A joint PIRSA and Limestone Coast Landscape Board feral deer culling program has been hailed a success by the South Australian Forest Products Association. Source: Timberbiz
The aerial shooting program was extended south into the Green Triangle forestry estate for the first time and removed 655 feral deer in less than two weeks.
When combined with the Limestone Coast Landscape Board’s professional ground shooting program 1429 feral deer were removed from the southern forestry estate in less than 12 months which has a significant benefit to the industry
“The forest industries in South Australia is a critical commodity group generating almost $3 billion in Gross State Product and directly and indirectly creating over 21,000 jobs in South Australia and those jobs are put at risk by pests such as feral deer which makes the aerial culling program so critical,” SAFPA Chief Executive Officer Nathan Paine said.
“After fire and drought, pests such as feral deer have the potential to significantly hurt the industry from destroying seedlings through to damaging the trees in the forest.
“We only have to look at the critical timber shortages throughout the COVID period to understand the importance of sovereign capability and as the plantation estate in the South East has contracted, we need to ensure every seedling we plant has the best chance to grow into a tree that can contribute to fibre supply.
“Programs such as the PIRSA / Limestone Coast Landscape Board’s aerial culling program are critical to ensuring future fibre supply by removing pest animals from the estate and we strongly congratulate the board for its commitment to this program.
“SAFPA, on behalf of the industry will be looking to work with PIRSA and the Limestone Coast Landscape Board to ensure the continuation of this program into the future.”
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