Australians depend on forest biodiversity for clean water, soil protection, and timber production. Forest biodiversity can underpin important environmental services such as carbon sequestration. Source: Timberbiz
Australia’s forests are also home to unique and important species of plants, animals and micro organisms.
Yet our valued native species are continuing to go extinct at a rapid rate.
Current land management practices are not meeting conservation objectives.
Simply creating more national parks is not the answer.
How do we conserve our national biodiversity heritage in a rapidly changing environment?
This theme will be explored at the 2015 Conference of the Australian and New Zealand Institutes of Foresters to be held in Creswick, Victoria from 13-15 April.
The conference will consider how we go ‘beyond tenure’ to better manage all our forests for biodiversity and other values.
Speakers from across Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific region will consider how to integrate biodiversity conservation with timber production, fire management and carbon sequestration.
“The range of speakers on this topic is very exciting’ said Professor Rod Keenan, of the University of Melbourne and chair of the conference organising committee.
“We have speakers from Australia, New Zealand, China, Thailand and Nepal.
Interactive discussion sessions will consider market-based and community-based approaches to achieving conservation and other forest management goals.
“We have a particular focus on resilient systems and resilient forest landscapes, we want to focus on how to manage forests in an uncertain future climate.”
Indigenous community perspectives are of particular value in understanding our landscape to inform future forest management.
Professor Kerry Arabena, of the University of Melbourne, will lead discussion of indigenous community engagement in forest management.
“I encourage all those with an interest in the future of Australasian forests to participate in the conference and be part of the discussion’ said Professor Keenan,” said Ms Arabena.
“For younger forest and environmental professionals, this is your opportunity to mix with forest management leaders and be part of the discussion about future forest management.”
Major sponsors of the conference include the Australian Government Department of Agriculture; the Victorian Government Department of Land, Water and Planning; Forest and Wood Products Australia; and Forestworks Industry Skills Council.
Early bird registration for the conference has been extended to 13 February 2015. More information at www.forestryconference.org.au
