The endorsement of the Indonesian Forest Certification Co-operation (IFCC) by the world's leading forest certification system, PEFC is expected to benefit Indonesian forests, home to some of the most biologically diverse forests in the world.

Indonesian forests can now benefit from credible, globally recognised sustainable forest management certification following the endorsement.

PEFC International Secretary General Ben Gunneberg observes that the endorsement signifies a turning point for Indonesia, which has been battling high deforestation rates. He explains that forest certification represents an important mechanism to verify and promote sustainable forest management, thus safeguarding the environmental, social and economic benefits provided by forests.

According to Mr Gunneberg, given the significance of Indonesia’s forest resources, the PEFC endorsement is especially important in a country like Indonesia, both in terms of protecting its invaluable biodiversity and its contribution to the livelihoods of the millions of people that depend on forest resources.

PEFC’s endorsement of IFCC has come after the most rigorous assessment process existing globally for national forest certification systems seeking international recognition. PEFC requires all standards to be developed through comprehensive, multi-stakeholder and consensus-based processes at national level with all standard requirements meeting or exceeding the environmental, social and economic requirements of PEFC's Sustainability Benchmarks.

All standards are subjected to an independent third-party evaluation, global public consultation, review by the Panel of Experts, and consideration by the PEFC Board of Directors before PEFC members approve the endorsement of a particular national system. The entire assessment documentation is publicly available to ensure full transparency of the process.

Australian Forestry Standard is a not-for-profit public company, which owns and manages the Australian Forest Certification Scheme.