Ecobiz.asia – The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is developing a procedure for high-quality carbon credits program in FSC certification.
This procedure will incorporate robust independent third-party validation and verification, sustainable development goals (SDGs) and relevant safeguards, tracking, and transparency.
The ultimate purpose is to develop a framework that attracts sustainable finance as well as to ensure carbon revenues reach forest managers, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities.
FSC Director General Subhra Bhattacharjee said the organization is developing a procedure for high-quality carbon credits that will reinforce FSC’s position as a key contributor to GHG emission reductions and removals.
“The proposed procedure is designed not only to strengthen the environmental integrity of carbon credits but also to ensure that financial benefits are distributed fairly to those responsible for protecting forests. Making sure that the money from the carbon credit goes to the forest stewards, the Indigenous Peoples, local communities that manage the forest,” Subhra Bhattacharjee told reporters after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between FSC and Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry in Jakarta on Tuesday (June 30, 2026).
The new procedure of high-quality carbon credit is expected to reinforce that market confidence by introducing additional safeguards on social outcomes and benefit sharing.
Ahead of the new procedure, FSC has already strengthened its presence in voluntary carbon markets through a partnership with Verra. Since May 2026, Verra has introduced an FSC label for Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) generated from carbon projects in FSC-certified forests.
The label enables buyers to identify carbon credits originating from responsibly managed forests that meet FSC’s environmental and social standards, potentially increasing their attractiveness and value in voluntary carbon markets.
FSC is an international non-profit organization that sets standards for responsible forest management. More than 200 million hectares of forests worldwide are currently certified under FSC standards, including approximately 4.5 million hectares in Indonesia. ***
Editor’s Note: This article is a revised version of an earlier report and has been updated to improve accuracy.
