In reaction to Greenpeace International not renewing its membership with the Forest Stewardship Council, Rolf Skar, Forest Campaign Director for Greenpeace USA said:
“Greenpeace International is not renewing its Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) membership due in part to uneven implementation across geographies. We now believe it is more appropriate for national Greenpeace entities, such as Greenpeace USA, to be FSC members in places where they consider it an effective tool. In North America, we continue to believe that FSC certification can help ensure the rights of indigenous peoples are respected, and that iconic species like the woodland caribou are protected, while maintaining economic opportunities for local communities.
Greenpeace USA will continue to remain a member of FSC and I will remain a board member of FSC-US. We continue to believe that companies in North America should pursue FSC certification in the forests where they operate. This provides an opportunity to secure marketplace recognition for responsible operations in places like the Canadian Boreal and the US Southeast. In addition, the FSC serves as a platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue which is critical to resolving disputes and developing solutions that work for people and the planet.”
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).
Media Contact:
Rolf Skar, Forest Campaign Director, Greenpeace USA, [email protected], (415) 533.2888
