Amsterdam, 15 September 2021 – Greenpeace International has filed a formal complaint to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) International against Swedish forestry giant Sveaskog for repeated breaches of the indigenous rights of the Muonio S\u00e1mi peoples.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cIn support of the Indigenous rights of the Muonio S\u00e1mi we have lodged a complaint to FSC questioning their certification of Sveaskog. A core FSC principle is respect for the rights and livelihoods of Indigenous peoples such as the S\u00e1mi, yet in the last 4 years Sveaskog have repeatedly breached this principle,\u201d said Grant Rosoman, Senior Advisor Forests Solutions for Greenpeace International.<\/p>\n\n
FSC Principle 3<\/a> as well as the Swedish National Forest Stewardship Standard requires companies to \u201cidentify and uphold Indigenous Peoples\u2019<\/em> legal and customary rights <\/em>of ownership, use and management of land, territories and resources.\u201d Greenpeace International has filed the complaint to FSC International via their complaints and appeals system<\/a>.[1] This has come about after years of complaints by the Muonio S\u00e1mi community <\/a>and public attention on Sveaskog not respecting their customary rights. <\/p>\n\n \u201cWe cannot stand by and allow forestry giant Sveaskog to bully and disrespect the Muonio S\u00e1mi. As Sveaskog was one of the first companies in the world to be FSC certified in 1998, we expect them to know and uphold FSC\u2019s principles. That Sveaskog remains certified until today despite years of complaints<\/a>, means FSC International and FSC Sweden are indirectly supporting the company\u2019s disregard of the S\u00e1mi indigenous rights. Because of the seriousness of the breach of rules and lack of any progress locally we have filed the complaint with FSC International,\u201d said Rosoman. <\/p>\n\n ENDS<\/p>\n\n Photo and Video available from the Greenpeace Media Library: <\/strong>https:\/\/media.greenpeace.org\/collection\/27MDHU8D7BD<\/a><\/p>\n\n Notes: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n [1] Muonio S\u00e1mi complaint to FSC Sweden : https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-sweden-stateless\/2021\/09\/8622c4ff-klagoma%CC%8Al-fsc-fra%CC%8An-muonio.pdf<\/a> <\/p>\n\n Greenpeace report for campaign background, Destruction: Certified<\/em>. https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/publication\/46812\/destruction-certified\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n Contacts:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Grant Rosoman, Greenpeace International: +64 (0) 2142 8415 grosoman@greenpeace.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n Hans Holma, chairman of Muonio S\u00e1mi community: +4670-653 78 82 muonio.sameby@biegga.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n Greenpeace International Press Desk (available 24 hours): pressdesk.int@greenpeace.org, +31 (0) 20 718 2470<\/p>\n\n