This blog is part of the “How to Change the World” podcast, where we look at practical ways to make the world more environmentally sustainable. The episodes are in Finnish, but you can read about each solution here in English.
Guest of the Episode
“Monitoring FSC certification is a cost-effective way to influence the system from within, using rules that all parties have already agreed to.”
Tuuli Hakulinen
Program Manager
Finnish Association for Nature Conservation
Biodiversity loss can’t be solved by creating new protected areas alone – commercial forest management must also become more sustainable. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) is an international certification system that sets clear standards for sustainable production forest management. Forestry companies commit to these standards because selling wood and paper products without certification is difficult. However, compliance is often insufficiently monitored, and companies still log areas that the certification designates as off-limits.
Potential violations can be detected by tracking forest-use notifications and analyzing remote sensing data, such as aerial imagery and canopy models. Forest surveyors then visit the sites on the ground, document any breaches, and submit official complaints to FSC auditors for review. This approach has already prevented logging in dozens of valuable natural sites. What can we learn from this?
→ Leverage existing systems. FSC already sets the rules, and forestry companies have agreed to follow them. The system comes with built-in checks: submitted complaints are reviewed, violations trigger warnings, and repeated breaches can even strip a company of its certification. By using this existing framework, change happens within a structure that companies must take seriously.
→ Focus on actions with the greatest impact. Environmental organizations often face a resource gap compared to those making a living from natural resources. That makes strategic action crucial. Monitoring FSC-certified forests is a smart, high-impact approach – and because non-compliance carries real consequences for companies, inspections get immediate attention.
→ Progress is easier when rules are clear. Clear, measurable rules make enforcement straightforward. The FSC standard defines exactly what counts as a protected area. Numerical indicators, like the amount of deadwood in a forest, remove guesswork: the criterion is either met or not. If it’s not, the forest must stay unlogged – and any logging there counts as a certification breach.
→ What gets measured can be managed. The FSC deadwood criterion is simple, and measuring deadwood is straightforward. Results are consistent regardless of who performs the measurement – anyone can verify them using the same method. There’s no room for debate; neither persuasive arguments nor authority can change the outcome.
→ Individual actions can drive rapid change. When rules are clear but not followed, a few strategically targeted monitoring efforts can have a sector-wide impact. One person’s focused actions can trigger meaningful change across the board.
→ Align your work with your motivations and strengths. Consider what drives you and what type of work you enjoy. Some people focus on forest surveys, others on communication, political advocacy, or legal action. There are many ways to make a difference – pick the one that fits you best.
→ Keep your ultimate goal in mind. FSC monitoring isn’t just about protecting individual sites; its purpose is to ensure that companies comply with the standard, so forests with high ecological value remain unlogged.
How to Change the World – Podcast
This podcast highlights real success stories of solutions that have advanced environmental sustainability. How was change achieved? What did it require? And what can these pioneers teach the rest of us?
The podcast is hosted by Annukka Valkeapää, Doctor of Social Sciences and Executive Director of the Compensate Foundation. Each episode features an expert who knows the success story inside and out. The podcast is funded by the RELEX Foundation.
The episodes are available in Finnish, but you can read blog posts about each solution also in English.