FSC forest solutions have the potential to empower and uphold rights – customary, traditional, access, health & safety – helping to ensure that these groups have agency to make or influence forest stewardship decisions based on their holistic value of the forest. But how do we transform forest solutions together?
“For FSC, diversity is a key cornerstone to ensure equality in our work or system and in our organization. This includes workers’ rights, Indigenous Peoples' rights, local community engagement, and gender equity” said Ivone Namikawa, FSC International Board Member
To truly transform forest solutions together, FSC will need to scale up benefits for Indigenous Peoples, communities, smallholders and workers by working locally, regionally and globally to develop solutions that are valued by markets and deliver direct social and economic benefits for Indigenous Peoples, communities, smallholders and workers.
“Growth in certified area is too slow, and most of the world’s forests are still not certified according to FSC’s standards. We need to increase our efforts for certification of tropical forests, forests managed by smallholders and communities and other forests around the world that have significant potential to create value and benefits and contribute to addressing global challenges.” said Mark Asante Ofori, FSC International Board Member
FSC’s global strategy identifies that this could be done by creating initiatives that increase access to markets or investments in forest products and services delivered by Indigenous Peoples, local communities and smallholders, and promoting gender equity and diversity. Additionally, by working with businesses to deliver on their commitment to local and global sustainability agendas by adhering to FSC social values through certification, FSC can work to benefit workers, Indigenous Peoples and local communities.