About Nafi
About NAFI
NAFI provides the national voice for the hundreds of firms and thousands of individuals who comprise the Australian forest industries.
NAFI was formed in response to a spate of politically inspired forest closures and a difficult market situation for timber.
A small professional team was recruited to assemble the facts about forest industries, communicate an effective message to the Australia people and politicians and implement a long-term strategy for environmentally and economically sustainable forest industries.
NAFI strongly supported the major forests inquiry by the Resource Assessment Commission in the early 1990's, which led to the National Forest Policy Statement (NFPS) in 1992.
The NFPS or National Forest Plan, as it is sometimes known, now underpins:
the national forest reserve system
regional forest agreements
sustainable forest management codes
major expansion programs for plantations and farm forestry
removal of unnecessary and costly export regulations
a commitment to legislation to safeguard reserves and guarantee wood supply
a program for independent auditing and accreditation of forest and plantation practices
NAFI has played a vital role in all of these developments.
Funding
NAFI's activities are funded entirely by its members, who between them represent all facets of the industry and produce most of Australia's forest output.
National Role
NAFI presents the forest industries' views to the people of Australia, governments and public authorities on matters relating to the national development and use of forests and forest products, including plantations. It also promotes community awareness of the forest industries by providing information and education material.
In all its activities, NAFI expresses a view based on a critical analysis of available research and other scientific information.
Formation
NAFI was established in 1986 on the initiative of senior forest industry executives, State Forest Services, State forest associations, unions and CSIRO.
With the growing public interest in environmental issues, the industry's access to timber resources in Australia came under greater scrutiny. The industry was also increasingly subject to pressure group activity. These activities were exacerbated by an expanding involvement of federal politicians in resource matters. These forces and the growing rationalisation of timber production and marketing provided impetus for the establishment of NAFI.
NAFI's charter, ratified by an assembly of 40 key industry figures addressed four main areas of concern to the industry nationally:
a declining per capita consumption of timber and timber products, due largely to the progressive inroads being made by other materials such as concrete, glass and plastics into traditional timber markets;
rapidly declining and insecure resource access;
a fragmented voice in dealing with governments resulting in a low profile in policy formulation on industry matters; and
a public profile that did not reflect the industry's significant national and local economic impact or its concern with good long-term forest management and regeneration.
NAFI Vision
The Vision of the National Association of Forest Industries (NAFI) is for an ecologically sustainable Australian society based, in part, on dynamic, internationally competitive forest industries.
NAFI Mission
The Mission of NAFI - the peak national industry body - is to represent the interests of members by promoting the environmental responsibility and the prosperity of Australian forest industries.
Membership
There are a number of ways to participate in the NAFI program.
Corporate Member
Wood processing firms pay a levy based on their volume of log input. The principle membership category is the full voting Corporate member.
Distributor and service businesses pay negotiated annual memberships based on the size and primary nature of their business. A corporate member is eligible for election to the NAFI Board of Directors.
Visit NAFI’s member page to see a list of corporate level members.
Affiliate Member
This category is reserved for other associations and organisations that wish to affiliate with the national programs of the Forest Industries. Associations elect five representatives to the NAFI Board of Directors from each State.
Associate Member
This category offers a non-voting membership for businesses or individuals that wish to be involved in the work of the National Association, but operate in areas not directly, "but otherwise associated with", Forest Industries activities.
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