Certifying Environmental, Socio-Cultural & Wellbeing Ecosystem Services in FSC: Global Challenges & Opportunities
Forests provide multiple ecosystem services, but in FSC certification, cultural services are usually limited to recreation, without fully recognizing their contribution to health, well-being, and community identity. Initiatives like those from FSC Italy, with cases such as the Magnifica Comunità di Fiemme and Oasi Zegna, have made progress in integrating these aspects into their standards. Meanwhile, Mexico has developed pioneering processes for certifying environmental ecosystem services under FSC, expanding its reach and market experience. This context presents an opportunity to strengthen the global integration of social and cultural services in FSC certification, promoting more holistic and sustainable forest management.
laria Doimo
Dr. Ilaria Doimo is specialized in forest-based therapies and the social and cultural ecosystem services of forests. With a PhD on the role of forests in promoting health and well-being, she combines research and practice to enhance the social and cultural values of nature, with a focus on education, equity, and well-being. At Etifor, she focuses on stakeholder engagement, co-design, and training programmes, fostering stronger connections between people, communities, and nature.
Lucio Brotto
Lucio Brotto is an international expert in sustainable forest management and ecosystem services certification. As co-founder and managing partner of Etifor, he has played a key role in supporting organizations worldwide in valuing and leveraging nature’s benefits also through the implementation of FSC Ecosystem Services certification framework. With extensive experience in market-based mechanisms and conservation finance, Lucio fosters innovative solutions that connect responsible forest management with biodiversity, climate action, and community well-being.
Liviu Amariei
Forestry professional, Forest Management and Chain of Custody auditor and Auditor Trainer with 25 years experience in FSC oversight and assurance (certification) relating to various sustainability standards, representing ASTRA Academy, an FSC Member organization and leading Training provider for auditors and certification professionals in the FSC system. ISEAL Independent reviewer and IUCN Green List Reviewer.
Carlos Ortega Ayala
Coordinator and developer of market, business and product design with sustainable natural resources in forestry and artisanal communities Specialist in sustainability certification: FSC, PEFC, SFI, BIFMALevel; AWS, GRS
Mauricio La Valle
Project manager of UNOFOC, more than 9 years accompanying communities to strengthen governance and sustainable management of natural resources, development of the first certifications in Ecosystem Services in Mexico for recreational services and water quality with the indigenous community of San Geronimo Zacapexco which represented the FSC membership.
Emilio Cruz Sánchez
Emilio Cruz Sánchez is currently Director of Alliances for Advocacy at Reforestamos Mexico, an organization where he has worked since 2010 and where he has contributed to projects such as the Natural Resources Transparency Index, legislative proposals on issues of legality, transparency and promotion of FSC certification.
He is also the representative to the FSC for his organization, a position he has held since 2018. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Acento, Acción Local, the first Mexican fund focused on strengthening local human rights organizations, and secretary of the Mexican Committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Event Details
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Tuesday 28 October
Time: 16:30 - 18:00 EST (Panama), 22:30 - 00:00 CET, 05:30 - 07:00 WITA (next day)