How can it be an environmentally, or indeed ethically, defensible position to cross our arms and simply import greater and greater volumes of product from far-flung corners of the globe because we aren’t growing sufficient of our own timber on shore?
With our climate, land, well-trained people, advanced infrastructure, established operations and great tree breeds, we should be a global forestry powerhouse, but we are contributing to just a small fraction of the need. It is past time to get tree planting policies working again which will drive the planting of the right trees in the right places- close to processing and port facilities, for example.
The world needs much more, not less, of this sustainable, renewable and truly green resource. And it needs more of it from Australia.