Information for Prospective MembersFSC AustraliaFSC Sectoral ChambersLiability of MembersFSC Australia FeesMembership Application
Information for Prospective Members
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international membership-based not for profit organisation with the mission of promoting environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world’s forests. It has accredited national initiatives in 35 countries.
Central to the way FSC operates is the recognition of different sectoral interests in forests – social, environmental and economic. The organisation’s constitution ensures that these interests have an equal say on policy issues decided at General Assemblies and by the Board of Directors.
People with different interests are organised in the FSC system through sectoral chambers. Decision making is, wherever possible, by consensus. These processes ensure that no one sectoral interest controls FSC and that the system maintains its independence and credibility while finding solutions to conflict over forest issues.
In pursuit of its mission, FSC engages in the following activities:
- Development of standards that define responsible forest management and provide the criteria and indicators that can be used to assess forest management practices;
- Development of a Chain of Custody system for maintaining the integrity of FSC certified forest products between the forest and the end customer
- Accreditation of certification bodies who can certify forests and companies participating in the chain of custody (processors, manufacturers, traders) against FSC standards;
- Management of a global trademark that allows customers to recognise products that meet FSC forest management and chain of custody standards.
- Promotion of responsible forest management, the FSC system and products that meet the requirements of the FSC system
- Education and representation.
TopFSC Australia
FSC has had a presence in Australia since 2001 when a contact person was appointed. In 2006, an organisation was incorporated (Responsible Forest Management Australia Limited) to promote FSC in Australia and seek accreditation as an FSC National Initiative.
Responsible Forest Management Limited trades as FSC Australia and its mission is to promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of forests in Australia and countries supplying the Australian forest products market.
It strives to achieve this objects through:
(a) the development of Australian national and regional standards for responsible forest management that are accredited internationally by FSC;
(b) educational activities with forest stakeholders including forest management companies, organisations involved in the processing, manufacture, trade, sale or use of products that include material originating in forests and forest communities;
(c) the promotion of the FSC system to customers for forest products in Australia and the promotion of products that carry the FSC trademark;
(d) relationship building activities with governments, industry groups, companies, educational bodies, trade unions, community groups, indigenous peoples’ organisations, environmental and social non-governmental organisations; and
(e) the encouragement of FSC accredited certification bodies to become active in the Australian market and to undertake reviews on the performance of the FSC system in Australia and provide feedback on that performance to members.
RFMA Limited has three focus areas of development:
- development of the organisation in a way that represents the FSC system, engages a wide cross-section all stakeholders and provides a strong financially viable base to pursue its mission;
- development of national and regional standards for forest management that are appropriate to the Australian environment and social circumstances;
- development of markets for FSC certified products (fibre, paper and sawn wood);
In additional, RFMA Limited will seek to participate in activities that promote responsible forest management in neighbouring countries and countries supplying the Australian forest products market.
TopFSC Sectoral Chambers
The concept of Sectoral Chambers is integral to the FSC. Prospective members should consider which chamber best reflects their role in dialogue regarding forest issues.
There are three chambers into which membership is divided:
1) The Economic Chamber;
2) The Environmental Chamber; and
3) The Social Chamber.
The Economic Chamber
Membership of the Economic Chamber is open to persons, companies and organisations who:
1 Principally have a commercial interest in forests, the production of forest products or the activities of FSC including:
a. forest management and forest product companies;
b. certification bodies;
c. industry association (whether for profit or not-for-profit);
d. wholesalers, retailers, traders, end-user and consulting companies;
e. academics and researchers with a commercial interest in forests;
f. employees, consultants and representatives of the above, and;
2. have demonstrated active commitment to implementing or promoting the FSC Principles and Criteria for responsible forest management.
The Environmental Chamber
Membership of the Environmental Chamber is open to persons, companies and organisations who:
1. Principally have an environmental interest in forests, the production of forest products or the activities of FSC including:
(a) not-for-profit, non-government environmental organisations whose principal purpose is protection, preservation or conservation of the natural environment;
(b) not-for-profit, non-government organisations whose principal interest is to promote or represent activities (such as bird watching or bush walking) and whose principal interest in FSC is the protection, preservation or conservation of the natural environment;
(c) academics and researchers whose primary interest is the protection, preservation or conservation of the natural environment;
(d) employees, consultants and representatives of the above; and
2. have demonstrated active commitment to implementing or promoting the FSC Principles and Criteria for responsible forest management.
The Social Chamber
Membership of the Social Chamber is open to persons, companies and organisations who
1. Principally have a social or community interest in forests, the production of forest products or the activities of FSC including:
(a) not-for-profit, non-government organisations of forest community organisations or community forest organisations;
(b) organisations of indigenous people;
(c) trade unions and other organisations representing forest workers, workers fabricating or producing forest products or using forest products;
(d) other not for profit, non-government organisations whose principal interest is the social benefits of forests;
(e) academics and researchers with a social interest in forests, the production or sale of forest products or FSC;
(f) employees, consultants and representatives of the above, and;
2. have demonstrated active commitment to implementing or promoting the FSC Principles and Criteria for responsible forest management.
Prospective members who are not certain as to which chamber they should join will be allocated to a chamber by the Interim Board of Directors.
TopLiability of Members
FSC Australia is a company limited by guarantee. The liability of members are limited in accordance with law and the terms of the Constitution.
FSC Australia Fees
For a list of membership fees click here
Membership Application
To download the information and the membership application form as a PDF file
click here (62 kb)Further information, please contact:
Michael Spencer
Foundation Chief Executive
Responsible Forest Management Australia Limited
E-mail: info@fscaustralia.org
Phone: 03 8636 2661
Fax: 03 8636 2674
FSC Australia
GPO Box 152
Melbourne
Vic, 3001
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