Harnessing Space for Sustainable Forestry

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the world's most credible sustainable forestry solution, is now looking toward outer space as a part of the European Space Agency (ESA) 's new Bioeconomy Task Force, including its working group on sustainable forestry. The initiative, led by ESA's Business Applications and Space Solutions programme, will bring together private, public, and non-profit industry leaders to advance sustainability across Europe and beyond.

This is part of a broader agreement between FSC and ESA that aims to strengthen efforts on space-based applications addressing forestry-related challenges. This venture is the latest collaboration for FSC that harnesses new technology to grow sustainable forestry. Esri has supported our geospatial capabilities over the last three years, and the FSC Tech Consortium convenes technology partners to co-create solutions for challenges faced by forest managers. Thanks to the involvement of many international organizations, ESA's Bioeconomy Task Force will support global problem-solving.

Space-based technology offers exciting opportunities for the future of sustainable forestry. It can help FSC measure ecosystem services – carbon storage, biodiversity health, and other benefits forests provide – to support Verified Impact claims for forest managers. Ben White, Ecosystem Services Technology Officer for FSC Investment & Partnerships, says, "We can leverage this resource to ensure sustainable practices, help meet regulatory requirements, and improve integrity and transparency. This is especially important in the face of increasing regulatory expectations, like the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR), which will require more verifiable data on forest health from companies bringing products into the EU." 

Space-based services developed by the private sector have key applications for organizations like FSC that extend far beyond regulations. With these new tools, forest managers can monitor their impact on the environment, make informed decisions, communicate their sustainability efforts to stakeholders, and more effectively participate in certification that benefits people and forests. This technology can even help quantify a forest's ecosystem services, allowing forest managers to participate in the growing carbon and ecosystem services market through programs like FSC's Verified Impact.  

FSC remains committed to improving space-based technology's transparency, access, and applications. The work with ESA will support a growing business case for sustainable forestry and pave the way for others in the environment and social sectors to navigate evolving space technologies. Together, they are charting a new frontier where space and sustainable forestry grow hand in hand to protect our planet. 

About ESA Space Solutions:

ESA Space Solutions helps businesses from all corners of Europe to harness space technology to improve life on Earth. They work side by side with industry, developing space-enabled solutions that will grow your business and bring essential socioeconomic benefits. All their activities have a focus on the green transition and the global shift towards a more digital, sustainable future. 

For questions or more information, contact Ben White at b.white@fsc.org.