The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) strongly disagrees with the allegations made about its work in a recent documentary on the certification scheme, broadcast on Arte.
While we acknowledge that our work will always need improvement in some areas and have publicly owned up to such areas in the past, we are dismayed at the twisting of facts and assumed connections between FSC and unsavory activities in the documentary. Most of these allegations are not based on fact.
For example, the film fails to show how Indigenous Peoples in the Congo Basin are given access to health services, schools and jobs through the work of FSC certified concessions. It also ignores the fact that FSC requires the participation of Indigenous Peoples in the process towards certification. Indigenous Peoples are accorded the respect and dignity they should receive through FSC’s process of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), which has clear guidelines that take into account their livelihoods and social and cultural way of living, so as to preserve it. FPIC must be affirmatively achieved prior to harvesting any area Indigenous Peoples live in.
The documentary also alleges that FSC planted forests are responsible for deforestation in Brazil. FSC understands that the issue of plantations and land rights in Brazil are very contentious and sensitive, with many rooted in deep historical problems that fall outside FSC’s capacity. Nonetheless, the fact is that no FSC certified plantations are on land that has been converted from natural forests, since 1994. They were either converted earlier or have been established on previously degraded land.
As an organization committed to protecting forests and the people that live and work in them, we vehemently oppose violations in any form, including a disregard for human rights and life.
FSC cannot be held accountable as the only solution for the preservation of the world’s forests. We have never pretended to be that. We recognize the importance that multiple parties have in this task and have always engaged with national and supra-national authorities as a solution. In addition, we have joined the voices of other environmental NGOs to call on governments, businesses and civil society to tackle deforestation.
FSC was established in recognition of the fact that forests needed protection through reasonable, science-based forest management solutions. These solutions take into account environmental and social needs. We firmly believe our work over these years has had positive impacts despite what the film is trying to portray.
We welcome all interested to read more about how FSC has been tackling the challenges that affect forests and its people; and learn more about the positive impact that FSC has had on the world’s forests.
For FSC’s responses to allegations against it in the documentary, please refer here.