Welcome to the Webpage for the New Zealand Standard Development Group for the National Standard for Certification of
A group of key parties interested in Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification in
Background
A National Initiative Working Group (NIWG) governed by an interim National Initiative commenced work on a National Standard for Certification of Plantation Forest Management in New Zealand in 2001. After one round of consultation the NIWG developed a second draft for consultation in 2003. However, the NIWG were unable to agree on some issues, primarily reserve contribution, and the NIWG was disbanded after the second consultation round. The second Draft was held in impasse until November 2009 when a group representing most plantation forest owners, major environmental organisations and key social and Maori interests decided to form a Standard Development Group (SDG) and re-commence standard development in accordance with FSC procedures. It was agreed that the second Draft document from the previous negotiation would we used as the base document for standard development, and the SDG made a public announcement of that intent in June 2010.
The SDG has now developed a pre-approved standard which has been submitted to FSC for endorsement. Once endorsed by FSC the standard becomes operative and certificate holders will then be required to demonstrate compliance during their next audit.
