Ecologically Sustainable Development Policy

The purpose of this Policy is to commit General Forest to ensuring the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) underpin our decision making processes, and as such, how ESD is incorporated into our activities.

GENERAL FOREST'S OBJECTIVES FOR ESD

General Forest will ensure that its business direction is consistent with the Australian Government's goal for ESD, which is:

"Development that improves the quality of life, both now and in the future, in a way that maintains the ecological processes on which life depends" (National Strategy for ESD, 1992).

General Forest will apply the four principles of ESD: the precautionary principle, intergenerational equity, conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity, improved valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms, as described in the Protection of the Environment Administration Act.

Objectives for ESD will be implemented by integrating ecological, social and economic considerations into decision making processes, consistent with the business objectives as set out in the General Forest Business Plan customer satisfaction; protecting public health; protecting the environment; being a successful business.

General Forest will define its environmental objectives through the Environmental Policy and Environment Plan; social objectives in line with our Customer service and customer access protocols and safety net commitments; and economic objectives in line with the Statement of Business Intent, within the context of the General Forest Business Plan.

IMPLEMENTATION OF ESD

General Forest will implement ESD principles by:

• Delivering sustainable products and services through the development of long-term strategies and plans, which apply the principles of ESD and are informed by community consultation. The implementation of these strategies is initiated through the General Forest annual corporate planning process.
• Supporting learning and encouraging values which promote the implementation of ESD principles.
• Pursuing research and development to provide reliable, high quality and sustainable products and services.
• Investigating and adopting tools that assist in identifying overall cumulative environmental and social impacts, and the valuation and pricing of environmental resources.
• Developing, implementing and reviewing contracting and procurement methods so those ESD commitments are adopted and adhered too.
• Providing information and education to assist customers to adopt preferences and practices, which support ecologically sustainable use of resources.
• Working with customers, stakeholders and regulators to achieve a common agreement on environmental, social and economic priorities.
• Moving towards integrated ecological, social and financial reporting. This is increasingly referred to as triple bottom line reporting.

ESD OPERATIONS

All staff are trained to be aware of ESD principles when carrying out works.

All operations are carried out in a manner to ensure principles of ESD are adhered too whilst all works are being carried out.

All operational staff are trained to act quickly if any incidents occur that threaten the environment and have carried out pollution control courses.

ESD REPORTING

On the basis that ESD principles are implemented at all levels across General Forest, reporting on ESD will be based on our performance across the whole of the business.

Assessing and reporting our progress against ESD will be through our ESD Indicators, which will provide information on operations.
The information gained through this process will be considered as an input to developing our strategies and plans, and will be published annually on General Forest's Internet site.

REVIEW OF THIS POLICY

This Policy will be reviewed as appropriate to reflect General Forest's Business direction and understanding of ESD