The Statement of Principles | Environment Tasmania

ET News

Environment groups remain committed to a lasting solution for forests and people

Submitted:

14-Feb-2012 01:14 PM

Media Release 14 February 2012

Environment Tasmania, The Australian Conservation Foundation and the Wilderness Society today reaffirmed their commitment to the Statement of Principles, and to negotiations with signatories on the implementation of the agreement.
Forestry Tasmania increases logging in IGA protected areas

Submitted:

09-Feb-2012 02:01 PM

Media Release 9 February 2012

A report released today by environment groups reveals that since Forestry Tasmania was paid $12.5 million to stop logging in the 572,000 hectares of forests being assessed for protection, the agency has shown no letup in the rate of logging inside these forests.
Environment Focus for State Budget

Submitted:

06-Feb-2012 11:53 AM

Media Release 2 February 2012

Tasmania’s peak environment body, Environment Tasmania has called for a stronger funding model for the Parks & Wildlife service, progression of marine and coastal policies, and initiatives to support sustainable agricultural landscapes in its submission to the Tasmanian government’s 2012-13 State budget.
Governments fail to deliver on Forests Agreement

Submitted:

13-Jan-2012 03:02 PM

Media Release 13 January 2012

Environment groups said the conservation agreement released today by the Tasmanian and Commonwealth governments did not adequately deliver the first key conservation outcome of the Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) and urged them to end logging in these unique and important forests.

The agreed Principles to resolve the conflict over forests in Tasmania, protect native forests, and develop a strong sustainable timber industry are as per below:

General Wood Supply

Provide a sustainable resource supply profile to industry based on an agreed minimum quantity and quality requirement for industry. This will be underpinned by legislation.

Native Forest Wood Supply

Subject to the provisions of the transition, as legislated Native Forest entitlements are handed back, ensure these entitlements will not be allocated nor licensed to new players.

HCV Forests

Immediately protect, maintain and enhance High Conservation Value Forests identified by ENGO’s on public land.

Transition

Transition the commodity (non specialty) forest industry out of public native forests into suitable plantations through a negotiated plan and timeline.

Industry

Create a strong sustainable timber industry including the development of a range of plantation based timber processing facilities including a pulp mill. There will need to be stakeholder consultation and engagement with the proponent, ENGO’s and the community.

Specialty Timbers

Provide for ongoing speciality timber supply including eucalypt for our Tasmanian high value furniture and craft industries through a negotiated plan and timeline.

Plantations

Support sustainable and socially acceptable plantations including agreed reforms and new agro forestry outcomes, including pursuing certification.

Private Forests

Encourage and support, but not mandate, private forest owners to: seek assistance for certification; and protect, maintain and enhance high conservation value forests on their properties.

Communities Impacted

Support impacted rural and regional communities, workers, contractors and businesses, through a range of economic development, financial assistance, compensation and retraining measures.

Community Engagement

Engage and involve the broad Tasmanian community in the development and implementation of a durable solution to the Tasmanian forest conflict.

Tourism

Develop Tasmania's nature based tourism industry in line with these Principles.

Planning

Develop a fully funded, independent, scientifically led landscape conservation, restoration and integrated catchment management program, and associated governance and regulatory improvements.

Government

Reform and support government agencies, policies and legislation as necessary for the implementation of an agreement associated with these Principles.

Climate Change

Seek funding for improving carbon outcomes as a result of delivering these Principles.

Biomass

In Tasmania, only permit plantation forest processing and plantation harvesting residues to be used as biomass for Renewable Energy Certificates.

Certification

Encourage Forestry Tasmania to firstly obtain Controlled Wood accreditation on delivery of the moratorium, secondly, obtain full FSC certification on resolution of an FSC National Standard and once an agreement based on these Principles has been finalised.

Durability

Undertake to ensure all elements of this agreement are fulfilled on a durable basis.

Legislation

Require State and Federal legislation to implement agreed outcomes arising from these Principles including appropriate review mechanisms, milestones and sanctions.