Minor changes were made to the FSC Standard for Group Entities in Forest Management Groups (FSC-STD-30-005 V1-0) to clarify and simplify requirements related to smallholders. These changes were open for consultation between 17 August and 16 September 2017. As part of the New Approaches to Smallholder Certification (New Approaches) project, a technical working group analysed all the comments provided by 56 participants.
Main findings
Most of the stakeholders were positive about the proposed changes. Specifically, 55 per cent agreed or strongly agreed with the changes made, while 27 per cent disagreed or strongly disagreed. The analysis also revealed a need to reform other relevant standards to reduce the cost and complexity of FSC certification for smallholders, including FSC-STD-20-007 V3-0 Forest Management Evaluations. Additionally, a full revision of FSC Standard for Group Entities in Forest Management Groups (FSC-STD-30-005 V1-0) will come in 2018.
Contact
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding the group certification standard revision process, please contact Joachim Meier-Dörnberg at j.meier-doernberg@fsc.org.