{"id":11191,"date":"2023-09-28T07:29:08","date_gmt":"2023-09-27T21:29:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/?p=11191"},"modified":"2024-12-17T19:53:05","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T09:53:05","slug":"tiwi-islands-highlights-indigenous-role-in-future-forest-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/tiwi-islands-highlights-indigenous-role-in-future-forest-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Tiwi Islands Shows Indigenous Role in Future Forest Care"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Members of the Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA) Board and senior executive team members travelled to the Northern Territory last week to meet with indigenous communities connected to forestry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The region has an enormous role in the future of Australian forest industries, with the region not only servicing Australia’s fibre needs but also the needs of the greater Asia Pacific region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This included a visit to the Tiwi Islands, where the indigenous-led Tiwi Plantations Corporation<\/a> has started a three-year, $4.6 million project that has the potential to grow the Tiwi forestry industry and build a more sustainable export sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Led by Kim Puruntatameri and Gibson Farmer Illortaminni, several directors of the Tiwi-based corporation gave FWPA representatives a tour of the 30,000-hectare estate – where workers camp on-site, and the corporation has its own runway for access. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Spearheading sustainable growth in the tropical forestry sector, Tiwi Island’s Indigenous-led initiative doubles export value, enriches the local community, and paves the way for long-term environmental stewardship. (Photo credit: Supplied)
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Once finally released, the project could double the export value of the Tiwi Islands forestry industry from $6 million to $12 million \u2013 servicing the booming market for hardwood chips in northern Asia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project strongly focuses on getting Tiwi youth into jobs on the plantation, with FWPA Director Katie Fowen reporting, “The Elders who make up their Board of Directors are incredibly passionate about getting Tiwi youth into jobs at the plantation.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Their land, their trees, their economy.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Katie Fowden with Kim Puruntatameri and Gibson Farmer Illortaminni (back) flying to the plantation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
The Tiwi Plantations Corportation runway, which has been created to provide access to the remote site.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Wood Central can report that FWPA is one of the project partners with the University of Melbourne, with researchers also collaborating with the Tiwi Island Plantations Corporation on silviculture and soil science, wood and timber utilisation, tree development biology and molecular breeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to University of Melbourne plant biologist Professor Gerd Bossinger, the relationship with the Tiwis goes back to 2011. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The University is working collaboratively with Tiwi Plantations Corporation on selected Eucalyptus species to improve productivity and develop a model that establishes and grows tropical forestry plantations across Northern Australia.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n