Forestry Australia has raised concerns following the Australian Government’s approval of the Improved Native Forest Management in Multiple-use Public Native Forests Method, warning that the method creates risks that could undermine confidence in Australia’s carbon market.

The method was approved by Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Josh Wilson and will help fund the New South Wales Great Koala National, by stopping native timber harvesting in multiple-use public native forests.

Forestry Australia President Dr Michelle Freeman said the organisation is very supportive of high-integrity carbon crediting for native forests, but that the method as approved had significant problems. “Forestry Australia strongly supports the development of high-integrity carbon methods for native forests. Our concern is that this method, as approved, falls short in a number of areas, including additionality, leakage and low ability to generate carbon outcomes.”

At a time when media reports are highlighting that native hardwood previously sourced from Victoria is now being supplied from Tasmania, it is deeply concerning that the method will substantially underestimate the real leakage that occurs when harvesting stops.

“If approved methods fail to fully account for leakage, or do not properly distinguish between genuine carbon abatement and policy-driven land-use change, such as in the case of the Great Koala National Park, then confidence in the ACCU Scheme is put at risk. Carbon markets must be grounded in science, transparency and integrity.” 

Forestry Australia also has concerns regarding the future stewardship of these forests. “Although the method allows for broader management activities in principle, the relevant provisions are so restrictive that they would, in effect, largely prevent active forest management for fire risk mitigation, forest health and long-term resilience. Despite the name, the method does not represent genuinely improved native forest management.” 

Healthy, resilient and actively managed forests play an important role in storing carbon, reducing emissions and supporting biodiversity, cultural, social and economic outcomes. Improved outcomes could come from a range of evidence-based activities rather than from ceasing a single activity, Dr Freeman said.

“Healthy forests require active management. Improved outcomes can come from restoration, ecological thinning, cultural burning, fuel management, assisted regeneration, more selective silviculture and other evidence-based interventions. Australia needs a carbon method that supports active, adaptive and science-based forest management across all tenures, not a one-off mechanism focused on stopping one activity in a very small part of the native forest estate.”

Forestry Australia strongly supports investment in native forest management and the development of credible carbon methods that recognise the climate value of healthy, resilient forests, and has called for the risks in the approved method to be transparently addressed so that the ACCU Scheme can maintain the confidence of the market and the community.

Please note: Media is invited to use images 1 and 2 of Forestry Australia President, Dr Michelle Freeman and CEO Jacquie Martin, to support the media release.

ABOUT FORESTRY AUSTRALIA

Forestry Australia is an independent, not-for-profit, professional association of more than 1,150 forest scientists, managers and growers who work in native forests, plantations and the provision of environmental services. Its members are committed to the principles of sustainable forest management and to applying them to generate environmental, social, and economic outcomes across all types of forests and land tenures.

ENDS

Contact: Jason Ross, Marketing and Communications Manager, M: 0448 190 055