Latest update... The interpretation of FSC Principle 10.1 is still underway

But while we wait for a determination, why not check out each of these photos of different forests and see if you can answer this question...
Do you think these images show the 'structure, composition and diversity' of a 'Plantation' or a 'Native Forest'?

Answer:  Plantation
This photo was taken of a plantation of eucalyptus on private land near Foster in Gippsland, Victoria.

Answer:  This is definitely native forest
This photo was taken on a conservation property in the same area in Gippsland.

Answer: ????
This is an area that has been marked as 'plantation' by Hancock Victoria Plantations (HVP) and is in the same area of Gippsland as the previous photos but it has all the characteristics of 'native forest' as defined in the FSC Standard.

Answer: ????
This photo is from another HVP coupe that has also been marked as 'plantation.  
It looks like native forest to us; but only a proper 'Pre-harvest Condition' assessment using FSC normative definitions and standards will confirm it either way.

Why does determining the 'pre-harvest condition' of these sites matter? 

Principle 10.1 of the Australian FSC Standard requires harvested areas to be regenerated back to their 'pre-harvest or more natural conditions'*; in other words the same 'structure, composition and diversity'*  Why?  Because the underpinning, and admirable intention, of the FSC is to ensure that forests certified under their scheme are not degraded.

In our view, the only way to properly determine the pre-harvest condition is to undertake a professional on site 'Pre-harvest Condition' assessment that is based on FSC definitions and standards.  

Our submission to FSC Australia

Our recent submission, (strongly supported by our community), implored the FSC to ensure that these on site 'pre-harvest' condition assessments are required for ALL certified forest areas (both plantation and native forest).

If this requirement is not clear in the interpretation for Principle 10.1, then forests like those shown in photos 3 and 4 above could end up being converted to pine plantations that look like this.

Gippsland Forest Guardians continue to advocate for the original interpretation from FSCs own International team that said:

'No, ..... the FSC National Forest Stewardship Standard of Australia do not allow a harvested plantation area composed of a native species to be replanted with an exotic species, such as Pinus radiata.  

Thank you so much to our amazing community for supporting our submission to the FSC

We said 'NO' to allowing our native species plantations to be replaced with pines and "YES" to regenerating logged sites back to their pre-harvest condition. 

Over 260 amazing individuals and 6 allied organisations signed on to our submission!

Click here to listen to Lisa's recent interview with the ABC about the topic

 Click here to find out more the issues

*  All of these terms are defined within the FSC Australia Standard.