"The Wilderness Society is a long term supporter of the Forest Stewardship Council in Australia. We’ve worked alongside industry, retailers, unions, and others to ensure that the FSC system is credible and respected. It’s important to us that FSC delivers on its promise of true forest stewardship.
When I get an email from a Wilderness Society supporter, or an inquiry from a company about what wood products that don’t cost the Earth, I need to be able to point to a logo that I trust.
FSC is about providing a choice for the customer who takes care to tread lightly on the planet. It’s crystal clear that most Australians believe that looking after nature is a fundamental responsibility. Being able to hand our forests – and those of our Pacific neighbours - to the next generation in as good a shape as we found them is the hallmark of a nation that respects the landscape in which we live.
The challenge for FSC in Australia is twofold. Firstly, we need to work to make sure Australians are aware of FSC and the choice it provides in making everyday purchases more sustainable. That’s why promotions like FSC Australia’s Forests for All Forever campaign are so important.
The second challenge is to continue the successful application of FSC’s high global standards to Australia’s unique forests. Projects such as the creation of the first Australia-specific FSC national forestry standard provide opportunity for ensuring we can deliver FSC’s objective of continually improving the way our forests are managed and protected.
The major strength of FSC is its commitment to collaboration. Forestry companies, nature conservationists, retailers, worker representatives, traditional owners, local communities, and other stakeholders all working together in the pursuit of common goals is a fascinating and ground breaking enterprise. While not all stakeholders always agree and there are bumps along the road, what FSC provides is a place to have the big discussions about how best to look after our forests.
This commitment to working together and the hard work that goes into ensuring FSC lives up to its promise is important. It’s important for our forests and the people who love them, it’s important for the people whose livelihoods depend on those forests, and it’s essential for those Australians who want to make consumer choices that keep our forests in good shape for the next generation."
Warrick Jordan is the national forest manager at the Wilderness Society.