Empowering the Next Generation: Education and Capacity Building at FSC The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) supports forest education, forestry training, capacity building, and youth engagement initiatives around the world. Through educational resources, professional development opportunities, student partnerships, and science communication programmes, FSC helps build knowledge and skills for sustainable forest management. How does FSC support forest education? We provide a diverse suite of resources designed to cultivate forest knowledge at every stage of development. By moving beyond traditional textbook learning, we empower educators and learners to engage with the complexity of sustainable forest management.Forest education for children and young learners We focus on experiential learning – connecting children with nature before they reach a formal classroom. Forest Knowledge Toolboxes: We provide modular, curriculum-aligned toolkits – such as those developed by FSC Adria-Balkan – that equip teachers with tactile materials, observation guides, and activity templates to turn local forests into active classrooms.Creative Storytelling: We teach sustainability through narrative, not lectures. For example, FSC Spain and Pol·len Edicions launched “Los tres cerditos del siglo XXI” (The Three Little Pigs of the 21st Century). By reimagining this classic tale, we address common misconceptions about timber construction, showing that wood is a strong, sustainable, and safe material. This narrative approach helps children view the forest as a partner in human life, fostering empathy and long-term stewardship. Accessible Learning: Initiatives like the Raìse Forest School project demonstrate our commitment to making forest education inclusive. By removing barriers, we ensure that every child, regardless of background, has the opportunity to experience the forest as an outdoor classroom. Experiential Learning: We extend forest learning into everyday community spaces. For example, FSC Romania partnered with a bookshop in Brasov to introduce children to forest sustainability and wildlife safety. Animal tracks became a ‘forest alphabet’ the children learned to decode. Forest education for schools & educators We offer structured support and guidance to weave forestry into core academic subjects.Curriculum-Aligned Materials: Using resources such as FSC UK’s education programmes, we help educators integrate sustainable forestry into science, geography, and social studies, ensuring students understand the link between their daily lives and forest health. Forestry training and professional development We offer tools that simulate the real-world complexities of forest management.Systemic Simulations: Tools like the WaldWege (Forest Paths) simulation allow learners to manage virtual forest estates. These tools force users to balance environmental, economic, and social variables, fostering the systems-based critical thinking required for modern forestry.Spirit of the Forest: A comic book produced by Forest Europe and ERI with support from FSC introduces students to sustainable forest management and inspires forestry-related career paths. If you would like a copy, please write to europe@fsc.org. Sustainable Building with Timber: A free online course on edX, developed by TU Delft in collaboration with FSC, is designed for anyone in the built environment, including architects, developers, engineers, consultants and policy makers and students, to gain knowledge and skills needed to explore the potential of timber construction. Nurturing Future Leaders: Global Student Networks and Development in Forestry We recognize that the students of today are the stewards of tomorrow. To support them, FSC engages deeply with academic and professional networks.Empowering Students through IFSA FSC works with forestry students through its partnership with the International Forestry Students' Association (IFSA), a global network representing forestry students and young professionals. In June 2024, FSC and IFSA signed a landmark five-year partnership agreement. This collaboration is designed to:Amplify Youth Voices: Integrate student perspectives into global forestry dialogues.Professional Pathways: Bridge the gap between academic study and professional practice and promote knowledge exchange.Global Leadership: Remove barriers to participation for the next generation of leaders. As an FSC International organizational member, IFSA holds voting rights and contributes to FSC governance. In 2024–2025, IFSA contributed to the FSC General Assembly in Panama, engaging delegates and disseminating a survey on forest certification to increase student awareness and input. IFSA representatives are also active in key FSC workstreams, including the Remedy Forum, GEDI initiatives, and the Principles and Criteria review, and participate in Board meetings and related processes.FSC is regularly invited to, and supports, the IFSA annual conference, further strengthening collaboration and outreach to the next generation of forestry professionals. FSC Scientific Collaboration with IUFROFSC is a long-standing member of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO). Our membership and active engagement in conferences allow us to tap into a global reservoir of scientific expertise, ensuring our standards are always underpinned by the latest research in ecology, social sciences, and forest management. Communicating Forest Science Science must be accessible to be impactful. We are dedicated to bridging the gap between complex research and public understanding by championing effective communication.FSC spearheaded the development of the Manual for Communicating Forest Science, produced in collaboration with IUFRO. This resource helps researchers, foresters, and advocates translate dense scientific data into stories and insights that resonate with the public and policymakers. By empowering the scientific community to communicate with clarity, we turn research findings into actionable policies necessary to protect forests for all, forever. Join Us in Shaping the Future Forest education is a continuous journey. Whether you are an educator seeking materials, a student interested in forestry, or a researcher wanting to share your findings, FSC is here to support you.Explore Resources: Visit our regional pages to access toolboxes, lesson plans, and simulation guides.Get Involved: Learn more about our capacity-building initiatives and student network partnerships. You can contact your local team for more information.Stay Informed: Follow our news centre for the latest updates on our educational projects.Together, we can ensure the next generation is not only aware of the importance of forests but is empowered to protect them.
