An environmental audit of Hancock Victoria Plantations (HVP) forestry operations by Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) approved auditors in the Strzelecki Ranges has uncovered multiple serious non-conformances. Three non-conformances were found, sparking concerns over the company’s commitment to sustainable practices. The auditors have evoked the ‘Precautionary Principle,’ effectively halting operations at Fellas coupe until the issues are resolved.

The audit was conducted as part of the annual review which included a complaint from the Gippsland Forest Guardians (GFG). It revealed HVP had failed to meet critical standards designed to protect biodiversity, including the regeneration of native forests and preservation of threatened species. The audit found that the company planned to replace native species with pine trees, which is contrary to Principle 10 of the FSC Standard. This principle mandates that harvested sites must be regenerated to pre-harvest or more natural conditions, a requirement HVP had voluntarily agreed to when they signed up for certification under the FSC.

“Planting pines in the middle of this high conservation value area would cause irreparable damage to the rainforest and threatened species like the critically endangered Slender Tree-fern,” said Local Conservationist, Stuart Inchley, spokesperson for the Gippsland Forest Guardians. “The current plans threaten what is now recognised as the most important habitat for Slender Tree-fern in Australia. We welcome the auditors findings and urge HVP to adhere to the high sustainability standards required by the FSC.”

Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) is a globally recognised environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standard for the forestry industry, ensuring that certified organisations adhere to stringent sustainability and conservation practices.

The audit’s findings also highlighted procedural gaps in HVP’s approach to protecting rare and threatened species across their entire 240,000-hectare, including over 160,000 hectares of crown land. This has raised further concerns about the company’s overall commitment to maintaining environmental standards.

Local environmental groups are calling for strict enforcement of FSC principles, urging HVP to follow through on their promises to regenerate native species rather than replacing them with non-native pines.