Article
Ecotourism discontinued FT certification
Stephen Pahl Forestry Tasmania/Ecotourism Australia
Ecotourism Australia Chief Executive Stephen Pahl has this morning confirmed that it was the decision of Ecotourism Australia to discontinue Forestry Tasmania’s ECO Certification of Tahune Airwalk and Melville Street Dome due to program non compliance.
23 June 2008 Ecotourism Australia clarifies it’s position on Forestry Tasmania certification
Ecotourism Australia Chief Executive Stephen Pahl has this morning confirmed that it was the decision of Ecotourism Australia to discontinue Forestry Tasmania’s ECO Certification of Tahune Airwalk and Melville Street Dome due to program non compliance.
Mr Pahl said “This decision was made after Forestry Tasmania had failed to update it’s ECO Certification from version II to version III after being given a significant extended period of time to do so” Mr Pahl stated “This decision was specifically focused purely on the fundamental compliance requirements of the ECO Certification Program” “A general judgment of Forestry Tasmania’s forestry management policy was not part of this decision.”
“I can confirm that Forestry Tasmania were certified under an earlier (pre 2003) version of the ECO Certification Program which did not contain a business ethics section” said Mr Pahl. The post 2003 ECO Certification version III is far more robust and contains new sections covering general Business Management and Operational Planning, and Business Ethics sections. There was a requirement last year that all current ECO certified product update and maintain this standard.”
Forestry Tasmania’s General Manager Tourism, Ken Jeffrey confirmed Ecotourism Australia’s right to decertify Forestry Tasmania from it’s certification program. “I can confirm that FT was provided with ample opportunity to update it’s certification, but for a variety of business reasons had not done so”
“My primary interest has been to ensure the reasons for the decertification were accurately reflected in the public arena and I am grateful to Ecotourism Australia for correcting any false assertions”
“Australians care deeply about their forest resources and they want to be able to form their opinions based on facts”.
Ecotourism Australia is the peak national body for the ecotourism industry in Australia. It aims to grow and promote ecotourism and to assist tourism operators to become environmentally sustainable, economically viable and socially and culturally responsible. It is a non-profit organisation with membership that includes tour operators, ecotourism accommodation, tourism planners, protected area managers, academics and students, regional tourism associations and travellers.
Media release Forestry Tasmania – Ecotourism Australia Joint Statement
Ecotourism Australia’s certification program is a world first. It provides objective monitoring and auditing of organisations’ ecotourism claims and provides travel agents and tourists with an assurance of best practice ecological sustainability, natural area management and quality ecotourism experiences. ENDS
More information: Ecotourism Australia Ph: 07 3229 5550
www.ecotourism.org.au GPO Box 881, Fortitude Valley, Qld, 4006, Australia.