Forestry Market Connections

An Introduction to FSC Pacific Coast Guidelines

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) was established in 1993 to forge a consensus on principles and standards for good forest management. Since then, accredited certifiers and resource managers have worked with forest landowners around the globe to help them secure FSC certification. Now over 121 million acres in 64 countries have made the grade.

In the United States, working groups have developed standards for nine regional forest management areas. Here is an overview of standards for the Pacific Coast, including California, Oregon and Washington. Landowners earn management performance points and need not meet all of these guidelines to win FSC certification.

Environmental

On old growth (late-successional) forests:

No harvest in stands greater than 20 acres.
No net decline in area or characteristics of smaller stands.

On even-aged forests:

Peak growth rates determine optimal harvest ages.
In cuts greater than 6 acres, 10–30% of the timber volume is retained.
Clearcuts average 40 acres or less, with none greater than 60 acres.

In riparian zones:

On streams that provide drinking water or can support fish: harvest is limited to single-tree selection within an inner buffer of 50 feet; and harvest maintains canopy for shade within an outer buffer of 100 feet.
On other streams: the same prescriptions apply to buffers of 25 and 75 feet.

On all lands:

Landowners strive to minimize reliance on chemicals.
Safeguards protect rare or threatened species and their habitats.
Transportation systems are designed to minimize impact.

Social

Sites of interest to indigenous peoples are protected.
A high-quality work environment is maintained.
Compensation and hiring practices meet regional forest industry standards.

Economic

Forest owners reinvest in the local community.
A written management plan guides forest management.
Timber operations are financially stable and capable of making any needed investments.

Forestry Market Connections

An Introduction to FSC Pacific Coast Guidelines

Environmental

Social

Economic

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