A new study in The Journal of Cleaner Production confirms that Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification contributes to maintaining and increasing forest cover, especially in lower-middle-income countries.

These findings reinforce the conclusions of previous research and provide insights into adapting regional certification strategies to increase sustainable forest management.

The study, led by researchers Inoussa Boubacar and Yaya Sissoko, investigated the role of FSC certification in promoting sustainable forest management and mitigating deforestation across diverse economic and climatic contexts.

Using a dynamic panel data model and Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) estimations on 70 countries from 2000 to 2021, the researchers examined forest cover as a measure of the impact of FSC certification.

Key findings

Results indicate that FSC certification contributes to maintaining and increasing forest cover across diverse economic and climatic contexts. This positive impact is most strongly observed in lower-middle-income countries (as defined by World Bank economic classifications).

Scaling up certification and integrating it into national policies could benefit countries of this economic category. The data also shows positive impacts of certification on low-, middle-, and high-income countries.

The study also found that FSC certification has a positive impact on all climate zones. However, the strength of the effect varies across zones, highlighting the need for region-specific strategies.

Recommendations

The authors recommend:

• Tailoring strategies for different regions and countries based on economic structures, governance capacities, market conditions, and climatic zones.
• Embedding FSC certification into national and international forest governance frameworks.
• Aligning certification with trade policies.
• Aligning FSC with international initiatives such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+).
• Strengthening collaboration among stakeholders, including policymakers, companies, and international organisations, to increase the adoption of FSC certification and mitigate deforestation.

Read the study here.