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programme to address major knowledge gaps about the impact of
climate change on forestry and forest industries in Australia.
Research and development for the forest and wood prod-
ucts sector is primarily achieved by Forest and Wood Products
Australia. This not-for-profit organization, which invests in
research and development and provides results to the sector, is
jointly funded by the Australian Government and the forest and
wood products industry.
It is clear that the voice of the industry is valued by the Australian
Government, as evidenced by the establishment of the Forest and
Wood Products Council, a forest industry advisory body to the
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The council is an
effective high-level forum which aims to act as a means of liaison
between the Minister and stakeholders in the forest and wood prod-
ucts industry.
Australia’s international forest policy
In addition to supporting the Australian forestry industry, the
Australian Government is involved in international efforts to foster
the sustainable management of forests globally. This is achieved
through multilateral and bilateral agreements with neighbouring
Asia-Pacific countries, through initiatives such as the Asia-Pacific
Forestry Skills and Capacity-building Program, and through partici-
pation in a range of international forums such as the United Nations
Forum on Forests and the Montreal Process.
The Australian Government is also strongly opposed to illegal
logging and the importation of illegally sourced products. As
such, it is committed to identifying and restricting the impor-
tation of timber products derived from illegally
harvested sources and is currently introducing
new legislation to address this. Under this legisla-
tion, it will be an offence to import timber products
into Australia that have been sourced from illegally
harvested timber.
A robust approach
Australia has a comprehensive policy framework
in place to ensure that the use of forest resources
contributes economically and socially to Australia’s
communities and is appropriately regulated in terms of
environmental management and responsibilities.
The National Forest Policy Statement continues to
underpin ecologically sustainable forest management
in Australia and its robustness ensures that emerg-
ing issues such as water security and climate change
can be accommodated and appropriately managed.
The Government’s commitment to reporting against
the 44 indicators of the Montreal Process Criteria
and Indicators, in partnership with states and terri-
tory governments, ensures that Australia’s forests are
managed transparently.
The Australian Government will continue to assist
the forestry industry to grow, improve and capitalize
on new opportunities while protecting the environ-
ment and contributing to prosperity and quality of life
in rural and regional Australia.
Boardwalk at Eco-Sensitive Site (south-eastern New South Wales, Australia)
African mahogany plantation in northern Australia
Image: Australian Bureau of Resource Science
Image: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry