Policies & Programs

Australia’s Forest Programs

With overarching policies in place, Governments in Australia are working with industry to implement a number of programs to benchmark Australian forest management against international standards.

Mechanically cutting down plantation tree

Mechanically cutting tree
Photo: Forest & Wood Products
Research and Development
Corporation

The Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) was launched in 2003 and is based on the international standard ISO 14001:1996 and the Montreal Process, and is compatible with other international certification schemes. The Australian Forestry Standard provides industry, consumers and investors with an independent, third-party assessment of forest management practices against agreed economic, social, environmental and cultural requirements. It also supports a continued improvement toward sustainable forest management and reassures consumers that they are supporting some of the world’s best forest management.

The development of the Australian Forestry Standard was sponsored by Commonwealth, State and Territory governments, in partnership with the National Association of Forest Industries, Australian Plantation Products and Paper Industry Council and Australian Forest Growers. It was developed over a three-year period using a rigorous process that brought together input from community, industry, expert scientists and government representatives.

Manually cutting down tree with chainsaw

Manually cutting tree
Photo: Queensland Forestry

The Standard is based on a set of internationally recognised criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management, and has been developed so that it can be applied to any defined forest area being managed for wood production – regardless of the size or type of ownership, or whether it is a native forest or plantation.

The Australian Forestry Standard is recognised internationally through the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Australian is one of 31 countries on the Council including seven non-European countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Gabon, Malaysia and the USA) with 21 endorsed schemes.

Specifically the AFS requirements are;

To manage forests in a systematic manner that addresses laws, policy requirements, accepted best practices and forests management plans.
To provide for public participation by developing relationships with all stakeholders
To protect and maintain the biological diversity of the forest
To maintain the productive capacity of the forest
To maintain healthy forest ecosystems
To protect waterways and soil qualities
To maintain the capacity of the forest to capture and store greenhouse gases
To protect and maintain the natural, cultural, social, religious and spiritual heritage values of all forest users
To maintain and enhance the long term social and economic benefits of forests.

The Australian Forest Certification Scheme has also been developed to enable users and consumers of timber products to choose stock from sources that have been certified as being derived from sustainably managed forests.

For more information on the Australian Forestry Standard and the Australian Forestry Certification Scheme, visit the Australian Forestry Standard website

Whilst working towards best practice in national forest management, the Australian Government and forest industry are also involved in international efforts to foster the sustainable management of forests globally. This includes working with Australian importers, wholesalers and manufacturers, producer countries in the Asia Pacific region, and regional and international organisations on issues related to illegal logging to ensure that timber imported into Australia is from legal and sustainably managed sources.

Case Study: Australian company wins recognition

Tasmanian forestry company Gunns Limited is Australia’s largest private forestry company, and is the first in the country to receive four levels of accreditation for its environmental management.

This includes accreditation of ISO 14001, an environment management system, which was achieved in 1998; Australian Forestry Standard accreditation for sustainable forest management achieved in 2003; global certification with the international PEFC network for sustainable forest management achieved in 2004; and the Chain of Custody Standard (AS 4707) achieved in 2005.

Whilst this is an excellent result it is important to note that several other Australian companies, including plantation firms WAPRES and Timbercorp and most State-owned forest managers, including government forestry operations in New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland and Victoria have also achieved certification for sustainable forest management practices.


		MANAGING AUSTRALIA'S FORESTS
HOME FOREST MANAGEMENT FAQ HISTORY RESEARCH POLICIES & PROGRAMS Australia's forest policy Australia's forest programs Australia's forest information ACT NSW NT QLD SA Tas Vic WA NATIVE FORESTS PLANTATIONS AGROFORESTRY		Policies & Programs Australia’s Forest Programs With overarching policies in place, Governments in Australia are working with industry to implement a number of programs to benchmark Australian forest management against international standards. Mechanically cutting tree Photo: Forest & Wood Products Research and Development Corporation The Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) was launched in 2003 and is based on the international standard ISO 14001:1996 and the Montreal Process, and is compatible with other international certification schemes. The Australian Forestry Standard provides industry, consumers and investors with an independent, third-party assessment of forest management practices against agreed economic, social, environmental and cultural requirements. It also supports a continued improvement toward sustainable forest management and reassures consumers that they are supporting some of the world’s best forest management. The development of the Australian Forestry Standard was sponsored by Commonwealth, State and Territory governments, in partnership with the National Association of Forest Industries, Australian Plantation Products and Paper Industry Council and Australian Forest Growers. It was developed over a three-year period using a rigorous process that brought together input from community, industry, expert scientists and government representatives. Manually cutting tree Photo: Queensland Forestry The Standard is based on a set of internationally recognised criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management, and has been developed so that it can be applied to any defined forest area being managed for wood production – regardless of the size or type of ownership, or whether it is a native forest or plantation. The Australian Forestry Standard is recognised internationally through the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Australian is one of 31 countries on the Council including seven non-European countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Gabon, Malaysia and the USA) with 21 endorsed schemes. Specifically the AFS requirements are; To manage forests in a systematic manner that addresses laws, policy requirements, accepted best practices and forests management plans. To provide for public participation by developing relationships with all stakeholders To protect and maintain the biological diversity of the forest To maintain the productive capacity of the forest To maintain healthy forest ecosystems To protect waterways and soil qualities To maintain the capacity of the forest to capture and store greenhouse gases To protect and maintain the natural, cultural, social, religious and spiritual heritage values of all forest users To maintain and enhance the long term social and economic benefits of forests. The Australian Forest Certification Scheme has also been developed to enable users and consumers of timber products to choose stock from sources that have been certified as being derived from sustainably managed forests. For more information on the Australian Forestry Standard and the Australian Forestry Certification Scheme, visit the Australian Forestry Standard website Whilst working towards best practice in national forest management, the Australian Government and forest industry are also involved in international efforts to foster the sustainable management of forests globally. This includes working with Australian importers, wholesalers and manufacturers, producer countries in the Asia Pacific region, and regional and international organisations on issues related to illegal logging to ensure that timber imported into Australia is from legal and sustainably managed sources. Case Study: Australian company wins recognition Tasmanian forestry company Gunns Limited is Australia’s largest private forestry company, and is the first in the country to receive four levels of accreditation for its environmental management. This includes accreditation of ISO 14001, an environment management system, which was achieved in 1998; Australian Forestry Standard accreditation for sustainable forest management achieved in 2003; global certification with the international PEFC network for sustainable forest management achieved in 2004; and the Chain of Custody Standard (AS 4707) achieved in 2005. Whilst this is an excellent result it is important to note that several other Australian companies, including plantation firms WAPRES and Timbercorp and most State-owned forest managers, including government forestry operations in New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland and Victoria have also achieved certification for sustainable forest management practices.

MANAGING AUSTRALIA'S FORESTS