Queensland to End Native Forest Logging
9/17/99
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Title: Queensland to End Native Forest Logging
Source: Environment News Service
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: September 17, 1999
BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia, September 17, 1999 - The Queensland
state government, the timber industry and conservationists Thursday
signed a landmark agreement to protect jobs, regional communities and
south-east Queensland's native forests. The deal spells an end to all
logging in native forests by the year 2024 and a transition to
plantation forestry.
"This is a win-win for timber workers, the timber towns and the
environment," Premier Peter Beattie said. "What we are doing is
improving on the Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) process by safe-
guarding the jobs not for 10 years, 20 years or 50 years - but for
hundreds of years. Any timber worker who wants a job in the timber
industry, will have a job in the timber industry. And what we are
doing is protecting the native forests for all time."
Federal Minister of Forests and Conservation Wilson Tuckey was less
enthusiastic. "The Queensland announcement does not constitute an RFA
as that is, by definition, a mutual agreement between the
Commonwealth and a State Government," he said.
"While I would have preferred that such a mutual understanding was
concluded before either side announced their position, the
Commonwealth will nevertheless take a constructive view of the
Queensland proposal within the parameters of the National Forest
Policy Statement and our requirement for real jobs protection and
growth," Tuckey said.
The central elements of the plan are:
? At least 350 extra jobs
? An increase of 425,000 hectares in the amount of native forest
protected from logging
? All but three of the timber mills - Nandroya, Dingo and Yarraman -
currently using Crown timber from south-east Queensland to receive
logging allocations at their current rate for next 25 years
? Government buys out all the timber operations of Boral Ltd. in
Queensland
? The planting of 10 million trees by the government
? Active efforts to encourage plantings from the private sector
? $10 million to encourage new investment in the value-adding
side of the hardwood sector - measures such as retooling, and kiln
drying
? a transition to plantation forests over 25 years so that after
that time, there will be no logging of crown native forests in south-
east Queensland
Friends of the Earth Fitzroy was pleased with the plan. "Today's
signing of the South East Queensland Forest Agreement by the
Queensland Government, the timber Industry and environmental groups
marks a historic peace agreement over forests that many would not
have thought possible," the group said Thursday.
"This agreement puts another 425 000 hectares of native forests into
reserves, and allows the timber Industry to continue operating at
present levels for 25 years. There will be no reduction in supply to
97 percent of crown hardwood mills over this period and a guarantee
from the government of no job losses. This agreement has only been
made possible through the outstanding leadership of Premier Peter
Beattie, and of the cooperation of conservationists and the timber
Industry," Friends of the Earth said.