Group Certification for Sustainable Forest Management in Italy

This initiative enables small and collective forest owners in Italy’s Marche Region to achieve PEFC Sustainable Forest Management certification collectively through the 'Bosco di Marca' consortium, covering 9,208.25 hectares. By uniting public and private stakeholders, the group certification model reduces costs, simplifies compliance, and enhances ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, fire risk reduction, and biodiversity protection. The project supports post-earthquake recovery, promotes sustainability credit trading, and stimulates rural economic development and tourism. It exemplifies a scalable model for sustainable forest management in fragmented landscapes.