The Report of Chairman Professor Jonathan West, as part of the Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement Independent Verification Group, is to come under scrutiny by a Legislative Council Committee Inquiry.
Independent Member for Nelson Jim Wilkinson MLC will chair the inquiry.
Mr Wilkinson said that the Government Administration Committee would examine the key findings of the Report of the Chairman that held that ‘Tasmania’s native forests (not including plantations) have been and continue to be harvested substantially above long-term sustainable yield, in respect of the key product segments to which they provide resources’.
The Chairman’s report raises serious questions in relation to the forest certification standards associated with public native forest harvesting in Tasmania given Professor West’s finding about sustainable yields.
Mr Wilkinson said that given the implications of Professor West’s findings, an examination of his findings is appropriate at this time to better inform the Tasmanian community.
“This inquiry is an opportunity for Professor West to clarify his findings in relation to Tasmania’s native forest certification standards for the public record,” said Mr Wilkinson.
