Ten principles of FSC certification

Principle 1: Comply with the law and FSC principles

Forest management should respect the laws of the country in which it is located and the international conventions and agreements signed by the country, and comply with all FSC principles and standards.

Principle 2: Ownership, access and responsibility

Long-term ownership and use rights of land and forest resources should be clearly defined, documented and legally documented.

Principle 3: Rights of Indigenous Peoples

The legal and customary rights of Indigenous Peoples to own, use and manage their lands, territories and resources should be recognized and respected.

Principle 4: Community Relations and Workers’ Rights

Forest management activities should maintain or enhance the long-term social and economic interests of forest workers and local communities.

Principle 5: Benefits from forests

Forest management activities should encourage the effective use of multiple products and services of forests to ensure the economic benefits and broad social and environmental benefits of forests.

Principle 6: Environmental Impact

Forest management should protect biodiversity and its related values, such as water resources, soil, and the value of unique and fragile ecosystems and landscapes, and thereby maintain the ecological functions and integrity of the forest.

Principle 7: Business Planning

A forest management plan appropriate to the scale and intensity of forest management should be developed and implemented, and revised from time to time. The long-term objectives of management and the means to achieve them should be clearly stated.

Principle 8: Monitoring and Evaluation

Monitoring should be carried out according to the scale and intensity of forest management to assess forest condition, forest product output, chain of custody,

Business activities and their social and environmental impacts.

Principle 9: Maintain High Conservation Value Forests

Management activities in HCV forests should maintain or enhance the characteristics of these forests, and decisions regarding HCV forests should always be considered with a precautionary approach.

Principle 10: Planted Forests

Planted forests should be planned and managed in accordance with Principles and Criteria 1 to 9 and Principle 10 and its criteria. Planted forests can provide a range of social and economic benefits and help meet the world's demand for forest products. At the same time, they complement natural forests, reduce pressure on natural forests, and promote their restoration and protection.