Association Statutes

Protect the Forest Statutes (last updated annual meeting 2024)

§ 1 Name of the association

The association is called Protect the Forest. (Protect the Forest – Sweden, Schützt den Wald – Schweden) Protect the Forest is a non-profit, religiously and politically independent democratic nature conservation organization with a focus on the forest

§ 2 Registered office of the association

Hallsberg, Haddebo

§ 3 The association’s goals

The association shall work for:
• Protection of forests with high conservation values and conservation and development, including restoration of biodiversity in forest and tree environments.
• Reform of forestry to a long-term ecologically and socially sustainable multiple use, where concern for the environment takes precedence over production.
• Counteracting the climate crisis where it overlaps with forest issues.

§ 4 The association’s working methods

The association works by conducting debate, conducting public education, scrutiny, campaigns, appeals of authority and court decisions, advocacy work, actions, research and inventory trips. The association can establish local forest groups to operate within the association’s organization number. If necessary, the association can draw up a steering document regarding this. The association works according to the principle of non-violence.

§ 5 Membership

A member of Protect the Forest is the person who supports the association’s goals and annually pays the established membership fee. Membership is valid for the calendar year and from the date the fee is paid with the fee applicable for the financial year. If payment is made in November or December, the membership is valid without extra fee for the following financial year.

§ 6 Membership fees

The membership fee is determined by the annual meeting and applies to the following year.

§ 7 The Board of Directors

The board consists of 5-13 people, preferably odd numbers, of which 2-4 spokespersons. Spokespersons for the association’s external cause and their statements must have support in the board, but do not necessarily sign for the association’s name. In the election of the board, the association must strive for equal gender distribution and otherwise a diversity of backgrounds. The board appoints a secretary, treasurer and the other functionaries they deem necessary. The board has the right to appoint an executive committee and delegate decision-making power to this committee.

§ 8 Duties of the Board of Directors

The Board represents the Association, monitors its interests and is responsible for its affairs. The Board decides on behalf of the Association, unless otherwise stipulated in these statutes. The Board shall execute decisions made by the Annual Meeting, manage the Association’s financial facilities and keep accounts, and submit an annual report to the Annual General Meeting for the most recent financial year.

The Board meets if at least one third of the Board members request it. The Board shall constitute itself as soon as possible, but no later than three weeks after the Annual Meeting.

The Board has a quorum when at least half of the Board participates. Board decisions are made by a simple majority. In the event of a tie, the vote shall be repeated. If a tie again occurs, the lot will decide.

Board meetings can be held physically or remotely. All Board members must be called at least seven days before a Board meeting. Board meetings on urgent matters may be held at shorter notice in special cases. Matters of major importance must be sent out no later than 3 days before the meeting date.

In order for a per capsulam decision* to be made, all board members should confirm that they have read the basis for the decision, a notice of impediment to participate in a per capsulam meeting is to be seen as the member having read the basis for the decision. In the case of decisions of major importance, everyone must confirm.

* Per capsulam refers to decisions that are sent to the members by e-mail or telephone, outside of an announced and recorded meeting, where the members give their opinion on the decision individually. Decisions made per capsulam are entered in the next meeting minutes and adjusted there.

§ 9 Signatories

The Board of Directors appoints two signatories from among its members.

§ 10 Accounts

The financial year must be the calendar year. The Board’s annual report must be submitted to the association’s auditors no later than one month before the annual meeting.

§ 11 Auditors

The Board’s administration shall be reviewed annually by two auditors appointed at the Annual Meeting. The auditors shall submit their audit report at the Annual Meeting. One member is elected each year. A deputy auditor should also be elected.

§ 12 Nomination Committee

The Nomination Committee consists of 2-5 members elected by the Annual Meeting, one of whom is the convener. At least one member is elected each year. The Nomination Committee cannot include members of the Board of Directors or auditors. The work of the Nomination Committee must be led by someone who is not employed. The Nomination Committee shall submit proposals for spokespersons, other Board members, as well as auditors and deputy auditors prior to the Annual Meeting.

§ 13 Annual meeting

The ordinary annual meeting, which is the association’s highest decision-making body, is held annually before the end of March at a place and time determined by the board. The annual meeting can be held digitally. Notice must be sent to all members who have provided contact information* and be announced on the association’s website no later than 30 days before the ordinary annual meeting.

