The objective is to provide updated guidelines on the management of plantation forestry in order to minimise the impacts of operations on the physical environment.

The document is simply presented, with each chapter including a general description of the subject matter to inform the reader of the most important issues. This is followed by a statement of intent describing what a forester should aim for. It also highlights a number of measures that can be applied to achieve the desired outcome.

The guidelines are designed to reduce negative impacts through the application of the law, and best management practices that should result in:

• minimised impacts on stream flow through the removal of alien and invasive species from wetland buffer zones and adjoining rivers;
• reduced impacts on biodiversity through the retention or establishment of natural vegetation corridors between timber compartments; and
• reduced impacts on soil from harvested compartments and roads.

They also deal with conservation measures in unplanted areas, the use of fire to maintain biodiversity as well as the legal requirements for firebreaks. Other topics include integrated pest management, the best silvicultural and harvesting methods, road construction and management, non-timber products and the management of staff housing.

The legal requirements pertaining to all activities are included along with a brief discussion of forest and forest product certification.

For further information, please contact the Editorial Committee.

John Scotcher | ForestLore (Pty) Ltd | jscotcher [@] forestlore dot co dot za

Roger Godsmark | Forestry South Africa | forest [@] global dot co dot za

www.forestry.co.za | www.forestryexplained.co.za

The post Environmental Guidelines for Commercial Forestry Plantations available on FSA website first appeared on The Paper Story (PAMSA).

Vienna, 06 October 2014 – Mondi’s recycled brands NAUTILUS® SuperWhite and NAUTILUS® ReFresh have been awarded with the Buyer’s Lab (BLI) performance certification based on independent testing across numerous digital imaging devices.  Buyer’s Lab (BLI), the leading global independent office products test lab and business consumer advocate, tested the NAUTILUS® papers on a total of 15 different office document imaging devices (including copiers, printers, fax machines and multifunctional products) representing Canon, Epson, Kyocera, Ricoh and Brother and evaluated the results based on paper dust, runnability (curl, double-sheeting and misfeeds), image performance, packaging and cut defects. According to the certificates awarded, both NAUTILUS® brands have proven to be highly reliable, with excellent performance related to image quality, dusting and curl.

“I can confirm that both Mondi papers – NAUTILUS® ReFresh and NAUTILUS® SuperWhite – have been awarded BLI’s Performance Certification, which means that it has delivered very good results across a wide range of devices and brands in BLI’s testing program,” says David Sweetnam, BLI Head of European Research and Lab Services.

Beyond awarding the performance certification of NAUTILUS®, BLI has also chosen to use the NAUTILUS® brands for its ongoing lab testing. “All of BLI’s Environmental Testing on a wide range of imaging devices is conducted with Mondi NAUTILUS® Refresh Triotec 30% and NAUTILUS® SuperWhite 100% recycled papers, both of which are quality-grade recycled multipurpose papers. A number of other Mondi media types, including NAUTILUS® SuperWhite are also used in BLI’s Public and Custom testing, and they have always delivered outstanding quality and reliability,” confirms Dr. Simon Plumtree, BLI European Managing Editor.

“Having purchased NAUTILUS® recycled paper from Mondi for several years now, I have to say that the consistent quality performance of the brand is excellent. We’re satisfied and more importantly, our customers are satisfied. Can’t ask for more,” says Hanspeter Albrecht, Head of Marketing, Berberich Papier, sharing a customer perspective.

“We were thrilled to receive the external verification of our high quality recycled NAUTILUS® papers. It is one thing if we say we produce excellent recycled papers, but another thing entirely if an independent body and customers confirm it,” says Johannes Klumpp, Marketing & Sales Director, Mondi Uncoated Fine Paper. “The clear benefits for users – less machine wear and reduced maintenance costs – are combined with an excellent eco-profile and externally verified. So there are no compromises between quality and environmental benefits. It doesn’t get any better than that,” concludes Klumpp.

More information about Mondi’s recycled paper portfolio is available at: www.mondigroup.com/nautilus

The post Mondi’s recycled NAUTILUS® Papers Awarded Buyers Lab Performance Certification first appeared on The Paper Story (PAMSA).

Forest certification is a voluntary, market-focused mechanism, which supports a broad range of social, economic and environmental benefits associated with sustainable forest management. It is of concern that, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), only 10% of the world’s forests are independently certified.

Led by 26 global companies along the forest products value chain responsible for nearly 40% of annual global forest, paper and packaging sales, the WBCSD Forest Solutions Group seeks to ensure that the supply of independently-verified sustainable wood and other forest products continues to increase to meet growing demand. To achieve this objective, all WBCSD companies involved in the Forest Solutions Group commit to:

• Work with stakeholders to spread sustainable forest management;
• Support and promote the expansion of forest certification;
• Set 2020 targets to increase the use of certification when sourcing forest products and fiber; and
• Grow markets for certified forest products.

The WBCSD also calls on all forest certification stakeholders to actively:

• Promote certification to forest owners and companies around the world to improve forest management practices with a priority focus on tropical forests;
• Fully utilize existing certification within their own programs, operations, supply chains, and investments; and
• Support approaches to sustainable development that include small forest owners, community forestry, indigenous peoples and agroforestry operators via forest certification and other tools.

We ask other stakeholders, including all WBCSD member companies that support the objectives of this statement, to lend their endorsement by contacting James Griffiths, Managing Director at the WBCSD (griffiths@wbcsd.org) to explore active collaboration. 

The post Leadership Statement on the Value and Future of Forest Certification first appeared on The Paper Story (PAMSA).