Motion 65: ‘High Conservation Value - Intact Forest Landscapes (IFL) protection’ was approved by the FSC membership at the 2014 General Assembly is designed to ensure that large intact landscapes are considered when developing, modifying, or strengthening indicators within Standards. A key component of the Motion is to take into account cultural, social and economic values of Indigenous peoples and forest-dependent communities, including the provision of Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). The Aboriginal Chamber introduced the concept of Indigenous Cultural Landscapes (ICLs) as both a tool for implementing FPIC within the Policy Motion and as an alternative, Indigenous peoples-led land management method. Since the approval of the Policy Motion, there has been active discussion about its implementation internationally and in Canada.
IFLs, ICLs and FPIC will be important components of Canada’s new FSC Standard. As they will fit into the broad requirements of certification, it should be reiterated that an organization is required to meet all FSC Principles and Criteria, taking into account social, environmental and economic requirements.
Since October, 2014, FSC Canada, working with technical experts as part of the Standards revision process, has fostered discussions about IFLs and ICLs through research and the framing of outstanding challenges.
As part of the development of Canada’s National Standard, a draft Discussion Paper summarizing IFL and ICL concepts and challenges was released during FSC Canada’s Annual General Meeting in November 2015. This document is an updated version of the draft Discussion Paper taking into account the discussions that occurred during the AGM breakout sessions and further discussions by the IFL and ICL Sub-Committee. It provides a refined overview of the considerations and proposed direction related to the development of a Canadian approach for the management and protection of IFLs and ICLs.
FSC Canada is interested in hearing from you, and especially those that live and work in IFLs and ICLs, on the questions posed in this Discussion Paper.
FSC Canada will engage in extensive consultation on IFLs and ICLs. The road ahead will not be decided until we have heard voices from Aboriginal Peoples, industry, environmentalists, labour and other stakeholders.