At the ordinary annual meeting, the following matters shall be dealt with:
The annual meeting opens.
2. Election of chairman, secretary, two minutes adjusters and vote counters for the meeting.
3. Adoption of the voting list for the meeting.
4. Review of the order of meetings.
5. Ask whether the meeting has been announced correctly.
6. Adoption of the agenda.
7. The Board’s annual report and financial report.
8. Auditor’s report for the financial year.
9. Questions and clarifications regarding the past financial year (Referral debate).
10. Adoption of the balance sheet and income statement.
11. Question about discharge from liability for the Board of Directors for the period to which the audit relates.
12. Determination of membership fee.
13. Consideration of bills (proposals from the board) and motions (proposals from members) including proposals for activities of a minor financial scope** received after
the end of the motion period.
14. Adoption of the operational plan and consideration of the budget for the future
year.
15. Election of 2-4 spokespersons for a period of one year.
16. Election of other members of the Board of Directors for a period of two years. Half of the Board of Directors is elected each year.
17. Election of auditors and, if applicable, deputy auditors for a period of two years.
18. Election of the Nomination Committee.
19. Other business.

No later than 7 days before the annual meeting, the agenda and complete documentation regarding items 7 and 13 as well as proposals from the nomination committee regarding items 15, 16 and 17 shall be made available to members registered for the annual meeting. In order for decisions to be made on issues of greater financial importance to the association or its members, these issues must be included in the notice of the meeting.

* It is the individual’s member’s responsibility to provide the association with the current address.
** The concept of smaller financial scope is decided annually by the Board of Directors.

§ 14 Extraordinary annual meeting

An extraordinary annual meeting is held when the board or auditors find it necessary or when at least 1/10 of the association’s members request this through a written request to the board. The request must state the matter that the members want the meeting to discuss. Notice must be sent to all members who have provided contact information no later than 30 days before the extraordinary annual meeting. At the extraordinary annual meeting, only those matters specified in the notice may be discussed.

§ 15 Right of motion

Individual members have the right to submit motions. Motions must be submitted to the association’s board at least 14 days before the annual meeting. Proposals that have been submitted too late may be subject to deliberation, but cannot lead to a decision at the annual meeting.

§ 16 Right to vote

At the annual meeting, each member who has paid the membership fee for the current calendar year has the right to speak, make proposals and vote. At the annual meeting, each member has one vote. The right to vote is personal (but can be exercised through a proxy).

§ 17 Decisions, voting and quorum

Decisions are made by shout of approval (acclamation) or, if requested, after voting (voting). If there is a tie in an open vote, the vote must be repeated. If a tie again occurs, the lot decides. On request, a secret ballot can take place. In the event of a tie in a secret ballot, the lot decides immediately. Decisions are made, unless these statutes provide otherwise, by a simple majority. A member of the Board may not participate in decisions on discharge from liability, including the election of an auditor. The meeting has a quorum with the number of voting members present at the meeting. At a digital meeting, the chairman of the meeting may request a reconciliation of the voting list prior to voting, and the meeting may, after such reconciliation, adjust the voting list’s decision in item 3 on the agenda. A member of the Board may not participate in decisions on discharge from liability, including the election of an auditor. The meeting is quorum with the number of voting members present at the meeting. At a digital meeting, the chairman of the meeting may request a reconciliation of the voting list prior to voting, and the meeting may, after such reconciliation, adjust the voting list’s decision in item 3 on the agenda.

§ 18 Rules for amending the statutes

Amendments to these statutes require a decision at two consecutive annual meetings. One of these annual meetings may be an extraordinary annual meeting.

§ 19 Resignation

A member who wishes to resign from the association must notify the board by e-mail or other written notice of this and is thus considered to have left the association. In the event of non-payment of the annual fee in a financial year, the member is considered to have left the association as of the following financial year.

§ 20 Exclusion

A member may be expelled from the association by the board if he/she has worked against the association’s purpose or activities, or clearly harmed the association’s interests. A decision on exclusion may not be made before the member has had the opportunity to comment within the time specified by the board, at least 30 days. The decision must state the reasons for exclusion. The decision must be notified to the person concerned within three days of the decision. Exclusion can be appealed to the next annual meeting, however, the member is excluded until the annual meeting.

§ 21 Dissolution of the association

Dissolution of the association requires a decision by a two-thirds majority at two consecutive annual meetings, one of which must be an ordinary annual meeting. Proposals for the dissolution of the association must be included in the agenda of the notice and attached to the meeting documents. If the association is dissolved, the association’s assets must be handed over to activities with a similar purpose. A copy of the annual meeting minutes containing the decision on the dissolution of the association must then be sent to the tax office for deregistration of the association.