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Sustainability
JSC Timber is committed to implementing and maintaining the Forest Stewardship Council’s Chain of Custody requirements for FSC® certified timber products.
Our commitments are as follows:
JSC Timber has played a significant role in the importation of environmentally responsibly managed North American timbers into NZ for many years.
As founder members of the New Zealand Timber Importers’ Association (NZTIA) and New Zealand Imported Timber Trade Group (NZITTG), JSC Timber is committed to the environmental charter adopted by NZTIA/NZITTG and is supplying timber products from producers who lead in environmental forest management practices.
The bulk of our imports from North America is Western Red Cedar from British Columbia. Our principal shippers are similarly committed to meeting the highest environmental standards through the application of forest regulations, science-based principles, collaborative approaches, sustainable forest practices and independent 3rd party certifications.
The Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI) has been adopted as the principal 3rd party North American environment standard. SFI is one of the worlds most rigorous and widely applied standard of sustainable forestry. Programme participants have a strong record of innovative and careful stewardship of the forests they own and manage, integrating modern forest science and technology for wood fibre while protecting biodiversity and ecological, cultural and high-visual aspect/historical sites. The role of First Nations continues to strengthen the areas in the areas of resource management and reforestation.
SFI is consistent with principals and procedures outlined in various standards including CSA, GAAS, ANSI, PEFC and the Ker Haut Standard. In addition, several of our shippers are also Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified for certain key areas of the Chain of Custody program.
The PEFC Council is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation, founded in 1999, which promotes sustainably managed forests through independent third-party certification. The PEFC provides an assurance mechanism to purchasers of wood and paper products that they are supporting legal and sustainable forests.
PEFC is a global umbrella organisation for the assessment of and mutual recognition of national forest certification schemes developed in a multi-stakeholder process. These national schemes build upon the inter-governmental processes for the promotion of sustainable forest management, a series of on-going mechanisms supported by 149 governments in the world, covering 85% of the world's forest area.
PEFC has in its membership 35 independent national forest certification systems, of which 25 to date have been through a rigorous assessment process involving public consultation and the use of independent assessors to provide the assessments on which the membership takes mutual recognition decisions. These 25 certification systems account for more than 200 million hectares of certified forests producing millions of tonnes of certified timber to the market place, making PEFC the world's largest certification system. The other national member’s schemes are at various stages of development and are working towards mutual recognition under the PEFC processes.
Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea
Fiji has a long-established Ministry of Forests and respect for legal and sustainable forest management. Successive Conservators of Forests have maintained a stronghold on the issuing of resource consents and subsequent monitoring of volumes and species extracted from the bush. However, no formal 3rd party certification exists at this present time in Fiji.
There is a well established Fiji National Code of Logging Practice which sets out the terms as to where and how logs can be felled and extracted to sustain the forest resource, and cause minimum impact on the environment. More recent requirements of enhanced roading infrastructure have further protected the water catchments and natural landscape of production forest blocks.
Since 1948 significant plantings of Swietenia (Mahogany) and Pinus Caribbea (Tropic Pine) have subsequently taken much of the pressure off the Fijian indigenous resource. However, even though the current Forest Surveillance Operations and Inspectorate of the Department continue to manage the forest companies with considerable success, without 3rd party legality or sustainability certification JSC Timber cannot stock Fijian
Timbers due to terms of the NZITTG Charter.
In the case of the Solomon Islands, there is a similarly well established Department of Forests that has a full raft of legislation and a well-designed management structure behind it.
There is a well-established Logging Code that provides for good forest practice when followed. An important aspect of Forest Management in the Solomons and PNG is that almost all land, including production forest, is owned by tribal communities. Therefore there is plenty of opportunities for the forests to be harvested with direct economic benefit returning to the landowners. Local tribal groups can actively negotiate and monitor the activity of logging companies around protected cultural and spiritual areas as well as traditional hunting and gardening reserves. Landowners also take advantage of an enhanced infrastructure of roads, bridges and social services provided under the terms of the Timber Rights Purchase Agreement required by the Forest Act.
It is important to note that the Solomon Islands is developing a 3rd party legality program under the NEPCon Legality Program and has a special status in the NZITTG Charter.
Papua New Guinea, however, has no culture of 3rd party environment management; therefore, JSC Timber has suspended imports since 2008 and focused on the Solomon Islands.
Should there be any positive developments in Fiji and PNG, we will be watching these countries.
It should now be clear that JSC requires best-practice responsible and sustainable forest management from all its suppliers. The higher the risk, the greater the need for due diligence and 3 rd party certification. JSC Timber is now rigorous in maintaining the highest legality sustainability standards possible.
Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®)South America, Indonesia, West AfricaFSC is a global not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the promotion of responsible forest management worldwide. Its membership consists of leading environmental groups like Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). FSC would be considered one of the most well-recognised certification schemes available by consumers. It provides a connection between the forest and end-user; ensuring products that carry the FSC label uphold the principles and criteria which bring the highest social and environmental benefits. In NZ FSC certification is particularly identified with “Tropical Forestry” where there is often a need for additional environmental and social protection. The supplies we have from the above countries have all independently committed to 3rd Party Sustainable certifications under the FSC Forest Scheme and due to be highly commended for doing so. |
 For further info, visit www.fsc.org |
Our commitments are as follows:
- We ensure our staff have the means to effectively implement the procedures and checks necessary to administer the Chain of Custody and to work with suppliers and customers in regards to Chain of Custody requirements.
