From the Chief Executive
From the Autumn 2007 edition of Bush Telegraph Magazine.
Alastair Howard, Acting Chief Executive
Suppliers of timber products sourced from NSW State forests can confidently enter the global marketplace, following independent and internationally recognised certification of Forests NSW management.
Late last year, Forests NSW was certified to the Australian Forestry Standard (AFS), an assessment scheme developed specifically for the management of Australian forests. AFS is sanctioned internationally by the Program for Endorsement of Forestry Certification Schemes (PEFC).
It is validation of all of the hard work our staff has put in to making our management sustainable in environmental, social and economic terms.
We have joined forest managers from Europe, America and other parts of the world in seeking certification, as consumers worldwide become increasingly demanding about the environmental credentials of the products they buy.
Already, some of Forests NSW sawmill customers are seeking ‘chain of custody’ certification under the scheme, which will enable them to stamp their products with the AFS brand. It is expected that this brand will become increasingly recognised in both domestic and export markets.
While December gave us this piece of good news, it was also the time of a significant fire in our pine plantations near Tumut. Hundreds of Forests NSW and Rural Fire Service staff and volunteers battled these blazes for more than a week, with significant loss of pine.
We will continue to work with our pine customers to maintain continuity of product supply while we finalise and implement a salvage and re-establishment plan.
I would like to thank all those involved in tackling the fires, not only near Tumut but elsewhere in the state. Your hard work and skills are vital to the continued profitability of our business
