Victorian Association of Forest Industries

Victorian Association of Forest Industries is the peak industry body for Victoria's native hardwood processing industry supporting and servicing its members in terms of advice, representation, advocacy, research and information.

The major challenge at Victorian Association of Forest Industries (VAFI) was to reposition native hardwood forest industries in Victoria from a 19th century, environmentally unacceptable industry to a 21st century modern sustainable industry to ensure it has a licence to operate long term, the resource and markets that go with that licence.

VAFI’s Goal

*To have robust and sustainable forest industries in Victoria

VAFI’s Objectives

Emerging out of some 30 years of conflict this is not a short term project. It is, however, arguably, the most carbon positive extractive and manufacturing industry on the planet yet to be recognised as such hopefully in post Kyoto frameworks now being developed.

Some 35 forest industry member companies with a small productive team of full time, part time staff and expert consultants, a budget and assets of up to $3m/year were available for this challenge. The tasks that developed included:

*Developing intellectual leadership around policy and advocacy in a Vision 2025, especially to the State Government, with key messages:

*Building a new constituency to advise, debate and discuss key issues of policy and strategy initially through a new Community Council of diverse, expert opinion leaders and seminars and policy papersInforming, engaging key politicians, public servants, industry leaders

*Developing cutting edge communications with Annual Sustainability Reports, new education products, website presence, media systems and operations, www.vafi.org.au

*Extending relationships with others along the forest industries supply chain and other key industry and community organizations, including Environmental NGO’s

*Internally changes were made to modernise the organization as well as the operations of the member’s businesses eg, Environmental Management Systems implemented as part of the Sustainability goals.

*Consequently new models of thinking, operating and communicating were established in line with the overall strategy and goals.

*To work with the State Government to develop policies supportive of robust and sustainable forest industries in Victoria, economically and socially viable, long term;

*Victoria’s forest industries to be world’s best managed, ecologically sustainable and recognised as such;

*To work with the Federal Government and others to introduce policies to restrict imports of illegally and unsustainably harvested timber;

*To have recognised native hardwood timber, sustainably harvested and regrown, as one of the most environmentally friendly materials we can use. Eg. Trees store carbon as they grow and wood based products continue to store carbon.

VAFI’s Vision 2025

Is to work towards its Goal and Objectives by:
*Industry leadership, credibility & recognition around sustainable forest issues and change as well as economic certainty;
*Whole of Supply Chain Presence, Co-operation and Innovation;
*Community Understanding & Support by working with diverse organisations & voices
*Developing understanding of Ecosystem Services, Management & Credentials of Production Forestry
*Building the Case for Sustainable Forest Industries

External links

*http://www.vafi.org.au