Open Knowledge (FSC OK)

The need to understand forest certification impacts at local, national and international level has driven the attention of private companies, research institutes, environmental NGOs and also public authorities. Several studies have already been conducted, analyzing the main impacts and benefits in relation to the forest management certification operations. Despite the richness of already existing reports, there is very little information about the Italian situation. The present study investigates about the socio-economic and environmental impacts related to the implementation of forest management certification procedures under the FSC certification scheme. A series of 13 forest management enterprises are considered at Italian level, based on three main aspects, involving at the same time direct and indirect impacts from the certification. The research aims at addressing challenges and opportunities that may raise or obstruct forest certification and any other social responsibility tools within the forestry sector. Moreover it intends to provide a common framework for future projects on standard impacts evaluation and for the creation of a better and more comparable set of results.