Becky McCann is a trainer with the not-for-profit Australian Agroforestry Foundation that is providing Tasmania’s first Master Tree Growers. Source: ABC Rural
The Australian Master Tree Grower program focused on growing and managing trees for conservation and profit.
Ms McCann said students’ expectations were often exceeded when they discovered all the ways trees are being used on farms.
“Whether you’re interested in conservation or biodiversity, if you want to go down commercial sawlogs, firewood for own use or for on selling, to bush foods, honey,” she said. “The options are endless. I love that it does that.”
The eight-day course was hosted by Tamar NRM and brought interstate trainers and experienced landholders in the valley in to support and assist other farmers in their agroforestry plans.
Tamar Natural Resource Management program coordinator Gill Basnett said the course exceeded her expectations in finding other ways to grow trees and different vegetation on their properties.
The Tasmanian graduates also said the training helped to create a new, positive future for trees on all sorts of Tasmanian land.
Carmel Cassells and Danny Masters said the benefits also included networking with the other students and land managers.
“I’ve had a light bulb moment that I do believe in myself,” Ms Cassells said. “I am passionate about this and this is where I want to be, looking after our land for our future generations.
“And, yes, we can work with the soils, we can work with the trees and private forestry.
“It can all work together if everybody just smiles and cooperates and shares their knowledge.”
