Supporting smallholders for in preparing for EUDR with FSC certification

With 30 years of experience in pioneering sustainable forestry practices, FSC can support communities, smallholders and family forests as they prepare for EUDR requirements.

The new EU Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR), enacted in June 2023, places strict requirements on companies to ensure their supply chains are deforestation-free and sustainably managed. It requires companies to take measures to support sustainable land use in their supply chains, which strongly aligns with the FSC system. However, the EUDR introduces additional requirements for geolocation and traceability; two features FSC is actively working on providing through technology solutions.

Smallholders, as key players in forest management, face unique challenges in complying with these regulations. The barriers faced by communities, smallholders, and family forests in certification are global and apply to smallholders accessing the EU market. These difficulties include the number and complexity of requirements, lack of technical capacity, and costs. For 30 years, FSC has been working with smallholders to overcome these barriers and enable them to responsibly manage their forests for enhanced market access. 

Through certification, smallholders and supporting organizations can benefit from existing tools and solutions that include due diligence support, traceability, documentation, and capacity building; each an integral component towards preparing for EUDR requirements.

Our comprehensive tools for community and family forests support EUDR preparation through:

• Capacity building: FSC provides guidance and training to smallholders on sustainable forest management practices, helping them in turn understand and implement EUDR requirements effectively. We work with partners and communities to deliver on-site trainings and capacity building based on the needs of these stewards. This can include specific aspects of forest management, full trainings on the entire national standard, identification of both market and resource benefits and more.
• Community benefits: FSC certification goes beyond just the environment. It emphasizes the welfare of local communities and the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Smallholders can leverage this aspect of FSC certification to demonstrate their commitment to the well-being of their communities, aligning with the EUDR's focus on social responsibility.
• Risk mitigation: The EUDR imposes strict due diligence obligations on businesses to avoid sourcing products associated with deforestation. FSC certification can help smallholders mitigate these risks by providing a structured framework with an accessible Community and Family Forests Toolbox, in addition to the upcoming EUDR Toolbox. Using these tools can help them strengthen sustainable forestry practices.
• Collaboration: Smallholders can benefit from the collective power of FSC. By joining producer groups or cooperatives, smallholders can pool resources, share knowledge, and jointly navigate the complexities of certification and regulatory compliance.
• Market access and credibility: FSC certification enhances market access for smallholders by providing credibility and assurance to consumers and businesses that the products sourced from these smallholder forests meet stringent sustainability criteria, which can then support due diligence related to EU regulations.
• Monitoring and compliance: Regular monitoring and assessments are done through credible third parties in the FSC system to ensure ongoing conformance with sustainability standards. This continuous evaluation helps smallholders maintain their certification.

Moving forward together

While FSC certification offers significant support to smallholders under the EUDR, challenges remain. Smallholders often operate in remote areas with limited access to information and resources, making the certification process challenging. Moreover, certification can entail costs, both in terms of fees and implementing legal and sustainable practices. To address these challenges, it is essential for governments, NGOs, and FSC itself to provide tailored assistance, subsidies, and technical support to smallholders.

The EUDR legislation of 2023 represents a transformative step towards combatting deforestation and promoting sustainability. By supporting smallholders in achieving FSC certification, we can help strengthen responsible forest management and contribute to more resilient forest-based supply chains.

Learn more about our Community and Family Forests Toolbox

Explore our toolbox by playing our game here: https://journeytofsc.org/

Learn more about our solutions here: https://fsc.org/en/managers-of-small-community-forests