Second public consultation open for the standard that defines FSC’s adaptation for SLIMF and community forests

The FSC-STD-01-003 SLIMF and Community Forest Eligibility Criteria second draft is open for public consultation from 19 September 2022 to 18 November 2022. This second draft of the standard includes an updated definition for community forest and increases the flexibility of local adaptation of small or low intensity managed forest (SLIMF) and community forest criteria. The consultation can be accessed here. 

‘Small and low-intensity managed forest’ (SLIMF) and ‘community forest’ are key concepts for smaller organizations and community and family forest owners to enter the FSC certification scheme. The first public consultation of the standard consulted on the definition for ‘community forest’ and the possibility of standard developers to set local thresholds beyond 100 hectares. The added definition is to ensure stronger consistency worldwide and flexibility for standard developers, since definitions and thresholds and other requirements of FSC can be adapted to the needs of the targeted user groups in a national context. 

The second draft now open for consultation has incorporated the feedback from the earlier consultation and included changes based on feedback such as a comprehensive introduction and clearer objective and scope sections. This second consultation is asking for feedback about the following key topics updated in the second draft: 

1. The way non-timber forest products (NTFP) are addressed in the standard. 

2.  National adaptation now allows changing the reference area of a Management Unit. 

3. The opportunity that national adaptation provides to adjust the mean annual increment based on forest management objectives.  

4. Scale and harvesting intensity are now optional additional criteria, which can be added to national adaptation of a community forest. 

This revision is coordinated by the Community and Family Forests program of FSC and implemented by a technical working group. To learn more about the process and standard visit the dedicated process page here. 

If you have any further questions, please contact Joachim Meier-Dörnberg, FSC Social Policy Manager at communityfamilyforests@fsc.org. 

We are looking forward to receiving your feedback by 18 November 2022!