Forestry Reform

The economic contribution of native forests was historically seen as providing value only for timber or for conversion to pasture. However, native forests also play a critical role in carbon sequestration and biodiversity protection and restoration:

• Australia’s forests store immense carbon reserves critical for achieving net zero by 2050.
• Recognising these values unlocks investment for conservation, forest management and industry transition.
• Protecting native forests can provide revenue for landholders instead of clearing.

The forestry industry in Australia is already dominated by plantations with 80% of all wood used in Australia coming from Australian plantations, yet a residual, loss making and environmentally destructive native forest logging industry persists in NSW, QLD, and Tasmania. We propose:

• Expanding plantations to meet timber demand and support manufacturing and downstream processing of plantation timber
• Incentivising plantation investment via public funding and carbon markets.
• Valuing native forests for carbon storage and biodiversity over short-term logging profits.
• Empowering First Nations and local communities in forest stewardship.
• Ensuring sustainable regional employment beyond native forest logging.