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Environment Forest Ecosystems Forest Industries Forest Management Forest Products Greenhouse Gases NAFI Submissions Policy and Politics Renewable Energy Sustainability |
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$4 Billion NSW Industry Fighting for SurvivalTimber is a boon to Australia. This magnificent, sustainable natural resource underpins the nation's second largest manufacturing industry.Generating sales turnover of about $10 billion a year, forest industries create products which permeate our society. By reading this article you are using a forest product. When you sit down at your desk or the kitchen table, turn on the television, go down to the park for a game of cricket - or even blow your nose - you're utilising a range of forest products. They're everywhere you look. Nowhere is the growing and harvesting of trees more critical for the State's economy and the creation of benefits for the community than in New South Wales. Our forest industries contribute more than $4 billion to the total gross output of the NSW economy each year. Nor it their impact confined to the bush - in Sydney alone the combined direct and indirect contribution to gross product by the timber industry is more than $1 billion a year. Why then, is the very survival of this industry now at stake? Why is the Carr Government's entire program of contentious legislation at risk unless it embraces the green movement's position on "forest protection"? (SMH, 'Independent threatens forest program', 12 September). Why do the greens issue ever escalating threats to the Premier and his Ministers, blustering at every turn that, unless even more forest are locked up, preferences will be directed away from Labor at the next election? The answers can be found in the previous failure of successive governments, State and Federal, to stand up to extremists, expose the outrageous falsehood of these self-styled environmental protectors and make correct decisions in the interest of the general community. State Forests of NSW manage the public forests according the world best practice standards, ensuring the yield is sustainable and biological values are preserved. No-one should be surprised that the industry absolutely supports State Forests' policy of maintaining NSW timber resources in perpetuity. We know that any other course would impact on our own children and succeeding generations. Wood is a natural resource which can be replenished for an eternity. Helping local communities to prosper and develop ancillary industries should be a priority for this State and this nation. It is shameful, therefore, that further attacks are being mounted upon the industry at a time when Australia is importing $3 billion in wood products each year. It is ludicrous that NSW alone currently imports $400 million worth of forest products each year, not including paper. Many of these products could be produced locally with sensible forest policy settings. It defies reason that a State endowed with such huge areas of forest is importing more than $230 million of sawnwood each year. The green are manic in their "lock up" drive, ignoring the inevitable outcome of locking up even more forest here: more imports, more logging of overseas forests and a massive impost on the State economy. Their demands are not only insatiable but inane. Patrick Moore, the Canadian authority who co-founded Greenpreace, believes Australia has set aside more of its native forests in reserves than any other country in the world. It is imperative that Premier Carr and his Ministers recognise this assessment and stand firm against the blackmail of the greens. It's time for them to protect the people. Dr Robert Bain, Executive Director National Association of Forest Industries |
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