Yesterday, an advert ( HERE ) highlighting the role of native forests in storing carbon was released on Tasmanian television by Our Common Ground, The Wilderness Society, GetUp and Environment Tasmania.
This was a tough message for some people.
While I was out last night, my phone copped a barrage of messages — some concerned, some downright abusive about Our Common Ground wanting to close the forest industry and, wrongly assuming, denying access to specialty timbers.
Our Common Ground supports a healthy Tasmanian speciality timber sector from selective logging producing high-value furniture, wooden boats and craft products.
The point of the adverts is this — that our native forests play a much more important role in absorbing and storing carbon pollution than previously thought and protecting them by ceasing industrial logging provides a quicker and more effective way to reduce Australia’s carbon emissions.
Critics who left messages for me missed that point.
During this Federal Election, this important climate policy option must be considered by all political parties.
But, the climate issue is one part of the overall forestry situation. Our Common Ground supports the current discussions between the forestry communities, workers, industry and environmentalists. It is through this that we have the best chance to get lasting outcomes for both secure jobs and forest protection.
Specialty timber worker and craftsman Paul Noordanus explained how specialty timber industry can survive without woodchipping during an our common ground supported forum in Burnie on 13th of March this year. He said:
“We need native forests to produce the specialty timbers Tasmania is famous for, not woodchips. Our old growth forests should be protected and the woodchip industry should focus on plantations,”
We know that the majority of Tasmanians want both a sustainable forestry industry and our valuable forests protected.
Judy Tierney
Dr Peter McQuillan, University of Tasmania
