Forests with FSC or PEFC label (i67)

In 2022, 52.4% of the Belgian forest surface had an FSC or PEFC label. To achieve the sustainable development goal by 2030, this figure must increase. Between 2012 and 2022, the trend is undetermined (assessment of November 2023).

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Forests with FSC or PEFC label - Belgium

percentage of forest area

 201220152017202020222022//20122022//2017
Belgium51.852.953.556.852.40.1-0.4
//: Average Growth Rates

PEFC (2023), Direct communication 27/7/2023; FSC (2023), Direct communication 14/6/2023 and Statbel (2023), Utilisation du sol par commune et région, la Belqique (1834-2020), https://statbel.fgov.be/ (consulted on 3/6/2023)

Forests with FSC or PEFC label by region - Belgium

percentage of forest area

 201220152017202020222022//20122022//2017
Brussels-Capital Region89.890.090.090.190.10.00.0
Flemish Region17.220.020.725.425.44.04.2
Walloon Region59.260.060.563.558.2-0.2-0.8
//: Average Growth Rates

PEFC (2023), Direct communication 27/7/2023; FSC (2023), Direct communication 14/6/2023 and Statbel (2023), Utilisation du sol par commune et région, la Belqique (1834-2020), https://statbel.fgov.be/ (consulted on 3/6/2023)

Definition: this indicator shows the proportion of forest area with an FSC label (Forest Stewardship Council) or a PEFC label (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes) in the total forest area of the Belgian territory. These forest certifications and their evaluation are based on defined principles and criteria and compliance is verified by independent certifications organisms, which guarantees the compliance with this standard. The forest area includes all types of forests as well as the other wooded areas. This indicator is calculated by the FPB on the basis of data from the Forest Stewardship Council, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes and Statistics Belgium.

Goal: the forest area with FSC or PEFC label must increase.

The Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs adopted by the UN in 2015 include target 15.2: “By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally”.

The Conference of the Parties of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity of December 2022 has adopted new goals, among which "Ensure that areas under agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries and forestry are managed sustainably " (target 10, CBD, 2022).

The Federal Long-Term Strategic Vision for Sustainable Development contains objective 37: “The goods and services provided by ecosystems will be restored, valorised and used prudently and sustainably, contributing directly to the maintenance of biodiversity (Belgian Official Gazette, 08/10/2013).

The National Biodiversity Strategy 2020 also states as operational objective 4f.1: “Promote the conservation of forest biodiversity through independent credible forest certification systems that provide a guarantee for sustainable forest management” (National Focal Point to the Convention on Biological Diversity, 2013).

International comparison: no comparison can be made, since there are insufficient data available on the Eurostat website.

UN indicator: the selected indicator corresponds to indicator 15.2.1 - Progress towards sustainable forest management.

Sources

More information is available in French and Dutch.