Newsletter Stories


Monday, 01 October 2001
FSC Awarded Goteborg International Prize

The Forest Stewardship Council was recently honored with the City of Göteborg International Environment Prize for the year 2001.


The 375-year old Swedish city awards this honor annually “to stimulate continued positive progress and draw attention to interesting and strategic environmental projects which have been carried out" in accordance with the following mandate from the city council: “With increased consumption, primarily in the developed countries, and a growing world population, the earth's resources are exposed to strong increased pressure. This applies not least to renewable assets in forests, agricultural and grazing land and coastal waters."

Sweden is an international leader for FSC around the world, with over 45% of its forestland certified. Large industrial forestry companies, who consider FSC certification the most economically, environmentally, and socially viable certification program in the world today, currently own the majority of this land.

FSC was chosen for the award by a panel of judges comprised of international leaders in the areas of environmental management, education, and design. For the complete press release and to learn more about Göteborg’s environmental initiatives, go to www.goteborg.se, and click on the British flag for English text.

“Receiving this award drives home the point that FSC is about partnering the values of our three chambers," responded FSC International Vice Chair Åsa Tham. “To be recognized by a city with initiatives to keep its economy up, while still providing its citizens with a healthy surrounding natural environment and natural resources, is an honor."