The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) and the Forest Industries Federation of WA (FIFWA) have said they are disappointed that WA senate hopeful Scott Ludlam has chosen to spruik misinformation about Australian forestry in a transparent attempt to gain election publicity. Source: Timberbiz
“Senator Ludlum is out of step with Green political parties from elsewhere in the world. For example, forestry policy from the Green Party in Ireland includes a preamble recognizing, ‘The economic value of timber … and of biomass for renewable energy …’
“In NZ, the Greens have just announced $1 million towards the cost of the first 10-storey timber building, recognising that timber is a ‘smarter, greener alternative to concrete and steel’.
“Apparently, Senator Ludlum wants to increase the $4 billion of timber we import each year – strangely turning a blind eye to the massive deforestation taking place overseas where a football field sized area is clear-felled by illegal loggers every two seconds,” said Ross Hampton CEO AFPA.
“Senator Ludlum would have more credibility if he acknowledged the world best sustainable management practices of the Australian forest product value chain and joined us in calling for certification of the 90% of international forests still not accredited and open to illegal logging.
“Western Australians will rightly take a dim view of a Greens senator jetting in for a photo op when he should be in the Senate in Canberra,” said Hampton.
“It’s disappointing that Senator Ludlam thinks that industry in regional towns like Bunbury, Manjimup, Albany and Pemberton, that rely on this carbon positive industry, should be closed down,” said FIFWA executive director Melissa Haslam.
“Challar Forest, the site of Sen Ludlam’s stunt earlier today, is a regrowth forest block harvested several times particularly in the ‘50s and ‘60s however, we have had thinning operations to improve forest health in parts of Challar Forest as recently as the last five years.
“After two years of extensive consultation with environment, industry and community groups the Forest Management Plan has recently been finalised.
“The Plan determines a sustainable level of harvest, which is less than 1 per cent of the forest area per year,” said Haslam.
