More than 150 delegates from across the Asia-Pacific region met at the 2019 SGEC (Sustainable Green Ecosystem Council)/PEFC International Forest Certification Forum in Japan which was held in Tokyo on 24 June 2019. Source: Timberbiz
The forum commemorated the 20th anniversary of PEFC and celebrated the enduring role of forest certification in improving the social and environmental conditions of the world’s forests and those that inhibit them.
Among the speakers were Mr Ben Gunneberg, CEO of PEFC International, Mr Tatsuya Kajiya, Exeuctive Director of SGEC/PEFC Japan, Mr Joji Makimoto, Director General of the Japanese Forestry Agency, Professor Yoshinori Yasuda, Director of the Museum of Natural and Environmental History Shizuoka, along with presentations from Askul Corporation, Tombow Pencil and the Tamura Timber Company.
Simon Dorries CEO of Australia’s Responsible Wood spoke of the importance of PEFC certification in providing environmentally conscious consumers with trust that timber and paper based products are sourced from a sustainable source.
“For many buyers, certification is a must, consumers today expect that products are sourced from global forests that support sustainable forest management.
“Today, PEFC forest certification is increasingly becoming a non-negotiable for suppliers looking to gain access to international markets.”
Responsible Wood is the only Australian forest certification scheme mutually recognised and internationally endorsed by PEFC and as CEO, Simon Dorries was one of eight speakers that presented at the forum.
“The forests products industry is increasingly global in outreach and Australia is no different.
“Australia is an importer and exporter of forest products, and for many of these products it circulates around the Asia-Pacific region.
“This herein underlies the power of certification, under PEFC forest certification timber can be grown, manufactured and traded from country to country and border to border.
“With all forest products traced back to a sustainable source, in the forests where forests are preserved for generations to come,” Mr Dorries said.
