Does Australian policy support optimal greenhouse gas mitigation outcomes?

FabianoXimenes (far left) shown here as a guest speaker in a forum on bio-energy held in Hobart on March 7 this year. Picture: George

Australia is acting to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Whilst current initiatives are a positive development in addressing climate change concerns, the policy settings do not fully recognise the opportunity for multiple use production forests to contribute to low cost greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement.

The case studies in this paper illustrate key aspects of GHG outcomes for managed multiple use production forests and conservation forest . Managed, multiple use production forests have the capacity to store carbon on site; produce wood products that continue to store carbon off site; provide substitutes for more GHG-intensive building products; minimise the need for GHG intensive imports; and produce residues that can be used to generate renewable energy, displacing fossil fuels.

A long term, evidence-based, whole of life perspective is required to meet climate change objectives. These case studies show that converting production forests to conservation forests will not provide additional GHG benefit.

Download to read the full paper: HERE

• via Tom: Tasmanian Times readers will be interested in a television program called “Forest Design”. A Channel 10 film crew from Brisbane came down a couple of months ago, toured the island speaking to fine furniture makers and boat builders on their views on forestry. It will be screened next Saturday (July 7) at 2pm. FT will not be pleased …