The General Assembly of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is held every three years. This year, the venue was Panama City, bringing together over 600 participants from around the world — forest owners, companies, NGOs, and other forestry stakeholders.
The General Assembly is FSC’s most important decision-making forum, uniting a broad community to discuss the current state, direction, and future of the system.
The programme consisted of workshops, chamber meetings, and, above all, the review and voting on motions submitted by members. These motions are a concrete tool for advancing new ideas and guiding FSC’s work in the coming years.
A Changing Operating Environment Challenges FSC
This year, the key themes of the motions reflected climate change, the evolving global context, and the overall effectiveness of the FSC system. FSC has grown rapidly, but not all structures and processes have developed at the same pace. This has, at times, led to a sense of administrative complexity and heavy bureaucracy.
Discussions also touched on FSC’s ambition to expand beyond traditional forest certification. While the need to evolve and remain relevant is understandable, it is equally important to ensure that existing processes remain functional and impactful.
FSC has become a multi-layered organization — and perhaps what is needed most right now is clarity, consistency, and focus, rather than further expansion.
The Value and Meaning of Certification at the Core
One of the most tangible topics of discussion was what certificate holders actually gain from the system. FSC certification provides a credible way to demonstrate responsibility, but for many, the system has become heavy and costly to maintain. This has prompted some to question the practical benefits of certification.
This challenge was eloquently highlighted by UPM’s Sakari Suurniemi. His motion, Strengthening FSC’s Value Proposition, focused precisely on improving the value perceived by certificate holders and enhancing the attractiveness of the system. Since FSC’s impact largely depends on the number of certified hectares, the topic is highly significant. The motion was adopted with support from all three chambers, underscoring its importance.
Constructive Dialogue
The General Assembly was a unique experience — a true deep dive into the heart of FSC. It provided opportunities for dialogue both within and between chambers. Although perspectives differed on many issues, discussions remained constructive, solution-oriented, and respectful.
This, above all, is what makes the FSC system unique: it brings together diverse stakeholders — forest owners, companies, and NGOs — all sharing a common goal: responsible, sustainable, and vibrant forest management. FSC remains one of the world’s most influential tools for promoting sustainable forestry. But more importantly, it serves as a platform for open and inclusive dialogue.
