Overview
Forest Stewardship Council Australia (FSC Australia) has received independent audit reports on the compliance of Australian Bluegum Plantations (ABP) and GPFL with their FSC certification.
The audit reports highlighted a very sensitive issue concerning the welfare of koalas in the Green Triangle region in south-east South Australia and south-west Victoria, an area which is home to Mt Eccles National Park, a significant koala population and some117,000 hectares of eucalypt plantations.
The compliance audits on ABP and GPFL’s operations in the Green Triangle region were conducted following concerns raised by local stakeholder groups regarding the welfare of koalas in the Blue Gum plantations. As a result of preliminary findings, further audits were conducted with two FSC certified operators in the region - Australian Bluegum Plantations (ABP) and GPFL. The actions of SWFE who conducted the harvest operations of trees owned by GPFL were included in the scope of the audit as GPFL is responsible for the activities occurring on its land.
The independent auditor’s reports into the FSC certification of ABP and GPFL were publicly released by the independent auditors at midday today. The audit reports found non-conformances by both companies, to differing degrees.
In line with FSC’s international standards, the occurrence of five or more major non-conformances in one surveillance evaluation is grounds for a certificate to be suspended.
As a result, ABP has received a notice of suspension of its FSC certification. This provides ABP with a 30-day notice period that its certification will be suspended, giving it opportunity to manage its affairs such as contacting customers and removing the FSC brand mark from its products and marketing collateral. The full reports can be viewed at http://info.fsc.org: ABP, GPFL.
FSC Australia’s role
FSC Australia is the guardian of the international FSC scheme in Australia.
We guide how the international FSC rules are applied in Australia and uphold the integrity of the system in the market. We are not involved indecisions about who does and who does not receive FSC certification. FSC certification is carried out by accredited certification bodies that are internationally qualified and managed by independent accreditation group Accreditation Services International.
This level of independence ensures there is no conflict-of-interest in certification decisions as the body representing members (FSC Australia) is separate from the bodies awarding certificates (accredited certification bodies).
Response by FSC Australia
This issue was first brought to FSC’s Australia’s attention when local stakeholders in the Green Triangle region raised concerns with an ABC TV program and with the relevant certification bodies. On becoming aware of the issue, FSC Australia followed the international protocols of FSC and immediately:
- Responded to enquiries from FSC International and other country offices that had been made aware of the ABC story by their members and stakeholders;
- Under our international obligations, advised the relevant independent certification bodies operating in Australia of the issue; and
- In doing so, received assurances from all the certification bodies that appropriate steps would be put in place to ensure audit plans would be amended to pick up the issue.
FSC certification in the Green Triangle region
ABP and GPFL are two of a number of FSC certified companies operating in the region.
The FSC system, which is internationally recognised as having the most rigorous environmental and social standards for responsible forest management, provides the most effective way to work with FSC certified plantations and operators to improve practices.
Companies having FSC certification enable local stakeholders to raise concerns, for independent certification bodies to conduct audits and for action to be taken.
The same can’t be said for non-FSC certified plantations and operators in the region.
FSC Australia’s governance and structure
When the matter was first brought to the attention of FSC Australia, Tony Price voluntarily stepped down from his role as Chair while the matter was being investigated.
This ensured there could be no confusion in Tony Price’s roles as an elected Chair of FSC Australia and his role as Managing Director of ABP.
He has since resigned from his role as Chair and been replaced by Pat Groenhout, FSC Australia Director and Managing Director of PF Olsen.
ABP have accepted the findings of the audit report and will betaking measures to remedy the non-conformances identified as soon as practicable. ABP have thrown their weight behind the FSC system and its processes and will be seeking to address the issues and have their certification reinstated as soon as possible. As such, there has been no further change to Tony Price's position. He remains a director with a declared material personal interest in this matter and continues to take no part in any deliberations about this issue.
As a membership-based organisation, our members nominate the members they want to stand for election as directors, in accordance with our constitution and with the Corporations Act in Australia.
For more information on FSC certification, standards and its recognition in global markets, please see more from FSC Australia.