New Zealand Forests Gain International Visibility

PEFC International is extremely pleased to welcome New Zealand as the newest member of the PEFC alliance. With the acceptance of the New Zealand Forest Certification Association (NZFCA) as the PEFC National Member for New Zealand, the country’s forest growers gain visibility in the world’s leading forest certification system.

“We are delighted to be accepted into membership of PEFC and to represent PEFC in New Zealand,” says Dr Andrew McEwen, chair of NZFCA.

“We are pleased for New Zealand to join PEFC, and its commitment to support sustainable forest management,” said Ben Gunneberg, CEO of PEFC International. “We appreciate the tremendous efforts of stakeholders in New Zealand in establishing NZFCA, and we are looking forward to a long and fruitful collaboration advancing responsible forestry and trade in forest products.”

Many of the countries that purchase New Zealand forest products (or compete with New Zealand exports) are already PEFC members, including China, Japan, Indonesia, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Russia, and the USA. Other major markets such as India are also looking at joining.

“It makes sense for New Zealand forest growers to be in a position to supply PEFC certified forest products to all these markets,” says Dr McEwen.
Source:  http://pefc.org/news-a-media/general-sfm-news/1780-new-zealand-forests-gain-international-visibility