Forest
Stewardship
Council®
Canada
MEMBERSHIP
Forest Stewardship Council Membership
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WHO WE ARE & HOW WE WORK
Our Vision
Is healthy forests providing an equitable sharing of
benefits from their use, while respecting natural forest
processes, biodiversity and harmony amongst their
inhabitants.
Our Mission
Is to promote environmentally appropriate, socially
beneficial and economically viable management of
the world’s forests.
Governance and Decision Making
FSC Members are fundamental to the organization
and its vision. Diverse economic, social and
environmental interests share decision-making
authority, bringing integrity and resilience to the FSC
system.
Like some mission-driven, non-profit organizations, FSC
is membership-based. At FSC we take it a step further
and are membership-governed. FSC relies on the
diverse economic, social and environmental interests
of our member to share the decision-making authority
and to bring integrity and resilience to the FSC system.
The FSC system is built on the
foundation of a strong, involved
and diverse membership base.
With each new member, FSC
becomes stronger and more
grounded in true democracy.
Balance, Accountability, Transparency, Participation
In order to equally balance the interests of different
stakeholders, FSC is governed by three chambers
that balance the voting power between different
interests. International Members are divided into
chambers (Environmental, Social, and Economic),
with an additional, Aboriginal Peoples chamber in
Canada, each with equal voting power.
Internationally, each chamber is divided into two
sub-chambers, Global North and Global South, to
guarantee equal voting power among the various
countries and economic powers represented.
Members based in Canada are in the Global North
sub-chamber.
The votes of all individual members in each subchamber represent 10% of the total vote of the sub
chamber, while the votes of organizations represent
90% of the total vote.
Forest Stewardship Council Membership
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BENEFITS
Our forests provide clean water,
they purify our air, they protect
wildlife habitat and they reduce the
effects of climate change.
As a member of the Forest
Stewardship Council you play an
active role in ensuring that we have
healthy forests and healthy
communities for generations to
come.
By Becoming a Member you:
 Support healthy forests and strong communities.
 Join an international network of individuals,
companies and organizations taking action to
improve the state of the world’s forests.
 Have a voice on the conservation and responsible
use of our forests.
 Participate in FSC’s governance by voting at
General Assemblies.
 Participate in Annual General Meetings and
electing our Board of Directors.
 Are able to run for the FSC Canada and FSC
International Board of Directors.
 Participate in the development of FSC certification
Standards.
What do Aboriginal Peoples gain through FSC?
 A clear role in decision making through the
Aboriginal Chamber in Canada and the Social
Chamber internationally.
 An opportunity to assume a leadership role in
the growing market for independently certified
forest products.
 Certification requires respect for Aboriginal and
Treaty rights.
 FSC standards provide a framework for a territory
-wide forest policy.
What do Unions, Academic and other institutions
gain through FSC?
 Certification requires respect for workers rights
and employment conditions.
 An opportunity to assume a leadership role in
the growing market for independently certified
forest products.
What do Forest Companies, Manufacturers and
Retailers gain through FSC?
 Participation in building broader multistakeholder consensus on forest management
through the development of auditable
standards.
 An opportunity to assume a leadership role in
the growing market for independently certified
forest products.
 A forum to build relationships with
environmental, Aboriginal and community
leaders.
 Improved stakeholder and Aboriginal Peoples
relations.
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Forest Stewardship Council Membership
REQUIREMENTS
FSC is committed to developing
and maintaining high standards for
responsible forestry. FSC is focused
on engaging with its members and
stakeholders to ensure that our
standards and policies support
healthy forests for generations to
come.
Membership Fees
Organizations must:
 Submit an FSC Membership application form.
 Provide signed letters of support from two FSC
members.
 Provide organizational statutes, annual report,
and publicly available financial information.
Note:
 If the applicant is a non-profit organization,
evidence of charitable or non-profit status is
needed.
 For applicants to the Economic Chamber, details
of commercial activities are required. Applicants
to the Economic Chamber must have
demonstrated a commitment to implementing
the FSC Principles and Criteria in their operations.
Individuals must :
 Submit an FSC Membership Application Form
 Provide signed letters of support from two FSC
members.
 Provide a curriculum vitae
Apply Online Today
https://ca.fsc.org/become-a-member.193.htm
Questions? Contact Us.
[email protected]
Non-Profit Organizations:
Individuals $100.00 USD
# of
employees
Turnover
(USD)
Annual Fee
(USD)*
Small
1-100
>15 million
$150
Medium
101-200
15-20 million
$1000
Large
201-1000
30-150 million $2000
Very Large
>1000
>150 million
$5000
# of
employees
Turnover
(USD)
Annual
Fee (USD)*
Very Small
1-100
< 20 million
$200
Small
101-200
20-40 million
$1500
Medium
201-1000
40-200 million $3,000
Large
1001-10,000
200-2 billion
$6,000
Very Large
>10,000
>2 Billion
$10,000
For Profit Organizations:
Individuals $100.00 USD
* Fees are listed in USD as indicated by FSC
International. Invoices for members in Canada will
be converted to the Canadian equivalent.