The Sustainable Forests Association is now an official network partner of the FSC in Bulgaria
Bulgaria has officially joined the global network of the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) – the largest and most respected international certification system for sustainable forestry. This became a reality after the non-governmental organization Sustainable Forests Association was approved as an FSC network partner.
In its letter of approval, the FSC praised the Bulgarian initiative for its stability, consistency, and dedication over the years. According to the FSC Board of Directors, Bulgaria sets a strong example of how different interests – environmental, social, and economic – can be successfully united in the name of forests through sustainable dialogue and consensus building.
As an FSC network partner, the Sustainable Forests Association will not only provide additional support and services to stakeholders in Bulgaria, but also the opportunity to participate in the specific FSC governance system, based on three equal pillars – economic, environmental, and social. In the FSC governance system, the three pillars have an equal weight.
FSC certification – a sign of responsibility and sustainability
FSC certification guarantees that wood harvested from certified forests and bearing the FSC label does not originate from areas that have been deforested. FSC standards also cover a wide range of other requirements, including environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
Currently, nearly 50% of Bulgaria’s forests are FSC certified. This has led to real positive changes in the management of these areas. Sustainable forestry practices have been introduced, aimed at protecting soil and water resources and preserving biodiversity. Improvements have also been observed in communication with local communities, as well as in the health and safety conditions of forest workers.
Nearly 400 companies in the forestry sector – wood processors and traders – are also certified under the FSC Chain of Custody (FSC CoC) system. Companies that choose FSC do so consciously and voluntarily – despite the challenges facing the sector, they are taking responsibility for the future of the planet.
About FSC
FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) is an international non-governmental organization with over 1,000 members worldwide. For more than 30 years, FSC has been working to protect forests through a certification system, open dialogue, and consensus building between environmental, social, and economic interests.
Today, FSC standards are the most recognized and respected standards for sustainable forest management in the world—more than 150 million hectares of forest are certified by FSC.
According to a global survey, 46% of consumers recognize the FSC logo – more than any other forest certification system. Of these, 80% say they have greater confidence in companies that use the FSC logo on their products.
In Bulgaria, raising consumer awareness is one of the main priorities. The goal is for more and more people to choose products from responsibly managed forests and thus support sustainable markets where conscious choices benefit nature and the future.
Broad support from business, the non-governmental sector, and experts
FSC’s new network partner in Bulgaria brings together a broad coalition of stakeholders: companies from the wood processing sector, certification bodies, industry and environmental organizations, and leading experts. Among them are:
Kronospan Bulgaria EOOD, Irely Bulgaria OOD, Sredna Gora AD, Svilocel EAD, the Bulgarian Chamber of Woodworking and Furniture Industries (BCWFI), Association of Parks in Bulgaria, NEPCon Bulgaria EOOD, Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds, WWF Bulgaria, Bulgarian Association for Alternative Tourism, Balkan Wildlife Society, Wilder Rhodopes Foundation, Zhivko Bogdanov by Control Union Bulgaria, Anelia Galabova – expert on workers’ rights protection, Vladimir Dimitrov – expert on sustainable tourism in forests.
Control Union Certifications B.V. offers FSC® certification services (FSC® A000507).
Learn more about our services in FSC certification.
Contact us today to get certified in the FSC standard.
