Final Report on the Chinese NFSS - 6.5 - Pilot Test - April 2021

Oct 3, 2026

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Final Report on the Chinese NFSS (6.5) Pilot Test, April 2021, summarizes results from a two-year pilot designed to address barriers to FSC certification posed by indicator 6.5.5 for smallholders. It documents background, links to the FSC normative framework and required safeguards, pilot setup and implementation, pilot findings, and stakeholder engagement. The report supports FSC policy and standards decisions on incorporating outcomes and compiled evidence into the FSC system.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Pilot testing alternative ways to conform with Indicator 6.5.5

Background

Link with FSC Normative Framework and defined safeguards

Set up of the pilot test

Implementation of the pilot test

Pilot test findings

Stakeholder engagement

Overall results of the pilot test

Assessment findings

Final conclusion and recommendation

Annex 1. Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

Annex 2. Technical Assessment Framework

Annex 3. FSC China Final Report on assessment of alternatives to indicator 6.5.5 for smallholders

Final Report on the Chinese NFSS (6.5) Pilot Test April 2021 Table of contents Table of contents 2 1. Pilot testing alternative ways to conform with Indicator 6.5.5 4 1.1. Background 4 1.2. Link with FSC Normative Framework and defined safeguards 4 1.3. Set up of the pilot test 5 1.4. Implementation of the pilot test 5 1.5. Pilot test findings 7 1.6. Stakeholder engagement 8 2. Overall results of the pilot test 8 2.1. Assessment findings 8 3. Final conclusion and recommendation 14 Annex 1. Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Annex 2. Technical Assessment Framework Annex 3. FSC China Final Report on assessment of alternatives to indicator 6.5.5 for smallholders Additional documentation Report “Motivation and Influence of FSC Forest Management Certification in China”, commissioned by FSC China to Chinese Academy of Forestry (Research Institute of Forestry Policy and Information), December 2019 Executive Summary When developing the National Forest Stewardship Standard (NFSS) of China, it became evident that indicator 6.5.5 (Representative Sample Areas* in combination with other components of the conservation areas network* comprise a minimum 10% area of the Management Unit*.) could become a barrier in access to certification, especially for smallholder groups. As a result, this pilot test has been implemented in conformance with FSC-POL-01-001 V1-0 EN FSC Policy for Pilot Tests of Draft FSC Standards to find alternative ways to conform with the indicator. This report summarizes the results of this pilot test after two years of implementation and is intended to serve as the basis for the FSC Policy and Standards Committee and the FSC Board of Directors to decide how to incorporate the results of the pilot tests and the findings compiled by FSC China into the FSC system. 1. Pilot testing alternative ways to conform with Indicator 6.5.5 1.1. Background Forest management and FSC certification in China is very complex, varying greatly from some regions to others, especially for smallholders. There are, for instance, regions where smallholder group certificates can conform with up to 20% of set aside areas. On the contrary, there are other regions where, currently, smallholders are not able to conform with the 10% set aside areas requirement. In these regions, smallholders mainly manage forest plantations over small and scattered patches of land that is typically predominantly farmland and plantation, with limited secondary forests. To cope with the FSC requirement to set aside land dedicated for conservation purposes, restoration seems tobe currently the only viable option, but it can be cost prohibitive due to availability of land and cost of establishment and maintenance of natural vegetation. Additionally, with the logging ban on natural forest, plantations on forest land owned by smallholders effectively become the largest source of growth in certification in China. The New Approaches for Smallholders and Communities Certification project (hereafter referred to as‘New Approaches project’), was approached by FSC China due to the challenge that smallholders in some regions face in conforming with indicator 6.5.5. A pilot test was considered to analyse alternative approaches to conform with this indicator, since this would capture input on all aspects of FSC certification, not only on the conformance with the requirements, but also from the market and socioeconomic impact point of view. By implementing a pilot test instead of a field test, participating smallholders may get a temporary FSC certificate as a result, which partially compensates for the effort and support provided. 1.2. Link with FSC Normative Framework and defined safeguards China’s National Forest Management Standard (NFSS) was developed in accordance with FSC Principles and Criteria V5-2 and became effective in October 2018. The challenge of conforming with this specific indicator was flagged throughout the nati

FAQs

What problem does the pilot test address for smallholders under indicator 6.5.5?

The pilot test responds to the risk that indicator 6.5.5 (representative sample areas and conservation network requirements) can act as a barrier to certification access, particularly for smallholder groups in some regions.

How does the pilot test connect to the FSC normative framework and safeguards?

It was developed in line with FSC policy for pilot tests of draft standards and relates to initiatives under the normative framework, including the priority to explore flexibility of the system.

Who was allowed to participate in the pilot test and how were evaluations conducted?

Participation was limited to existing group certificate holders using the relevant Chinese NFSS and FSC group-entities standard. Forest management evaluations followed specified FSC evaluation and reporting standards, including certification reports and public summary reports.

Oct 3, 2026

Upload by Jiven