Australia needs to establish “the right regulatory environment” to maximise the benefits offered by its forest sector, the National Association of Forest Industries (NAFI) has said.
This includes supporting the development of sustainable forest management practices and state and federal support across the industry.
NAFI made its assertion as it publishes Playing a Greater Role in Australia’s Future, a strategy outlining the benefits that a prosperous forest sector offers the country, including 16,000 new jobs, A$19bn of investment by 2020 and carbon sequestion of 81 million tonnes each year.
“What we now need is for the prime minister to place the forest industry’s strategy on to the agenda of the Council of Australian Governments to ensure the right regulatory environment,” said NAFI chief executive officer Allan Hansard.
“Playing a Greater Role in Australia’s Future provides a framework under which the forest sector and government can work together to ensure the long-term growth and expansion of this vital Australian industry, and maximise Australia’s position globally as a world leader in sustainable forest management and in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
Mr Hansard added that forestry is the “only industry that is truly carbon positive”, making it more urgent in the current climate for the Australian government to give the sector the right backing.
