Australian Forestry Standard Information – How it Works

Private Forestry Service Queensland’s

Australian Forestry Standard (AFS)  

Forest Management Certification System

Private Forestry Service Queensland has gained Australian Forest Standard (AFS) AS 4708 certification for both our native forest and plantation management systems. This means that our forest management systems meet the nine criteria and forty requirements recognized by Standards Australia and by the world’s largest forest certification organization, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).

Forest management certification is independent recognition of the sustainability of your forest management system, measured against a set of formal standards and based on regular audits and monitoring. The aim of certification is to demonstrate to the broader public that your forest management is environmentally sustainable, socially responsible and economically viable and that your forest management system is continuously improving. AFS accredited timber will attract a premium price for the landholder.

The Broad AFS Certification Process

 Why should the forest industry embrace environmental certification?

Driving Factors for an Environmentally Sustainable Private Native Forest Industry:

• The need for a paradigm  shift for the direction of the whole industry to ensure its status for the future
• Public perception of native forest management sustainability
• Public demand for environmental protection
• Current 150 000m³ sawn hardwood deficit in Qld
• 2024 Sunset Clause for Queensland’s State Forest Hardwood Resource will create a significant spike in demand for the private resource that current management won’t sustain
• International and domestic market demand for certified products particularly State and Local government agencies
• AFS being endorsed as a full Australian Standard.
• National Forest Policy

Ramifications from these expectations are:

• Hostile State government to native forest management causing an uncertain future of the private native forest industry
• Likely further restrictions on industry from increasingly desperate government
• The private sector needs a recognised system to demonstrate and defend the environmental sustainability of their forest management
• Mills have to have Chain of Custody and source timber from a certified forest to claim their timber as being certified
• Declining processor access to markets as expectations of certified timber increase
• Greater scrutiny and regulation of forest management practices
• Greater demand from processors for certified timber
• Increased costs of production due to auditing and monitoring of environmental impacts largely offset by improved productivity from increased management and higher returns at least in the short term

Desired stakeholder outcomes

Forest Growers

• The right to maintain their forest management as a recognised and desirable farm enterprise
• Improved returns
• Free Market access
• Improved productivity
• Recognition of good stewardship
• Innovation

Processors

• Resource security
• Access to Increased resource to meet future demands
• Increased resource quality/ piece size
• Continuity of supply
• Chain of Custody
• Competitive/efficiency/innovation

Government

• Sustainable and increasing production
• Secure employment with the rural sector
• Trade balance / local demand
• Recognition of BMP/accreditation
• Increased efficiency and innovation
• Increased and accountable Carbon sequestration 

How does PFSQ’s certified forest management system work?

 PFSQ have a certified Forest Management System (FMS) in place based on Native Forest Management Manual and Farm Forestry Manual

1. Each forest to be certified has a comprehensive Forest Management Plan (FMP) prepared for it in close consultation with the owner.
2. Certified forests are added to the PFSQ Defined Forest Area as required by the AFS
3. Forest operations are carried out in accordance to the FMP and the FMS.
4. Forest managers/owners have a checklist so that they can self-assess their conformance to the FMS.
5. PFSQ inspect any major forest operation to ensure that the operation is conforming to the FMS and the FMP.
6. If any issues arise that might affect your ability to conform to AFS an Improvement Request is issued. There is 3 months to improve any major issues or the period until the next inspection to improve any minor issues. 
7. Properties within the Defined Forest Register will be subject to possible external audits by Global Mark based on small random sample of properties to be audited each year

Forest Management Plans

The benefits of a forest management plan

The Forest management plan is constructed around real data collected from a strip assessment of your forests in which you are encouraged to participate. This data gives accurate information of your forest, such as:

1. Stems /ha and their size classes
2. Mapped Units and each units individual area, roading and other infrastructure
3. Standing volume and value of merchantable timber and the product range
4. Length of time to next harvest, estimated volume and value
5. How many non-merchantable stems /ha should be treated out

This data gives the basic information to formulate a work plan to maximise productivity in your forest for the next 10 years and beyond.

What is in a forest management plan?

Forest Management Plans are the foundation upon which both your forest management activities and your AFS certification will be based.

