Prize winner

Organisation name 

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

Country 

Germany

Contact details 

Website http://www.fsc.org/
Email fsc@fsc.org

Testimonial

"The FSC reports that its entire Global Network was boosted forward by the Alcan Prize, above and beyond its financial implications, the worldwide publicity and recognition received, and the credibility gained. The Prize has been an impetus for enhanced financial performance and operational development within the organisation."

Financial resources

US$2.4M (2003)

Geographical focus

Global

Issue focus

Environment

Key achievements

• Forty-two (42) million hectares of forest certified in over 60 countries
• Created a market in sustainably managed wood products
• Has become the benchmark for good forest management worldwide

Mission

FSC aims to promote environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world's forests, by establishing recognised and respected forest stewardship standards and a system for certifying and recognising conformity with these standards. The FSC concept of responsible forest management is articulated in its 10 Principles for Forest Stewardship which include compliance with laws and FSC Principles, the rights of indigenous people, usage and tenure, and workers, benefits from the forest and environmental impact, managing and monitoring.

Background

Founded soon after the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 by a group of social, environmental and industrial organisations, FSC now has an international centre in Bonn, Germany, and 33 national initiatives supported by four regional offices in Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia/Pacific. The organisation now counts over 500 members from more than 60 countries including Friends of the Earth, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), social organisations representing forest-dependent communities, indigenous people, small enterprises and socially responsible corporates including B&Q and Ikea. The FSC issued its first forest management certificate in 1993, and now over 42 million hectares in 62 countries have been registered. Within the broader industry, FSC standards provide a benchmark for forest managers seeking to harvest wood in a sustainable way.

Partnerships

The FSC is an international association of members and it applies the principles of democracy, inclusion and transparency in its decision-making and standards development processes, in its balanced membership and in the integrity of its standards and certificates. Partners include:

• Other NGOs, with whom it works collaboratively
• The corporate sector, which contribute funds and employee time as well as sell FSC accredited products
• Independent, third-party certification bodies, who are accredited by the FSC
• Governments, with whom it works to influence and guide policy

Impact achieved

FSC was established as a solution to growing conflict over global forest management. Today it's most obvious indicator of success is the 42 million hectares of forest that have been certified to FSC standards. But in addition to this, in ten years FSC has:

• Advanced its mission of promoting sustainable, responsible forestry through its influence on the global forestry industry.
• Provided standards that serve as both a target and benchmark for forest managers.
• Created a market for FSC certified products and shown a financial benefit to gaining FSC certification.
• Improved quality of life and alleviated poverty for indigenous forest-dependent people and workers
• Has developed a global infrastructure to support its not for profit membership-based organisation.