Climate & Environment
Sustainable Forest Management (SFM)
Definition
Sustainable forest management is the stewardship and use of forests in a way and at a rate that maintains their biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality and potential to fulfil relevant ecological, economic and social functions, at local, national and global levels, without causing damage to other ecosystems (the pan-European/Ministerial Conference definition adopted by the FAO). It is operationalised through criteria and indicators processes and certification schemes (FSC, PEFC), covering harvest levels, regeneration, protection of high conservation values and community rights.
References
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This reference provides supporting context for how “Sustainable Forest Management (SFM)” is defined and used.
Overview
How it is used
The concept structures national forest policy, certification standards, timber legality and deforestation-free trade rules, and climate mitigation accounting (LULUCF).
Why it matters
Forests are the terrestrial carbon and biodiversity system; SFM is the governance concept that decides whether they are mined or managed.