“For gutted forestry sector, green is the colour of hope” said the headline in yesterday’s Globe and Mail newspaper in Canada.
This described why Canada’s timber industry and conservation groups delivered a historic and brave forestry and conservation agreement covering 72 million hectares an area of temperate forest more than ten times the size of Tasmania.
It claims to be the world’s biggest such agreement between former adversaries.
Our Common Ground spokesperson Judy Tierney said “We believe this remarkable agreement has two timely and important lessons for the crisis in the Tasmanian forestry industry.
“First, it is possible to solve the conflict and shift to a new way of thinking that conserves native forests and creates sustainable timber jobs.”
“And second, this must be worked out by the only two bodies which can deliver a lasting solution: timber companies and conservation groups.”
Tierney said “Our common ground applauds Premier Bartlett’s roundtable initiative. But, as in Canada, the answer must come from direct talks between timber companies and conservation groups without bureaucratic or political bias.”
“Only timber companies can manufacture and sell green timber products. For these products, only environmental groups can provide the green stamp of approval that most consumers trust.”
As the head of the Forest Products Association of Canada, Avrim Lazar said yesterday We know that tomorrows jobs are going to go to those who can see that the future depends upon environmental progressiveness and thats a race we plan to win.
Earlier on Tasmanian Times: Time to wean the screaming infant … and lessons from Canada, HERE
