Vision

"FSG is dedicated to help protect the world's remaining forests, natural areas and larger biological and climatic systems from further degradation and to promote sustainable livelihood and business development across the world."

Mission

Professionals in sustainable resource management.

As a group of professionals with a background in natural resource management and international development, we established the Forestry Service Group in 1995, though initially under the name of Natuur & Voorlichting. FSG has since served as a collective consulting platform for supporting profit-and non-profit organizations in the South and North toward improved sustainability of natural resource-based commodity chains.

FSG consultants are driven by their commitment to help solve global challenges such as climate change, deforestation and poverty. We believe that solving these NRM related challenges requires simultaneous presence of three components: market opportunities, sustainability criteria and stakeholder preparedness. These three are interdependent: neither can exist without insurance of the other. For example, people are not inclined to follow sustainability rules if there are no markets to reward their efforts. Moreover, profitable markets are only found when certain quality criteria are met. And without adequate skills and knowledge regarding sustainable practices, no community in the world can comply with the principles and criteria involved. The integration of all three components in relation with natural resource management is what FSG calls "Sustainable Resource Management". In too many occasions around the world, is one or more of these components missing. The world-wide effects are all too evident, in the form of deforestation, resource degradation and climate change.

FSG likes to see its integral vision on Sustainable Resource Management being applied on Natural Resource-based international development and trade. This will lead to a kind of development where local interests meet global concerns, global interests meet local needs and vice versa. Indeed, we seek local-impact solutions to global challenges.

Our Strategy

Making Sustainable Resource Management People's Business.

How do we intend to realize our mission? By translating the three components of Sustainable Resource Management into a practical approach. Accordingly, in relation with Natural Resource Management, FSG wants to contribute to:

• 1) Market development ,
• 2) improving management sustainability,and
• 3) preparing stakeholders.

Market development will help increase the monetary value of natural resources. Local producers will then see their livelihood improving. And only then they will engage in sustainable management systems.
This is achieved when people acknowledge that their wellbeing depends on the quality of natural resources surrounding them. Only then will they feel committed to protecting "their" resources against irrational and destructive use.

However, this requires agreements on improving natural resource management sustainability, in terms of how processes are carried out, monitored and enforced. Without it, highly valued natural resources would soon be subject to pillage and destruction. In other words, a system of quality standards, quality control and quality improvement needs to be developed. This "Quality", in terms of improving sustainability", is often reached by certification and support in Natural Resource Management.

Last but not least, preparing stakeholders is needed to prepare them for sustainable resource management and the quality criteria agreed upon.

Indeed, for Sustainable Resource Management to have any practical meaning at all, it must become "people's business".

Our services

For implementation of our strategy, we have six programs focusing on either of the three components discussed above. These are:

• Climate, Environment and Policies
• Project Development & Support
• Certification
• Natural Resource and Area Management
• Export and Business improvement
• Stakeholder Consult and Preparation