Forest Stewardship Council General Assembly Models Democracy for the World

US Delegation Promotes High Standards for Global Forest Products Marketplace

KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia, June 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With a broad delegation representing US interests, members of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) are meeting this week in Malaysia to negotiate standards that are applied to 350 million acres of certified forestland and 20,000 certified companies, including nearly 140 million acres and 4,800 companies in North America. Motions being addressed include certification of family forests, urban forestry standards, ecosystem services and forest carbon.

"Global systems like FSC ensure a level playing field," said Corey Brinkema, President of FSC US. "High standards favor companies and countries that innovate and lead the market. And I have a lot of confidence in the US on both counts," he added.

Every three years, FSC members from three chambers -- Economic, Social and Environmental -- gather in a General Assembly to set the standards that guide the certification system worldwide. To pass, a motion needs majority support from all three chambers, requiring consensus between interests and promoting triple bottom-line outcomes.

"FSC is helping forests and the people who depend on them," said Kerry Cesareo, Managing Director of Forests at WWF US. "Our partnership with FSC improves forest management and protects habitat, which is at the core of our mission," she added.

With nearly 500 people from more than 80 countries in attendance, the General Assembly 2011 is the best attended in the history of the organization. Groups represented include Avon, Columbia Forest Products, Domtar, Greenpeace, IKEA, International Paper, Kimberly Clark, National Wildlife Federation, Potlatch, Procter & Gamble, Rainforest Action Network, Rainforest Alliance, Tetra Pak, The Nature Conservancy, Watershed Research and Training Center, and WWF.

"The diverse voices around the FSC table are the cornerstone of the organization," said Dr. Skip Krasny, Manager of Sustainable Forestry Programs at Kimberly-Clark. "The inclusive approach demonstrated at the General Assembly provides real assurance to businesses about the integrity of the FSC label," he added.

Forest Stewardship Council US

The Forest Stewardship Council is an independent nonprofit organization that promotes environmentally sound, socially beneficial, and economically prosperous management of the world's forests. FSC offers credible verification to people who are buying wood and wood products. Because FSC is the gold standard for forest stewardship, it is the only certification system supported by the greater environmental community. www.fscus.org

SOURCE Forest Stewardship Council US