The Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) was developed by Australians for use within Australia’s States and mainland Territories by Australian forest owners or managers. 
It was developed using the Standards Australia process. This development process is a clear and rigorously defined one in order to ensure that every new Standard:

• is a credible document
• has the support of the community
• is developed in an open and transparent manner

The Australian Forestry Standard specifies economic, social, environmental and cultural criteria and requirements for wood production that support continual improvement towards sustainable forest management. AFS can be applied to any defined forest area being managed for wood production, irrespective of scale or type of ownership, or whether native or planted forest.

For further information regarding AFS Certification visit the AFS website at: http://www.forestrystandard.org.au/

Because South East Fibre Exports Pty Ltd (SEFE) is a major exporter of forest products it is important to demonstrate to its customers that its product originates from forests that are sustainably managed and come from legal sources. Certification to AFS provides this assurance. SEFE obtained certification to the Interim Australian Forestry Standard (AS 4708 (interim) - 2003) in October 2006 for all SEFE owned and managed plantation and native forest.

Now that SEFE has been certified to the AFS, regular surveillance audits are conducted by an independent third party certification body to ensure compliance is maintained. In May 2009 a re-certification audit was conducted to the Australian Forestry Standard (AS 4708-2007) version and confirmed that all forest operations continue to comply with the requirements of the Standard. The AFS standard AS 4708 was finalised in 2007 and SEFE has been certified to this new standard

As a result of meeting these high standards SEFE believe that its management of Plantation & Native Forest operations in both NSW and Victoria is conducted in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manner.  It is very important to SEFE customers that the Australian Forestry Certification Scheme (AFCS) has mutual international recognition.  The AFS has international recognition under the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). PEFC is the world’s largest forest certification body certifying nearly 200 million hectares of forests worldwide.

PEFC seeks to promote and support sustainable forest management worldwide by mutually recognising national forest certification schemes which are developed in line with the PEFC technical criteria. PEFC ensures that the highest international standards for standards development, accreditation and certification of the International Standards Organisation and International Accreditation Forum are being met and ensures consistency in the marketplace. 

A summary of the SEFE Forest Management Plan are available to the public upon request. Also summaries of results from independent certification and surveillance audits that have occurred can be found here. This information can be obtained by contacting the NSW Operations Forester on (02) 6496 0222.

SEFE’s defined forest area (DFA) to which the requirements of the AFS Standard apply covers both plantations & native forest within Southeast NSW & East Gippsland in Victoria. 
To view SEFE’s DFA please Click Here.

Also you can Click Here to view the SEFE Forest Management Policy.

And you can Click Here for the accreditation certificate.