Recognizing Indigenous and traditional peoples’ contribution to forest stewardship
Recognizing Indigenous and traditional peoples’ contribution to forest stewardship Indigenous and traditional communities play a vital role in protecting forests through their cultural values, knowledge, and practices. Yet, the lack of standardized methods and indicators for verifying cultural impacts remains a challenge. Through a grant from the ISEAL Innovations Fund, funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for […]
This is How We Found ‘The Heaven Sword,’ East Asia’s Tallest Tree After Years of Looking
This is How We Found ‘The Heaven Sword,’ East Asia’s Tallest Tree After Years of Looking Dr Rebecca Chia-Chun Hsu is an assistant researcher at the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute. Her work focuses on air plants and tropical wet forests. She has been exploring forest canopies of giant trees for over a decade. Professor Chi-Kuei Wang […]
FSC launches Zamba Heritage Digital Hub to strengthen forest stewardship across Africa
FSC launches Zamba Heritage Digital Hub to strengthen forest stewardship across Africa The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Africa has launched the Zamba Heritage Sustainability Digital Hub, a new platform designed to support responsible forest management across the continent through improved access to high-quality data, advanced analytics, and insights. Introduced as a central component of the […]
300,000 Hectares and Counting: How South Africa’s Forestry Sector Is Quietly Preserving Biodiversity
300,000 Hectares and Counting: How South Africa’s Forestry Sector Is Quietly Preserving Biodiversity Increasing land pressure, ecosystem degradation, habitat fragmentation and now a changing climate, mean all landowners now have a role to play in safeguarding biodiversity and ecological resilience says Forestry South Africa (FSA). “Biodiversity stewardship must extend beyond the boundaries of protected areas,” […]
FSC Launches Interim Forest Stewardship Standard for Natural Forests in South Africa
FSC Launches Interim Forest Stewardship Standard for Natural Forests in South Africa The Forest Stewardship Council announces the release of the new Interim Forest Stewardship Standard (IFSS) for natural forests in South Africa, an important milestone in promoting responsible forest management. The standard applies to all forest management units, including Small or Low Intensity Managed […]
Forests And The Economy: Planting The Seeds Of A Circular Future
Forests And The Economy: Planting The Seeds Of A Circular Future This year’s International Day of Forests theme, Forests and the Economy, speaks directly to the global imperative to build a sustainable, circular and genuinely green economy. This is not a marginal adjustment to our economic model. It is a fundamental shift that must take […]
Combining Prescribed Fire And Retention Forestry Promotes Natural Tree Regeneration
Combining Prescribed Fire And Retention Forestry Promotes Natural Tree Regeneration Prescribed burning, when combined with tree retention, can effectively support natural regeneration in managed boreal forests, new research shows. The study demonstrates that post-fire seedling establishment remains strong across key commercial species, Scots pine and birch, suggesting that integrating these practices may help reconcile biodiversity […]
From Conservation To Value: FSC Chile Drives A New Ecosystem Services Economy In Patagonia
From Conservation To Value: FSC Chile Drives A New Ecosystem Services Economy In Patagonia The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Division 8 Conference 2026, held in Coyhaique in the Aysén Region of Chile, brought together researchers, decision-makers, and international institutions to address key challenges related to forests, biodiversity, ecosystem services, and climate change […]
Young Forest Owners In Finland Find Themselves Having To Compromise Their Values
Young Forest Owners In Finland Find Themselves Having To Compromise Their Values Young forest owners in Finland find it difficult to deviate from prevailing forest industry norms, a recent study by the University of Eastern Finland and the Natural Resources Institute Finland finds. The researchers interviewed young translocal forest owners, aged 18–30, living in the […]
FSC Announces Conservation Facility To Certify National Parks And Conservation Areas
FSC Announces Conservation Facility To Certify National Parks And Conservation Areas Conservation areas play a vital role in protecting biodiversity and supporting climate action, yet many remain underfunded and vulnerable to degradation. In response, FSC launched the Conservation Facility – an initiative to advance conservation, climate resilience, and equitable forest management by certifying high-value natural […]
Six Years Of Field Data Show How Climate And Light Shape Early Growth Of Abarco, Informing Reforestation In Colombia
Six Years Of Field Data Show How Climate And Light Shape Early Growth Of Abarco, Informing Reforestation In Colombia A new study shows how climate and light conditions interaction affect the early growth in abarco, a highly valued tropical timber species, offering critical guidance for reforestation and sustainable forest management in the face of climate […]
Modern Twist On Wildfire Management Methods Found Also To Have A Bonus Feature That Protects Water Supplies
Modern Twist On Wildfire Management Methods Found Also To Have A Bonus Feature That Protects Water Supplies Thinning to slow wildfires simultaneously boosts ‘hydrological resilience’ of forests Indigenous peoples have used forest thinning to protect against wildfires for millennia. These traditional methods – including cultural burning – have often been neglected in modern times, which is […]
