Kim Cartensen

Kim Cartensen, Director General of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), joins Earth Live to discuss the world's most trusted forest certification system and its role in promoting responsible forest management worldwide.

Cartensen explains how FSC certification works in practice, from setting standards for forest management to the chain-of-custody tracking that follows timber from forest to finished product. She addresses common criticisms of certification and makes the case for why third-party verified standards remain essential tools in the fight against deforestation.

The conversation also explores the evolving role of certification in an era of increasing regulatory requirements, including the EU Deforestation Regulation, and how voluntary standards and mandatory due diligence can work together to protect the world's forests.