New guidance document for the Ecosystem Services Procedure

The Guidance for Demonstrating Ecosystem Services Impacts (FSC-GUI-30-006a V2-0 - also known as Ecosystem Services Guidance) has been published.  

The Guidance serves as a support to Forest Managers and Project Developers that are implementing the Ecosystem Services Procedure (FSC-PRO-30-006 V2-1) to demonstrate the positive impacts of the management activities in forest ecosystem services. It may also be useful for certification bodies undertaking ecosystem services evaluations. 

The revised Guidance showcases very comprehensively how the different requirements of the ES Procedure can be conformed with in diverse management contexts. This includes how to build theories of change for different types of ES impacts, how to implement project safeguards, or how to choose methodologies to quantify ES impacts. It also includes a new annex with the description of all the methodologies our team has screened and that can help FMs demonstrate ES impacts. 

This guidance will be complemented with a second document focused on market usage, including obtaining sponsorships and making claims, to be published later this year.