FSC® is an international association of members consisting of a diverse group of representatives from environmental and social groups, the timber trade and the forestry profession, indigenous peoples’ organizations, responsible corporations, community forestry groups and forest product certification organizations from around the world.

Therefore, FSC has a unique governance structure that is built upon the principles of participation, democracy and equity.

Three levels of decision-makingIn order to balance the interests of different stakeholders, FSC is governed by three chambers with equal votes and power and that make decisions cooperatively. The General Assembly of FSC Members is the highest decision-making body in FSC and is made up of the three membership chambers: Environmental, Social and Economic, which are further split into sub-chambers: North and South.

The Southern sub-chamber is comprised of organizations that are legally registered in a non high-income country, while organizations that are legally registered in a high-income country make up the Northern sub-chamber.

As an individual member, you join the sub-chamber of the country in which you hold citizenship. FSC follows the World Bank definition in our classification of Southern and Northern countries.

The purpose of the chamber structure is to maintain the balance of voting power between different interests, without having to limit the number of members. This guarantees equal weight of votes and influence for the different interest groups, as well as for representatives from different parts of the world and degrees of economic power.

FSC International Center GmbH • Charles-de-Gaulle-Strasse 5 • 53113 Bonn • GermanyPhone +49 (0) 228 367 66 0 • Fax +49 (0) 228 367 66 30 • fsc@fsc.org • www.fsc.org

May 2012

AT A GlAnCe . . . FSC GovernAnCe STruCTure• Built upon the principles of participation,

democracy and equity

• The General Assembly of FSC Members is the highest decision-making body in FSC

• There are three membership chambers: Environmental, Social and Economic

• The three chambers have equal votes and power

FSC’S unique GovernAnCe STruCTure

GENERALASSEMBLY OF FSC MEMBERS

FSC BOARD OFDIRECTORS

DIRECTORGENERAL

Social

Economic

Environmental

North

North

North

South

South

South

® Forest Stewardship Council ®

FSC® International Center

FSC International Center GmbH • Charles-de-Gaulle-Strasse 5 • 53113 Bonn • GermanyPhone +49 (0) 228 367 66 0 • Fax +49 (0) 228 367 66 30 • fsc@fsc.org • www.fsc.org

All members should demonstrate an active commitment to FSC and its Principles and Criteria (P&C).

The Social Chamber includes non-profit, non-governmental organizations, indigenous peoples’ associations and unions as well as research, academic and technical institutions and individuals that have a demonstrated commitment to socially beneficial forestry. They support forest management and believe in delivering forest products to the market in a way that does not infringe on the rights and well-being of indigenous peoples, local communities and workers.

The environmental Chamber includes non-profit, non-governmental organizations, as well as research, academic and technical institutions and individuals that have an active interest in environmentally viable forest stewardship.

The economic Chamber includes organizations and individuals with a commercial interest. Examples are employees, certification bodies, industry and trade associations (whether profit or non-profit), wholesalers, retailers, traders, consumer associations and consulting companies. Applicants with economic interests must have demonstrated an active commitment to implementing the FSC P&C in their operations.

The FSC Board of Directors is accountable to the FSC members. It is made up of nine individuals who are elected from each of the chambers for a three-year term.

The Director General, with the support of a multicultural professional team at the FSC International Center in Bonn, Germany, runs the FSC on a day-to-day basis.

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