In the ongoing discussion around forestry in the Dial Ranges, it was pleasing to see the Minister add some facts to counter the emotional rhetoric often spouted whenever forestry is mentioned. 

Speaking in Parliament this week, Minister Abetz continued to show his support for our sustainable forestry industry by pointing out the coupes being targeted by local protesters and some within the Central Coast Council are in fact managed regrowth forests. These forests have been harvested in the past and have been successfully resown to be harvested again. 

He also pointed out that Dial Ranges are over 6,000 hectares in size, while Sustainable Timber Tasmania (STT) only manage 300 hectares, or five per cent, of that total. The coupes in question, DLO11A and DLO11C, only account for 50 hectares of the total 6,000 hectares in the Dial Ranges (less than one per cent). 

The Minister is right when he said the Dial Ranges was a great example of the balanced approach when discussing forestry. He reminded Parliament that without a sustainably managed regrowth forest industry our insatiable demand for timber will be met by importing timber from other countries – with less stringent forest management policies. 

Tasmanian forestry is proud to be seen as a leader in its responsible harvesting operations. Our forest practices are rightfully held up as an exemplar to the rest of the world on how responsible forestry should operate. 

Nick Steel 
Tasmanian Forest Products Association