FT’s slash and burn culture is changing … ?

OUTDATED SAWLOG GRADING SPECS MUST BE REVIEWED

The Tasmanian Greens today renewed calls for a review of Forestry Tasmania’s sawlog grading system, after the Resources Minister today acknowledged the success of a recent sawlog trial which proved that good sawlogs were being wasted under the current rules.

Greens Forestry spokesperson Kim Booth MP today used the Budget Estimates to call for a commitment from the Minister to end the waste of good quality sawlogs in Tasmania, through a review of the regulations.

“The recent Forestry Tasmania sawmilling trial yielded extremely high timber recovery rates from logs that had been previously rejected as below specification,” Mr Booth said.

“The Minister today acknowledged the success of the trial, confirming what the Greens have been saying for decades about the waste of high quality logs as woodchips and whole log exports.”

“Given the Minister’s acknowledgement of the trial’s success, we are now urging a review of the regulations governing the grading of logs in Tasmania.”

“I also welcome the commitment today from the Minister that a merchandising yard with flitching and recovery operations is being considered.”

“It is a reassuring sign that finally the old culture of slash and burn by Forestry Tasmania is changing, and that we can finally start to treat our timber resource with the respect it deserves.”

“If Forestry Tasmania is genuine about achieving FSC certification, then these are exactly the kinds of practices that need to change.”

“The old log grading rules have been used for decades to justify the heartbreaking waste of high value eucalypt, blackwood, myrtle, celery pine and other fine timbers.”

TT last week: Countless millions of sawlog tonnes smashed, chipped, wasted …

• Bryan Green: Tasmanian Forests Agreement Receives Royal Assent

• Nick McKim: Forest Practices Plans Revoked in Over 500,000 Hectares of Future Reserve Land