Oct 25, 2006. /Lesprom Network/. NAFI has welcomed the announcement that the Australian пovernment will consider commissioning a formal review into forestry certification issues. Federal forestry minister, Senator the Hon Eric Abetz, made the announcement on October 23 in his address to the Australian Forest Growers Conference in Launceston, Tasmania. NAFI has also welcomed the bipartisan support for a review of forest certification schemes from Martin Ferguson MP, shadow minister for forestry. “NAFI supports the need for robust certification so that buyers of forest products can be assured that what they are purchasing has been legally and sustainably harvested,” said NAFI’s CEO, Catherine Murphy. “Australia is currently home to a world-class forest certification system, the Australian Forestry Standard (AFS), which is underpinned by rigorous science and recognised internationally by the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC),” said Mrs. Murphy. In his address minister Abetz noted that there is a second forestry certification scheme available in Australia. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification scheme is an interim standard, based on criteria and indicators relevant to other countries. He said it does not recognise the unique values of Australian forests, or our high standards of forest management. Minister Abetz said a limiting feature of the FSC is the involvement of environmental organisations, particularly WWF and Greenpeace. WWF and Greenpeace formed the FSC in 1994 as a vehicle to further their political objectives and to take control of forest management and its regulation away from governments, minister Abetz said. The AFS currently certifies nearly 6 million hectares of forests in Australia, whereas the FSC certifies just over half a million hectares of forests. Catherine Murphy said Australia exports $2 billion worth of forest products, much of which is certified through the AFS. However, Australia imports $4 billion worth of forest products. “A recent report commissioned by the Australian Government found that $400 million dollars, or close to 10%, of forest products are imported to Australia from illegally logged forests,” she said. “It is crucial that certification through the AFS is promoted in Australia so that our forest products are preferred over those which may be from dubious sources,” said Mrs. Murphy.