Plenary Session - FSC Global Strategy: Branching into the Future
As FSC moves into the development of its 2027–2032 Global Strategy while the 2021–2026 chapter approaches its close, the plenary offers a moment to reflect on FSC’s future direction. The session will take participants through FSC’s strategic journey — where the organization stands today, the lessons learned along the way, and how the course for the years ahead is being shaped. Combining internal perspectives with insights from social, economic, and environmental dimensions, it will explore ways to amplify the true value of forests and reinforce FSC’s role in the stewardship of the world’s forests.
At the heart of this reflection lies FSC’s 2050 Vision: Resilient Forests Sustain Life on Earth. Building on this vision, the plenary will underscore the role of responsible forest management in strengthening resilience and consider how FSC solutions can be further focused and refined to respond more effectively to urgent and complex global challenges. It will also provide insights into the ideas shaping the next global strategy and outline how members and stakeholders will be able to engage with and influence this process — both through other spaces at the General Assembly and in the months ahead.
Speakers will include key members of the FSC Secretariat and the Board of Directors, as well as Christina Niemelä Ström, Head of Sustainability at IKEA; Dr. Joeri Zwerts, assistant professor at Utrecht University; and Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, chair of the Indigenous Women and Peoples Association of Chad (AFPAT).
Christina Niemelä Ström, IKEA
Christina Niemelä Ström is the Global Head of Sustainability for IKEA Supply at the Inter IKEA Group. She is responsible for both the IKEA supply chain sustainability agenda and the Inter IKEA Strategic Sustainability Assignments. In her role, Christina leads the sustainability initiatives across IKEA supply chain, including purchasing, transportation, wholesale, manufacturing, and supply chain operations. Additionally, she leads the sustainability agenda for the entire Inter IKEA Group, related to responsible sourcing, climate action, biodiversity, water stewardship, and human rights advocacy.
Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Indigenous Women and Peoples Association of Chad (AFPAT)
Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim is a Mbororo Indigenous woman from Chad. Her background as a pastoralist, geographer, and Indigenous Knowledge researcher has made her an expert in climate change, biodiversity, land restoration and Indigenous Peoples rights. She has invested her expertise as a local project implementer, and as an activist and negotiator at the national and international levels. She has actively supported Indigenous Peoples’ participation in the three Rio conventions.
She chairs the Indigenous Women and Peoples Association of Chad (AFPAT). She has been appointed as an SDG Advocate, and vice-chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII).
Joeri Zwerts, Utrecht University
Joeri Zwerts is an Assistant Professor at Utrecht University. His research focuses on wildlife conservation in tropical forest landscapes where agro-commodities, such as timber and palm oil, are produced. He also focuses on the advancement of wildlife monitoring methods, in particular using acoustic recordings and thermal drones. Central themes in his research are responsible forest management, landscape connectivity and human wildlife conflict. His goal is to develop evidence-based strategies that promote sustainable practices that benefit both wildlife and human well-being, to address the challenge of combining growing resource needs with nature conservation. He has lived and/or worked in Suriname, Western Equatorial Africa and in Indonesia.
Event Details
- Tuesday, 28 October
Time: 14:30 - 16:00 (EST - Panama) / 20:30 - 22:00 (CET) / 03:30 - 05:00 (WITA)