8. Independent Influences e.g. Certification
"Certification" of sustainable forest management and product "labelling" (providing assurance as to the source of forest products by establishing their "chain of custody" from forest to retail outlet) have been the subject of debate around the world for some years. However timber consumers, merchants and processors globally are seeking greater assurances that timber products are from well managed, or sustainably managed forests. Non-government international organisations such as the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) have developed systems for the accreditation of individuals and organisations as assessors of the certification of "good" forest management and the certification of the "source" of individual manufactured timber products from certified forests. Certification of forest management and forest products is gaining international acceptance and its influence is spreading to New Zealand, both in the indigenous and plantation forestry sectors.
While there is little or no pressure from the NZ domestic market for certification and labelling of forest products generally, access to some offshore markets for timber products is becoming dependent on having FSC or other certification. For some exporters of both indigenous and plantation timbers, forest certification and product labelling have facilitated access to markets and on occasion improved the profitability of forest management. The international experience has been that price premiums may not result from certification and labelling; rather the prime motivation for undergoing what can be an expensive process is to obtain/protect market access.
The NZ plantation forest industry, through the NZ Forest Industries Council (NZFIC) is moving to establish a forest certification system compatible with FSC to ensure that access to offshore markets for plantation forest produce is protected, if not enhanced. Indigenous forestry interests are also represented in this process.
An independent Forest Certification Steering Committee, consisting of representatives of indigenous forest owners, practitioners and industry, was established to develop standards suitable for application in New Zealand indigenous forests. Through this initiative a start has been made on the development of best practice manuals for indigenous forest management, under funding from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Sustainable Farming Fund).
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PO Box 2526
Wellington, NEW ZEALAND
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