*** Conditions for use
of this material - please read ***
For many years populist green campaigns designed specifically to stop the limited and highly regulated logging that occurs in Australian native forests have ignored the warnings of foresters as to the environmental implications of their objectives.
Unfortunately, this week's flooding of a North Sumatran tourist village ("Killer flood blamed on logging," The Age, 5/11) tragically illustrates the consequences, as our rush to preserve our own forests effectively transfers our demand for hardwood timber onto developing countries that lack the political will or ability to sustainably manage their environment.
In contrast, the production of hardwood timbers from Australian native forests has occurred for up to 150 years in some places. We have a fine resource and a highly developed ability to manage it sustainably in a socially and environmentally balanced manner that environmentalists in developing countries can only dream of.
Under the circumstances, the controversy that continues to dog Australian forestry is misguided and highly ironic.