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What is membership?

FSC is a membership association. This means that FSC is governed by its members.

Each member, whether organizational or individual, represents their interest based on their professional activities. The diversity of interests is reflected in the three chambers structure that forms the membership: economic, environmental and social.

As a member of FSC, you have the right to participate and vote in the General Assembly, and the responsibility to take an active part in elections and we charge a compulsory membership fee.

Why have a chamber system?

In order to balance the interests of different stakeholders, FSC is governed by three chambers with equal vote and power who make decisions cooperatively. The three chambers are represent environmental, economic and social interests. Each of these chambers is in turn divided into sub-chamber north and south. This guarantees equal weight of vote and influence for the different interest groups as well as for representatives from different parts of the world and economic power.

Why should I become an FSC member?

FSC membership gives you the right to attend and vote as well as to formulate and submit motions at the General Assembly. It is at the General Assembly that important strategic decisions are made.

As a member you can vote and run for the position of FSC Director and become part of the FSC Board of Directors.

As a member, you will be the first to know. We maintain special email fora to keep you informed. In addition, and depending on how much you will want to get involved, there will be sporadic special meetings.

FSC members are divided into Social, Environmental and Economic chambers. Each of these chambers are divided into North (industrialized countries) and South (developing countries). Each chamber carries the same vote. This guarantees that no one interest can dominate.

Everybody who supports the idea of improved forest management around the world can become an FSC member. FSC is however a non-governmental organization and therefore welcomes governmental bodies to support FSC through other means.

Membership or certification?

Sometimes FSC membership and FSC certification is confused. Both are ways to support the work of FSC.

FSC is a membership organization. Together, all FSC members form the General Assembly, the  highest decision–making body of the FSC.

FSC membership gives you the right to attend and vote as well as to formulate and submit motions at the General Assembly. It is at the General Assembly that important strategic decisions are made.

Everybody who supports the idea of improved forest management around the world can become an FSC member. FSC is however a non-governmental organization and therefore welcomes governmental bodies to support FSC through other means.

FSC certification of your business shows that you comply with the highest social and environmental standards on the market. This gives you credibility with customers and business partners as well as financial institutions and watchdog organizations.

FSC certification helps to protect your brand and reputation and it allows you to access highly environmentally sensitive markets. Increasingly governments and others specify FSC in their purchase policy.

Further information on how to become FSC certified.

Who can become an FSC Member?

Everybody who supports the idea of improved forest management around the world can become an FSC member. FSC members are divided into Social, Environmental and Economic chambers. Each of these chambers is divided in Economic North (industrialized countries) and Economic South (developing countries). Each chamber carries the same vote. This guarantees that no one interest can dominate.

More info on how to become an FSC member

What do Southern/Northern sub-chambers indicate?

Each chamber has two sub-chambers: Southern and Northern. We will place you in the Southern sub-chamber if your organization is legally registered in a non high-income country and the Northern sub-chamber if your organization is legally registered in a high-income country.

As an individual member, you join the sub-chamber of the country in which you hold citizenship.  We follow the World Bank definition in our classification of southern and northern countries.

Who are the members of FSC?

Check out the list of FSC international members (English / Spanish). Membership on the international level refers to membership in FSC A.C. (Asociación Civil).

You can also become a national FSC member of an FSC National Initiative.

Will I receive regular information from FSC?

After becoming a member we subscribe you to the FSC e-mail list. If you wish we will send you regular updates on FSC by e-mail. This includes up-coming ASI audits, drafts of standards, newly accredited FSC working groups among other information.

As a member you have a personal on-line account that allows you to manage and filter the information you receive from us.