FSC can play a decisive role in combatting deforestation in the Amazon

The Amazon rainforest is one of the world’s most vital ecosystems. As a massive carbon sink, it provides vital benefits for biodiversity, water, and global climate regulation. Yet deforestation is increasing. Between 2019 and 2022, Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research recorded forest loss of nearly 10,000 square kilometres per year. Identifying strategies to halt deforestation is crucial. 

New research offers a solution 

A study published in World Development found that FSC reduces the probability of deforestation in private properties designated for sustainable forest management in the two states in the Brazilian Amazon, Pará and Rondônia. The evidence showed that certification can be a particularly powerful tool in regions with weaker governance and higher deforestation pressure, ultimately supporting certification as a conservation strategy for native tropical forests.  

For greater impact, the researchers share recommendations to strengthen the role of certification, including simplifying procedures; involving local communities and Indigenous Peoples in planning, implementing and monitoring certification activities; and guaranteeing market access for certified companies.  

Methodology 

The researchers Pushpendra Rana and Erin Sills studied forests designated for sustainable forest management in the states of Pará and Rondônia in the Brazilian Amazon. They compared forest cover loss in FSC-certified areas to a matched sample of non-certified areas with similar characteristics such as distance from roads, sawmills, and cities, by estimating a Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM) analysis and two-way fixed effects models to ensure robustness.  

Scaling up for global impact 

The authors suggest that scaling up certification to cover more forest landscapes, with careful targeting, could make significant contributions to the global forest and climate agendas. Sustainable forest management that enhances the value of standing forests can contribute to climate change mitigation. 

The authors note a need to strengthen the capacities of governments, companies, and NGOs to influence global timber markets and certification systems, and to simplify international trade rules to help certification gain wider acceptance in world timber markets.  

Three months ahead of COP30, this research reinforces that responsible forest management is a proven, scalable, and cost-effective nature-based solution with crucial benefits for climate, biodiversity, and sustainable development.  

Read the study here.