Global Governance & Staff
FSC’s unique governance structure ensures that all voices are heard and that decisions are made through consensus.
The FSC Statutes govern FSC and the foundation on which it was formed. The FSC Global Strategy 2021-2026 sets the direction and the intended outcomes for FSC until 2026.
FSC AC / Geoff Howe
Members
Membership is separate to certification. FSC members contribute directly to our standards and to the future of responsible forestry. FSC brings together, among others, private enterprises, NGOs, international organisations, indigenous groups, and educational institutions. This diverse set of stakeholders all share a common desire to improve the state of the world’s forests. Members apply to join one of three chambers – environmental, social, or economic. To ensure that all voices are heard equally, each FSC chamber holds 33.3 per cent of the vote on all FSC matters. Within each chamber, votes are weighted to ensure that North and South each hold 50 per cent of the vote.
FSC AC / Geoff Howe
General Assembly
The General Assembly of members is FSC's highest decision-making body. It brings together FSC members and stakeholders from around the world, who participate in a unique and democratic forum.
The General Assembly typically takes place every three years. However, the upcoming assembly has been postponed from the original date in 2020. It will now be split into two parts: a virtual assembly in 2021 and an in- person assembly in 2022 in Bali, Indonesia.
Director General & Board of Directors
The FSC Board of Directors is accountable to all members. It consists of 12 elected representatives, with four elected from each of the chambers for a four-year term.
Dr Subhra Bhattacharjee is the Director General of the Forest Stewardship Council, a position she has held since October 2024.
Staff
The Forest Stewardship Council International (FSC International) consists of the entities FSC Asociación Civil (FSC AC), FSC International Center GmbH (FSC IC) and FSC Global Development GmbH (FSC GD). While the latter two are located in Bonn, Germany, FSC AC is located in Oaxaca, Mexico, and is the mother organisation of FSC IC and FSC GD. FSC Investments and Partnerships is associated with FSC International and located in Seattle, Washington, U.S.
FSC has a number of regional offices, sub-regional offices and independent national offices around the globe, including FSC UK.
You also may be interested in