9 April 2026
Palombar joins the governing bodies of FSC® Portugal for the 2026–2029 term
Members of the new governing bodies. Photo: FSC® Portugal
The new composition of the Governing Bodies of the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council Portugal®) was elected on 31 March for the three-year term 2026–2029, with Palombar joining the organisation’s Board as an alternate member. The new Governing Bodies were elected by the General Assembly of AGFR – Association for Responsible Forest Management (FSC Portugal). With the start of a new strategic cycle for the organisation, the new board wishes to prioritise forest resilience, scientific evidence and the mobilisation of stakeholders to tackle climate and biodiversity challenges.
The new Board of FSC Portugal is chaired by CEABN – Professor Baeta Neves Centre for Applied Ecology, with Conceição Colaço as Chair; the SPCF – Portuguese Society of Forest Sciences holds the Vice-Chairmanship, represented by Leónia Nunes. SONAE Arauco is responsible for the Treasury, represented by Inês Costa Luz.
The Board also includes, as Secretary, the LPN – League for the Protection of Nature, and Forestis – the Portuguese Forestry Association and the PINUS Centre as Members. The Board also includes Palombar, UNAC and Biond as alternates, reinforcing diversity and plurality. The remaining governing bodies were also elected, including the General Assembly Bureau, the Audit Committee and the Disputes Committee, “ensuring the continuity of a governance system based on participation, transparency and a balance of interests”, emphasises FSC Portugal.
“Palombar has been an associate member of FSC Portugal since June 2024 and has now joined the organisation’s governing bodies as an alternate member of the Board. Also in 2026, we strengthened our commitment to the system by becoming members of FSC International, a global leader in forest conservation and protection. We take on this role with a strong sense of mission and the capacity for direct action on the ground. The focus on promoting resilient forests over the next three years is essential to ensuring balanced natural resources capable of conserving biodiversity and generating added value for communities,” highlights José Pereira, Chairman of the Board of Palombar, holder of FSC® Promotional Licence No. 004878.
Resilient forests: the focus of the new strategic direction
The Programme Memorandum defined for the next three years is the guiding document for the new board, which is “aligned with the FSC’s global ambition to promote resilient forests that sustain life on Earth, against a backdrop of growing climate challenges, biodiversity loss and market transformation”, the organisation states.
Thus, the three main programmatic objectives guiding FSC Portugal’s new strategy are: 1. To strengthen knowledge for forest resilience, focusing on robust regulatory frameworks, continuous capacity building, and scientifically based monitoring and impact assessment; 2. Mobilising stakeholders for responsible forest management, strengthening the system’s representativeness, stakeholder engagement and coordination with public policies and strategic partnerships; and 3. Promote concrete actions to generate impact, by increasing the area of certified forest, enhancing the value of non-timber forest products, strengthening responsible markets and communicating the environmental, social and economic value of FSC certification.
“I recognise that this new mandate represents a crucial opportunity to consolidate FSC Portugal’s role as a benchmark in promoting responsible forest management. The coordinated action of the three chambers – environmental, social and economic – remains fundamental to ensuring a balanced, transparent and inclusive decision-making process. I therefore welcome Palombar, and I am convinced that, with its support, we will continue to strengthen trust among stakeholders, promote constructive dialogue and drive initiatives that contribute, in a concrete way, to reconciling the protection of ecosystems, respect for the rights of communities and workers, and the economic viability of the forestry sector, thereby strengthening the credibility and impact of the FSC in our country,” says Joana Faria, Executive Secretary of FSC Portugal.
The new Board of FSC Portugal is chaired by CEABN – Professor Baeta Neves Centre for Applied Ecology, with Conceição Colaço as Chair; the SPCF – Portuguese Society of Forest Sciences holds the Vice-Chairmanship, represented by Leónia Nunes. SONAE Arauco is responsible for the Treasury, represented by Inês Costa Luz.
The Board also includes, as Secretary, the LPN – League for the Protection of Nature, and Forestis – the Portuguese Forestry Association and the PINUS Centre as Members. The Board also includes Palombar, UNAC and Biond as alternates, reinforcing diversity and plurality. The remaining governing bodies were also elected, including the General Assembly Bureau, the Audit Committee and the Disputes Committee, “ensuring the continuity of a governance system based on participation, transparency and a balance of interests”, emphasises FSC Portugal.
“Palombar has been an associate member of FSC Portugal since June 2024 and has now joined the organisation’s governing bodies as an alternate member of the Board. Also in 2026, we strengthened our commitment to the system by becoming members of FSC International, a global leader in forest conservation and protection. We take on this role with a strong sense of mission and the capacity for direct action on the ground. The focus on promoting resilient forests over the next three years is essential to ensuring balanced natural resources capable of conserving biodiversity and generating added value for communities,” highlights José Pereira, Chairman of the Board of Palombar, holder of FSC® Promotional Licence No. 004878.
José Pereira, Chair of the Palombar Board, at the installation ceremony. Photo: FSC® Portugal
Resilient forests: the focus of the new strategic direction
The Programme Memorandum defined for the next three years is the guiding document for the new board, which is “aligned with the FSC’s global ambition to promote resilient forests that sustain life on Earth, against a backdrop of growing climate challenges, biodiversity loss and market transformation”, the organisation states.
Thus, the three main programmatic objectives guiding FSC Portugal’s new strategy are: 1. To strengthen knowledge for forest resilience, focusing on robust regulatory frameworks, continuous capacity building, and scientifically based monitoring and impact assessment; 2. Mobilising stakeholders for responsible forest management, strengthening the system’s representativeness, stakeholder engagement and coordination with public policies and strategic partnerships; and 3. Promote concrete actions to generate impact, by increasing the area of certified forest, enhancing the value of non-timber forest products, strengthening responsible markets and communicating the environmental, social and economic value of FSC certification.
“I recognise that this new mandate represents a crucial opportunity to consolidate FSC Portugal’s role as a benchmark in promoting responsible forest management. The coordinated action of the three chambers – environmental, social and economic – remains fundamental to ensuring a balanced, transparent and inclusive decision-making process. I therefore welcome Palombar, and I am convinced that, with its support, we will continue to strengthen trust among stakeholders, promote constructive dialogue and drive initiatives that contribute, in a concrete way, to reconciling the protection of ecosystems, respect for the rights of communities and workers, and the economic viability of the forestry sector, thereby strengthening the credibility and impact of the FSC in our country,” says Joana Faria, Executive Secretary of FSC Portugal.