I would like to propose a solution to the stand off in the Tasmanian forestry debate.
The technical basis of the impasse is outlined in Nick Clarke’s article. ( The Mercury 1/11/2012, Inflexible parties kill talks, here ).
The Forest Industry Association of Tasmania (FIAT) wishes to secure 155,000 cubic metres of sawlogs for members. The environmental non government organisations (ENGOs) wish for 520,000 hectares of new reserves. Forestry experts have judged that it will not be possible to supply more than about 130,000 cubic metres of sawlogs with the proposed new reserves in place. It appears that neither side will shift ground.
This situation is emblematic of one of the great difficulties with much of the forestry debate, but it is solvable. There is a middle way which does not involve the conflicting parties giving in to each other. They can negotiate and compromise with a third group which may more broadly reflect community aspirations.
The forestry debate should not be seen as a fight to the death between proponents of industrial scale conversion forestry, with clearfell, burn, and sow as their stock prescription, nor should it simply be seen as a battle for more and more reserves.
A middle way would be to assign a sufficient area of the 520,000 hectares, suggested by ENGOs for reserves, to forestry projects that don’t employ clearfelling, regeneration burning, or pesticide use. The ‘new’ style of forestry could be based on established methods such as Pro Silva (for the forests).
The third group, with whom FIAT and the ENGOs would have to negotiate, would be experts in Pro Silva forestry and other relevant experts who support this method. Pro Silva involves use of forests for both production and non production values. Pro Silva requires the gaining of strong support from the local communities relevant to the forests being managed. It is an international movement.
There are people already living in Tasmania who are deeply knowledgeable about this system, and who have great international connections.
Typically, and as is frequently the case in polarised debates, the experts on Pro Silva forestry have been dismissed or ignored by both sides. That has been a gross form of disrespect to those people.
This must stop.
Part of the brief of a Pro Silva management group would be to make up the 25,000 cubic metres of sawlogs missing from the equation above. Another requirement would be to establish training in the philosophy, science, and practice of the Pro Silva method. There would be an emphasis on training in techniques of restoration forestry, in order to address the environmental legacies of the last 4 decades. This positive approach would promote healing of community divisions.
The establishment of a Pro Silva school of forestry in Tasmania would be an excellent way of spending the money which will become available if the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) process can be rescued.
Pic: Tim
• Dr Frank Nicklason, in Comments: Millions of dollars of public assets were destroyed by FT at Esperance 74D (Ray Direen, above) and in the many hundreds of other clearfell coupes in our State forests, and in the last ten years there have been no returns to State coffers. How can you justify that? Why are you unwilling to allow others trial alternative forestry regimes in the face of such abject failure? I don’t need to undermine FT’s reputation.
• Miranda Gibson: Conservationists halt controversial logging operations at Butlers Gorge
Conservationists from Still Wild Still Threatened have today halted logging operations at Butlers Gorge, in a call for forest protection. 10 people have gathered at the gate of a logging road that accesses several forestry operations in the area. One person is perched on a 5 meter high tripod in the middle of the road.
“Butlers Gorge is one of the state’s most significant tracts of wilderness and has been independently verified as world heritage value. This forest, which was proven to have outstanding values, through the verification assessment, has been subject to intensive logging despite being part of a promised moratorium over a year ago ” said Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Miranda Gibson
“The industry has received around $130 million through the negotiation process, yet logging has continued business as usual in forests like Butlers Gorge and there has been not one hectare of forest protected” said Ms Gibson.
“We are today calling on the government to take immediate action to protect the verified area of high conservation value forests. Regardless of the forest negotiations, the government have a responsibly to act on the independent scientific recommendations” said Ms Gibson
“Urgent action is needed by the government to ensure that further destruction in areas like Butlers Gorge does not occur. 563,000 hectares of national and world heritage value forest are awaiting protection” said Ms Gibson.
• SENATOR THE HON RICHARD COLBECK
Senator for Tasmania
Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry
Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation, Industry and Science
M E D I A R E L E A S E
World-first building an emblem for the future of timber
Coalition Forestry spokesman Senator Richard Colbeck today toured the world’s tallest wooden
apartment tower in Melbourne, saying it should serve as an emblem for the future of the nation’s forest
and timber industries.
Lend Lease is constructing the $11 million Forte building in Docklands using cross laminate timber, 30
per cent faster and cheaper than would be possible using conventional construction.
“In no small way, this building represents a possible future for the forest and timber industries in
Australia,” Senator Colbeck said.
“This is a stunning example of why it is completely wrong to see timber as a sunset industry, despite
the challenges it has ahead.
“I was particularly heartened by a quote used this morning from Alex de Rijke, a renown London
architect, that if the 19th century was of steel and the 20th century of concrete, then the 21st century is
about engineered timber.
“To see a project of this scale and cost in Australia really does excite me, but we still don’t have the
manufacturing processes here to create these sorts of materials and, partly, because we haven’t
created the demand.”
Senator Colbeck said Australia had the material, skills and expertise to realise the industry’s vast
potential.
There were, however, changes required in policy settings such as a greater commitment to research
and development, and providing certainty around timber supply.
He also said the timber and forest industries needed to find new ways to communicate the value of the
industry – both in financial and environmental terms – to the broader public.
Australian hardwoods were well positioned to provide the next level of advancement in the technology
around cross laminated timber panels, Senator Colbeck said.
“We need to create an environment in which people have the confidence to invest in innovation,” he
said.
“There is a bright future there to be realised, but the policy settings are not right.
“A Coalition Government will create the right environment for research and development, will foster
innovation, cut red tape and guarantee supply.”
