity over the past year. We look at the reasons why the former FSC General Director André de Freitas recently …

FSC at risk – PEFC at peace? … Over the past year, Greenpeace has stepped up its public scrutiny of the FSC system. This might lead some industries, particularly in Europe, to see PEFC as the safer choice in terms of avoiding the NGO spotlight. However, …

Pioneering eco-labels in Bolivia … CIMAL/IMR – a Santa Cruz, Bolivia based company known for its high-end FSC certified outdoor furniture - launches FSC certified Chiquitano Charcoal in Bolivian …

Australian Timber Bill endorsed … Australia has come considerably closer to adopting a new Timber Act, after a special committee of the Australian Senate has given its full support to the Australian Illegal Logging Prohibition …

FSC makes headway in Greenland … FSC certified wood is now available for the booming housing construction sector in Greenland. STARK, the Danish chain of professional builders merchants has expanded its multi-site FSC certificate to cover its stores in …

Celebrate FSC Friday today … Individuals, companies and organisations are all doing their bit today to celebrate the wonders that forests have to offer and how FSC helps us to continue to enjoy them for the years to …

FSC renames certified products … FSC has released a revised version of its product classification standard that is used to define companies’ product groups as well as to feed into the FSC database …

Plantations - the step-child of FSC … Forestry expert Berty van Hensbergen takes a nuanced stance on FSC’s requirements for plantations including the infamous criterion on post-1994 conversion. Does the current rule lead to social …

Voting on FSC’s future – Part I … Yesterday was the first voting day at the 2011 FSC General Assembly. We present some of the key decisions made by FSC members, asking for changes that are set to change the directions of FSC or strengthen its core …

Motion on motions: transparency wanted … One of this year’s most conspicuous motions is Motion 4, which asks FSC to follow up on motions in a more transparent and reliable way. The Brazilian NGO Imaflora asks FSC to engage in stakeholder dialogue and …

CoC - extension of transitory period … FSC has extended the expiry date for two exemptions from the FSC chain of custody requirements by one …

Plant nurseries Advice Note … FSC has sent out a new draft advice note clarifying when tree nurseries are to be included in the scope of the FSC certificate held by an …

Forest footprint disclosure project … In future, investors may have easy access to information about companies' impact on the world's forests, and can rate the companies' future value …

Voluntary carbon schemes on the rise … The authoritative report "State of the Voluntary Carbon Markets 2009" shows that the volume of forestry and other land-use emissions reductions in the voluntary carbon market has increased 14% to …

Wooden housing popular in Denmark … Wood is increasingly used for constructing houses in Denmark. …

VPA EU and Republic of the Congo … The Republic of the Congo, also known as Congo-Brazzaville, is the first Central African country to conclude a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the European Union to halt illegal logging and …

NEPCon expands in Western Europe … As of 1st of July 2009, NEPCon is taking over the management of the Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWood forestry program in all of Europe as well as Russia, Israel and …

Controlled Wood - new advice … A new advice note released by FSC seeks to strengthen the foundations of FSC Controlled Wood. …