When I first joined FSC Canada, we were a team of two facing significant challenges in restructuring our operations and expanding our presence in the forestry sector. Today, I look back with immense pride at what we've accomplished together. We've grown into a robust team of dedicated professionals with an operating budget that has increased fivefold—but our growth extends beyond mere numbers.
This expansion has enabled us to tackle crucial challenges, conduct rigorous consultation and field testing, and meet the evolving requirements to protect our forests, which remain a cornerstone of our national economy. We developed and launched the new FSC National Forest Stewardship Standard and the National Risk Assessment to modernize responsible forestry in Canada including upholding Indigenous Peoples’ rights, protect critical habitat for species at risk, and preserve vital forest landscapes. Through this journey, FSC Canada has emerged as a unique solutions provider, advancing Canada's conservation priorities while extracting better value from our forests.
What drew me to FSC Canada was its potential to unite sustainable business practices with ecosystem protection, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, and biodiversity conservation—all while bringing responsibly sourced products to market. Rather than seeking quick wins, I focused on building resilient systems that could weather challenges while maintaining the highest standards of integrity. We were recognized as the gold standard when I joined despite our small size and complex challenges. Today, I take enormous pride in knowing that our organization remains the definitive solution for sustainable forest management.
As we move forward and face the mounting complexities of climate change including the increasing threat of forest fires, our dual focus on defining value within ecosystem services and supply chain certification uniquely positions FSC Canada to address these challenges. The coming decade presents both an obstacle and an extraordinary opportunity to embed FSC solutions into the fabric of sustainable forest management within not only Canada but the entire North American region. This integration isn't just about meeting today's needs—it's about building resilience and creating greater value and prosperity for tomorrow's forests.
I am confident that FSC Canada will reach new heights under Monika Patel's leadership. Her extensive experience at FSC and strong relationships across the network make her ideally suited to lead the organization into its next phase, further establishing FSC Canada as the go-to solution for responsible forestry.
To our members, certificate holders, and all stakeholders who have been part of this journey – thank you. I am deeply grateful for our work together and the privilege of serving this extraordinary organization. Your support and dedication have been instrumental in every achievement.