Forests for the future is fact

SUSTAINABLY MANAGED forestry businesses around the world will reap financial benefits as environmental awareness and concern about climate change expand. Speaking at the launch of Forestry Tasmania’s new Sustainability Charter, Forestry Tasmania Managing director Bob Gordon said there was growing recognition that renewable products such as timber would play an important role in the fight against climate change.
“This trend is recognised in the Australian Government’s report into the economics of climate change mitigation.
“The report states quite categorically that consumer demand will move away from emission-intensive products such as coal, steel, and aluminium to low emission products like renewable energy and wood products.
“In simple words, forestry is set to reap the benefits of being environmentally friendly. We expect the demand for wood products will continue to grow.
“The Sustainability Charter demonstrates the extent to which this new focus has been incorporated into our planning. This document will guide our decision-making for the next 10 years.
“The charter represents our commitment to delivering a sustainable, commercial supply of timber alongside non-economic values, such as biodiversity and community service obligations.”
The launch of the Sustainability Charter will be supported by a television advertising campaign that addresses many commonly held misconceptions about Forestry Tasmania and forest management, for example, that:
– Less than two thirds of the State’s old growth is protected (Fact: 79% of old growth forest is protected).
– Forestry Tasmania uses 1080 poison to control browsing animals (Fact: Forestry Tasmania has not used 1080 poison for at least three years).
– State forest is being converted to plantation. (Fact: No State forest is being converted to plantation. The practice of conversion ceased in December 2006).
– Forestry Tasmania uses chemicals to regenerate native forests (Fact: Forestry Tasmania regenerates native forest that is harvested without using chemicals, including fertiliser).