FSC® Certification
FSC® Forest Management group certification
Sylva Nova is currently:
- The first and only private bi-national FSC® certification group, recognised in Belgium and France (IMO/FM-COC Licence 170214);
- A member of the Board of Directors of FSC® Belgium;
- A member of the Northern Economic Chamber of FSC® International.
Group certification allows several forest owners to join under a single certificate. This enables them to pool certification costs and streamline administrative management.
This FSC® group is open both to owners whose forest is regularly managed by Sylva Nova and to external owners who simply wish to acquire certification for their forest(s). In addition to certification, this group brings together owners who are passionate about forestry and provides many opportunities to exchange ideas and share experiences. A list of FSC® group members and a summary of management plans are available on request.
(The FSC® Complaints and Conflict Management Procedure is available in French on the “Documents” page of this website)
Sylva Nova handles the complete certification process:
Analysis or preliminary drafting of the forest-management plan
Verification of compliance with FSC® standards
Handling of administrative procedures
Admission to the group
Annual forest audit and compliance monitoring
Recommendations for sustainable management
FSC® Certification
FSC® Ecosystem Services certification
The FSC® Ecosystem Services certification is an additional certification to the FSC® Forest Management one. It focuses on seven ecosystem services provided by the forest:
Protecting biodiversity
Carbon sequestration
Water resources
Soil conservation
Recreational services
Culture
Air quality
By objectivising, quantifying and recognising the services provided to the community, the FSC® Ecosystem Services certification enables forest owners to consider the financial value of the efforts made in their management.
Sylva Nova handles the complete certification process:
Selection of the ecosystem services specific to each project
Definition of objectives based on the stakeholders involved
Establishment of indicators describing the state of the services at T0 and their future development
Adaptation of the management plan and definition of a work schedule
TGBS (The Global Biodiversity Standard)
The Global Biodiversity Standard (TGBS) provides a global standard for nature-based solutions, to drive positive outcomes for ecosystems and the communities that rely on them.
Developed by a coalition of global biodiversity experts, TGBS provides assurance that tree planting, habitat restoration and agroforestry practices are protecting, enhancing and restoring biodiversity.
- Quality ecosystems based on a rigorous assessment system that requires evidence of biodiversity uplift.
- Best practices by upholding positive actions such as the incorporation and conservation of native species and reduction of land degradation in land management projects of nature-based solutions to climate change.
- Business incentives to ensure the projects they support meet the standard and have been certified.
- 2 assessors: Federica Tartaglia and Gilles Tilman
- 1 pilot European pilot project: La Loma (Hornachuelos) / Spain
