What is the Forest Stewardship Council?
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that promotes responsible forest management throughout the world.
FSC is unique because of its balance in decision-making between economic, ecological or societal interests. All three sectors have the same influence on the decisions of the General Assembly that decides FSC policy and lays down the criteria.
Everybody who has an interest in responsible forest management can be an FSC member and influence the organisation’s development. The current membership includes forest owners, timber traders, trades unions, interest groups and representatives of local people.
The Woodland Trust encourages the use of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) products as a way to support and promote well managed forests, prevent forest destruction, increase biodiversity and people involvement.
Why use FSC certified products?
The Forest Stewardship Council’s certification scheme enables you to buy forest products of all kinds with confidence that you are not contributing to global forest destruction. FSC certified forests are managed to ensure long term timber supplies while protecting the environment and the lives of forest-dependent peoples.
A system of Chain of Custody certification traces forest products through the supply chain to the end-consumer. Whenever you buy timber or timber products always look for the FSC logo.
The FSC 'tick tree' logo
The Forest Stewardship Council’s ‘tick tree’ logo (shown top right of this page) is used on product labels to indicate whether products are certified under the FSC system. When you see the FSC logo on a label you can buy timber and other wood products such as paper with confidence that you are not contributing to the destruction of the world's forests.
Please consult our position statement on the certification of forests to learn more about the principles of the Forest Stewardship Council.
For more information, see the Forest Stewardship Council’s website.