Environmental Policy
Committed to Sustainable Forest Management
Copies of our Policy are circulated to our business partners, including our contractors. Our Policy is available to the public from our office in Turangi.
Our senior managers review our Environmental Policy annually. We will consult our business partners and stakeholders to ensure that our commitments are consistent with their requirements.
Environmental objectives are developed and reviewed annually, together with a description of how each will be achieved during the forthcoming year. These environmental objectives and targets are derived from:
The Environmental Policy, with its commitments to sustainable forest management and improving environmental performance.
The environmental requirements contained in the contracts, leases and plans for the forests that are managed by NZFM, RMA requirements, and applicable Codes of Practice which NZFM has committed to observe.
We work with our business partners and other stakeholders to achieve continual improvement in our environmental performance.
NZFM will:
Recognise the environmental requirements in management contracts, resource consents and in the Principles for Commercial Plantation Forest Management in New Zealand.
Ensure that environmental management and performance is consistent with the Principles and Criteria of the Forest Stewardship Council®(FSC®)(FSC-C007793).
Ensure contractors and employees are committed to the Company’s Environmental Policy.
Continually review opportunities for further environmental improvements.
Work in partnership with other business organisations, the Government and interest groups where opportunities exist to benefit both our business and the environment.
Ensure this sustainable forest management commitment is integrated with other key business objectives of financial performance, operating efficiency, customer satisfaction, health and safety and good corporate citizenship.
Objective 1
To manage and / or develop forestland for the benefit of the owners and their beneficiaries, ensuring forest utilisation for the maximum practicable financial yield, consistent with forestry practices that ensure sustainable forest management.
This objective will be achieved through environmental and social effects assessment, and forest management and harvesting strategies and plans, developed in consultation with owners and lessees.
Parameters Monitored
Compliance with Leases, Management Contracts, and the Environmental and Management Plans of owners and lessees.
The balance of planted and harvested land.
Projections of future harvest areas.
Responsibility
Planning, Forestry Operations, and Logging and Distribution Managers
Authority
General Manager
Objective 2
To ensure forest management operations do not adversely affect waahi tapu, historic, and other sites of cultural significance.
This objective will be achieved through forest management and harvesting strategies and plans, developed in consultation with forest owners and lessees. The location of and information about waahi tapu, historic and other sites of cultural significance remain the property of the owners, and that information will remain confidential.
To ensure forest management operations do not adversely affect waahi tapu, historic, and other sites of cultural significance.
This objective will be achieved through forest management and harvesting strategies and plans, developed in consultation with forest owners and lessees. The location of and information about waahi tapu, historic and other sites of cultural significance remain the property of the owners, and that information will remain confidential.
Parameters Monitored
Compliance with Leases, Management Contracts, and the Environmental and Management Plans of owners and lessees.
Evidence of disturbance to waahi tapu, historic and other sites of cultural significance, as revealed during inspections of operations.
Feedback received from beneficial owners.
Responsibility
Planning, Forestry Operations, Logging and Distribution Managers
Authority
General Manager
Objective 3
To manage forests in such a way as to minimise effects on the fish and wildlife habitats, and other natural resources of the forests; in particular to prevent soil erosion and discharge of sediment into Lakes Taupo and Rotoaira, and into the streams, rivers and canals flowing into the lakes.
This objective will be achieved through ensuring roading, land preparation or harvesting operations will not cause or accelerate any soil movement into waterways.
Parameters Monitored
Continue current monitoring programmes of levels of suspended sediment and turbidity in streams flowing into Lakes Taupo and Rotoaira.
Responsibility
Planning, Forestry Operations, Logging and Distribution Managers
Authority
General Manager
Objective 4
To ensure designated forest or natural vegetation areas will be provided and maintained where these areas are necessary to prevent accelerated erosion and to protect areas of natural beauty and unique vegetation.
This objective will be achieved through collecting information about natural vegetation areas, environmental and social effects assessment, and forest management and harvesting strategies and plans, developed in consultation with owners and lessees.
Parameters Monitored
Compliance with Leases, Management Contracts, and the Environmental and Management Plans of owners and lessees.
Responsibility
Planning, Forestry Operations, Logging and Distribution Managers
Authority
General Manager
Objective 5
To manage forest operations using materials and techniques that:
Prevent the application of agrichemicals to non-target areas
Reduce and ultimately phase-out of the most toxic / persistent / bio-accumulating chemicals
Minimise the discharge of contaminants to the environment
Programmes to investigate alternative pest management regimes and management activities to manage the storage, handling and application of agrichemicals and wastes, so that these materials cannot move into, or to be deposited into waterways, will achieve this objective.
Parameters Monitored
Any adverse effects from chemicals and other materials used
Quantities of agri-chemicals used
Audit checks of operational activities
Responsibility
Planning, Forestry Operations, Logging and Distribution Managers
Authority
General Manager