Today, International Day of Forests, Australia's forest industries are calling on all policy and political decision makers to better recognise the potential Australia's forest industries provide for the nation to meet its emission reduction targets and fight climate change, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) Joel Fitzgibbon said today.
"The International Day of Forests 2023 theme is 'forests and health' promoting the endless benefits forests provide in improving health globally. One of the biggest threats to health is climate change which is where better political and policy recognition of sustainable forest industries can make a difference," Joel Fitzgibbon said.
"Australia needs climate solutions to meet our emission reduction targets and forest industries should be a key part of the mix. Growing more timber trees in plantations and native forests locks up carbon while increasing our future local supply of sustainable timber and wood fibre. This also enhances Australia's sovereign capability while creating sustainable jobs for thousands of people, many in rural and regional areas.
"Global demand for wood fibre is forecast to grow exponentially by the middle of the century, so the opportunities for Australia to make an even larger climate mitigation contribution through timber trees, while supplying the world with sustainable timber and wood fibre products is huge.
"Today, on International Day of Forests, I call on all policy and political decision makers to better recognise Australia's forest industries' potential to fight climate change and meet our emission reduction targets," Joel Fitzgibbon concluded.