Outbreaks Of A Native Jewel Beetle, Agrilus Grandis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), On Commercial Black Wattle, Acacia Mearnsii, Plantations In South Africa
Outbreaks Of A Native Jewel Beetle, Agrilus Grandis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), On Commercial Black Wattle, Acacia Mearnsii, Plantations In South Africa Abstract In early 2024, an outbreak of an unknown wood-borer was observed in Acacia mearnsii De Wild (black wattle) compartments in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, causing symptoms of excessive resin production. Larvae uncovered beneath the […]
First Report Of Melanterius Inconspicuus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cleogonini) From KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, With Observations Of Its Development In Black Wattle
First Report Of Melanterius Inconspicuus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cleogonini) From KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, With Observations Of Its Development In Black Wattle Abstract Melanterius is a large genus of small weevils that primarily feed on the seeds of Acacia species occurring in their native range in Australia. In the latter part of the 20th century, five seed-feeding Melanterius species were released against […]
Sustainability: From Roots To Economic Renewal
Sustainability: From Roots To Economic Renewal Kenya’s Mangrove Restoration Projects are a Blueprint for Successful Sustainability Sustainability is more than a buzzword. It’s the balance between environmental care, social well-being and economic growth, ensuring that progress today doesn’t compromise the future. Around the world, the challenge is to turn this principle into practical results. In […]
The Evolution Of FSC® Controlled Forest Managemen: Les Scieries Du Betsileo And Hazovato’s Journey To Certification
The Evolution Of FSC® Controlled Forest Managemen: Les Scieries Du Betsileo And Hazovato’s Journey To Certification Understanding FSC Controlled Forest Management (CFM) The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) Controlled Forest Management (CFM) standard is an evolution of the FSC Controlled Wood framework. The Controlled Wood standard was originally developed to prevent wood from unacceptable sources entering FSC-certified […]
Forest Structure And Recent Infestations Drive Bark Beetle Damage Clustering In Finland
Forest Structure And Recent Infestations Drive Bark Beetle Damage Clustering In Finland In Finland, forest stands damaged by the European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) tend to concentrate in groups and form clusters, especially in mature Norway spruce forests close to previous infestations, a new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows. The European […]
Forests Contribute To Finns’ Perceived Happiness In Multiple Ways
Forests Contribute To Finns’ Perceived Happiness In Multiple Ways New research from the University of Eastern Finland identifies three main dimensions in perceived happiness associated with Finnish forests: a bond to natural-like forests, happiness coming from activities in forests, such as berry and mushroom picking, and forest management and forest exposure. Finland isn’t just one […]
New Forests Acquires South African Forestry Company
New Forests Acquires South African Forestry Company Rance Timber manages 14,000 hectares of pine plantations of which more than 40% is made up of protected indigenous forests, grasslands, riparian zones and other vegetation types to improve biodiversity and water quality. New Forests, a global investment manager focused on nature-based investment solutions, has taken a majority […]
Revision of Forest Stewardship Standard (FSS) for the People’s Republic of China: A Leap Forward in Forest Conservation
Revision of Forest Stewardship Standard (FSS) for the People’s Republic of China: A Leap Forward in Forest Conservation The standard becomes effective on 1 January 2026. In an era where the importance of forest conservation is more critical than ever, China, with its vast forest resources, has taken a significant step forward. The revised Forest […]
MANGROVES: Nature’s Biodiversity Champions Under Threat
MANGROVES: Nature’s Biodiversity Champions Under Threat Highlighting the Importance of Mangroves on World Environmental Health Day On 26th September, World Environmental Health Day reminds us that restoring ecosystems is vital. Mangrove forests play a crucial role in keeping coastal and marine environments healthy and resilient. Yet, despite supporting extraordinary wildlife diversity, these unique ecosystems are […]
New Interim Forest Stewardship Standard Validates Responsible Forest Management in Zambia
New Interim Forest Stewardship Standard Validates Responsible Forest Management in Zambia The standard became effective on 15 December 2025. FSC is pleased to announce the official release of the new FSC Interim Forest Stewardship Standard (IFSS) for Zambia. This standard applies to all categories of management units and includes provisions for Small or Low Intensity […]
FSC Forest Week 2025
FSC Forest Week 2025 The 4th edition of the FSC® Forest Week will take place from September 20 to 26, 2025. FSC Forest week is a global campaign that highlights the importance of responsible forest management for our planet It that drives appreciation of our forests, raises awareness about FSC’s work and highlights the role […]
Beyond Arbor Month: Planting With Intention, Not Just For Attention
Beyond Arbor Month: Planting With Intention, Not Just For Attention Every September, South Africans are called to plant trees. Arbor Month, and especially Arbor Week, is a fixture on the national calendar – a chance to celebrate our natural heritage and the life-giving role that trees play in our ecosystems, cities, and communities. This year, […]
