This year marked FSC’s 30th Anniversary globally, a celebration of three decades of driving sustainable forest management and transforming markets worldwide. Together, we’ve made remarkable strides in promoting responsible forest management and fostering a deeper understanding of the vital role forests play in addressing global challenges like biodiversity loss, community well-being and climate change. Here in Australia and New Zealand, we’ve built on this global legacy with key initiatives that demonstrate the strength of our network.
The Board has remained focused on governance to ensure the continued effective operation of our organisation. This year, our Governance Manual was reviewed comprehensively and rigorously. We also successfully integrated a new funding model from FSC International, ensuring greater financial stability and operational efficiency moving forward. Moreover, we have made significant strides in aligning the governance structures of New Zealand and Australia, working towards full integration under one constitutional model. This is an exciting step forward as we look to strengthen our unified approach in the coming years.
The revision of the Australian National Forest Stewardship Standard is well underway, with public consultation on the first draft planned for early 2025. These updates will address evolving priorities, including Indigenous Cultural Landscapes, core labour requirements, and strengthened provisions for Intact Forest Landscapes and pesticide management. Following the initial public consultation, the Standards Development Group will refine the draft based on feedback, producing a second version for simultaneous public consultation and forest testing. Subsequently, a third and final draft will be prepared and submitted to the FSC ANZ Board and FSC International for approval and publication.
Our Promotional Licence Holder program grew by 7.1% this year, highlighting the increasing alignment between FSC-certified products and consumer values. Tailored Lunch & Learn sessions brought us closer to partners like BIG W, BioPak, and Officeworks, fostering a deeper understanding of FSC’s environmental and social contributions.
In August, the Promotional Licence Holders’ Forum brought together organisations across Australia and New Zealand to celebrate shared achievements. It featured guest speakers who highlighted the environmental, social and economic benefits of the FSC system while reflecting on FSC’s global mission of responsible forest management. Meanwhile, our sold-out world-first Fashion Roundtable Series in Melbourne, Sydney, and Auckland engaged partners and prospective promotional licence holders in a vital dialogue about sustainable fibres and the connection between forests and fashion.
One of the year’s highlights was FSC Forest Week 2024, themed “Small steps together create big change for all.” With an incredible 64.7% increase in participation from our network, the campaign demonstrated the collective power of organisations and individuals to drive meaningful change for our planet. From in-store signage, product launches, catalogue features, and workplace competitions to social media campaigns, this was our most impactful Forest Week yet.
All of this would not have been possible without the dedication of our members, certificate holders, and partners. Your efforts continue to bring our vision to life and inspire the transformative change needed to address global challenges.
Looking ahead to 2025, we are dedicated to advancing sustainable forestry, strengthening partnerships, and increasing our impact. Thank you for being an integral part of this journey.
In 2025, we will focus on critical initiatives, including the continued revision of the Australian National Forest Stewardship Standard and updates to the National Risk Assessments for Australia and New Zealand. These revisions will align with a new framework developed by FSC International and the EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR).
The FSC ANZ office will be closed from December 25th to January 2nd. For urgent enquiries, please email info@au.fsc.org. We'll do our best to respond, though response times may be slower during this period.
Wishing you a safe and joyful holiday season and a prosperous new year.
Warm regards,
Melanie Robertson, CEO of FSC Australia and New Zealand