Forest Sustainability and the FSC

A brief introduction into Forest Sustainability and the FSC: As the leader in sustainable forestry, FSC® is trusted globally by NGOs, businesses, and consumers to protect healthy, resilient forests for all, forever. FSC® ensures that forests remain vibrant and capable of supporting diverse ecosystems, addressing environmental concerns while meeting the needs of various stakeholders worldwide. This commitment to sustainable practices fosters confidence and trust among those dedicated to preserving our planet’s natural resources.

Forest Management

Forests sustain life on Earth. They provide the air we breathe, filter the water we drink, and offer shelter for plants and animals. Life as we know it depends on forests.

Our purpose is to nurture responsible forestry so both forests and people can thrive.

Forest Stewardship Council Sustainability

Wood identification techniques

Wood identification technologies allow us to trace timber species and harvest locations. Traditional wood anatomy helps scientists determine the genus, family, and sometimes the species, depending on the circumstances.

Using Earth observation to improve impact

A central part of FSCs strategy for continued service delivery and ensuring credibility is the use of technologies. A cornerstone in this digitalization process is to increase FSC’s use of earth observation as part of its monitoring and transparency initiatives.

Sustainable forestry practices & benefits

Sustainable forestry balances society’s demand for forest products with preservation tactics to keep forests healthy for future generations.

We benefit immensely from our forests. They produce the oxygen we breathe and also provide essential lumber resources. We simply could not survive without them. Despite taking a lot from forests then, we’ve done very little to give back.

This is why sustainable forestry is more important than ever. It aims to balance modern demands for forest resources—like timber, fibers, mushrooms, honey, and wildlife—with management practices that ensure future generations have the same resources and opportunities. So, what can forest owners and managers do to manage their forests sustainably? Here’s what you need to know about maintaining a healthy forest while utilizing its valuable resources.

Sustainable forestry practices maintain and protect biodiversity of flora and fauna, wildlife habitats and endangered species, soil health, watersheds, fungal diversity, and areas of cultural or spiritual significance. To meet these goals, sustainable forestry practices include responsible measures such as harvesting wood and other products, recreational and educational activities, hunting and pest management, agroforestry activities, and active management of fire and tree species composition.

The staggering loss of 5.6 million hectares of forest each year raises huge concerns for environmental conservation. Our forests are home to thousands of plant and animal species interacting in delicate and unique ecosystems. Irresponsible clearing can destroy habitats and endangered species and can ultimately threaten the biodiversity that makes Earth so incredible.

Moreover, forests act as carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide and mitigating climate change. Losing forests means decreasing Earth’s natural carbon dioxide storage capacities and releasing previously stored carbon into the air as greenhouse gas emissions – accelerating climate change.

In the fight against climate change, every forest counts. Forests capture and store carbon dioxide—one of the greenhouse gases that contributes to climate change.

Sustainably managed forests offer complementary benefits: They continually capture carbon in the soil and their biomass while providing countless materials we use every day. Using materials from sustainably managed forests can reduce our dependence on less sustainable materials like steel or concrete. In turn, these forest-based materials retain the carbon they capture even as they’re used to build the furniture, buildings, and bridges we rely on.

 

Autumn Garden Projects

As the days get colder and the nights draw in, the time comes to savour those days where we actually get a bit of sunshine. These days present the perfect opportunity to get your Autumn garden projects underway. To give you a little inspiration, we’ve come up with our top 5 products to help you spruce up your garden this November.

Decking

To begin with we have decking! Our timber decking boards make for both an attractive and practical outdoor surface which will last for years to come. Our pressure treated decking boards are more resistant to rotting and warping, so other than the occasional Ronseal coating to maintain your colour of choice, your deck will need very little TLC.

If you’re looking for an alternative to your traditional timber decking, we also stock HD composite decking. This is a low maintenance and durable alternative to timber. Although it looks like wood, it uses the latest in composite technology to create a long-lasting decking. This decking maintains consistent colour and has slip resistant properties. It’s perfect for you Autumn garden projects and we even have our own handy guide on how to install it, making your life that little bit easier.

