Environment Tasmania seeks input from the public about forestry governance

Media Release 9/2/2010

Environment Tasmania seeks input from the public about forestry governance

Environment Tasmania has opened a 3 week period of public comment on the recently released major white paper on forestry governance in Tasmania, Levelling the Playing Field, for government, industry and environment stakeholders and the general public.

The white paper, released on Sunday, was commissioned by Environment Tasmania from CSDev Associates, experts in governance and conflict related studies, to analyse the structure and processes of decision-making in Tasmania in relation to forests. The report includes a number of proposed recommendations for reform which aim to ‘Level the forestry playing field’ and solve the conflict over forestry in Tasmania. These reforms include a proposal to remove Forestry Tasmania’s conflict of priorities by separating the GBE’s wood production and land management roles, the provision of more information of public interest, better community relations, and an investigation into the pulp mill approval process.

“This paper has been released as a white paper to stimulate discussion,” said Dr Phill Pullinger, Director of Environment Tasmania,

“We have opted for a period of soliciting comment from all stakeholders, as well as the general public, for a period of three weeks. This will give the consultants an opportunity to address all stakeholder comments equitably, to rectify any errors or information that has been over-looked, to collate further evidence that strengthens the case for reform, and to inform the publication of a supplementary report that will be prepared by CSDev Associates,” he concluded.

The report can be viewed or downloaded at:

www.et.org.au

Submissions will be treated as strictly confidential unless otherwise expressly indicated, and can be forwarded to:

Forest Governance, Environment Tasmania, PO Box 1073, Hobart 7001.

Or email to: office@et.org.au

Submissions close Tuesday 2nd March 2010

Download:
Levelling_the_playing_field_FINAL.pdf

Public_Comment_for_Report.pdf
Dr Phill Pullinger Director Environment Tasmania The Conservation Council