The Forest Stewardship Council – forestry’s gold standard – has voted against passing three motions which “directly focus on enhancing the robustness and accountability of the FSC system.” That is according to UK-based ENGO Earthsight, which last week reported on the multi-billion-dollar trade in fraudulent timber that now plagues the supply chains of certified products.
Wood Central understands that the three motions in question, Motion 25, 26, and 28, were part of a suite of motions (the other being Motion 30, considered the crucial linchpin in using compulsory tracking to tackle fraud) presented at the 2025 FSC General Assembly in Panama last week.
And whilst no decision (yet) has been made on Motion 30, Wood Central can reveal that the other motions – including Ensuring & Strengthening Integrity in FSC Certification (Motion 25), Strengthening FSC Auditor Expertise (Motion 26), Oversight and Accountability, and Ensure the Integrity of the FSC Remedy Framework Implementation to Protect FSC’s Credibility (Motion 28) – were not passed by the majority of delegates at the General Assembly.
Last week, Purwadi Soeprihanto, secretary-general of the Association of Indonesian Forest Concession Holders, urged delegates to vote against Motion 28, arguing that the changes to the FSC Remedy Framework Implementation – introduced at the 2022 FSC General Assembly in Bali “introduce unnecessary bureaucratic and procedural requirements that could delay justice for rights holders, weaken the plan-do-check-act principle, and erode trust in FSC as a system that learns through implementation.”
FSC General Assembly opens with a call for shared responsibility
The FSC General Assembly kicked off last week with an Indigenous ceremony led by Guna leader Briseida Iglesias, who invoked gratitude to Mother Earth and emphasised balance and respect for nature. “Mother Earth never abandons us,” she said. “We are children of the Earth.”
Following a traditional Guna dance performed by Indigenous youth, Briseida presented molas — traditional, symbolic textiles made by Guna women — to FSC Director General Subhra Bhattacharjee and FSC Board Chair Stuart Valintine.
FSC Board Chair Stuart Valentine delivered a business report that framed the assembly’s agenda around renewed governance and strategic priorities, noting a programme of work that includes a new Global Strategy, a revision of FSC’s Principles and Criteria, the wider adoption of risk-based approaches, and a clearer demonstration of FSC’s impact. “There is one thing that brings us all into one room today, and that is FSC,” Stu said. “The global challenges are much bigger than FSC, we cannot face them alone. So, we need to look at what can we do as FSC and who do we need collaborate with.”
Mewanhile, FSC Director General Subhra Bhattacharjee opened her remarks by placing the organisation’s mission in the context of deep geopolitical and environmental strain: “In these turbulent times, FSC’s mission of responsible forest management is more relevant than ever before. In a time of polarisation, FSC’s values of democracy, solidarity, and stewardship are just as relevant.”
Bhattacharjee’s business report set out recent institutional reforms and flagship initiatives. Over the past three years, FSC has strengthened global systems and transparency, launched the Climate and Biodiversity Framework, rolled out FSC Trace and the Risk Hub, and reinforced operational foundations. Looking forward, the organisation signalled a commitment to integrity, predictability and measurable outcomes for climate and biodiversity, alongside a push to deepen stewardship through partnerships and expanded national standards.
- To read more about the Earthsight report, and why the vote on Motion 30 holds the key to stamping out fraudulent timber from global supply chains, click here for Wood Central’s special feature from last week.
