7. SFM Standards & Guidelines
As part of the continuous development of information and procedures the IFU has developed a Standards and Guidelines document for SFM Plans and Permits. The primary impetus for this document has been a recognised need to combine the intent and detail of Part IIIA of the Forests Act with existing scientific knowledge pertaining to the ecology and management of indigenous forests and the forest technology available to the industry.
The Standards seek to:
- better define key management criteria, identify indicators of SFM and establish performance measures for assessing compliance of draft SFM Plans and SFM Permit applications;
- update procedures for assessing forest management compliance; and
- integrate essential ecological and technical information and advice into one document for ease of use by forest managers.
The Standards are expected to become operative in 2002.
Part IIIA of the Forests Act is not a substitute for private industry certification initiatives. However the existence in NZ of indigenous forestry legislation and its translation into ecologically based management standards provides a platform for indigenous forest owners seeking certification of their forest management.
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