Forest Stewardship Council

FOREST STEWARDSHI P COUNC I L ( FSC) AUSTRAL I A brand and use their logo for advertisement purposes. Examples of FSC Australia Provisional License holders include Coles, Woolworths, Officeworks, and Bunnings. FSC Australia’s members are divided into three chambers that reflect the interests and capabilities of the members themselves: economic, social, and environmental. The association supports 57 individual company members through resource provision, education, and brand recognition, as well as providing them with the opportunity to be part of the world-renowned FSC International network. FSC International identifies 10 reasons to join on their website, the first of which details their positive impact on forests, people, and wildlife. FSC is the only forest certification system in the world that requires consultation with local Indigenous Peoples. They also provide the highest level of protection for rare and endangered forests and wildlife of any existing course developments planned.” FSC Friday is a global campaign promoted by FSC International that encourages members and certificate holders to carry out events that support the growth of the organisation alongside their own business and raise environmental awareness in their local community. Looking to the future, FSC Australia plans to continue fostering relationships with key providers across the country, strengthen their foothold in other areas around the Oceania region, and to continue in the development and promotion of the organisation’s newest venture- Ecosystem Services. Mr. Paull provides an explanation of their plan for its implementation. “Our Ecosystem Services isn’t a formal standard or certification, but it is a recognition. We have recently seen a real shift in the industry that looks at the inherent value of forests in a broader way, not just as being useful for production and resources, but through things like biodiversity, soil and water quality, cultural forest certification scheme. The remaining reasons to join FSC International are listed as: We’re governed by our members; we have the highest standards; we’re respected and credible; our impact is far-reaching; we have influential support; we’re transparent; our standards are globally consistent; we think local; and, we’re recognised. FSC Australia has two major educational projects currently in operation in Australia; the Knowledge Tree series, and FSC Fridays. Mr. Paull elaborates, “The Knowledge Tree series has recently been re-released with great success. Essentially, it is a series of training packages and opportunities that cover a wide range of issues we regularly see in the industry. We have three core course areas geared towards Forest Management certificate holders, Chain of Custody certificate holders, and Promotional License holders. We see it as a fantastic training opportunity, and we’ve got quite a few potential heritage, and carbon within the forest. Ecosystem Services is about encouraging awareness surrounding these values, and helping providers develop an economically viable argument for an increased focus on climate change.” Finally, FSC Australia would like to mention their Indigenous Working Group. The group aims to deepen understanding of the role that responsible forestry can play in supporting Indigenous communities, and help those communities establish and run forestry businesses in their own right. Initiatives such as the Indigenous Working Group are one of the many ways FSC Australia supports their local market, local land, and the local people living within it. The association will continue to proudly support their members, the Australian market, and the global environment in the future as part of the world’s sustainability story.