Australia: Logging industry restructure must include ending all logging in Native forests

The State Government must use the proposed restructure of the timber
industry to end all native forest logging, according to the
Conservation Council of WA. Vice-president Beth Schultz yesterday
welcomed the news the Government would restructure the industry, which
would result in job losses and mill closures.

But she said the
proposal did not go far enough and Forestry Minister Terry Redman
should use the opportunity to put an end to native forest logging. Mr
Redman revealed on Saturday that he was planning a multi-milliondollar
restructure of the industry in a bid to make it more viable. The plan
would include job losses and mill closures as timber workers came to
grips with the lower log quality and quantity after the 2001 ban on
oldgrowth logging. Dr Schultz said the Conservation Council,
Wilderness Society and WA Forest Alliance had written to the Minister
asking to be involved in the restructure process. But Mr Redman said
yesterday it was unlikely that native forest logging would cease.
“Green groups are seeing the economic problems of the industry as an
opportunity to achieve their ultimate goal of ending all native forest
harvesting,” Mr Redman said. “Ending all native forest logging is not
a likely prospect. My focus is on securing a sustainable timber
industry.” Premier Colin Barnett said there was no instant solution to
saving WA’s struggling native timber industry but he was committed to
upholding the old-growth logging ban.
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=2&ContentID=114310

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