Landmark forest valuation standard launched

The first joint Australia and New Zealand Forest Valuation Standard was launched at the 2026 Forest Valuation Summit this week in Melbourne, marking a watershed moment for forest valuation and setting a new benchmark for how forest assets are assessed, reported and understood.

The launch, marked by a cake cutting by Dr Michelle Freeman (President of Forestry Australia) and James Treadwell (President of the New Zealand Institute of Forestry), is the culmination of nearly a decade’s work to consolidate separate country-level standards into a single trans-Tasman framework for plantation and native forests.

Convenor of the Forestry Australia Valuation Committee Keith Lamb said: “We are proud to celebrate the launch of the new ANZ Forest Valuation. The new standard reflects the latest thinking and best practice in forest valuation across both countries.”

Dr Michelle Freeman said the launch represented a significant milestone for forestry, both as a profession and as an asset class. “The merging of the separate country-level standards held by Forestry Australia and New Zealand Institute of Forestry is a significant milestone. It reflects the strength and value of ongoing collaboration and partnership between our countries, our industries and professional organisations.”

Importantly, while the ANZ Forest Valuation Standard is intended to address common interests of our national forest industries, it is flexible enough to allow for differences. The Standard will be an evolving tool to help shape the forest sector’s future and support continued innovation and improvement, as markets, reporting expectations, and sustainability considerations continue to evolve.

James Treadwell said the new Standard reflected more than three decades of professional commitment. “Our members have contributed voluntary time and expertise to forest valuation standards for more than three decades,” he said.

“This joint Australia and New Zealand Forest Valuation Standard is an important step forward. It reflects the strong professional relationship between the New Zealand Institute of Forestry and Forestry Australia and provides a consistent framework which will strengthen valuation practice across both countries.”

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Source & image credit: Forestry Australia