FSC contractor cert Latvia … The field test of a new model for the FSC certification of smallholders has been concluded with good results: A group of small private forest operations are now FSC certified, based on their use of certified …

CoC - extension of transitory period … FSC has extended the expiry date for two exemptions from the FSC chain of custody requirements by one …

Plant nurseries Advice Note … FSC has sent out a new draft advice note clarifying when tree nurseries are to be included in the scope of the FSC certificate held by an …

Forest footprint disclosure project … In future, investors may have easy access to information about companies' impact on the world's forests, and can rate the companies' future value …

Voluntary carbon schemes on the rise … The authoritative report "State of the Voluntary Carbon Markets 2009" shows that the volume of forestry and other land-use emissions reductions in the voluntary carbon market has increased 14% to …

Wooden housing popular in Denmark … Wood is increasingly used for constructing houses in Denmark. …

VPA EU and Republic of the Congo … The Republic of the Congo, also known as Congo-Brazzaville, is the first Central African country to conclude a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the European Union to halt illegal logging and …

NEPCon expands in Western Europe … As of 1st of July 2009, NEPCon is taking over the management of the Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWood forestry program in all of Europe as well as Russia, Israel and …

Controlled Wood - new advice … A new advice note released by FSC seeks to strengthen the foundations of FSC Controlled Wood. …

Early impact of Lacey Act … The landmark US Lacey Act, adopted last year in its current form, has already shown that it is capable of transforming the approach of companies to make sure of the legality of traded wood …

Danish bindery FSC-certified … With an FSC chain of custody certificate in place, the bindery D. …

Russian PEFC scheme endorsed … On the 5th of March, PEFC announced its endorsement of the forest certification scheme "Russian National Forest Certification System" (PEFC-FCR).  …

Illegal forestry in Brazil revealed … According to the International Tropical Timber Organization, ITTO, a multi-million illegal logging operation has been detected in the Brazilian state of …

PEFC new stakeholder forum … Based on its recently concluded Governance Review, PEFC is establishing a new Stakeholder Forum for international forest …

PEFC review of core docs … PEFC is engaging in a review of two of its core documents: PEFC's forest management criteria (Annex 3: Basis for Certification Schemes and their Implementation) and PEFC's standard setting procedures (Annex 2: Rules for Standard …

RA study shows benefits … A study recently published by the Rainforest Alliance documents several on-the-ground benefits of FSC forest management …

Ojon palm nut oil … The Ojon ® Corporation, a Canadian beauty care company within the Estée Lauder Companies, has teamed up with the Rainforest Alliance in order to ensure that the company's use of rare palm nut oil from Honduran rainforests is …

Precious woods FSC certified … Some companies ensure a steady supply of certified wood by producing the wood themselves. …

Green building and fuel wood … The important role of forests as provider of ecosystem services, including mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, is highlighted in two recent press releases from the The Timber Committee of the United Nations Economic …

FSC General Assembly 2008 … By Peter Feilberg, Director of NEPCon The fifth FSC General Assembly is over. …