The Rudd Labor Government will provide $20.0 million over three years to help Australia’s forest industries prepare for the future, including the impact of climate change and skills shortage.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke said initial funding in the 2008-09 Budget would begin the new initiative Preparing Australia’s Forestry Industry for the Future.

“The Government recognises the challenges of climate change and the implications for forest productivity,” Mr Burke said.

“As well as the obvious challenges, such as changes to water availability, there may be opportunities for forestry, such as enhanced forest growth due to the capacity to store increased atmospheric carbon in forests.”

The $20.0 million Preparing Australia’s Forestry Industry for the Future package includes:

• $8.0 million over three years to carry out more research into the impact of climate change on our forest systems and industries;
• $1.0 million to help address the forest industry skills shortage by declaring ForestWorks as the new Forest and Forest Products Industry Skills Council; and
• $1.0 million to update and expand the existing forest industry database to meet the future information needs of industry and government, including identifying areas of skills shortage and informing workplace skills development.

In addition, a $9.0 million Forest Industries Development Fund will expand investment in value-adding initiatives in our forest industries and boost exports.

The 2008-09 Budget also includes $1.0 million to tackle illegal logging, through working with our regional neighbours and within Australia to restrict the sale of illegally-logged timber – a key election commitment.

“Illegal logging can cause serious ecological damage, generate greenhouse gas emissions and undermine communities that depend on the legitimate forestry sector,” Mr Burke said.