FSC has joined 100+ NGOs supporting the #Together4Forests movement.
Our History
From Roots to Forest Canopy
Call to Action
After the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio failed to produce an agreement to stop deforestation, a committed group of environmentalists, businesses, and community leaders joined to create a revolutionary market-based approach to improve forestry practices worldwide.
The Founding of FSC
That was the seed of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), founded in 1994 as a voluntary certification for sustainable forestry, promoting environmentally sound, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests.
Nowadays, FSC has the most extensive certified supply chain network, enabling connections between markets and sustainable forestry – including over 150 million hectares of forest managed according to FSC standards.
FSC’s high standards and credibility have helped the system grow as solidly as an oak trunk. At the same time, new solutions continue to arise over the years to address incoming challenges, playing a crucial role in biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation while ensuring healthy and resilient forests for all, forever.
FSC’s Evolution Over the Years
1994–2004
1994
- The membership organization FSC Asociación Civil (AC) is established as a legal entity in Mexico.
- The first certified product, a wooden spatula, becomes available in the United Kingdom.
1996–1997
- The first General Assembly takes place.
- The first FSC National Standard (NFSS) is endorsed in Sweden.
1998–1999
- 10 million hectares of forest certified to FSC standards.
- First FSC-certified and labeled non-timber forest product (Chicle gum, Mexico).
- First book printed on FSC-certified paper.
2000–2002
- FSC receives the City of Götheberg’s International Environmental Prize.
- Policies developed on group certification of chain of custody (CoC), and sampling for multisite organizations.
- FSC Board of Directors endorses FSC social strategy.
- FSC is a founding member of ISEAL.
2003
- Re-location of the FSC secretariat from Oaxaca, Mexico, to Bonn, Germany.
- 40 million hectares of certified forest.
- 20,000 FSC-certified products on the market.
2004
- Standards for small or low-intensity managed forests (SLIMF) come into effect.
- FSC wins prestigious ALCAN prize for the contribution it has made to improving forest management around the world.
2005-2015
2005
- Accreditation Services International GmbH (ASI) created to manage the FSC accreditation programme.
- More than 10 million hectares of tropical forest certified to FSC standards.
2006
- FSC Project Certification Standard approved.
- FSC complies with ISEAL Code of Good Practice.
- FSC Controlled Wood (CW) standards come into force.
2007–2008
- FSC Global Development created to strengthen FSC markets and trademarks.
- More than 100 million hectares certified, distributed over 79 countries.
2009
- 15,000th CoC certificate celebrated.
- FSC celebrates the 1,000th forest management (FM) certificate in Portugal.
2010-2014
2011
- Regional offices opened in Latin America and Asia Pacific.
- Forest Certification for Ecosystem Services (ForCES) programme launched.
- FSC membership climbs to 800 members.
- 20,000th CoC certificate issued.
2012
- 150 million hectares certified.
- FSC group certificates include almost a quarter of a million small and community producers.
2013
- Over 180 million hectares of forest worldwide are managed according to FSC standards.
- Permanent Indigenous Peoples’ Committee (PIPC) established to give a formal voice to indigenous peoples in FSC’s principles.
2016-Today
2016
- Much of the timber used in the construction of venues for the 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games was FSC-certified. In addition, millions of FSC-certified products were used at the Games.
- Indonesian trade unionist, Rulita Wijayaningdyah, was appointed Chairperson of the FSC International Board of Directors – the first Asian woman to hold this position.
2017
- The Vancouver Declaration is launched as a commitment made by organizations around the world to work towards meeting UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by sustainably sourcing forest products.
- ÁmaZ in Peru becomes the first restaurant in the world to achieve FSC certification.
2018
- The FSC Ecosystem Services Procedure, an initiative to create incentives for the preservation of valuable ecosystem services in responsibly managed forests, is launched.
2019
- FSC celebrates 25 years of sustainable forest management.
2020
- Launch of the FSC Indigenous Foundation to give a voice to Indigenous Peoples.
- The FSC Core Labour Requirements, based on the principles of the International Labour Organization core conventions, were embedded into the CoC standards.
- FSC joins Amazon’s Climate Pledge Friendly programme.
2021
- Focus Forests initiative begins to co-create solutions for environments of special value.
- The world’s first FSC-certified tyre is launched by Pirelli and BMW.
- Over 200 million FSC-certified areas.
- More than 50,000 CoC certificates.
2022
- FSC’s strategic framework on gender and diversity is launched.
- The FSC continuous improvement procedure and the FSC remedy framework are approved.
2023
- Over 2.4 million million hectares of FSC-certified forests were verified with positive ecosystem services impact.
2024
- FSC surpasses the 60,000 chain of custody certificates.
- FSC standards align with the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR).
Celebrating 30 Years of FSC
In 2024, FSC celebrated its 30th anniversary. Today, we are the leader in sustainable forest management, operating the world's most rigorous and trusted forest certification system. This remarkable journey wouldn't have been possible without the contributions of our members, certificate holders, partners and people who support us by choosing FSC-certified products. Over the past 30 years, we've grown and thrived together, making significant strides in achieving our vision – Forests For All, Forever.
