{"id":15313,"date":"2024-02-27T16:02:47","date_gmt":"2024-02-27T05:02:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/?p=15313"},"modified":"2024-10-21T20:19:54","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T10:19:54","slug":"is-indigenous-land-reform-key-to-end-tasmanias-forest-wars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/is-indigenous-land-reform-key-to-end-tasmanias-forest-wars\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Indigenous Land Reform Key to End Tasmania&#8217;s Forest Wars?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Over 300,000 hectares of contested Tasmanian forests could soon be passed to Indigenous Australians under a radical reform now backed by forest industry figures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The push could end the decades-long Tasmanian forest wars, with almost 85% of forests, potentially slatted for commercial harvesting, returned to traditional owners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theaustralian.com.au\/nation\/forest-industry-backs-aboriginal-land-handbacks-in-return-for-logging\/news-story\/774e698aef1d2a385ee1d8de24b3c97a\">As reported exclusively by Matthew Denholm, the Australian&#8217;s Tasmanian correspondent<\/a>, the concept will be discussed by industry, conservation, and Aboriginal figures next month, and the remaining 50,000 hectares of forests will be made available for commercial harvesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"QXl2_WTLvvU\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"After years of peace, the conflict in Tasmania&#039;s forests is back on | ABC News\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/QXl2_WTLvvU?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>For decades, access to and conservation from native harvesting has been a hotly contested political issue in Tasmania &#8211; footage courtesy of @abcnewsaustralia.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bing.com\/search?q=mona+woodcentral&amp;qs=n&amp;form=QBRE&amp;sp=-1&amp;lq=0&amp;pq=monawoodcentral&amp;sc=0-15&amp;sk=&amp;cvid=F6B003A47D534C6F806AD7F65A9BADFC&amp;ghsh=0&amp;ghacc=0&amp;ghpl=\">Arising from the Mona Forest Economics Congress last November and further discussed last month<\/a>, it remains highly contentious, with conservationists opposed and accusing the industry of &#8220;blackwashing&#8221; and seeking to &#8220;wedge&#8221; them against the Indigenous community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 356,000 hectares of forests contested \u00adincludes parts of Takayna\/Tark\u00adine, Bruny Island, and Blue Tier covered the 2012 forest &#8220;peace deal&#8221; &#8211; later earmarked by the government for &#8220;potential future&#8221; logging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Industry representatives involved in the discussions include Shawn Britton, the Tasmanian Forest Products \u00adAssociation chair, and CEO Nick Steel, with Mr Britton confirming the concept could have merit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;It was an idea that had some reasonable interest and support and was worthy of taking further,&#8221; he said, adding, &#8220;Resource security is always an issue. The industry will advocate and back a government that will give the \u00adindustry and its people secure resource outcomes.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to former Forestry Tasmanian Managing Director Bob Gordon, &#8220;the concept is worth exploring,&#8221; Mr Gordon, who has close ties to the ALP, confirmed that he has had &#8220;general discussions with Labor figures about the idea.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"764\" src=\"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Forest-representatives-at-conference-Wood-Central-fotor-2024022614286-1024x764.jpg\" alt=\"In May 2023, Bob Gordan (top right) was one of six forest presenters at the Northern Australia Food Future Conference. Including Mick Stephens (Timber Queensland), Gibson Farmer Illortaminni, Thiago Gimenez Barbosa (Syntropic Solutions), Kim Purantatameri and Frank Miller, Chair of the Forest Industries Association of the NT.\" class=\"wp-image-15272\" srcset=\"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Forest-representatives-at-conference-Wood-Central-fotor-2024022614286-1024x764.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Forest-representatives-at-conference-Wood-Central-fotor-2024022614286-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Forest-representatives-at-conference-Wood-Central-fotor-2024022614286-768x573.jpg 768w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Forest-representatives-at-conference-Wood-Central-fotor-2024022614286-696x519.jpg 696w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Forest-representatives-at-conference-Wood-Central-fotor-2024022614286-1068x797.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Forest-representatives-at-conference-Wood-Central-fotor-2024022614286-563x420.jpg 563w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Forest-representatives-at-conference-Wood-Central-fotor-2024022614286-80x60.jpg 80w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Forest-representatives-at-conference-Wood-Central-fotor-2024022614286-265x198.jpg 265w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Forest-representatives-at-conference-Wood-Central-fotor-2024022614286-1320x985.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Forest-representatives-at-conference-Wood-Central-fotor-2024022614286-600x448.jpg 600w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Forest-representatives-at-conference-Wood-Central-fotor-2024022614286.jpg 1434w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In May 2023, Bob Gordan (top right) was one of six forest presenters at the Northern Australia Food Future Conference. Including Mick Stephens (Timber Queensland), Gibson Farmer Illortaminni, Thiago Gimenez Barbosa (Syntropic Solutions), Kim Purantatameri and Frank Miller, Chair of the Forest Industries Association of the NT.