Become an FSC Australia member:

Information for Prospective Members:

Responsible Forest Management Australia 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.

FSC Australia has three focus areas of development:

1. 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;

2. development of national and regional standards for forest management that are appropriate to the Australian environment and social circumstances;

3. development of markets for FSC certified products (fibre, paper and sawn wood);

These activities are all dependant on funding, of which membership fees are a key source.

Benefits of Membership:

-  Become part of an organisation committed to the development of environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of forests in Australia.

- Contribute to the growth of an Australian market-driven system of responsible forestry based on the FSC’s 10 Principles of responsible forest management.

- Be part of the FSC Australia governance structure, and have a say in the future development and growth of the FSC system in Australia.

-  Enhance your access to the growing domestic and international market in responsible wood products and products sourced from FSC certified Australian Forests.

- Receive discounted admission to FSC-run events.

- Receive regular updates on events and developments in the FSC system in Australia and overseas.

FSC Sectoral Chambers:

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.

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 Board of Directors.

Liability 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:

The following fee structure will apply to members of FSC Australia. Fees are payable within 60 days of an Application for Membership being accepted. 

Entrance fee (paid once)
 

Annual subscription fee

Organisation Size Definitions:

Small not for profit Organisation = annual turnover <$2.5 million
Medium not for profit Organisation = annual turnover $2.5 million - $5 million
Large not for profit Organisation = annual turnover >$5 million
Micro Company = annual turnover <$750 000
Small Company = annual turnover $750 000 - $2.5 million
Medium Company = annual turnover $2.5 million - $10 million
Large Company = annual turnover $10 million - $50 million
Very Large Company = annual turnover >$50 million

(Fees current at July 2008)

Membership Application:

To download more information and the membership application form as a PDF file then please Click here (62 kb)