MONTREAL – The General Assembly of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) will be held in Canada for the first time this fall. The meeting to discuss crucial topics for sustainable forest practices around the world will take place in Vancouver, Oct. 8-13.
FSC expects 800 people from more than 80 countries, including leaders in global forestry, will attend, with a focus on how to enhance responsible forestry worldwide.
As FSC’s highest decision-making body, the General Assembly (GA) sets the direction for the organization for the coming years, with several important areas of responsible forest management, conservation and sustainability on the agenda. These include, among others, the protection of High Conservation Value areas such as Intact Forest Landscapes, ensuring the rights and participation of Indigenous Peoples in forest development, and the future directions for forest restoration and conservation, all while permitting forests to continue to supply the vital products the world depends on for many purposes.
“This is an essential time in the development of FSC and forest certification as we address the issues that are key to the success not just of FSC but the future of the world’s forests,” said Kim Carstensen, director general of FSC, which is headquartered in Bonn, Germany. “We made a lot of progress at our last General Assembly in 2014 with the launch of several new initiatives. In Vancouver we will review how we have progressed and chart a clear path forward to continue our work.”
One of the highlights of the General Assembly is the multi-day High Level Forum. The first High Level Forum will be dedicated to The True Value of Forests, where participants will discuss the extent of the contribution of forests to society. The Forum’s second day will be on Solid Wood, which will include discussions on identifying the market drivers for certified solid wood products regionally and internationally and the increasing importance of green building. The final High Level Forum debate, FSC in our Daily Lives, will explore how companies are leading the way in promoting sustainable consumer trends.
Among the speakers participating in the High Level Forum are: Michael Green, a Vancouver-based architect who is leading the use of wood in construction; Peter Lantin, president of the Haida Nation; and Sarah Chandler, director of operations, product development and environmental initiatives at Apple Inc.
Other confirmed speakers at the General Assembly are Doug Donaldson, British Columbia Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources Operations and Rural Development; Luc Blanchette, Quebec Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks; and Glenn Mason, Assistant Deputy Minister, Canadian Forest Services of Na
SIG, one of the world’s leading solution providers for the food and beverage industry within the field of carton packs and filling technology, is the 2017 General Assembly’s Green sponsor.
Additional support for the FSC General Assembly is provided by: Kingfisher, Fibria, IKEA, CMPC, TetraPak, International Paper, Kimberly-Clark, Precious Woods, Mondi, Lenzing, Klabin, Sappi, Arauco, Greenberg Traurig, Tembec, Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill, Air Canada, WWF, Sveaskog, National Wildlife Federation, Mercer and BWI.
Full details about the General Assembly are available at www.ga2017.fsc.org .