The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) has welcomed the launch of the International Sustainable Forestry Coalition (ISFC), a new body of ten leading, international forestry businesses with a mission to drive action on climate change, halting deforestation and biodiversity loss through global sustainable forestry, Acting Chief Executive Officer of AFPA, Natasa Sikman said today.
“AFPA welcomes the launch of the new ISFC and congratulates AFPA’s former CEO Ross Hampton in his role as the ISFC’s new Executive Director. The advocacy of this new body will be critical to promote and position the role of global sustainable forestry in solving some of the world’s most pressing issues,” Natasa Sikman said.
“AFPA will liaise with the ISFC in its mission to ensure global leaders seriously take into consideration the global forestry sector’s contribution to a sustainable global society. AFPA will ensure that our engagement complements the strategic advocacy and policy work we undertake on behalf of our members in Australia to increase our own sustainable forest products sector, which is critical for local jobs, our economy as it transitions to a low carbon bioeconomy and the environment.
“Analysis from the ISFC confirms AFPA’s strong advocacy to maintain and grow domestic fibre supplies – both hardwood and softwood – in the face of what will be soaring global demand due to the world’s pivot to the bioeconomy.”
The ISFC suggests semi natural managed forestry will need to continue to improve productivity and 40 million additional hectares of plantations will be required around the world to be planted on lower production farmland.
“This is another proof point that Australia must become more self-sufficient in our timber production to boost sovereign capability and safeguard against international volatility,” Natasa Sikman said.
The ISFC includes as its founding members Dasos Capital, F&W Forestry, Gresham House, Marubeni, Mitsui & Co., Ltd (Mitsui), New Forests, Oji Holdings Corporation, Rayonier, Stora Enso and UPM.
Collectively these companies manage almost 9 million hectares of forests in 27 countries being Australia, New Zealand, USA, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Ireland, UK, Finland, Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, France, Poland, Spain, Portugal, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Uganda, Tanzania and Mozambique.
“We expect the ISFC to play an important role in raising international awareness about the work that will be needed in solving the challenges laid out in the Glasgow Leaders Declaration on Forest and Land Use while promoting the important role of sustainable forestry. The clear need for an international global single voice was identified at COP27 and the AFPA Board is pleased it could provide the modest funding support needed to make this organisation a reality as the world seeks to deliver on its ambitious climate targets in order to keep the Paris Agreement 1.50 Alive,” Natasa Sikman concluded.
