STATEMENT: Greenpeace Canada remains a member of the Forest Stewardship Council

27 March 2018 (Montreal) – In reaction to Greenpeace International not renewing its membership with the Forest Stewardship Council, Shane Moffatt, Head of Forest at Greenpeace Canada said:

“Greenpeace International is not renewing its Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) membership due in part to uneven implementation across geographies. Therefore, we now believe it is more appropriate for national Greenpeace entities, such as Greenpeace Canada, to be FSC members in geographies where they consider it an effective tool. In Canada, we continue to believe that FSC certification can help ensure the rights of Indigenous Peoples are respected and iconic species like the woodland caribou are protected, while maintaining economic opportunities for local communities.

Greenpeace Canada will continue to remain a member of FSC Canada and monitor the performance of FSC on the ground. We also continue to believe that companies in Canada should pursue FSC certification in the forests where they operate. This provides an opportunity to secure marketplace recognition for responsible operations in the Canadian Boreal. In addition, the FSC serves as a platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue which is critical to resolving issues in Canada such as the logging of caribou habitat and respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples.”

Greenpeace International was a founding member of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), but now has decided not to renew its FSC membership. Greenpeace International is not a member of any forest certification scheme. Greenpeace’s twenty-six national and regional offices choose for themselves whether or not to actively join forest certification systems as members. Some Greenpeace national entities are members of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Greenpeace’s position on the weaker forest certification schemes has not changed. We do not support PEFC, or its affiliated certification systems, such as the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).

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For more info:

Marie Moucarry, Communications Officer at Greenpeace Canada, 438-993-6127, [email protected]