Taiwan Becomes First in Asia-Pacific to Achieve 100% FSC Certification for Public Forests

FSC recently announced that after five years of diligent efforts, all public forests under the authority of the eight regional forestry branches have received FSC certification.

The certified forest area covers nearly 1.6 million hectares (3.95 million acres), accounting for 71.5% of Taiwan’s total forest area—the highest certification rate among Asian countries.

Lin Hua-qing, Director of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, noted that over 99% of Taiwan’s timber has historically been imported, with at least 30% sourced from natural forests in tropical countries. He emphasized that Taiwan’s extensive plantations, if effectively managed, could boost the self-sufficiency of domestic timber, lessen dependence on tropical natural forests, and reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions associated with long-distance timber transportation.

Lin Hua-qing highlighted that achieving FSC certification for all public forests marks a new chapter in Taiwan’s forestry industry. The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency has introduced a range of sustainable forest management strategies, encompassing both timber and non-timber production. These initiatives include promoting FSC-compliant forestry practices, supporting and incentivizing private forests to obtain certification, advancing the use of domestic wood in construction, revitalizing the bamboo industry, expanding the forest-based economy, and encouraging the high-value use of non-timber products—such as forest therapy—to develop a diversified forestry sector.

The agency is also working to raise public awareness by encouraging the purchase of domestic wood and FSC-certified products. Additionally, it is actively promoting the use of domestic materials for school desks and chairs, embedding the principles of carbon reduction and sustainable plantation management into everyday life.