New Zealand is the latest country to achieve PEFC endorsement.

"We are very pleased to be able to provide New Zealand's forest owners and managers with a PEFC-endorsed certification system," said Dr Andrew McEwen, chair of the New Zealand Forest Certification Association (NZFCA).

More than one third of the country is covered in forest - 7.8 million hectares natural and 1.7 million hectares plantation. The sector makes up 3% of New Zealand's GDP and employs about 17,000 workers. With 70% of forest products exported, domestic forest owners can gain access to new markets as they can now obtain certification for their responsible management practices.

Already its main markets such as Australia, North America and Asia are demanding third party certification as proof of legality of harvest and quality of forest management.

"New Zealand has a long standing reputation for the quality of its forest management standards, particularly in plantation forest management. The availability of PEFC certification will enhance that reputation in their extensive export markets," commented Ben Gunneberg, CEO of PEFC International, following the announcement of the endorsement at the 20th PEFC General Assembly in Montreux, Switzerland.

"We also acknowledge the assistance we have had from the Wood Council of New Zealand, Australian Forestry Standard Ltd (AFS) - PEFC's National member in Australia - both of whom helped us developing the system, and PEFC International for providing international endorsement," said Dr McEwen.

The newly endorsed New Zealand Forest Certification Scheme is based on the New Zealand Standard for Sustainable Forest Management (NZS AS 4708:2014). The New Zealand Standard is an adoption of the Australian Forestry Standard (AS 4708:2013) which is the basis for the PEFC endorsed Australian Forest Certification system.(pefc)