VicForests' illegal logging cannot gain FSC certification

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a non-profit organisation that sets standards to evaluate whether forestry is practiced in an environmentally, socially beneficial, and economically viable way. FSC Controlled Wood standards ensure manufacturers and traders avoid timber and timber products, including; illegally harvested wood; wood harvested in violation of traditional and civil rights; wood harvested in forests in which High Conservation Values are threatened through management activities; wood harvested from conversion of natural forests; and wood harvested from areas where genetically modified trees are planted.

VicForests proposes to apply for certification and as a first step has engaged SCS Global Services, a FSC-accredited certification body, to conduct an evaluation of VicForests operations against the FSC Controlled Wood Standard for Forest Management Enterprises.

The RFPG submission can be downloaded here (with attachments linked below).  

See also VicForests trying to get green tick for logging old growth forests posted Dec 6, 2017 by the Goongerah Environment Centre (GECO).  This post includes link to Lawless Logging in which GECO documents 27 cases of illegal logging which breached legal protection for rare wildlife and rainforest.