DOC’s Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) -Only Timber Policy Excludes NZ’s Small Forest Owners

The New Zealand Timber Industry Federation (NZTIF) is calling on the Department of Conservation (DOC) to revise its procurement policy requiring that all timber for key government-funded projects — such as Rākau Rangatira Phase Two located in Northland — be sourced exclusively from FSC-certified forests.

While intended to ensure responsible sourcing, this requirement unfairly excludes hundreds of small forest owners, including farmers and regional woodlot managers who manage their forests sustainably but are not FSC-certified. This will result Sawmills being unable to source logs from these small scale woodlots to supply DoC projects when they may have had a strong relationship with the forest owner.

According to FSC New Zealand, approximately 490,000 hectares of Forests is in the hands of small growers who are uncertified.

“FSC was originally created to combat illegal or unsustainable logging in natural forests in under-regulated regions,” said Bruce Larsen, President of NZTIF. “That’s not New Zealand. We have one of the most advanced forest management regimes in the world, with strict compliance requirements under laws like the Resource Management Act, Climate Change Response Act, and the National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry.”

DOC’s FSC-only policy imposes an unnecessary burden on small-scale forest owners, many of whom cannot justify the cost or complexity of joining an international certification system that offers little environmental or social uplift in the highly regulated New Zealand context.

The Federation believes DOC’s current approach runs counter to the Government’s own messaging around supporting local, natural materials.

“We welcomed the Government’s directive to use more New Zealand wool in public buildings. It’s time for a similar commitment to wood — a ‘Wood is Good’ policy — that supports local timber, encourages domestic processing, and keeps the value chain within New Zealand.”

Instead of creating barriers, the NZTIF urges DOC and other government departments to adopt a more inclusive and pragmatic procurement approach — one that recognises the integrity of New Zealand’s laws, the reality of small-scale forestry, and the importance of supporting regional economies.

“New Zealand timber manufacturers, small forest owners, and large forest owners are all ready to contribute to a sustainable, value-added forestry future. But government policy needs to create opportunities — not shut the gate.”

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