Responsible Forestry Management addresses the needs of today’s business activity – facilitated by FSC Australia

This week, we are delighted to welcome on board the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Australia as an official Event Partner. The FSC brings an essential element to the event, reflecting the business need to consider environmental impacts when it comes to paper use and printing.

The FSC will be raising awareness of the FSC Accreditation, based around their mission to promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests.

“The FSC’s involvement in the Australian Sustainability Conference & Exhibition is a fantastic addition to the event as a whole. The event, and exhibition in particular, will provide a wide range of solutions and information for businesses seeking practical solutions for a more sustainable future. Forestry protection plays a huge part in that, particularly for businesses with high volumes of paper and print production. We’re delighted that FSC Australia will be present at the event to provide the information and guidance businesses need to make informed, green choices”
- David McCarthy, Event Manager

Relating to the three pillars of sustainable strategy, FSC Australia has three core aims:

Environmentally appropriate forest management ensures that the harvest of timber and non-timber products maintains the forest’s biodiversity, productivity and ecological processes.

Socially beneficial forest management helps both local people and society at large to enjoy long term benefits and also provides strong incentives to local people to sustain the forest resources and adhere to long-term management plans.

Economically viable forest management means that forest operations are structured and managed so as to be sufficiently profitable, without generating financial profit at the expense of the forest resources, the ecosystem or affected communities. The tension between the need to generate adequate financial returns and the principles of responsible forest operations can be reduced through efforts to market forest products for their best value.

Using paper and printing practices with the FSC Accreditation offers tangible benefits, including:

  • International recognition that the forest management does not put the forest’s natural heritage at risk and that the management activity efforts are appropriate.
  • The assurance for future generations that they will enjoy the benefits of the forest.
  • The assurance that forest management practices are responsible and will be further improved.
  • The assurance that wood harvesting is legal.
  • The assurance that the rights of workers and indigenous communities are respected.
  • The assurance that areas of natural wealth and endangered wildlife habitat are not being negatively affected.
  • The opportunity to use the FSC trademark on products to demonstrate that they come from legal and well managed sources.
  • The possibility of new markets for products produced as FSC.
  • The opportunity to find new markets for FSC labelled products, thus acquiring market recognition for responsible forest management.

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FSC Australia will be exhibiting at the Australian Sustainability Conference & Exhibition on 3 & 4 May 2012 at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre. For further information, visit www.australiansustainability.com.au. You can also keep up to date with event news, speaker announcements and join the discussions on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin.