FSC opens public consultations on new approach to Intact Forest Landscapes

FSC has launched two public consultations on new measures to strengthen how Intact Forest Landscapes (IFLs) are managed and protected.

IFLs are large, unfragmented forest areas that have remained free from significant human disturbance. They play a critical role in maintaining biodiversity, regulating climate, and supporting the rights, livelihoods, and cultures of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

The consultations focus on two draft Advice Notes (ADV-STD-60-004_02 V1-0 and ADV-STD-20-007_18 V4-0) that introduce interim measures to support the implementation of Motion 45/2025, a decision by FSC members to move towards a more outcome-based approach to conserving these important forest areas. 

The two Advice Notes are complementary but serve different purposes:

• ADV-STD-60-004_02 V1-0 introduces enhanced requirements for how IFLs are managed and monitored, including the identification of key ecological features, the integration of Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge and rights, and the use of monitoring and adaptive management to maintain forest integrity over time. You can read more on the Process page.
• ADV-STD-20-007_18 V4-0 establishes interim protection thresholds and eligibility criteria, particularly for countries outside earlier pilot processes, helping to extend improved IFL requirements to a broader range of forest management contexts. You can read more on the Process page.

Together, they represent the first phase of implementing Motion 45/2025, combining improved management practices with updated protection approaches.

What is changing and why it matters

For many years, FSC requirements for IFLs have relied on fixed protection thresholds. While these have contributed to safeguarding large forest areas, they have also faced challenges in addressing complex, real-world conditions across different regions.

The proposed Advice Notes introduce a more comprehensive approach by combining: 

• Stronger management and monitoring requirements, including identifying critical ecological features, limiting cumulative impacts, and ensuring forest recovery over time;
• Greater recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ rights and socio-cultural values, including the application of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC); and
• Updated interim thresholds and eligibility criteria, allowing the approach to be applied more consistently across countries, including those not previously involved in pilot initiatives.

In practical terms, this means that forest managers will not only be required to protect a portion of IFLs, but also to demonstrate how forest conditions, biodiversity, and socio-cultural values are maintained or improved over time through monitoring and adaptive management.

Together, these measures aim to support healthier forests, reduce the risk of fragmentation and degradation, and strengthen long-term conservation outcomes while enabling responsible forest management.

A collaborative process

The draft requirements have been developed through collaboration between FSC experts and a Technical Working Group, building on previous pilot experience (Motion 23/2020) and subsequent member decisions.

The public consultations provide an opportunity for stakeholders, including forest managers, certification bodies, Indigenous Peoples, environmental organizations, and others, to share their perspectives and help refine the proposed approach.

Participate today

The public consultation will be open from 3 April to 1 May 2026. Stakeholders are invited to review the draft Advice Notes and provide feedback through the FSC Consultation Platform. 

The consultation includes:

• General questions on the overall approach and clarity of the proposed requirements;
• Indicator-specific questions on management and monitoring requirements (for ADV-STD-60-004_02); and
• Targeted questions on the proposed thresholds, eligibility criteria, and applicability across different regions (for ADV-STD-20-007_18).

Participants are encouraged to provide both quantitative feedback (e.g. level of agreement) and qualitative input, including practical considerations, implementation challenges, and suggestions for improvement. 

You can access both consultations in either English, French or Spanish on the FSC consultation platform.

• Consultation on draft Advice Note ADV-STD-60-004_02 V1-0 (English, Spanish and French)
• Consultation on draft Advice Note ADV-STD-20-007_18 V4-0 (English, Spanish and French)

Thank you in advance for your participation and contributions.

Please contact the Policy Innovation team at policyinnovation@fsc.org for comments or questions.