Brazil is among one of the first developing countries to elaborate national standards which fulfil the criteria of the FSC 'green seal' - one of the most recognised internationally which affirms that the wood (or other
resource) comes from a forest which is managed in an ecologically appropriate, socially fair and economically viable manner.

The group responsible for the development of the national criteria approved by the FSC on 30 May was composed of the National Institute for Amazonian Research, EMBRAPA, the Luiz de Queiroz School of Agriculture at the University of São Paulo (Esalq/USP), the Holanda reforestation company and Friends of the Earth - Brazilian Amazonia.

They began to work on the document, which adapts world criteria to Brazilian reality, in November 1997. It was developed in consultation with 250 leaders in the area and during a workshop in 1988. The aim was to check the viability of existing indicators.

"The thing which distinguishes the elaboration of these principles and criteria was the participation of the public, which has made our work a point of reference for the world", said Mauro Armelin from Friends of the
Earth, who co-ordinated the group's work.

Currently, some 350,000 hectares in Brazilian Amazonia have the FSC 'green seal'. They will now have two years to adapt to the new principles, which will be revised every five years to accompany technical and scientific advances in the area of forest management.

At the moment, FSC Brazil's priority is to increase consumer awareness of the 'green seal' and encourage companies to use it in their final products. The group is now working on national standards for the extraction of Brazil nuts in Amazonia and the management of the Atlantic Forest.

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