The Australian Forest Products Association has welcomed the Sector Pathways Review released by the Climate Change Authority (CCA). Source: Timberbiz
The Review which considers decarbonisation pathways for a range of sectors, suggests forestry as a key means to increase removal of carbon, AFPA Chief Executive Officer, Diana Hallam said.
The Review states with regards to carbon:
- Increased land based removals, including through reforestation, will be needed if emissions do not reduce significantly in energy intensive sectors elsewhere in the economy. There is an opportunity to increase these removals by:
- Establishing new forests for timber, carbon sequestration, agroforestry … and,
- Protecting existing forests and other native vegetation from deforestation and degradation.
“This is excellent recognition from the CCA about what forest industries have known for a long time – that growing and managing sustainable production trees is a major solution to tackling carbon, fighting climate change and helping Australia meets its emissions reduction targets,” Ms Hallam said.
“We create these benefits while producing essential products.”
The Review however highlights the barriers to new tree plantings.
Establishment of new tree plantings can have high upfront costs and opportunity costs associated with shifting from agricultural production to timber, carbon or environmental plantings (CSIRO, 2022a).
High land prices in productive agricultural areas and relatively low carbon prices are a barrier to landholders from establishing forest projects (CSIRO, 2022a), due to the potential opportunity cost of switching from one type of production to another.
“These are real challenges in realising the potential of forest industries and AFPA will continue working with the Albanese Government and Opposition on how best we can make our contribution to the climate, economy and communities,” Ms Hallam said.
