Yesterday’s National Forestry Planting Day, an industry-led initiative to celebrate the environmental contribution of Australia’s renewable forest sector where over 70 million trees are planted each year, has been described as a perfect opportunity to highlight the sustainable practices of the forestry sector. Source: Timberbiz
Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Senator Anne Ruston said the occasion was a chance to renew Australia’s commitment to a high-tech, carbon positive, renewable forestry future.
“The forestry sector annually plants 70 million trees, benefiting the environment and underpinning the 70,000 direct jobs and many thousands of others that rely on the industry.”
In addition to supporting industry-led initiatives, Minister Ruston said the Turnbull Government continues to deliver its own commitments to the sector.
“We are getting on with the job of delivering the $20 million National Forest Industries Plan,” she said.
“The Plan will drive innovation and determine opportunities and gaps in key regional forestry hubs, boosting jobs and supporting local economies.
“The Turnbull Government remains strongly committed to the growth and sustainability of Australian timber.”
Ross Hampton, CEO of Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA), said: “We should celebrate the fact that our forest industries, which support both regional and metropolitan communities, and provide income for tens of thousands of families nationally, also make an enormous positive environmental contribution.
“Every year, enough seedlings are planted to cover an area equivalent to 136,000 football fields. This is an enormous annual task for forest industries and they should be congratulated for the effort.
“Forest industries contribute about $24 billion to the economy each year and provide 120,000 direct jobs across the whole supply chain,” he said.
