{"id":29870,"date":"2025-11-04T12:00:39","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T02:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/?p=29870"},"modified":"2025-11-04T12:00:44","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T02:00:44","slug":"no-decision-yet-on-fscs-last-chance-to-address-timber-fraud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/no-decision-yet-on-fscs-last-chance-to-address-timber-fraud\/","title":{"rendered":"No Decision Yet on FSC\u2019s \u201cLast Chance\u201d to Address Timber Fraud"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Forest Stewardship Council \u2013 forestry\u2019s gold standard \u2013 has voted against passing three motions which \u201cdirectly focus on enhancing the robustness and accountability of the FSC system.\u201d That is according to UK-based ENGO Earthsight, <a href=\"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/report-will-fsc-act-on-the-multi-billion-dollar-timber-fraud-in-its-scheme\/\">which last week reported on the multi-billion-dollar trade in fraudulent timber that now plagues the supply chains of certified products.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.earthsight.org.uk\/media\/download\/2379\">CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FSC\u2019s RESPONSE TO EARTHSIGHT REPORT<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>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<a href=\"https:\/\/ga.fsc.org\/en\/public-motions\"> at the 2025 FSC General Assembly in Panama last week.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ga.fsc.org\/en\/public-motions\">And whilst no decision (yet) has been made on Motion 30<\/a>, Wood Central can reveal that the other motions &#8211; including Ensuring &amp; 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\u2019s Credibility (Motion 28) &#8211; were not passed by the majority of delegates at the General Assembly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83d\udea8FSC is facing its \u201clast call\u201d to tackle a billion-dollar fraud crisis<br><br>Our new analysis suggests that $10-$30bn of fraudulently certified goods are being sold each year<br><br>\ud83d\udd17<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ZdDClhPwTv\">https:\/\/t.co\/ZdDClhPwTv<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Earthsight (@earthsight) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/earthsight\/status\/1981687144310886777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 24, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Last week, Purwadi Soeprihanto, secretary-general of the Association of Indonesian Forest Concession Holders, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thejakartapost.com\/opinion\/2025\/10\/27\/motion-28-at-fsc-general-assembly-risks-stalling-remedy-progress.html\">urged delegates to vote against Motion 28<\/a>, arguing that the changes to the FSC Remedy Framework Implementation &#8211; introduced at the 2022 FSC General Assembly in Bali \u201cintroduce 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FSC General Assembly opens with a call for shared responsibility<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ga.fsc.org\/en\/newsfeed\/fsc-general-assembly-opens-with-a-call-for-shared-responsibility\">The FSC General Assembly kicked off last week <\/a>with an Indigenous ceremony led by Guna leader Briseida Iglesias, who invoked gratitude to Mother Earth and emphasised balance and respect for nature. \u201cMother Earth never abandons us,\u201d she said. \u201cWe are children of the Earth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following a traditional Guna dance performed by Indigenous youth, Briseida presented molas \u2014 traditional, symbolic textiles made by Guna women \u2014 to FSC Director General Subhra Bhattacharjee and FSC Board Chair Stuart Valintine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>FSC Board Chair Stuart Valentine delivered a business report that framed the assembly\u2019s agenda around renewed governance and strategic priorities, noting a programme of work that includes a new Global Strategy, a revision of FSC\u2019s Principles and Criteria, the wider adoption of risk-based approaches, and a clearer demonstration of FSC\u2019s impact. \u201cThere is one thing that brings us all into one room today, and that is FSC,\u201d Stu said. \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">And just like that, the FSC General Assembly 2025 is officially underway! <br>We\u2019re looking forward to an inspiring week of discussions and decisions that will shape the future of our forests. Let\u2019s make it count\ud83c\udf32 <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/FSCGA2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#FSCGA2025<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ForestsForAllForever?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ForestsForAllForever<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VpqyBLUAzw\">pic.twitter.com\/VpqyBLUAzw<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Forest Stewardship Council (@FSC_IC) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FSC_IC\/status\/1982496976836206849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 26, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Mewanhile, FSC Director General Subhra Bhattacharjee opened her remarks by placing the organisation\u2019s mission in the context of deep geopolitical and environmental strain: \u201cIn these turbulent times, FSC&#8217;s mission of responsible forest management is more relevant than ever before. In a time of polarisation, FSC\u2019s values of democracy, solidarity, and stewardship are just as relevant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bhattacharjee&#8217;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>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, <a href=\"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/report-will-fsc-act-on-the-multi-billion-dollar-timber-fraud-in-its-scheme\/\">click here for Wood Central\u2019s special feature from last week.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Forest Stewardship Council \u2013 forestry\u2019s gold standard \u2013 has voted against passing three motions which \u201cdirectly focus on enhancing the robustness and accountability of the FSC system.\u201d 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. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":29871,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":false,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"default","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"default","_threads_share_type":"default","_google_business_share_type":"default","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[51,52,53,32,81,45,44,31],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[70],"class_list":{"0":"post-29870","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-americas","8":"category-asia","9":"category-europe","10":"category-global-news","11":"category-oceania","12":"category-sustainability","13":"category-sustainable-forest-management","14":"category-top-stories"},"authors":[{"term_id":70,"user_id":2,"is_guest":0,"slug":"jason","display_name":"Jason Ross","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/J-Ross-headshot.jpeg","url2x":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/J-Ross-headshot.jpeg"},"0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29870","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29870"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29870\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30147,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29870\/revisions\/30147"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29870"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29870"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29870"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=29870"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}