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FSC General Assembly tackles global challenges in Vancouver

Oct. 10, 2017 – With growing momentum and urgency behind calls for forest conservation, the Forest Stewardship Council will meet this week in its General Assembly in Vancouver, B.C. This marks the first time the global General Assembly will be held in Canada.

Founded in 1994, the Forest Stewardship Council uses markets to stop deforestation and forest degradation. It describes itself as the world’s most trusted forest certification system today, safeguarding nearly 500 million acres of forestland, with 32,000 companies in 120 countries marketing FSC-certified products.

“We are seeing companies step up to help protect forests, even as we all use forest products every day,” said Corey Brinkema, president of the Forest Stewardship Council US. “This momentum comes not a moment too soon, as climate change puts the need for forest conservation front and centre.”

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, all transportation accounts for 14 per cent of global carbon emissions, while experts estimate deforestation and forest degradation to contribute up to 15 per cent. Healthy forests currently offer the best way to pull carbon out of the atmosphere. Recent research in the US Pacific Northwest finds FSC-certified forest management stores at least 45 per cent more carbon than standard forestry.

In the past year, companies such as Apple, HP, International Paper, Kimberly-Clark, McDonald’s, Patagonia, Procter & Gamble, Target, Staples, Walmart and Williams-Sonoma have taken steps to grow demand for products from responsibly managed forests.

While FSC is experiencing dramatic growth in certified pulp and paper products, there remains a great opportunity to further develop markets for solid wood products – including building materials and furniture, says FSC US, noting that this is a top priority for the Council.