PEFC re-elects BWI’s Fatimah Mohammad to its International Board

The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) has re-elected Fatimah Mohammad of Building and Woodworkers International (BWI) to its 14-member International Board during its 31st General Assembly. Fatimah will continue to serve from 2024 to 2027, bringing her extensive expertise in sustainable forestry management, labour rights, and social standards within the forestry sector.

A seasoned forester and Assistant Conservator of Forests since 1981, Fatimah is also Vice President of the Union of Forestry Employees Sarawak (Malaysia) and has chaired several prominent regional committees focused on gender equality and worker protection. 

In her acceptance speech, she commended PEFC’s efforts to integrate core labour standards into global forestry certification, specifically through codifying International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards in forest management and chain of custody certifications. Fatimah highlighted recent ILO progress on living wage standards, stressing the role of fair wages in alleviating poverty and ensuring dignity for forest workers.

“For forests to survive, forest-dependent workers must thrive,” Fatimah stated. “I am proud to work with PEFC as it continues to protect forests and safeguard workers, setting a higher benchmark for sustainability and social justice in certified forests worldwide.”

In her new term, Fatimah will prioritise expanding worker protections, strengthening labour standards in line with ILO core conventions, and advancing PEFC’s achievements in social and environmental standards. She also aims to promote gender-responsive policies, ensuring a safer and more inclusive industry for women.