Focus on meeting standards

THE Papua New Guinea Forest Certification Incorporation is working with authorities, including PNG Forest Authority (PNGFA), to manage forests according to standards.
National coordinator Steven Magil said certifying a product according to standards was important in accessing the market and creating trust with consumers.
“PNG Forest Certification Incorporated is an NGO,” he said.
“We mainly promote the forestry council certification standards in PNG.
“We also manage the world standards so we have to work with the industry, Government and all the sectors, trying to help improve management practices in forestry, using the standards.
“Certification is a tool that someone can use to tell the consumer that the source, the raw material that was used to produce an end product comes from a well-managed forest.
“Apart from just applying all the laws or just complying with all the legislations, it also promotes sustainability.”
Last week, the PNGFA launched the Forest Standards Council National Forest Stewardship standards for PNG, version 2.0.
This was an updated version to further access the market and to promote sustainable forestry.
Magil said there were different standards for different sectors.
“You can certify recreational services like tourism places,” he said.
“Water and carbon trade are also some of the resources you can use the standard procedures.
“It’s better because it attracts the market – once you put a label on that product, the market is open.
“Otherwise, the market closes because they cannot trust the product, unless you have the third party – someone who independently audits your operation – that can guarantee a consumer to pay for a product.”