Esri gifts geospatial technology to FSC valued at $1.65 million

Redlands, CA & Bonn, Germany – 15 October 2025 — The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Esri, the global leader in geographic information system (GIS) technology, are proud to announce the renewal of their partnership for 2025. Esri’s latest in-kind software and services donation, valued at $1.65 million, will further empower FSC’s mission to advance responsible forest management worldwide. 

Now in its fourth year, this collaboration leverages Esri’s advanced GIS tools to enable FSC’s mission at scale. FSC is further integrating Esri’s ArcGIS platform to sharpen its ability to verify environmental impact, monitor forest degradation, and support companies’ compliance with global environmental regulations. Esri’s in-kind support provides FSC and its network of forest managers with advanced geospatial tools, cloud infrastructure, and technical expertise, enabling comprehensive mapping of FSC-certified forests and enhanced monitoring of deforestation and forest health. 

“This partnership exemplifies how geospatial technology can drive sustainability, and advance FSC's growth and integrity priorities. Esri’s tools allow us to provide clarity on certification processes, model risk, expand ecosystem services, assess impacts of certification, and bring cutting-edge solutions to the forestry sector, especially for smallholders and Indigenous communities.” - Shree Nath, Programme Manager, Data & Innovations at FSC

The 2025 donation will build on the rollout of FSC’s Risk Hub, which helps visualize FSC Risk Assessments at national and regional level geographies, digital mapping of FSC’s forests through the FSC Certified Area Submittal tool, and progression of the Ecosystem Services Registry, which enables forest managers to demonstrate verified impact of their ecosystem services and be matched with sponsors. These advancements all build upon previous work done with Esri such as the Principles, Criteria & Indicators (PCI) hub and countless story maps which bring data to life by weaving together maps, images, and storytelling to deepen public understanding and emotional connection to critical environmental issues. 

“Esri’s continued generosity underscores their strong commitment to FSC’s mission. Their support empowers us to scale our digital capabilities and harness geospatial intelligence to protect forests, verify impact, and strengthen global supply chains.” - Mark Smith, Executive Director at FSC Investments and Partnerships 

In addition to in-kind support through licensing access, Esri is also a key member of the FSC Technology Consortium,  comprised of a select group of technology leaders that provide their expertise and support FSC with challenges that have global impact. FSC is committed to preserving global forests, and technology plays a critical role in achieving that mission. The Technology Consortium, launched in 2022, brings together experts from across the tech industry to collaborate on real-world challenges such as: 

• streamlining forest certification processes 
• enhancing the integrity of global forest-based product supply chains 
• modeling environmental risk 
• monetizing ecosystem services. 

“This partnership reflects our shared belief that geospatial technology can be a powerful force for good. By equipping FSC with advanced GIS tools, we’re helping to drive innovation in forest stewardship and environmental accountability.” - Emily Swenson, Nonprofit Program Manager at Esri  

As discussed during a meeting between FSC Director General Subhra Bhattacharjee and Esri CEO Jack Dangermond at the Esri User Conference in July 2025, the partnership between FSC and Esri will continue to expand access to geospatial insights and deepen understanding of the impact of forest certification. Together, the organizations are committed to ensuring that the benefits of digital transformation reach all corners of the global forestry community with the tools needed to steward forests sustainably. 

About Esri 
Esri, the global market leader in GIS software, location intelligence, and mapping, is committed to using science and technology to build a sustainable world. Esri’s solutions are used by organizations worldwide to solve complex environmental, social, and economic challenges.