Student Resource Page: Forest Certification Principles

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1. Obey all relevant laws and international treaties.

2. Be able to show a legal right to use the land.

3. Recognize and respect indigenous people's rights.

4. Maintain or improve the long-term well-being of forest workers and local communities.

5. Encourage careful use of the forest and its products to best benefit businesses, people, and the environment.

6. Minimize changes to the forest environment, including the plants, animals, water, soil, and landscape.

7. Write, follow, and update a plan for how the forest will be used and cared for.

8. Monitor the condition of the forest, the amount of forest products, and how people use and care for the forest to see how these activities affect people and the forest environment.

9. Maintain or improve forests that need special protection because they have rare or endangered species or other important natural, historical, or cultural features.

10. Plan and use planted forests (called plantations) to help restore and preserve natural forests.

Source: These are kid-friendly summaries of the ten Forest Steward Council principles described in "The FSC Principles and Criteria for Responsible Forest Management." (accessed October 6, 2008).

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