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Certification of Forest Management in Australia
Forest management certification is a way of demonstrating that forests are managed sustainably. To have a forest certified as being sustainably managed, an independent third party audit is undertaken. The audit assesses the forest management practices against the standard for certification. Both native forests and plantations can be certified.
The two major global forest certification bodies are the PEFC schemes and the FSC. Both the PEFC and FSC are international umbrella organisations that provide for the mutual recognition of regional and national standards that meet the organisation’s principles and criteria.
In Australia, forest managers have the option of certifying their forests under the AFCS which is recognised by the PEFC and administered by Australian Forestry Standard Ltd, or through interim forest management standards that have been approved by FSC International and which are administered by FSC Australia.
There are presently about 9.1 million hectares of certified forest in Australia; 8.55 million hectares under the AFS and 0.55 million hectares under FSC.
Product sourced from certified forests can also be followed through the supply chain using chain-of-custody provisions to provide an assurance to the end user that the final product has indeed come from a certified forest.
The Australian Government supports all globally recognised forest certification schemes that provide for legal and sustainable forest management and believes that the choice of forest certification scheme is a decision for forest owners/managers.
The two major global forest certification bodies are the PEFC schemes and the FSC. Both the PEFC and FSC are international umbrella organisations that provide for the mutual recognition of regional and national standards that meet the organisation’s principles and criteria.
In Australia, forest managers have the option of certifying their forests under the AFCS which is recognised by the PEFC and administered by Australian Forestry Standard Ltd, or through interim forest management standards that have been approved by FSC International and which are administered by FSC Australia.
There are presently about 9.1 million hectares of certified forest in Australia; 8.55 million hectares under the AFS and 0.55 million hectares under FSC.
Product sourced from certified forests can also be followed through the supply chain using chain-of-custody provisions to provide an assurance to the end user that the final product has indeed come from a certified forest.
The Australian Government supports all globally recognised forest certification schemes that provide for legal and sustainable forest management and believes that the choice of forest certification scheme is a decision for forest owners/managers.
Last reviewed: 16 Sep 2008
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