GA has begun and nearly 300 delegates from more than 70 countries have arrived in Cape Town to participate in the week’s program.
As the GA progresses over the next several days, we will be presenting daily updates and highlights to share news and happenings from this year’s event.
The GA started with meetings on 2 November, including the global National Initiatives meeting, the FSC governance review, the first of two smallholders meetings on making FSC more accessible for smallholders and community-based forestry, and the Building and Wood Workers International meetings. Many delegates also took part in a field trip to visit an FSC certified plantation and Jonkershoek Nature Reserve.
On Monday, the General Assembly delegates dispersed among a wide variety of side meetings organized by members and stakeholders as independent forums outside of official FSC GA 2008 events. With the intent to provide a forum where members and stakeholders can communicate perspectives, share experiences and increase opportunities for dialogue on key issues, the side meetings have proved to be a valuable component of the General Assembly.
The following side meetings took place on Monday:
- Making FSC more accessible for smallholders and community-based forestry
- How controlled is controlled wood?
- Satellite Imagery – reducing costs and improving forest data and information quality
- Update on P&C and plantations review
- FSC’s impact on social conditions – research, outcomes and needs
- Connecting FSC to ecosystem service market
- Environmental risk assessment in certified operations
- Is FSC coping with mega forestry operations?
- Ecological networks for Biodiversity Conservation
- Services for certificate holders, licensing fees and structures – how FSC is moving toward a sustainable model of financing and service delivery
Monday also included the first meetings for each FSC chamber – environmental, social, and economic.
The GA will continue throughout the week to include the Forest Conference on Tuesday and Wednesday, and formal GA business sessions on Thursday and Friday.