How does FSCs management plan protect endangered wildlife and old-growth forests?
Certification criteria and regular monitoring ensure that FSC working forests provide crucial habitat for any endangered species of plant or animal life. In each certified area, sensitive habitats are identified and addressed in the long-term management plans of the forest manager. In many countries, FSC ensures the protection of habitat by securing the livelihood of nearby communities, who otherwise might harvest timber at a much quicker pace. FSC assures higher stringency and enforcement than many forest laws. Old-growth forests are shielded from harvest, as high conservation-value trees are identified and largely maintained on FSC lands. Internationally, FSC’s Chain of Custody certification protects against illegal logging- an enormous threat to old-growth forests in developing nations with rapidly depleting forest resources.
