Biodiversity monitoring and management in certified forests

This article was contributed by Responsible Wood.

Healthy forests rely on healthy biodiversity. From native wildlife and plant species to soil health and water systems, biodiversity plays an essential role in maintaining resilient forest ecosystems and supporting long-term sustainable forest management.

Responsible Wood-certified forest managers are required to identify, protect and monitor biodiversity and other environmental values under the AS/NZS 4708 Sustainable Forest Management Standard. This includes monitoring habitat conditions, ecological values and native species across the forests they manage.

The Responsible Wood certification scheme is internationally recognised through the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), the world’s largest forest certification system. PEFC-endorsed standards are developed through multi-stakeholder consultation processes and are regularly reviewed to reflect evolving scientific knowledge, environmental expectations and best practice forest management.

Biodiversity monitoring helps forest managers understand how ecosystems are changing over time and supports adaptive management practices that respond to environmental conditions, species health and habitat protection needs.This work forms part of a broader approach to sustainable forest management that considers environmental, social, cultural and economic outcomes together. Responsible Wood’s standards are designed to support forest management practices that are environmentally sound, socially just and economically viable.

Certification also includes independent third-party auditing processes. Forest managers certified under the Responsible Wood scheme are audited by accredited certification bodies to verify compliance with sustainable forest management requirements.

As sustainability expectations continue to evolve across construction, procurement and supply chains, biodiversity monitoring and transparent forest management practices are becoming increasingly important for organisations seeking responsibly sourced timber and wood products.

Responsible Wood is currently undertaking a review of the AS/NZS 4708 Sustainable Forest Management Standard to align with updated PEFC requirements and evolving stakeholder expectations around environmental stewardship, biodiversity and sustainable forest management.

Want to learn more about specific biodiversity monitoring projects happening in Australia right now? Check out the projects below!

• Sustainable Timber Tasmania – Management for the Swift Parrot
  
• Forestry Corporation – Research, monitoring and citizen science