\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Last week, <a href=\"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/ex-forestry-australia-head-bob-gordon-to-chair-100m-afwi\/\">Mr Gordon, appointed chair of the new $100 million Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI) research institute<\/a>, is the ex-president of Forestry Australia and a firm supporter of indigenous custodianship of forests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He said that having been involved in Indigenous timber projects in East Arnhem Land; the concept could address a shortage of specialty timbers and involve Aboriginal people in land management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aboriginal elder Jimmy Everett, one of three Indigenous figures involved in the talks, said he opposed logging old growth, but land handbacks would be supported. &#8220;We&#8217;ve never knocked back any land for return to the \u00adAboriginal community, that&#8217;s for sure,&#8221; Mr Everett said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most conservationists oppose logging inside the 356,000-hectare area known as the Future \u00adPotential Production Forest, or FPPF, with Jenny Weber, campaign manager for the Bob Brown Foundation, hostile to the proposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I am horrified \u2013 this is an attempt to make it look like we can hand back Aboriginal ownership of forests but that there has to be a compromise with that,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;No way, is that OK? There shouldn&#8217;t have been any talk of logging the FPPF. Those forests are all high conservation value and should be protected.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"gAbGw1Bp_aM\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Breaking news: Bob Brown arrested in forest protest\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gAbGw1Bp_aM?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Bob Brown Foundation is opposed to the reforms, which they claim is &#8220;blackwashing.&#8221; Last week, <em>Dr Bob Brown, along with activists Ali Alishah and Dr Colette Harmsen, were arrested in the Styx Valley in Lutruwita \/ Tasmania for defending a World Heritage value forest from the loggers\u2019 chainsaws \u2013 footage courtesy of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@bobbrownfoundation6852\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@bobbrownfoundation6852.<\/a><\/em><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The foundation supported \u00adAboriginal ownership without logging trade-offs, which they describe as a &#8220;wedge move by the industry.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The future of the 356,000 hectares will be a hot-button political issue, which could help decide the next Tasmanian election, with Resources Minister Felix Ellis not ruling any option in or out. &#8220;We continue to work closely with industry as to if or when it might be necessary to make some of these forests available to Tasmanian sawmills,&#8221; Mr Ellis said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ALP resources spokesman Shane Broad said it was &#8220;not proposing any changes&#8221; to the forests&#8217; status, whilst Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said her party &#8220;fully supported&#8221; Aboriginal land \u00adreturns but that all 356,000 hectares should it, as intended in 2012, &#8220;be protected as a national park.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For more information about the MONA Forestry Congress, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bing.com\/search?q=mona+woodcentral&amp;qs=n&amp;form=QBRE&amp;sp=-1&amp;lq=0&amp;pq=monawoodcentral&amp;sc=0-15&amp;sk=&amp;cvid=F6B003A47D534C6F806AD7F65A9BADFC&amp;ghsh=0&amp;ghacc=0&amp;ghpl=\">please visit Wood Central&#8217;s special feature from November.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Over 300,000 hectares of contested Tasmanian forests could soon be passed to Indigenous Australians under a radical reform now backed by forest industry figures. The push could end the decades-long Tasmanian forest wars, with almost 85% of forests, potentially slatted for commercial harvesting, returned to traditional owners. As reported exclusively by Matthew Denholm, the Australian&#8217;s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15314,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":false,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"","_medium_share_type":"","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[50,46,45,44,59],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[69],"class_list":{"0":"post-15313","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-australia","8":"category-industry","9":"category-sustainability","10":"category-sustainable-forest-management","11":"category-tasmania"},"authors":[{"term_id":69,"user_id":1,"is_guest":0,"slug":"woodcentral","display_name":"Wood Central","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/MASTER-BRAND-MARK_POS_RGB-e1676449549955.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/MASTER-BRAND-MARK_POS_RGB-e1676449549955.jpg"},"0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15313","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15313"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15313\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15315,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15313\/revisions\/15315"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15314"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15313"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15313"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15313"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=15313"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}