Media Release
10 April, 2006Future economic opportunities for Australia from the sale of it forest products overseas are threatened unless the Federal Government and industry take steps to become more environmentally responsible, the Wilderness Society said today.
National Forest Campaign Coordinator for The Wilderness Society Sean Cadman said a UK Government committee (CPET Review Committee) has declared that the Australian Forest Standard does not meet the criteria set for its endorsement of Forest Certification schemes. This information is contained in the report prepared by CPET on the Australian Forest Standard.
“The UK Government, which is a very large buyer of forest products, has decided that these products should come from sources that are both legal and sustainable,” Mr Cadman said.
“Denials by the Federal Government and industry are selling Australia short. The UK Government is the first to send a clear message to our forest products industry that its methods are unsustainable by placing it on probation.
“British Environment Minister Elliot Morley confirmed last week that the reassessment by CPET found that not all PEFC national schemes had adopted changes made by the PEFC Council last year.”
Mr Cadman said it was important the Australian Forests Standard was suspended from the umbrella certification scheme until it met proper environmental standards.
“Worldwide there is an increasing demand for forest products that come from environmentally responsible suppliers. Australia has a golden economic opportunity to reform its forestry practices and tap into that global market.”
The next stage of the British review will focus on compliance. The Wilderness Society and other environment groups will present evidence of non-compliance to the review committee.
“At the end of this process, if PEFC member schemes fail the UK Minister has a clear mandate to either ban the schemes or the whole PEFC if they cannot guarantee compliance.”
