International Day of Forests

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (16:12): I move:

That this council—

1. Recognises Thursday 21 March 2019 as the International Day of Forests;

2. Recognises the establishment of the Parliamentary Friends of Forestry;

3. Acknowledges that forest industries are a significant contributor to the South Australian economy and provide significant employment, particularly in rural and regional areas;

4. Recognises that our forests provide a valuable resource through sustainable production of timber, a habitat for native flora and fauna, water catchments and community recreation;

5. Recognises the valuable contribution of forests and wood products to combating climate change; and

6. Recognises the importance of sustainable timber production and healthy forest management for future generations.

It is a pleasure to rise today to move this motion and acknowledge in the chamber the importance of the United Nations International Day of Forests, which is celebrated tomorrow. The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on 21 December 2012, which declared that 21 March each year is to be observed as the International Day of Forests. The theme this year is forests and education, and in particular 'learn to love forests'.

Forests help to keep our air, our soil and our water supplies healthy. So many aspects of our everyday lives are linked to forests. Technological advances, however, have enabled even more innovative uses of forest products, such as: engineered wood products, construction of high-rise buildings entirely from wood, food additives, pharmaceutical and medical applications, biofuels that can replace fossil fuels and wood plastics that can be used for anything from car components to recyclable plastic bags.

This special day raises awareness of all types of forests and all types of diverse uses of forest products. Of course, the sustainable management of all types of forests is vital for the benefit of current and future generations. In South Australia all plantation owners participate in internationally recognised voluntary certification schemes such as the Australian Forestry Standard and Forest Stewardship Council to prove that they meet the high standards of sustainable forest management.

To achieve certification under these schemes, plantation forest owners undertake a range of management activities to protect environmental values, such as managing remnant vegetation and riparian strips to maintain biodiversity and provide wildlife corridors, restoring and enhancing the habitat of species, controlling pests and weeds and limiting run-off to maintain or improve water quality. The certification schemes also require plantation owners to have a process for formal engagement with Indigenous and local communities on their management activities, when appropriate.

We also know that forests and forest products store large amounts of carbon. The sustainable management of forests and careful use of resources are an important component in combating climate change and contributing to the wellbeing of future generations. As members would be aware, CO₂ can be removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis by trees. Carbon is stored in the leaves, stems, trunks, branches and roots when they absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere and use it to grow.

Trees are very important for carbon sequestration because they live a long time and therefore store their carbon for many years, but long-lived products, such as wood and other products made from trees, still contain the carbon absorbed by the plants that they came from. When a tree is utilised for wood, its ability to sequester carbon is extended and the carbon is not released until the product burns or decomposes.

Forests are not just an important resource for sustainable timber production, they also provide a popular place for play and recreation. Indeed, hundreds of thousands of visitors a year enjoy camping, bushwalking, mountain biking and cave diving. From Mount Crawford and Kuitpo in the Adelaide Hills to the Green Triangle in the South-East, forest recreation is an important feature for communities across South Australia and for visitors alike.

I had the privilege of visiting many of our forests and manufacturing facilities when I was employed in the industry before I entered parliament. I saw firsthand the cutting edge technology—yes, the pun was intended—in our sawmills, much of which was enabled through funding from the South East Forestry Partnerships Program and which helped ensure South Australia had an internationally competitive industry with a bright future. And, of course, in South Australia, forest industries are a huge contributor to our economy. More than 7,000 people work directly in the forest, wood and paper products industry, and a further 15,000 people are employed indirectly. Approximately $2 billion is generated each year by the industry in this state and around $23 billion nationally.

As parliamentarians and policymakers, it is vital that we invest in forestry education and support developing new technologies, support the livelihoods of communities who depend on forests and help our children understand the importance of trees and forests, as well as how responsibly and sustainably they are managed here. As I mentioned, the theme of this year's International Day of Forests is 'Forests and education', and this motion also acknowledges the establishment of Parliamentary Friends of Forestry.

One of the purposes of parliamentary friends groups is to increase knowledge and understanding around a particular issue or industry, so it is particularly appropriate that tomorrow we will formally establish Parliamentary Friends of Forestry here in the South Australian parliament—and I acknowledge the co-convenor of that group, the honourable Mr McBride, in the other place. I invite members to attend the inaugural event and to celebrate the importance of this industry to our state. I commend the motion to the council.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. T.J. Stephens.