JASANZ Launches Forest Auditor Training Program
JASANZ and Responsible Wood are offering an online training program that builds expertise in forest management auditing.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Organic Food
JASANZ and Responsible Wood have launched a training program to build forest management auditing expertise, combining Responsible Wood's sustainable forest management certification knowledge with JASANZ's accreditation and conformity assessment expertise. The program runs from April 2027 to July 2027 and is delivered through online learning, mentoring, and field trip opportunities.
Why it matters
The program is recognised by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) as initial training for forest management auditors, offering a recognised pathway into the auditing profession. Responsible Wood is sponsoring 15 places, lowering the cost of entry for participants.
Responsible Wood is sponsoring 15 places in the program, which runs from April 2027 to July 2027. JASANZ, established by treaty in 1991, accredits more than 130 conformity assessment bodies across over 140 schemes, but the total number of non-sponsored places and their cost were not disclosed.
The players
JASANZ
JASANZ is the joint accreditation body for Australia and New Zealand, established by treaty in 1991 and responsible for accrediting conformity assessment bodies and schemes across both countries.
Responsible Wood
Responsible Wood is a certification organisation focused on sustainable forest management, and it is sponsoring 15 places in this training program.
Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)
PEFC is an international forest certification organisation that has recognised the program as initial training for forest management auditors.
The details
The program pairs Responsible Wood's sustainable forest management certification expertise with JASANZ's accreditation and conformity assessment expertise. Sessions will be delivered by specialists from Responsible Wood, JASANZ, and PEFC.
Timeline
Program begins in April 2027.
Program ends in July 2027.
Health Landscape
The program's recognition by PEFC places it within the global forest certification system that PEFC has administered since its endorsement framework was set up to align national schemes. Its focus on training auditors rather than on certifying forests directly reflects the auditing capacity that such schemes depend on.
Prospective auditors in Australia and New Zealand can look into the program's online structure, mentoring, and field trip components before applying. Responsible Wood's 15 sponsored places are a limited opportunity, so checking the application timeline for the April 2027 start is worthwhile.
The takeaway
Forest certification depends on trained auditors, and this program offers a recognised route into that work. Those interested in sustainable forestry can explore accredited training pathways well before the program's April 2027 start.
Further reading
For more on sustainable sourcing, see Organic Food.
More information
Find full details on the JASANZ Futures x Responsible Wood program on the JASANZ website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Timberbiz.
