An independent Australian charity
Healthy Forests Foundation Limited is an Australian charity registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and incorporated as a public company limited by guarantee.
The Foundation was established to protect and enhance the natural environment through education, research, partnerships with Traditional Custodians, forest restoration, forest management and nature repair activities.
The Foundation’s charitable purposes are set out in its Constitution and include:
- Promoting public knowledge about healthy forests and the activities needed to maintain healthy forested areas and restore degraded forested areas.
- Supporting scientific research and evidence-based approaches to forest management, maintenance and repair.
- Partnering with Australia’s Traditional Custodians in the protection, restoration and management of forests and landscapes.
- Supporting forest management and repair works that improve, restore or maintain forests and landscapes.
- Contributing to the development of scientific evidence through research partnerships.
- Promoting environmental improvement and nature repair.
Governed by our Constitution
Healthy Forests Foundation operates under a Constitution that requires the organisation to apply its income, assets and activities solely towards its charitable purposes.
The Constitution provides that:
- The Foundation is a not-for-profit charitable institution.
- Income and property must be applied solely towards the Foundation’s purposes.
- Income and property cannot be distributed to members by way of dividend, bonus or private benefit, except in limited circumstances permitted by the Constitution.
- Any surplus assets on winding up must be transferred to eligible charities with similar charitable purposes.
Board Governance
Responsibility for the governance, business and affairs of the Foundation rests with the Board of Directors in accordance with the Constitution, the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and the ACNC Governance Standards.
The Board comprises elected and appointed directors selected to provide an appropriate mix of skills, experience and expertise relevant to the Foundation’s charitable purposes.
Directors are not remunerated for undertaking their ordinary duties as directors, although reasonable expenses incurred on Foundation business may be reimbursed in accordance with the Constitution.
The Company Secretary is appointed by the Board and performs governance and compliance functions in accordance with the Corporations Act and the Foundation’s Constitution. The Company Secretary may, but need not, be a director.
Independence and objectivity
The Foundation is committed to maintaining its integrity, independence and objectivity in all aspects of its work.
The Board has adopted an Independence and Objectivity Policy which applies to all Foundation activities, communications, partnerships and collaborations. The policy is designed to ensure that the Foundation does not act as a mere conduit for external organisations, entities or individuals.
Under this policy:
- External information, research and viewpoints are independently assessed for consistency with the Foundation’s mission, values and evidence-based approach.
- Partnerships and collaborations are subject to review and approval processes to ensure consistency with the Foundation’s objectives.
- The Foundation seeks to promote balanced and diverse perspectives in its research and communications.
- Information shared by the Foundation is subject to due diligence and independent evaluation.
The Foundation recognises that complex questions relating to forests, landscapes and environmental management often involve scientific uncertainty and legitimate differences of opinion. The Foundation seeks to contribute to informed, respectful and evidence-based discussion.
Read our Policy on independence and objectivity.
Funding and donations
Healthy Forests Foundation is supported by donations and contributions from individuals, organisations and philanthropic supporters who share an interest in healthy forests, environmental restoration and nature repair.
The Foundation’s Policy on independence and objectivity provides that:
- Donations are managed independently and without influence or direction from donors regarding the Foundation’s operational, advocacy or strategic activities.
- Donations will not be accepted where donor conditions conflict with the Foundation’s constitutional objectives or values.
- Donors are not entitled to influence organisational decisions or policies.
- The use of donations is overseen by the Board in accordance with the Foundation’s governance framework and constitutional obligations.
The Foundation may publicly acknowledge supporters and donors where appropriate. Such acknowledgement does not imply endorsement of the donor or their activities, nor does it confer governance rights or decision-making authority over the Foundation.
Managing Conflicts of Interest
The Foundation is committed to transparency and good governance.
Under the Constitution, directors who have a material personal interest in a matter relating to the affairs of the Foundation are required to disclose that interest and, where required by law, must not participate in consideration of the matter or vote on it.
These requirements support independent decision-making and ensure that the Foundation’s activities remain aligned with its charitable purposes.
Transparency
Healthy Forests Foundation is committed to transparency, accountability and continuous improvement.
We encourage interested members of the public to review our Constitution, governance policies, annual reports and other publicly available information to better understand the Foundation’s purpose, governance arrangements and activities.
Policies