Q&A: New Director General of the Forest Stewardship Council

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The FSC certifies products that are created from sustainably cared-for forests
Dr. Subhra Bhattacharjee, Director General of the Forest Stewardship Council, took on the position in October 2024 and shares her insight

You may have seen a "tree check" logo on forest-derived items like books, corks or even maple syrup.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) started 30 years ago and has since become a global benchmark for sustainable forestry, trusted by NGOs, consumers and businesses worldwide. 

Forests have a critical role in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss, and the FSC has certified more than 160 million hectares of forests worldwide as managed sustainably.

Products with an FSC logo mean they come from a forest that is certified to have been managed sustainably.

As of October 2024, Dr. Subhra Bhattacharjee is Director General of the FSC.

Dr. Subhra Bhattacharjee, Director General of the FSC

Subhra has dedicated more than 23 years to advancing solutions for poverty, climate change and sustainable development.

She has worked in a range of diverse roles including in central banking, academia and as an international civil servant within the United Nations.

Subhra shares her insight and plans for the FSC with Sustainability Magazine.

Why is forest stewardship important?

Forests are invaluable, contributing in numerous different ways to mitigating climate change, reducing disaster risk, protecting biodiversity and supporting forest-dependent communities.

Forests provide habitat for more than two-thirds of terrestrial wildlife and plants. Beyond their environmental importance, forests support human life across the world, with some 300 million people living in and around forests depending on them for food, fuel, medicine, and their livelihoods.

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Unfortunately, more than 12 million hectares of forest are lost each year – that’s the size of about 150 tennis courts every minute. Forest stewardship helps ensure that forests are responsibly and sustainably managed with respect for both the biodiversity they foster and for the livelihoods that depend on them.

What is your vision for FSC?

FSC was born out of a need. As a 30-year-old organisation with a broad and diverse stakeholder base, FSC must contribute to a global shift in the way we perceive, protect and leverage forests for sustainable development.

We are only as strong as our partners. Moving forward we will continue to leverage our membership, network and collaborative partnerships to drive new standards of global forest stewardship.

We are equally governed by environmental, social, and economic groups within our membership - through a unique democratic process that balances the interests of forest owners, workers, communities and businesses, so that we can make the best decisions on issues impacting forests today and in the future.

What is on your to-do list?

There are several initiatives that are underway already. You might be aware of the upcoming European Union Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) - a regulation designed to tackle deforestation and forest degradation. FSC is working to assist a broad range of actors, both our own certificate holders and others, to comply better with this regulation.

The approach is to reduce complexity and provide comprehensive solutions to streamline the compliance process, thus contributing to market transformation.

The FSC certifies a range of products derived from forests

Aside from EUDR, we will advance our climate, biodiversity and restoration (CBR) initiatives, aligning with the broad goals of the COP16 summit which I am participating in. We intend to improve impact measurement through our Verified Impact solution which monitors, conserves and improves ecosystem services such as watershed, soil conservation and recreation services of forests. We are implementing certification standards that safeguard high conservation value areas in the forests and protect endangered species.

FSC is also scaling up forest-based solutions for restoration to combat forest degradation. The forthcoming FSC Forest Restoration Toolbox will give forest managers a pathway for high quality restoration impacts. In addition, we will continue to join our partners and stakeholders in advocating for better and more sustainable forest management.

How does the future look for FSC?

Our overall vision is of a world where a new forest paradigm is realized - where the true value of forests is recognized and fully incorporated into society worldwide.

Looking ahead, I see FSC evolving beyond its role as a certification scheme and becoming a central force in shaping forest-related policy at the highest levels, driving meaningful change at an economic, environmental and societal level.

With our expertise and global network, we are uniquely positioned to amplify the importance of sustainable forest management and ensure it becomes a cornerstone of global policy, creating a future where forests are valued beyond their resources. Rather, for their crucial role on the planet.

I’m looking forward to working with FSC teams and our partners across the world to bring this vision to life and continue to find solutions to some of the most pressing issues of our time.

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