In 2021, thanks to FSC's strategic financing funds, an arduous work never done before in the region was started, which aimed to provide a tool that contributes to the regional effort to manage forests responsibly in compliance with the FSC National Forest Management Standards in Latin America, as well as to a better understanding of them.
This project, driven by the FSC Latin America regional team, was based on a review of the different types of certificates (individual, group, small and/or low intensity managed forests (SLIMF), non-SLIMF, indigenous communities and ejidos) in nine countries in the region.
The document review helped to determine the criteria for non-compliance by certificate holders and, with these results, to develop the structure and content of the "Implementation Guide for FSC Forest Management Standards in Latin America".
Professionals in the forestry field, as well as FSC staff and users of the standards have shared working meetings during these months where they have thoroughly reviewed the proposed guide, exchanging suggestions to achieve the document that is now available, which has prioritized the issues mentioned in the meetings and, in the same way, exemplified cases to achieve a better understanding of the different situations that may arise.
In addition, support was provided by forest management auditors in Mexico and Argentina; and, later, a field validation was carried out in Colombia to verify whether the manual was meeting its objectives.
Finally, this document, which does not constitute or complement any FSC normative document or standards already published, will help to ensure adequate compliance with NFMS (National Forest Monitoring System) requirements, reducing compliance costs and achieving better forest management in the region and compliance with standards.