A NATIVE forest logging operation is being hailed by...

A NATIVE forest logging operation is being hailed by conservationists and loggers as a bright glimpse of the timber industry's future.
A 6500ha property in Tasmania's central highlands has become the nation's first to secure full Forest Stewardship Council certification for native forest harvesting.

The approach balances profitable logging with protection of high-conservation-value forests.

In the case of the Lagoon of Islands property in Tasmania's lake country it means roughly half the forests will be protected while half are selectively logged and regrown naturally.

Property owner and manager Peter Downie said his motivation to pursue FSC certification for logging operations on the land, owned by the family since 1860, was to find a way to continue forest harvesting for generations to come while averting opposition by conservationists.

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Under FSC requirements, the certification requires the blessing of community and conservation groups -- yesterday it was also endorsed by the forest industry.

"It indicates that when people sit down and work things through, it is possible for accommodation to be reached," said Terry Edwards, chief executive of the Forest Industries Association of Tasmania. Already, large companies, including Gunns, are seeking FSC certification for native forest products in Tasmania.

Green groups believe the conversion of Gunns to FSC -- a change being demanded by Japanese paper-makers who buy its woodchips -- could end the conflict over native forest logging.

The Australian Conservation Foundation, The Wilderness Society, the Tasmanian Conservation Trust and the Worldwide Fund for Nature have all endorsed the Downie certification.

"It means that 50 per cent of those forests are off-limits to logging and are protected . . . so that's an amazing outcome for conservation," said Conservation Trust director Peter McGlone.

Mr Downie said even these protected forests would be productive, earning income as carbon offsets sold to companies around the world. "It's the same income as if we had harvested it (for pulpwood): it's a no-brainer," he said. "I think we are offering the industry a way forward."


Headline -:.Forest foes on common ground in Tasmania Matthew Denholm, Tasmania correspondent From: The Australian July 10, 2010 12:00AM

G33,have a look at GTP,fea and Tim comments on hotcopper also,
With so many investors screwwwwed to the max,you wood think that all and sundry would be camping on the steps of parliament.

One more mention,at the time of the promotion of this tree hugging investment on the figures that have been correctly stated,it was stated that a return of 8% per was not unexpected.