As per AFS criteria, the process, purpose and scope of the Forest Management Plan is as follows: 

• The Forest Manager and property owner will develop a Forest Management Plan (FMP) after an investigation of the property’s defined management area, including land title, legislative requirements, restrictions and applicable stakeholders. 
• The Forest Manager and where possible the property owner will make an assessment and inventory of the property forest/defined forest unit/units in relation to: 
• Environmental protection including, forest health, fire management, watercourse protection, biodiversity and habitat protection, historical and cultural heritage, areas of significance/exclusion etc as per AS 4708-2007 and Queensland Forest Practices Code.
•  Property access condition, property boundaries, existing infrastructure, productive and non-productive management units, areas of significance/exclusion and existing fire breaks. 
• Silvicultural implications such as, tree stocking per ha, tree form, diameter and species distribution, product classification, thinning requirements, regeneration, forest condition, habitat tree density, fire fuel loads and potential range of silvicultural regimes. 
• The FMP will include an analysis of forest inventory data. Based upon inventory analysis, the plan will include discussions on management implications and will recommend work schedules and forecast associated cost of silvicultural regimes. Silvicultural regimes will be determined based upon the need to enhance forest structure in order to achieve sustainability objectives i.e. environmental, social and economic values.  
• The Forest Manager will develop a list of identified social, environmental, economic and cultural heritage values relevant to forest management performance criteria and requirements. 
• The FMP will include a monitoring system for quantitative and qualitative forest management impacts for the purpose of continuous improvement in forest management performance. The monitoring system will be linked to: 

1.  
   • PFSQ’s Aspect and Impacts Register
   • PFSQ’s Forest Practice Performance Inspections.
   • PSSQ’s Non-Conformance and Improvement Request System

1. Where appropriate, the forest management plan will detail harvest potential, optimal use and values included within an Operational Harvest Plan (OHP).

1. Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) roles and responsibilities of all staff relating to activities will be referenced throughout the FMP as required.

There are two ways that you can join PFSQ’s certification system: 

1. As a landholder or forest manager managing a plantation or native forest.
2. As a landholder or forest manager contracting Private Forestry Service Queensland to manage their plantation or native forest.

Both options 1 and 2 require a Forest Management Plan and an Operational Plan to be prepared by PFSQ for the forest.

Option 1: Self managed forests

Requirements:

1. A minimum of 5 years AFS certification membership
2. A Forest Management Plan (FMP) and an Operational Plan (OP) to be prepared by PFSQ
3. A PFSQ audit of operations during harvest, treatment or any other major forest operations.

Option 2. PFSQ managed forests

Requirements:

1. A minimum of 5 years AFS certification membership
2. A Forest Management Plan (FMP) and an Operational Plan (OP) to be prepared by PFSQ
3. PFSQ will monitor and conduct inspections of major forest operations as they are carried out

The cost of preparing an individual Forest Management Plan for a specific property will vary depending on the following property and forest aspects:

1. Size of the forest area – e.g. <100 hectares, 200-400 hectares, 400-800 hectares, 800> hectares
2. Forest type – e.g. wet schlerophyll forests (Flooded gum, Tallowwood, Red stringybark, Blackbutt, Gympie messmate) tend to have a higher mix of species and high variability, whereas dry schlerophyll forests (Spotted gum, Red ironbark, Yellow stringybark) are more uniform and easier to assess.
3. Forest condition – access around the property, the structure, age and density of the forest, e.g. a lot of thick understory and regrowth makes access difficult and slows forest assessment activities.
4. Average slope – Flat, moderate or steep.
5. Accuracy and detail of inventory data – more precise data on standing volume and available harvest volumes will require a more intensive forest assessment.
6. Property location – access to the property and distance from nearest accommodation and amenities.

Option 1: Self managed forests  - Example only

Example costs: 1000 ha dry eucalypt forest within 100 km Gympie. (This is designated Forest Area, NOT Property size)

Total

$15,500 over 5 years

= $15.50 per hectare over 5 years

= $3.10 per hectare per year

Call us to discuss your Forested property’s potential.

Ph 0754 836 535