Ecologically sustainable forest management
The long-term success of our business is based on the ability of the forests we manage to provide and continue providing a range of services and products sustainably over the long term. Our strategy is to deliver balanced and sustainable outcomes for all, while growing the value of the estate we manage and ensuring the safety of our employees and contractors.
Forestry Corporation is committed to the implementation of Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management (ESFM) principles, with the Forest Management Plans summarising how Forestry Corporation adheres to these.
Forestry Corporation has reported on our social, environmental, and economic performance since 1999. This is framed within the context of international obligations, regulatory requirements and national standards. The sustainability report, along with our Annual Report, and other publications, provides our stakeholders with a comprehensive overview of our environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) and performance.
Policy
The Forest Management Policy commits Forestry Corporation to conserve and advance a range of forest values such as biodiversity, forest productivity and the ability of forests to act as carbon sinks, in keeping with the principles of ecologically sustainable forest management. The policy is delivered through the Forest Management System. We achieve ecologically sustainable forest management by:
- managing forests for the benefit of current and future generations
- ensuring that our management complements forest management on other tenures
- working with others to assist development of a sustainable forest industry.
Resource and waste management
Through the Forest Management Policy Forestry Corporation is committed to minimizing the generation of waste and providing a safe and healthy work environment for all employees. In addition, under the Responsible Wood Standard (AS4708:2021), Forestry Corporation is committed to minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.
For more details on how Forestry Corporation implements this commitment see the Forestry Corporation Resource Consumption and Waste Management Procedure.
The economy depends on the environment to provide raw materials and absorb the waste and emissions we produce. Reusing, recovering and recycling these valuable materials keeps them in the productive economy for longer. This has the dual benefits of lowering demand for new resources and reducing the need to absorb waste. Waste going to landfill is not only a loss of valuable resources, but it also reduces landfill space.
Fuel and energy used through our operations is reported through the National Greenhouse Energy Reporting Act.
Independent forest management certification
Forestry Corporation's Forest Management System (FMS) is independently certified to the Responsible Wood Standard (AS4708:2021).
This dual certification provides objective assurance to our customers and stakeholders. Certification to the Australian Forestry Standard allows identification of the timber at the time of purchase, guaranteeing that the timber has been grown and harvested legally from a sustainable forest.
Forest Management System
Our FMS is the framework of policies, processes and procedures that we use to ensure we undertake the forest activities required to achieve sustainable forest management. The FMS encapsulates a system of monitoring, audit and management review that allows for continuous improvement and adaptive management. The FMS ensures we have:
- appropriate operational controls to ensure we conduct activities in a way that minimises the impacts
- a process to capture and resolve things if they go wrong, or if improvements are suggested
- monitoring and auditing of what we do and how we do it; and
- strong management performance reviews.
Legal and other requirements
Forestry Corporation has a systematic approach to complying with legal and other requirements through the Legislative and Other Changes Procedure. It determines how legislative and regulatory changes are identified, analysed, and then communicated to staff and contractors.
Planning
Forestry Corporation's Forest Management Plans present the scope and strategic management objectives for our forests. They describe the forest estate and values to be managed, provide the rationale for harvesting rates, describe and provide the rationale for silvicultural regimes, and refer to relevant operating conditions and controls for specified activities. These plans are periodically reviewed with stakeholder input.
Activities that may have significant risks are carried out under controlled conditions to minimise impacts, these are harvesting; weed and pest control; plantation establishment; prescribed use of fire; and road construction.
Site based operational plans for these activities act as a blueprint guiding staff and contractors.
In balancing society's needs for products and services, such as timber and recreational opportunities, with the needs of forest ecosystems we continue to manage one of the most sustainable resources in the world. Our commitment to providing these products and services is expressed through our Forest Management Policy and delivered through the Forest Management System.