Planted forestry delivers multiple benefits to Australia and New Zealand

Well-managed production forests reduce the pressure on primary forests and can provide many other environmental benefits forests are essential for the transition to the green economy. Well managed production forests are a vital element in the global forestry mix. Initiatives such as forest certification and voluntary guidelines can help maintain ecosystems and biodiversity, protect high conservation values, involve multiple stakeholders and aid economic development.

Responsible forest management, motivated by a commercial interest in maintaining wood supply, can help protect vulnerable forests from illegal logging, encroachment or conversion to farmland. Forest management that is environmentally sound, socially just and economically viable, can help meet society’s needs without depleting natural capital.

WWF, Forest Solutions Platform, 2018.

Located in the right places, managed in the right fashion, plantations can make a positive contribution on many levels and in many ways. By meeting a large proportion of the growing global demand for wood fibre, they take the pressure off primary forests.

New Generation Plantations, Plantations for people, planet and prosperity, 2017. Production forests:

• In Europe, are not replacing primary forests

Primary forests are forests of native tree species, where there are no clearly visible indications of human activities and the ecological processes are not significantly disturbed.

• Can be more productive and can grow faster than primary forests
• Can be independently certified
• Can provide new recreational facilities
• Can prevent soil degradation and erosion
• Provide new habitat, shade and shelter for wildlife
• Contribute to rural development

90% of forests owned or managed by the European pulp and paper industry are forest management certified. 83% of pulp purchased by the European pulp and paper industry is certified. 71% of wood, woodchips or residues from sawmills we purchase come from forests that are certified

CEPI, Sustainability Report, 2018.