- We purchase timber from suppliers who have established a clear, verifiable track record in respect of
environmental standards and conformance, including legality, sustainability and cultural awareness. - We are a foundation member of the New Zealand Imported Timber Trade Group (NZITTG) and will conform to the 2018 Charter of Understanding, including claim 3.3.1 and 3.3.2.
- We review suppliers and procedures periodically to ensure compliance with industry best practice and up-to-date standards.
- As a company, we stay informed with regards to developing criteria, new legislation and events
worldwide that provide our customers with the best responsibility sourced timber products.
North America
JSC Timber has played a significant role in the importation of environmentally responsibly managed North American timbers into NZ for many years.As founder members of the New Zealand Timber Importers’ Association (NZTIA) and New Zealand Imported Timber Trade Group (NZITTG), JSC Timber is committed to the environmental charter adopted by NZTIA/NZITTG and is supplying timber products from producers who lead in environmental forest management practices.
The bulk of our imports from North America is Western Red Cedar from British Columbia. Our principal shippers are similarly committed to meeting the highest environmental standards through the application of forest regulations, science-based principles, collaborative approaches, sustainable forest practices and independent 3rd party certifications.
The Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI) has been adopted as the principal 3rd party North American environment standard. SFI is one of the worlds most rigorous and widely applied standard of sustainable forestry. Programme participants have a strong record of innovative and careful stewardship of the forests they own and manage, integrating modern forest science and technology for wood fibre while protecting biodiversity and ecological, cultural and high-visual aspect/historical sites. The role of First Nations continues to strengthen the areas in the areas of resource management and reforestation.
SFI is consistent with principals and procedures outlined in various standards including CSA, GAAS, ANSI, PEFC and the Ker Haut Standard. In addition, several of our shippers are also Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified for certain key areas of the Chain of Custody program.
The PEFC Council (www.pefc.org)
JSC Timber recognises the importance of promoting the use of responsibly managed timber resources through the Programme Endorsement of Forestry Certification (PEFC). All our imported Western Red Cedar, American Oak, Australian hardwoods and many other species are supplied through PEFC independent certification programmes - these include AFS, CSA, SFI, MTCC, OLB and SITPEA schemes.The PEFC Council is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation, founded in 1999, which promotes sustainably managed forests through independent third-party certification. The PEFC provides an assurance mechanism to purchasers of wood and paper products that they are supporting legal and sustainable forests.
PEFC is a global umbrella organisation for the assessment of and mutual recognition of national forest certification schemes developed in a multi-stakeholder process. These national schemes build upon the inter-governmental processes for the promotion of sustainable forest management, a series of on-going mechanisms supported by 149 governments in the world, covering 85% of the world's forest area.
PEFC has in its membership 35 independent national forest certification systems, of which 25 to date have been through a rigorous assessment process involving public consultation and the use of independent assessors to provide the assessments on which the membership takes mutual recognition decisions. These 25 certification systems account for more than 200 million hectares of certified forests producing millions of tonnes of certified timber to the market place, making PEFC the world's largest certification system. The other national member’s schemes are at various stages of development and are working towards mutual recognition under the PEFC processes.
South Pacific Islands
Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New GuineaFiji has a long-established Ministry of Forests and respect for legal and sustainable forest management. Successive Conservators of Forests have maintained a stronghold on the issuing of resource consents and subsequent monitoring of volumes and species extracted from the bush. However, no formal 3rd party certification exists at this present time in Fiji.
There is a well established Fiji National Code of Logging Practice which sets out the terms as to where and how logs can be felled and extracted to sustain the forest resource, and cause minimum impact on the environment. More recent requirements of enhanced roading infrastructure have further protected the water catchments and natural landscape of production forest blocks.
Since 1948 significant plantings of Swietenia (Mahogany) and Pinus Caribbea (Tropic Pine) have subsequently taken much of the pressure off the Fijian indigenous resource. However, even though the current Forest Surveillance Operations and Inspectorate of the Department continue to manage the forest companies with considerable success, without 3rd party legality or sustainability certification JSC Timber cannot stock Fijian
Timbers due to terms of the NZITTG Charter.
In the case of the Solomon Islands, there is a similarly well established Department of Forests that has a full raft of legislation and a well-designed management structure behind it.
There is a well-established Logging Code that provides for good forest practice when followed. An important aspect of Forest Management in the Solomons and PNG is that almost all land, including production forest, is owned by tribal communities. Therefore there is plenty of opportunities for the forests to be harvested with direct economic benefit returning to the landowners. Local tribal groups can actively negotiate and monitor the activity of logging companies around protected cultural and spiritual areas as well as traditional hunting and gardening reserves. Landowners also take advantage of an enhanced infrastructure of roads, bridges and social services provided under the terms of the Timber Rights Purchase Agreement required by the Forest Act.
It is important to note that the Solomon Islands is developing a 3rd party legality program under the NEPCon Legality Program and has a special status in the NZITTG Charter.
Papua New Guinea, however, has no culture of 3rd party environment management; therefore, JSC Timber has suspended imports since 2008 and focused on the Solomon Islands.
Should there be any positive developments in Fiji and PNG, we will be watching these countries.
It should now be clear that JSC requires best-practice responsible and sustainable forest management from all its suppliers. The higher the risk, the greater the need for due diligence and 3 rd party certification. JSC Timber is now rigorous in maintaining the highest legality sustainability standards possible.
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