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Australian Forest Growers Conference

Anne Ruston

Anne Ruston

Senator Anne Ruston, Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, will officially open the Australian Forest Growers National Conference 2016 running from 23 – 26 October in Launceston. Source: Timberbiz

Internationally recognised keynote speakers include Professor Barry Brook, Chair of Environmental Sustainability and Professor Ted Lefroy, Director, Centre for Environment, both from the University of Tasmania, as well as David Evans, Senior Director Marketing, New Forests Timber Products.

Guy Barnett, Tasmanian Minister for Resources, will address the Welcome Function before the international premiere of ‘Agroforestry in Australia’.

“The conference helps landholders manage their forests for a wide range of conservation and production benefits while achieving the wider environmental and social values that the community now expects,” Dr Kevin Harding, AFG National President said.

In 1803 tree harvesting purportedly began in Tasmania after 40,000 years of sustainable land management by indigenous peoples.

Today, over 50% of Tasmanian forests are in reserves on both public and private land.  Private land holders in Tasmania are arguably some of the best contemporary land mangers on Earth as they strive to sustainably manage their native forests and plantations on a landscape scale for complementary objectives including Landcare, conservation, environmental services, recreation, agriculture and timber.

Australia’s major National Forestry Conference run by Australian Forest Growers (AFG) exposes these practices and current learnings.

Delegates can now attend single events and or just a one-day field tour or the full three-day conference.

The tours, hosted by individual and company leaders in agriculture, native forest and plantation management, conservation and restoration, planning, harvesting, timber production and manufacture, exhibit the best Tasmania has to offer the world.

A conference highlight will be the showcasing on the finalists and presentation of the National Tree Farmer of the Year Award at the conference dinner.

Full Conference details and registration options are at www.afg.asn.au