(Photo: FSC / Marius Čepulis)
Forest managers, certification bodies and stakeholders all want the same thing: to ensure that FSC certification makes a meaningful impact while remaining practical and effective. As FSC continues to strengthen its assurance system, incorporating risk-based approaches can make audits more targeted, faster and more in line with what is really happening on the ground in the forests.
As part of goal 1.2 of the FSC Global Strategy, which aims to streamline processes and better incorporate risks into the FSC system, FSC network partners in the United States, Finland and France are currently developing their Forest Stewardship Standard risk assessments. These assessments will help focus assurance efforts where they will make the biggest difference while reducing unnecessary effort in areas where everything is going smoothly.
A streamlined approach to assurance
Not all requirements of FSC Forest Stewardship Standards have the same level of risk. Some are easy to comply with, and most organisations are able to meet them. Other requirements may be challenging to implement, may raise concerns for stakeholders, or may be linked to environmental and social values that require closer attention.
Audits have traditionally been informed by risk considerations, but requirements may still receive similar levels of attention despite differences in their risk profiles. The Forest Stewardship Standard Risk Assessment approach seeks to further strengthen the way risk is reflected in auditing by allowing audit efforts to better account for national context and to be focused on areas where FSC can have the greatest impact.
From concept to practice
The United States is among the first countries to implement this approach, motivated by its primary focus on improving the value proposition for current and future FSC forest management certificate holders. To support the process, FSC U.S. established a technical working group comprising forest managers, auditors, social and environmental experts, and social stakeholders. Together, the group reviewed evidence associated with each indicator within the standard and assessed the level of risk, i.e. the likelihood that the requirement(s) in each indicator would not be met. The evidence-based approach helps make informed decisions rather than assumptions. It also provides confidence that risk designation reflects actual conditions on the ground.
One of the most innovative aspects of the U.S. process has been the use of more than a decade of audit information. The assessment draws on results from more than 1,200 audits conducted between 2010 and 2022, providing an extensive evidence base to help understand where nonconformities occur and where performance is consistently strong.
The U.S. approach subsequently provided a foundation for similar assessments in France and Finland, with each country adapting the methodology to its own context and available evidence. A few adjustments were made to take account of their respective contexts, primarily regarding the assessment of risk levels. In France, for example, the dataset from the audits was not as extensive as in the U.S., with 74 audits carried out between 2017 and 2023. This made it necessary to incorporate other sources of information to demonstrate the risks of nonconformity, notably through a detailed analysis of the regulations and the search for records showing any breaches of the regulations in force.
In Finland, the risk assessment was motivated by the need to make auditing more proportionate to the national context. While the latest revision introduced requirements to ensure global consistency across FSS, many risks were already well controlled through Finnish regulations. Finland therefore saw an opportunity to reduce unnecessary audit burden and costs, while directing audit resources towards areas where they could have the greatest impact.
What could this mean for certificate holders?
For certificate holders, one of the most significant potential benefits is a reduction in unnecessary auditing burden. Under this approach, indicators identified as low risk may require less frequent evaluation after an organisation has proven conformity. At the same time, indicators identified as high risk will continue to receive regular attention during audits.
Auditors can therefore spend more time on higher-risk areas and on issues that require closer attention. Certificate holders can in turn expect a more focused and efficient audit process that recognises strong performance while maintaining confidence in the FSC system.
Learning across countries
The experience gained through these processes from the U.S., France and Finland will help FSC understand how risk-based approaches can work across different forest management contexts, ownership structures and regulatory environments. By testing and refining the approach in multiple countries, FSC aims to ensure that future developments are informed by practical experience and a broad range of stakeholder perspectives.
Looking ahead
The work currently underway represents more than the development of a new assurance tool. The experience gained through the pilots in the United States, France and Finland is helping FSC refine a more consistent risk-based approach for the development and revision of Forest Stewardship Standards.
Building on these experiences, FSC is developing a methodology that will support working groups in identifying indicators where there is evidence of a higher risk of nonconformity or greater stakeholder concern. Rather than requiring each country to develop its own risk framework, the approach aims to provide a common set of criteria and thresholds to support more consistent and evidence-based risk designations across countries.
The future approach will also be supported by guidance, e-learning course modules and related tools to help working groups apply this methodology consistently while taking national circumstances into account. By combining a globally aligned framework with country-specific evidence, FSC aims to strengthen the effectiveness of assurance activities, improve comparability across standards, and direct attention towards areas where certification can have the greatest impact.
This new approach will be introduced on 1 January 2027 following the publication of FSC-PRO-60-006 The Development and Revision of FSC Country Requirements and FSC-PRO-60-006a Structure and Content of Forest Stewardship Standards. Please consult the Revision of Requirements for the Development and Maintenance of FSC Country Requirements for more information.
Ultimately, the goal is simple: to direct efforts where they matter the most, support responsible forest management and ensure that FSC certification continues to deliver value for forests, people and businesses around the world.
