The Forest Stewardship Council is twenty years old, and like most adolescents it has had a troubled few years, perhaps lost its focus and not really delivered on its early potential. However, what distinguishes it from other adolescents is that over 600 people from all over the world attended its birthday party in Seville last month.The FSC General Assembly occurs once every three years, and allows its global membership to meet and to debate, and to steer the organisation. It is this global membership and high level of democracy that is FSC's great (and unique) strength, but it is also its particular weakness. A horse designed by committee would look like a camel - and it is this requirement to please everyone that often means that FSC outcomes are poorly worded and overly complex.
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