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On Saturday, September 13, 2003, I had the good fortune to witness and participate in a historic event. After decades of disputes, violence and protests in relation to forest management in Australia, 50 local people met to start the process of community management of the Wombat State Forest.
People who only 12 months earlier were chaining themselves to trees sat down with the workers they disrupted, the departmental officers who authorised their arrests and the mill owners whose livelihood they threatened. But rather than conflict, this meeting was about finding a sustainable solution for community-based forest management - and all of the parties worked amicably towards a vision of a forest managed locally by people who recognised its spiritual, economic, environmental and social benefits.
That the meeting took place is a testament to the courage of the Victorian Government to find real solutions to what, to many, seem intractable problems. While there will undoubtedly be many missteps along this challenging path, the goodwill demonstrated by all suggests that success is now attainable.
There is, however, one dark cloud looming over this promising development: it would be a great shame if the Government's brave steps were wasted because of penny-pinching. Development of community forest management will require many resources and some funding. The Government must match its strong support in principle with the financial and logistical support necessary to make this new model work in practice. In particular, I hope they provide the interim support necessary to those whose livelihood depends on the forest, as we as a society move to new and sustainable forest management processes.