Sustainable timber production and buying
As much of the world's forests are outside of protected areas, it is vitally important that they're managed for their biodiversity, and not only for the timber they provide.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo
© WWF-Canon/Edward PARKER
Forestry, if conducted inappropriately, can be very environmentally damaging and, in the worst cases, result in complete destruction.
Large-scale clearfelling of forests, logging of high conservation value forests, converting natural forest to plantations, and the intensive use of chemicals and fertilisers, can all have major impacts on the long-term health and viability of forest ecosystems.
What WWF-Australia is doing
WWF is working to ensure the protection of high conservation value forests in protected areas, promote responsible forest management, forest restoration and sustainable buying practices for timber.
Snapshot of our activities
- WWF is urging governments to address the deficiencies in the reserve system by protecting all major areas of high conservation value forests, such as old-growth forests.
- We are campaigning for forest managers to stop environmentally destructive forestry practices, including clear felling native forest and replacing it with plantation.
- We're promoting more responsible forestry practices that will better protect forest biodiversity, reduce the use of toxic chemicals, and enhance water quality.
- We support and encourage Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification of forests and plantations, and promote the use of timber and paper that comes from FSC certified sources.
- WWF has established an international Global Forest and Trade Network, a collection of companies and organisations that supply, use, retail or specify forest products that have come from forests independently certified as well managed.
- WWF-Australia is responsible for coordinating the global WWF response to the 2004 earthquake and tsunami disaster in Asia, preparing Green Reconstruction Guidelines for affected areas, and developing the Timber for Aceh initiative.
- WWF-Australia has established the Australia Forest and Trade Network (AFTN), the domestic arm of the international Global Forest and Trade Network, a collection of companies and organisations that supply, use, retail or specify forest products that have come from forests independently certified as well managed. For assistance with developing and implementing a Responsible Timber and Paper Purchasing Policy or for more information on forest certification please contact the AFTN Coordinator.
