Public consultation: Austrian forest certification system

Foresters in JDI’s Northern Maine woodlands say growing conditions this season were ideal for young mixed softwood plantations. Josh Philbrook, a Forester with JDI Woodlands, explains that in general, trees grow very well in Northern Maine. “The trees are about 12 feet tall already, just after seven years. These trees have grown 36-40” in one year.” Philbrook attributes exceptional tree growth to improvements in JDI nurseries. “The trees we’ve grown in our nurseries are selected best from trees in forests across the region and grow several times faster than the natural forest, allowing us to excel the cycle of sustainability, and produce more wood that sustains jobs at our mills,” said Philbrook.

Proving the success of working together to advance sustainability, the Legal Forests program has been contributing to the restoration of the Villadagio property, owned by rural producers Lucas Caliari and Laís Ferrari, located in Serra Catarinense, in the city ​​of São Joaquim (SC). The area, initially used for grazing cattle, is being transformed into an example of agroforestry - a production system that conserves permanent forest species, planted along with agricultural crops. Held by Klabin, the largest producer and exporter of paper for packaging and sustainable solutions in paper packaging in Brazil, in partnership with the Association for the Preservation of the Environment and Life (Apremavi), Matas Legal arrived in Santa Catarina in 2005, with the objective of developing conservation actions, environmental education and forest promotion, which help to protect and recover native forests, improving the quality of life of the population and enhancing local forestry development, based on the planning of properties and landscapes.

How can brands protect forests? Join us at Sustainable Brands in London as PEFC International CEO Ben Gunneberg discusses this very question at the PEFC Activation Hub on 17 November. You will find us at our Activation Hub throughout the three day event, which takes place at the Beaumont Estate, Windsor, from the 16-18 November, as we highlight how PEFC certification can provide brand owners with the responsible sourcing assurances they require. “Consumers are increasingly demanding that the products they buy come from sustainable sources,” said Mr. Gunneberg. “By choosing PEFC-certified materials, brand owners can use the globally recognized PEFC logo, satisfying consumers’ expectations for responsibly produced products.”