EMERYVILLE, CA – Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) has certified Green Man Forest Products of New South Wales, Australia to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standard for responsible forest management.

The certification expands the availability of responsibly harvested native Australian timber species, which are prized for their physical properties, colour and grain for architectural and furniture applications. SCS’ independent certification of Green Man demonstrates that native forest management and harvesting can be conducted in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.

“FSC certification will enable Green Man Forest Products to assure its customers that its products are responsibly grown and harvested,” said Dr. Robert J. Hrubes, senior vice president of SCS. “This is especially important in the Australian market, which increasingly focuses on tree farming for wood production.”

During the certification process, SCS’ audit team inspected the company’s forests and field offices, interviewed key public stakeholders, and confirmed compliance with the comprehensive environmental and social responsibility requirements of the FSC standard. The certified area covers 1200 hectares of native forest.

Forest management by previous owners of this property was focused on maximum short term harvesting at the expense the forest’s health and future harvests. Under Green Man forest management, the forest will gradually be rehabilitated to a more natural state while also improving the sustainable harvest yield. In accordance with FSC procedures, the forest will be re-examined periodically to ensure that these restoration steps are implemented.

Source: Scientific Certification Systems