FSC ANZ has launched a new standard for responsible forest management in New Zealand.
After a comprehensive process of rigorous consultation with industry, environment, and social stakeholders and indigenous groups, the FSC Forest Stewardship Standard for New Zealand (NZ FSS) targets the most pressing issues in New Zealand forestry today. This includes living wage requirements, better protection of waterways, addressing issues related to erosion, and establishing culturally appropriate means of communication with Māori communities affected by forestry operations.
“The role of FSC, as leaders in forestry certification, is to meet the present generation’s social, ecological, and economic rights and needs without compromising those of future generations,” CEO of FSC ANZ Melanie Robertson said.
“To do so, it was imperative to update our certification standards to the changing realities of the forestry sector in the 21st century, enabling forest managers to further enhance the industry’s profile and cement their commitment to a sustainable future,” she said.
FSC has thanked members of the chamber-balanced Standards Development Group tasked with developing the standard for their years of commitment and hard work in this process.
One of the SDG members, Sally Strang, environmental manager of Hancock Natural Resource Group, states: “Over the past two decades, FSC certification has been the catalyst for vast improvements in the standard of forest management in New Zealand, particularly relating to the management of environmental values in our forests and engagement with stakeholders.
“This has been positive for the industry to ensure we are well-placed to meet future challenges.”
Ms Strang is optimistic that the standard will lift forestry in New Zealand to a new level noting that “the NZ FSS will continue to raise the bar and ensure our forest management meets international expectations of responsible forest management.”
To support the implementation of the new standard, FSC ANZ will host a number of events across New Zealand with a focus on presenting the key and the transition arrangements.
New Zealand stakeholders will be contacted directly with further details on the events in early February.
The NZ FSS was published on January 17. From this date, FSC-certified forest managers in New Zealand will be able to study the standard which comes into effect on April 15 after which forest managers will have 12 months to implement the standard. Visit www.fsc.org.au
