Forestry operations administered by the Department of Fisheries and Land Resources have achieved International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification for the department’s Environmental Management System, keeping Newfoundland and Labrador on the leading edge of environmentally responsible forest management.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP recently recertified the department’s Crown forest operations under the revised ISO14001:2015 standard until 2021, subject to annual surveillance audits. The department’s Environmental Management System has maintained certification under ISO14001:2004 standards for three consecutive years.
ISO14001:2015 certification is an environmental management standard used in all industry sectors to demonstrate commitment to environmental protection and to assure public confidence in management activities. The updated standard emphasizes environmental performance improvement and focuses on organizational context and relevant stakeholders.
To maintain registration, the department must demonstrate continuous improvement in implementing its Environmental Management System and ensure all Crown forest land operators continue to operate within system guidelines.
Certification is voluntary and available to organizations that wish to have their forest management activities certified against an internationally recognized management standard.
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“Maintaining certification under the previous ISO standard since 2015 and meeting the requirements for the new, updated standard is a remarkable achievement, and demonstrates that our forest resource-based companies are following strict environmental guidelines when conducting forest operations. Residents can be assured that the province is continuing to manage our valuable forest resource in an environmentally friendly manner by adhering to this internationally recognized standard.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources
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Media contact
Linda Skinner
Fisheries and Land Resources
709-637-2284, 632-8167
lindaskinner@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is the world’s largest developer and publisher of international standards. ISO 14001:2015 certification is an environmental management standard used in all industry sectors to demonstrate commitment to environmental protection and to assure public confidence in management activities. Achieving ISO certification is a commitment outlined in the 2014-2024 Provincial Sustainable Forest Management Strategy, Growing Our Renewable and Sustainable Forest Economy.
To maintain certification, Fisheries and Land Resources must demonstrate continuous improvement in its Environmental Management System implementation and ensure all Crown forest land operators continue to operate within the prescribed standards. The Environmental Management System is monitored for adherence to the standard through annual external and internal audits.