Environment groups have today expressed alarm at the release of the Liberal’s planned forest policy, saying the plan to stop the permanent protection of high conservation value forests agreed by the Tasmanian Forest Agreement (TFA) and passed through the Tasmanian Parliament throws the forest industry into at least six years of uncertainty, and raises new doubt over the achievement of FSC certification and establishing market confidence.
While the policy will require detailed examination when fully released, it clearly takes industry away from the positive TFA pathway and the certainty and stability the TFA offered the industry and its markets, workers, the community and Tasmania’s iconic forests.
The Government’s plan to offer high conservation value forests up for logging six years down the track means these forests remain under threat. Without clear and permanent protection of publicly-owned forests, his will cast serious doubt over industry aspirations to achieve FSC certification, and will renew long term concern and contestation in market and investment circles.
Environment groups do, however, welcome the Government’s belated recognition that there is no demand for the timber and therefore logging in the agreed reserves. As global and domestic markets increasingly demand genuinely sustainable products, it is difficult to imagine the environmentally aware consumers of 2020 accepting products from high conservation value forests.
Vica Bayley, The Wilderness Society, Charlie Sherwin, Environment Tasmania, Jono La Nauze, Australian Conservation Foundation
