Indigenous Peoples Forests thrive when Indigenous leadership, knowledge, and rights are honoured FSC Brazil / Célio Cavalcante Indigenous Peoples are rights holders and forest stewards Indigenous Peoples and local communities manage over a quarter of the world’s lands, safeguarding most of the world’s biodiversity. For them the forests are sacred – a vital part of identity and way of life. Those closest to the forest must have a central role in its stewardship. As climate change, biodiversity loss, and deforestation accelerate, the role of Indigenous Peoples in sustainable forest management is more important than ever. For Indigenous Peoples, forests are more than resources. They are family, identity and the very foundation of our knowledge and cultural values. - Minne Degawan, FSC Indigenous Foundation Managing Director Indigenous Peoples’ rights are at the core of FSC’s work, outlined in Principle 3 of our Principles and Criteria. This means that all FSC-certified forest owners and managers must identify and uphold Indigenous Peoples’ rights of land ownership and use and access to resources the land provides. We work in equal partnership with Indigenous Peoples to uphold rights and co-create solutions for sustainable forest stewardship across the globe. The Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee To ensure Indigenous voices are represented at the highest levels of FSC’s decision-making, FSC established the Permanent Indigenous Peoples’ Committee (PIPC) in 2013. The PIPC advises the FSC International Board of Directors and includes Indigenous representatives from 10 regions of the world. Learn more Meet the PIPC → Get involved FSC collaborates with Indigenous Peoples in various ways to create shared opportunities: Access certification and economic opportunities Certification can open economic opportunities and increase the market value of Indigenous Forest businesses in ethical, environmentally sustainable, and economically viable ways. Shape FSC’s future through membership FSC members shape the direction of the organization and the future of sustainable forest management. By becoming a member, you ensure that Indigenous voices and leadership are active in these decisions. Participate in consultations on forestry standards Indigenous Peoples are invited with other stakeholders to join open consulations on FSC standards and procedures and technical working groups. Dialogue and knowledge exchange Facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity building between rights-holders and other stakeholders to strengthen forest certification standards by respecting Indigenous Peoples' rights. I am the forest and the forest is me. If our forests are in pain, we are in pain. - Te Ngaehe Wanikau, PIPC representative for Oceania Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) To achieve and maintain FSC certification, forest owners and managers must uphold Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). We recognize that our FPIC requirements alone cannot fully address the complex challenges faced by Indigenous communities. However, they serve as a critical foundation to ensure meaningful participation in forest management planning and creating opportunities for shared benefits. Explore guidance on FPIC implementation Explore FSC Canada’s resources on FPIC The FSC Indigenous Foundation In 2018 the FSC and the PIPC created the FSC Indigenous Foundation. The Foundation works to uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples and safeguard their knowledge, authority, and traditional practices to protect Mother Earth’s forests. Learn about the FSC Indigenous Foundation’s work and Voices of the Land campaign. Contact the FSC Indigenous Foundation at fsc.if@fsc.org. Indigenous leadership in action Learn how Indigenous Peoples around the world steward forests for generations to come and benefit from FSC certification. Indigenous community forest management in the Peruvian Amazon Learn how the Shipibo and Belgica communities protect their ancestral lands with Indigenous knowledge and FSC certification. Read the story → Upholding Indigenous rights in Northern Ontario Wahkohtowin Development is an Indigenous-led social enterprise rooted in sustainable forestry that serves and supports three First Nation forest owners. Watch the video → How the Indigenous Baaka of the Congo are saving forests Baaka communities work with companies to balance timber needs with the sustainable management of their ancestral forest home. Read the story → Complaints mechanism FSC is the world’s most trusted sustainable forest management solution, and we take our integrity seriously. We provide a transparent and accessible mechanism for reporting concerns and taking action when a problem is detected or reported. More information Process and templates → Indigenous knowledge is what has kept our forests around. - Samante Anne, PIPC representative for Anglophone Africa Resources on certification Understanding the Economic Viability Tool PDF, Size: 934.42KB Understanding the Forest Management Groups Standard PDF, Size: 777.68KB Understanding SLIMF and Community Forests in FSC Standards PDF, Size: 835.18KB Your Selections Download All Case studies on certification and verified impacts of ecosystem services Case Study Açai - Amazonbai in Brazil PDF, Size: 565.84KB Case Study - Group certification Callería, Curiaca, Pueblo Nuevo in Peru PDF, Size: 528.65KB Your Selections Download All