Motion by Utrecht biologist Joeri Zwerts on logging in primary forests prompts global policy shift within FSC

A motion by Utrecht University researcher Joeri Zwerts was approved by an overwhelming majority at the Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC) international general meeting earlier this month. The motion provides a concrete solution to a contentious issue that has been debated within the FSC for more than a decade: how to treat Intact Forest Landscapes, areas that remain untouched by humans and contain no roads or settlements.

FSC is a non-profit organization dedicated to responsible forest management. It grants certification to companies who meet its established standards.

Until now, harvesting timber under the FSC label was not allowed in Intact Forest Landscapes, which are found in regions such as the Amazon, the Congo Basin, and Canada. However, governments sometimes designate parts of these areas for logging.

“Logging in untouched forests is a sensitive issue. Of course we need to protect these forests,” Zwerts says. “But we also have to be realistic. We are talking about areas designated for logging, not protected areas. If an FSC-certified company is not allowed to harvest timber in such places, that does not mean the forest won’t be logged. A non-certified company will step in, or it will be done illegally. And that is bad news for biodiversity.”

FSC certification works

In a scientific article published last year in Nature, Zwerts showed that FSC certification in forests in Gabon and the Republic of Congo has a positive impact on large mammals such as gorillas and elephants. Partly for this reason, Zwerts, who is an individual member of the FSC’s environmental chamber, proposed in his motion to allow logging in Intact Forest Landscapes under clear conditions.
 

For ten years, this issue has stalled the organisation’s growth and even threatened its existence.

Three components 

Zwerts’ motion has three components. First, it focuses on preserving the ecological integrity of Intact Forest Landscapes. This means that specific guidelines will be developed that allow logging while preserving biodiversity, ensuring the forest remains resilient and capable of recovering from local logging activities. Indigenous peoples and local communities will be involved in creating these guidelines, so their rights and values are safeguarded. 

Secondly, the areas must be properly monitored. “Strict guidelines need to be established for each landscape detailing how that monitoring should be conducted. What species do you monitor and how? This will create comparable data across different regions, making it possible to assess the impact of forest management,” says Zwerts. “Monitoring is not yet well established within FSC in general. My clauses, with their specific requirements, could be a first step toward improving this across the entire system.”

Thirdly, action must be taken when monitoring indicates that this is needed. The results of the monitoring are reviewed on a regular basis, and if needed, measures are implemented to ensure compliance with the established guidelines.

All this effort may not result in scientific publications or research funding, but it does make a big impact.

Important for FSC 

The motion is of great importance to the FSC. “For ten years, this issue has stalled the organisation’s growth and even threatened its existence,” Zwerts says. “During the general meeting, it became clear that without this motion, the FSC would quickly lose all relevance in the Amazon.” 

Consequently, Zwerts received many positive and appreciative responses to his motion from both organisations and individuals. For instance, Kim Carstensen, former Director General of the FSC, noted on LinkedIn that it is rare for a single person to bring about such a paradigm shift in the organisation. 

Long process 

For Zwerts, the approval of the motion marked the end of a long process. “In the six months leading up to the vote, I invested a great deal of time. I discussed and refined the motion with various stakeholders, including Indigenous peoples, trade unions, governments, and organisations such as the World Wide Fund for Nature. During the FSC meeting, I continued lobbying and made further adjustments to increase support of the motion.” 

“Securing sufficient support requires a motion to be economically viable, socially just, and ecologically responsible,” Zwerts continues. “It’s great that it succeeded. All this effort may not result in scientific publications or research funding, but it does make a big impact.”