FSC is the world's best known and comprehensive certification system for responsible forestry. FSC internationally prevents overexploitation, protects rare species and prevents infringements of human rights. The basis of the FSC is the certification of forests according to internationally standardised criteria. In these criteria FSC gives an equal weighting to the economic, environmental and social requirements on wood as a resource. Annual inspections of all certified operations both in the forest and in the downstream industries ensure the highest degree of credibility and transparency.