Guidance for Demonstrating Ecosystem Services Impacts

This document is a guide designed to assist forest managers and project developers in implementing the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) Ecosystem Services (ES) Procedure. It specifically focuses on demonstrating an ES impact within forest management contexts. The guidance includes explanations and relevant examples to help users conform to the requirements of the ES Procedure. It also provides specific guidance for small and low-intensity managed forests (SLIMF) and community forests, highlighted in teal green boxes, along with tips for forest management groups in peach orange boxes. The document is structured into three main parts: demonstrating an ES impact, ES project safeguards, and ES-specific guidance for various ecosystem service categories. Additionally, it outlines terms and definitions relevant to the procedure and offers a modular approach for easier navigation through the content, allowing users to focus on specific topics without needing to read the entire document sequentially.