Responsible Wood Standard / PEFC Certification

Responsible Wood (previously called the Australian Forestry Standard)

VicForests' operations are certified to the Responsible Wood Standard which has been specifically developed for Australia’s forests and is endorsed and internationally recognised by PEFC, the world's largest forest certification scheme.

The Responsible Wood Standard certification demonstrates that VicForests' operations meet requirements for best practice in sustainable forest management. This is done by ensuring our operations meet a set of predetermined and clearly defined environmental, economic, social and cultural performance requirements that supports sustainable management of forests.

This certification process audits forest managers against nine criteria set out in the Standard. Under each criterion, there can be in excess of 100 requirements that must be met.

Defined Forest Area (DFA)

VicForests identifies two geographically separate defined forest areas to which the Standard applies. These can be viewed on VicForests interactive map.

Eastern DFA

This includes all forests available to VicForests under the Allocation Order 2013, and as amended in 2014, as well as other forest management zones that permit timber harvesting. Outside of the Allocation Order Area VicForests may operate in accordance with a duly authorised forest produce licence issued under section 52 of the Forests Act by the responsible minister or delegate.

This includes the following primary forest management units:

Ash species
High elevation mixed species
Low elevation mixed species
Coastal mixed species

Western DFA

This includes all forest areas identified under VicForests Timber Utilisation Plan. This includes the following primary forest management units:

Low elevation mixed species
Coastal mixed species
Red gum
Box Ironbark
Ash species (Blackwood)

Responsible Wood Certificate

Responsible Wood Standard for Sustainable Forest Management AS4708-2013

For more information including Responsible Wood Standard criteria, visit the Responsible Wood Standard website.

PEFC

The Responsible Wood Standard is endorsed and internationally recognised by PEFC.

PEFC is the world's largest forest certification system. Its credible standards seek to transform the way forests are managed globally – and locally - to ensure that everyone can enjoy the environmental, social and economic benefits that forests offer.

PEFC certification provides forest owners and managers – families, communities and companies – with access to the global marketplace for certified products.

PEFC sets highest standards for forest certification and sustainable forest management in line with society’s ever evolving understanding and expectations. PEFC's Sustainability Benchmarks are based on broad societal consensus expressed in international, intergovernmental, multi-stakeholder processes and guidelines involving thousands of interested parties.