2025 FSC General Assembly in Panama

Dominic Robinson, Soil Association Certification CEO, shares his reflections from this year’s 10th FSC General Assembly which took place in October 2025 in Panama. 

The event brings together members to shape FSC’s future policies and priorities. Experts from Soil Association Certification attended both in-person and online events, taking part in voting on Motions and attending crucial side meetings. 

A call for shared responsibility 

The FSC system can both inspire and challenge us – I always find this is never more so than at the General Assembly. It is an incredible feeling being in the room with 650 people from around the world, democratically voting on change, representing a balance of social, economic and environmental interests, from global North and South. There are few other models out there where impact has been created, voluntarily, and so powerfully with such a strong voice. 

Over 160m hectares are now certified to FSC standards – protecting biodiversity, indigenous people, livelihoods, human health and our climate. It is incredible to play a part in shaping this. 

However, the area certified is no more than 10% of approximately 1.15 billion hectares of productive forests and there are still 10-20 million hectares of forests destroyed globally every year. So, whilst a lot has been achieved, single digit annual increases are not going to deliver the scale of impact that is needed to truly deliver the FSC mission to promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world’s forests. We need solutions that are going to deliver change at scale. So that certification becomes the norm not the exception.  

FSC’s strength comes from a requirement for members to look beyond individual interests and act in service of what the system — and our forests — genuinely need. This broader perspective strengthens FSC’s integrity, but it takes willpower from members. 

There were some really challenging discussions in the room and a mix of outcomes when it came to voting on Motions. 

Voting outcomes 

The full list of Motions and outcomes can be viewed on the FSC website. 

Of the 42 Motions submitted, 16 passed to then be incorporated into the workings of FSC International and its network over the coming years. 20 Motions did not pass the vote and 6 were not voted on, for various reasons including they were not given priority in the voting order and essentially, we ran out of time.  

Here is a short insight into two successful Motions that will affect our activities and the those of our certificate holders: 

Motion 30 

Submitted by Kingfisher plc, this calls for ‘A roadmap for a digital information and volume control system (System) to improve the integrity of FSC claims’. The project aspires to eradicate false claims within the system by requiring all CoC certificate holders to report each sale transaction of materials carrying an FSC claim through a web-based material accounting system, along with the claim, volume, species, and similarly basic product characteristics. This information could then be made available to the customer receiving the materials, who confirms it through a ‘digital handshake.’ 

It is not explicit in stating that the process will start with FM CHs however this will be considered in the initial Assessment. The Motion calls for an initial Assessment which will record the impacts on and needs of Organizations participating in FSC for meeting the requirement for universal use of the System, how the System will incorporate best practices for data security, an estimate of costs, amongst other things. It is during the Assessment that CBs will begin their involvement and contribution to the Motion development, in evaluating the impact on our systems and the support work required for our certificate holders. Finally, the Motion calls for a Roadmap for implementing the System with a target date of 2030.  

Motion 47 

Submitted by Dr Alan Smith, this calls for the promotion of ‘FSC certification and ecosystem services verification as relevant climate change investment tools by widening the landscape approach to encompass diverse woodland ecosystems.’ Essentially it is looking to broaden the recognition of FSC as just a timber certification scheme to a credible climate change tool. To enable this the suggested pathway is to make FM certification and ecosystem services claims more accessible for a wider range of forest managers in wooded areas not primarily used for timber harvesting. The Motion calls for private and public sector partners and as a CB we are well placed to support this due to our FM knowledge base and global reach.  

Motion 47 links closely to Motion 33 which calls for the ‘Strengthening of FSC’s Value Proposition’. The need for FSC to establish an Advocacy Plan to position FSC as a key solution provider to global forest-related challenges – including FSC to be recognised as an implementation tool certificate holders can use as proof of their compliance to global legislation.  

At the end of the General Assembly, I took a step back and saw how the Motions could be linked and further enhanced. Motion 47 should have been specific in calling for climate change metrics (carbon sequestration, GHG emissions) to be incorporated into the normative standards so we can gather data for the growing, processing, transportation and use of forests and forest products. The System (Motion 30) could then be used to manage this data, and all forests and forest products could be recognised for their value in mitigating climate change.  

Panama’s commitment to FSC 

The Environment Minister for Panama opened the GA and announced a commitment that all Panama's state forests will become FSC certified.  

This level of leadership is what is needed globally to increase responsible forestry and FSC's aspiration for more direct engagement with Government should further this. 

Final reflections 

Seeing people, building connections, with FSC, ASI, our wider agent and contractor network (some of whom were present there) it was incredible being based in Panama. The wildlife of the rainforest on one side and mangroves on the other side of the conference was inspirational; the sloths in the trees and iguanas by the pool were a great reminder of what we were seeking to protect.  

Finally, I would encourage all organisations to apply for FSC Membership and engage in the development, proposing and voting of Motions. We have a real opportunity to contribute our brilliant ideas and never has the need been greater.