The Australian Forest Products Association has slammed the Greens policy to oppose native forestry and wood chipping as naïve, unfounded in science and impractical. Source: Timberbiz
“The science is clear; actively managing our forest for multiple benefits provides the best environmental, social and economic outcomes. The Greens’ dogmatic approach is to simply ignore the facts that they don’t like,” said chief executive officer Ross Hampton.
“Active management of forests brings social, economic and environmental benefits to Australians including carbon sequestration, emission reductions, renewable energy, and bushfire reduction, as well as jobs.
“An Australian Government funded study from 2006, using Australian examples, has suggested that ‘there are ways to better recognise the greenhouse credentials of forest and wood products’.”
“It is dishonest and unacceptable for any political party to misdirect public debate with narrow assessments like, Carbon accounts for industrialized forests must include the carbon emissions associated with land use and associated management, transportation and processing activities while ignoring facts that prove actively managed forests increase the bank of stored carbon over time.
“Real action to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions include making use of more sustainably harvested wood, using waste and residues for energy, recognising carbon stored in wood and making life-cycle assessments of building materials that compare timber to carbon intensive building materials such as steel and concrete.
“AFPA members are very disappointed in the Greens’ blanket opposition to native forest logging and their refusal to suggest any alternatives.
“What the Australian population needs is a sensible, informed policy on forestry and offers its ‘A Renewable Future,4 as an alternative view that any political party can embrace,” said Hampton.
