The Forest Products Commission plans to grow the benefits of native trees by celebrating Arbor
Day 2010 with a give-away of thousands of seedlings.
FPC General Manager Operations, Gavin Butcher, said more than 5000 seedlings would be made available to householders, schools and community-based organisations as part of the
Commission’s ‘re-Leaf WA’ program.
“re-Leaf WA’ helps the public to make important connections between WA’s sustainable forestry industry and our shared environmental future.
“The program cuts through complex terminology to explain forestry’s most important messages
such as sustainability, regeneration, carbon sequestration and water catchment protection.
“The ‘re-Leaf WA’ program also encourages direct involvement with trees by motivating the public to plant a native species on their property.
“It makes sense for ‘re-Leaf WA’ to promote opportunities for tree planting and at the same time enhance Arbor Day festivities on 11 June 2010.
“Until stocks are depleted, quantities of red flowering gum, claw honey myrtle, York gum, coastal moort, granite honey myrtle, blue mallee and bottle brush will be available free-of-charge,” Butcher said.
“The role of trees in absorbing carbon dioxide is acknowledged around the world however, the role of wood products as long-term carbon vaults deserves more recognition.
“Trees at the mature growth stage have greater capacity to absorb carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere than young trees or post-mature trees, because the growth rates of the latter slow considerably after reaching maturity.
“Timber products used in housing construction can store carbon for as long as the material
remains in use. Many stately homes in Europe proudly exhibit panelling, furniture and staircases which originated in Western Australian native forests more than 100 years ago.
“Those items are still in service and they continue to store carbon,” said Butcher.
Sustainable forestry operations required the FPC to replant and monitor post-harvest regeneration activities in publicly-owned native forests. Research has shown that by using wood products in housing construction, greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by up to 25 tonnes of carbon dioxide per house. Timber was a key renewable, natural resource which had helped sustain Aboriginal and European societies for thousands of years.
“There is a timeless beauty about fine timber products. In fact, they are essential to sustainability because without them the world would be wholly reliant on non-renewable substitutes like plastics or metals which require massive amounts of energy to manufacture.
“FPC’s world-class forestry practices bear testimony to the sustainability of our timber industry so naturally, Arbor Day is a symbolic annual event which we are pleased to observe,” Butcher said.
Up to 50 seedlings per person would be available for collection from FPC’s West Manjimup Nursery at Burnside Road between 10:00am and 2:00pm on Wednesday 9 June 2010. Planting the seedlings on Arbor Day, Friday 11 June, will be an appropriate demonstration in helping the environment.
To avoid disappointment, please register your interest. Telephone +618 9475 8888 or visit the
Commission’s website; www.fpc.wa.gov.au/go/releaf before 31 May 2010.
For more information contact:
Paul Semple
COMMUNICATIONS BRANCH
Phone: +618 9475 8888 or 0438 858 850
