Australia is home to 3% of the world’s forest area and has the seventh-largest forest area amongst all countries worldwide. However, to maintain healthy forests, it must actively manage its native and plantation resources. That is according to Australia’s new Timber Fibre Strategy, published on Monday, which reveals that policymakers should steer clear of an “entirely passive” approach to forest management.
Instead, “actively managed Australian forests have the potential to be an integral part of national Nature Positive and Nature Repair initiatives and can contribute to Australia’s Net Zero Targets across and within all forest tenures,” according to the report, prepared by the Fifth Estate on behalf of Australia’s Strategic Forest and Renewable Materials Partnership. “Actively managed natural forests can act as a carbon sink, and where this active management contributes to increasing sequestration…it should be recognised under the Australian Carbon Credit Scheme,” the report
Launched by Julie Collins – Australia’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – the strategy follows two years of consultation between forest scientists, unions, and the supply chain, and outlines six priority areas (including Healthy forests, actively managed) and 128 priority areas: “Our forest products sector has a unique opportunity to provide sustainable, high-quality, carbon-sequestering products that Australians need,” Minister Collins said, with the strategy guiding the Australian Forest and Wood Innovations —the country’s $100 million research institute, chaired by Bob Gordon and directed by Dr Joseph Lawrence.
First Nations people must play a more active role in forest management.
And that could include better engagement with First Nations People: “First Nations People and the traditional custodians of country have knowledge and culture that is consistent with active forest management and an objective of healthy and resilient natural forests,” the report said. “This knowledge and culture have been supressed across Australia’s forested landscape and the consultation process (has) confirmed that the Australian forest industry is enthusiastic about engaging with First Nations and traditional custodians to help bring natural forests back to health and improve their resilience and whilst providing other benefits including reconnection to country, employment and income through the utilisation of fibre that needs to be removed.”
“While many consultees acknowledged that there is much work to do to progress First Nations engagement, understanding of the concept of country and learnings regarding forestland management, small and encouraging steps are being taken in some regions. For example, recent work within stakeholders in the Northern Australia Forestry Hubs has produced a practical framework for engagement in information-sharing on forest management in Northern Australia.”
- To learn more about the Timber Fibre Strategy, click here to visit Wood Central’s special feature on Monday. And to learn more about Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI) – Australia’s newest research institute for forestry, click here.
