Intact Forest Landscapes remain one of FSC’s most complex challenges. How can we protect the world’s last IFLs while ensuring viable forest management?
IFLs are forest areas where, from satellite imagery, no significant human intervention can be seen – making them the most undisturbed forests in the world.
Since 2014, FSC has had rules for the protection of IFLs. Despite significant efforts (including the innovative landscape approach introduced through Motion 23 in 2022) the implementation of IFL requirements still raises concerns.
Some members argue that these forests should not be certified for production. Other members argue that responsible use of forests is necessary to protect these valuable forests against illegal activity and conversion.
Changing the rules of the game
This side meeting, hosted by motion proposers and the FSC Secretariat, brought together voices from the ground and leading experts to demonstrate that a new course is possible. Participants in the room spoke with urgency, united by the sense that after a decade of shifting policies, FSC must deliver clarity and direction.
“We propose that FSC should choose a middle path through responsible management that is both technically sound and culturally legitimate: an adaptive approach,” said Miriam Matorela Zárate, Social Chamber Member, Latin America, Peru.
Joeri Zwerts, Assistant Professor at Utrecht University and one of the proposers of Motion 45/2025, expressed the need to replace the rigid threshold model with an “ecosystem integrity” approach based on adaptive management, robust monitoring, and stakeholder inclusion.
“We need to focus on outcomes,” Zwerts said. “If monitoring shows that ecosystem integrity is declining, we must adapt. This way, we can ensure resilience while keeping FSC relevant as a global leader in responsible forest management — especially in tropical regions where forests are under the greatest pressure.”
From the industry side, Markus Pfannkuch, CEO of Precious Woods, Economic North Chamber, Switzerland, emphasised:
“FSC is a system that seeks to establish global standards. However, we need more flexibility in how we measure and apply conservation approaches — adapting them to the specific context of each territory.”
Indigenous and Cultural Perspectives
Tina Langille, Director of Policy and Standards, FSC Canada, brought Indigenous and cultural perspectives to the debate by emphasising that Indigenous Cultural Landscapes (ICLs) must be part of the discussion:
“An Indigenous Cultural Landscape is a living landscape to which Indigenous Peoples attribute environmental, social, cultural, and economic value,” she said. “Management strategies for those IFLs need to respect the customary and legal rights of those indigenous communities, as well as consider those communities’ goals and aspirations. This is best done through a collaborative approach that results in the best possible outcomes at the level of the forest to not only maintain the indigenous cultural landscapes, but also the intact forest landscapes and flexibility must be built into the system to provide for creative approaches on the ground.”
Next steps to Move Forward
The FSC Secretariat will present members’ feedback to the Board of Directors in their December 2025 meeting, along with an engagement plan for the first quarter of 2026.
Learn more about the history of IFLs within FSC here