CLIMATE MITIGATION – CONSERVATION FORESTRY

3.1) Forest status is guaranteed by classification (chose) 3.1. In accordance with national law, the forest status of the area in which the activity takes place is guaranteed by one of the following measures: a. the area is classified in the permanent forest estate as defined by the FAO(46); b. the area is classified as a protected area; c. the area is the subject of any legal or contractual guarantee ensuring that it will remain a forest.

Performance Measure 1.3. Certified Organizations shall not have within the scope of their certification to this SFI Standard, forest lands that have been converted to non-forest land use.

3.2) Commitment on future updates to the forest management and to compensate any reduction in the climate benefit 3.2. In accordance with national law, the operator of the activity commits that future updates to the forest management plan or equivalent instrument, beyond the activity that is financed, will continue to seek the climate benefits as determined in point 2. Besides, the operator of the activity commits to compensate any reduction in the climate benefit determined in point 2 with an equivalent climate benefit resulting from the conduct of an activity that corresponds to one of the forestry activities defined in this Regulation.

The SFI 2022 Forest Management Standard does require long-term sustainable management of forests, but it cannot account for future disposition of forest lands to a new owner. They can be no way to guarantee ongoing financing of the climate benefits after a change in ownership.