Turning native hardwood timber forests used for selective harvesting into carbon storage credits has been slammed by a leading native hardwood timber expert as a “dangerous” attempt to close a viable industry. Source: Timberbiz
REEF Research Forestry Awareness Program chair Mr Noel Atkins regards this latest proposition as a ludicrous attack on the highly regulated Australian native hardwood timber sector, essential to sourcing hardwood timber for the country’s growing housing, construction, mining, railways and infrastructure needs.
“Native hardwood timber is the only renewable sustainable resource that already captures and stores carbon,” Mr Noel Atkins said. “Taking a lock up and leave approach to forests is extremely dangerous.”
“Unmanaged forests cause catastrophic bush fires, causing death to people and animals and destroys property. Setting aside the forests for carbon credits under a yet to be proven method of measurement sounds good, but it is a hair brained idea set to raise a paltry $100 million per annum.
“The native hardwood industry in NSW currently generates more than $2.9 billion each year and provides 8900 full time jobs (Ernst and Young Report 2023) and up to 22,000 indirect jobs in the NSW regions.
“Australia already imports $5 billion worth of hardwood timber, often from developing countries that don’t have the strict regulatory framework to protect fauna such as koalas and sugar gliders as we do here.
“This short-sighted carbon credit proposal would see the decimation of the native hardwood industry in NSW and the rise of imported hardwood timber to nearly $8 billion each year, smashing an Australian regional industry, putting fauna at extreme risk and throwing productive Australians on the scrap heap.”
REEF Research argues the vast quantity of timber in National parks could be used for carbon credits.
“Closing native hardwood timber forests for selective harvesting would be short sighted when it is sustainable, promotes healthy ecosystems and is the ultimate renewable,” Mr Noel Atkins said.
“The fact is, koalas prefer to live in managed forests due to the succulent leaves of new trees, and CSIRO data shows their population is on the rise in NSW!”
The native hardwood timber industry only has access to 12% of the total public forest estate with 88% controlled in National parks and reserves. The 12% comprises approximately two million hectares of which around half is not available to harvesting due to inaccessible terrain, zoning restrictions and regulations to protect riparian zones, waterways, seed trees, old growth trees, habitat trees flora and fauna.
Less than 1% of the public forest estate is harvested each year, supervised by the NSW Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) complying with the Integrated Forest Operations Agreement (IFOA).
REEF Research is committed to the native hardwood forest sector and improving its environmental footprint, protecting jobs in the region and delivering economic benefits. REEF represents and supports native hardwood timber businesses and communities operating in the NSW regions.
