FSC: Member & stakeholder meeting in Tasmania

FSC Australia will hold an information session for members and other stakeholders in Launceston on Tuesday 8 February.

All members are invited to attend as well other stakeholders interested in the progress of certification projects in Tasmania.

This will be an opportunity for members and others to ask questions about these projects.

The meeting will be held at the University of Tasmania Launceston campus starting at 11am.

For further information or to register your interest in attending please contact FSC Australia by email (michael@fscaustralia.org)

SCS to offer forest management certification in Australia

Accredited FSC Certification Body Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) has announced it is developing the capability to offer forest management certification in Australia.

Until now SCS has only offered Chain of Custody certification in Australia. However, with interest growing in forest management certification in Australia SCS is developing that capability.

SCS has developed a Draft Interim Standard For Natural Forest and Plantation Forest Management Certification in Australia and is in the process of seeking stakeholder feedback on this standard during a public consultation period.

There are currently two certification bodies with interim standards developed for Australia. SCS says it wants to provide Australian clients with the same rigorous certification services it has successfully offered in other countries. SCS hopes this process will also assist FSC Australia’s development of a National Standard to replace the interim standards.

SCS welcomes comments on the draft SCS Interim Standard. A copy can be viewed online here.

Although comments are welcome on any of SCS’s standards at any time, this initial comment period will end on 18 March 2011.

Comments should be focused on producing an applicable and practical standard that takes into account national environmental, social and economic perspectives on forest management in Australia. SCS is also interested in comments on how the standard conflicts with relevant laws, or areas where legal requirements exceed the standard requirements.

Comments on the standard can be submitted to Brendan Grady.

SCS is a founding member of the Forest Stewardship Council