 

Hazel Hurdles

Another great product we have right now are our hazel hurdles and we can’t talk about them enough! They’re currently on offer too, which makes them an even more attractive pick for this month’s top 5. If you’re not a fan of the traditional decorative fencing look, hazel hurdles are a high-quality rustic style fence for those who prefer something a little more natural looking with the same amount of style and luxury. Due to their construction, the panels look the same from both sides. This makes them excellent for boundary fencing between neighbours. Lots of people use our shorter hazel hurdles (heights range from 0.9m to 1.8m) as borders within their own gardens. This can be seen in the photo below, and it looks great!

Our hazel hurdles also hold the FSC logo which identifies products which contains wood from well-managed forests. This way you know you’re getting an ethical product, as well as a beautiful fence.

Featheredge Board

Featheredge boards are one of our favourite fencing products! These boards are 125mm x 22m and are ideal for creating a sturdy boundary fence that will stand up to heavy winds, whilst still looking attractive. The boards are extremely durable. Often we see bad weather at this time of year, so they’re great for repairing existing fence panels that may have been damaged. They can even be affixed to closeboard panels so that both neighbours can have the same perfect finish – there’s no need for neighbourhood wars over fencing anymore! All of our featheredge boards are pressure-treated with TANATONE. This provides long term protection against fungal and insect attack. What’s not to love!?

4×4 Brown Timber Posts

Arguably a staple regardless of the time of year, our pressure treated 4×4 brown timber posts are ideal for supporting most types of timber fence panels. Having pressure-treated posts not only enhances the look of the posts but protects the timber from insect infestation, fungal decay and rot too. The posts come in a variety of heights to suit any project. They’re perfect – what else can we say!? They’re simply a staple!

Rapid Set Fence Post Concrete

Last but not least, we have our rapid set fence post concrete. Some may not consider this the most exciting product, and whilst it isn’t our most beautiful it definitely is one of the most useful! Our rapid set fence post concrete is a mixture of dried sands, cement and other additives. It also sets in only 5 to 10 minutes! It’s quick and easy to use – perfect for Autumn garden projects when daylight is fleeting. Only one bag per post is required and no mixing is needed. All you need to do is add water. The concrete is in polythene packaging so it’s suitable for outdoor storage. Even if the weather takes a turn (like it often does this month), the plastic bags are showerproof so there’s no need to worry. Simply put – the rapid set concrete is a product that makes your project easy and simpler!

So that wraps up our top 5 products for this month! We have plenty to show off so be sure to check back next month for December’s top products.

The Forest Stewardship Council runs a global forest certification system with two key components.

Forest Management

Forest Management Certification, which makes sure that the forest is managed to high standards covering social, environmental and economic issues.

Chain of Custody

Chain of Custody certification, which traces the wood from those forests through all stages of processing and distribution. Chain of Custody certification from forest to end-user ensures that FSC materials and products have been checked at every stage of processing so that customers purchasing FSC labelled products can be confident that they are genuinely FSC certified.

The 10 Forest Stewardship Council Principals

Compliance with Laws and FSC Principles

To comply with all laws, regulations, treaties, conventions and agreements, together with all FSC Principles and Criteria.

Tenure, Use Rights and Responsibilities

To define, document and legally establish long-term tenure and use rights.

Indigenous Peoples’ Rights

To identify and uphold indigenous peoples’ rights of ownership and use of land and resources.

Community Relations and Worker’s Rights

To maintain or enhance forest workers’ and local communities’ social and economic well-being.

Benefits from the Forest

To maintain or enhance long-term economic, social and environmental benefits from the forest.

Environmental Impact

To maintain or restore the ecosystem, its biodiversity, resources and landscapes.

Management Plan

To have a management plan, implemented, monitored and documented.

Monitoring and Assessment

To demonstrate progress towards management objectives.

Maintenance of High Conservation Value Forests

To maintain or enhance the attributes which define such forests.

Plantations

To plan and manage plantations in accordance with FSC Principles and Criteria.

For more information about the Forest Stewardship Council please visit them at www.fsc-uk.org/en-uk