According to this announcement, Heiko Liedeker is stepping down as Executive Director of the FSC after six years at the helm.

My read of the announcement raises the question of whether his decision was made voluntarily or under pressure stemming from recent controversies?

Those more plugged in to the internal dynamics of the international office may have a more authoritative take, but this smells like a squeeze play to me.

Last month, the international office moved to revoke a certificate issued to Asia Pulp and Paper–the infamous Indonesian logger–during an investigation into the certificate by the Wall Street Journal. Actually, the article indicates that Liedeker himself “rescinded the FSC’s approval of APP products at the same time he proposed a tightening of the FSC’s rules.”

Why quit just after proposing new rules? One way or another it seems that he’s being pushed by politics.