Published Wednesday, 04 June, 2008 at 03:00 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
“GREEN” TIMBER NOW AVAILABLE FOR QUEENSLANDERS
Environmentally conscious consumers will soon be able to identify wood sourced from sustainably-managed Queensland forests thanks to a certification support scheme which has received $150,000 in State Government funding.
Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle said the State’s peak timber industry body, Timber Queensland, would administer the funding to help timber processors around the state to officially market their green credentials.
“The funding is a joint contribution between the Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry, the Department of Natural Resources and Water and Forestry Plantations Queensland,” she said.
“It will assist timber processors to eco-label their products under the Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) Chain of Custody Certification Support Scheme.
“This scheme looks at how each business sources its products right from the forest through to manufacturing and distribution to market.
“Businesses who meet all of the requirements are able to use the AFS logo which quickly identifies them to consumers, retailers and wholesalers as producers of green timber.”
Ms Boyle said certified timber processors could expect a boost to their businesses given the increasing demand for environmentally-friendly wood products.
“Consumers, wholesalers and retailers both here and overseas are increasingly demanding products which have an official stamp of approval,” she said.
“They want to see clear evidence that the timber based products they are buying have been sourced from sustainably managed forests.”
Minister for Natural Resources and Water Craig Wallace said the State Government’s commercial forestry businesses have been AFS certified since 2005.
“My department manages commercial timber production across 2.6 million hectares of Queensland native forest, while Forestry Plantations Queensland (FPQ) manages the State’s 200,000 hectares of softwood and hardwood plantations,” he said.
“This innovative initiative should encourage more timber processors to take part in the AFS certification scheme. “
Minister Boyle said three Queensland timber processors had already become AFS certified were now exporting into specialist timber markets.
“This is very encouraging for the industry and for regional areas of the State where the majority of the industry is located,” she said.
Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin, responsible Minister for Forestry Plantations Queensland, described Timber Queensland as a great supporter of sustainable forest management.
Timber Queensland CEO Rod McInnes said the AFS initiative would help to reduce the current trade in timber sourced from illegal overseas logging operations.
4 June 2008
Media contact:
Minister Boyle’s office: Marcus Taylor (3224 2007 / 0419 025 326) or Kirstie Maier (3225 1005 / 0448 135 195)
Minister Wallace’s office: Paul Childs 0407 131 654
Minister Mulherin’s office: David Potter 3239 6530
Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle said the State’s peak timber industry body, Timber Queensland, would administer the funding to help timber processors around the state to officially market their green credentials.
“The funding is a joint contribution between the Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry, the Department of Natural Resources and Water and Forestry Plantations Queensland,” she said.
“It will assist timber processors to eco-label their products under the Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) Chain of Custody Certification Support Scheme.
“This scheme looks at how each business sources its products right from the forest through to manufacturing and distribution to market.
“Businesses who meet all of the requirements are able to use the AFS logo which quickly identifies them to consumers, retailers and wholesalers as producers of green timber.”
Ms Boyle said certified timber processors could expect a boost to their businesses given the increasing demand for environmentally-friendly wood products.
“Consumers, wholesalers and retailers both here and overseas are increasingly demanding products which have an official stamp of approval,” she said.
“They want to see clear evidence that the timber based products they are buying have been sourced from sustainably managed forests.”
Minister for Natural Resources and Water Craig Wallace said the State Government’s commercial forestry businesses have been AFS certified since 2005.
“My department manages commercial timber production across 2.6 million hectares of Queensland native forest, while Forestry Plantations Queensland (FPQ) manages the State’s 200,000 hectares of softwood and hardwood plantations,” he said.
“This innovative initiative should encourage more timber processors to take part in the AFS certification scheme. “
Minister Boyle said three Queensland timber processors had already become AFS certified were now exporting into specialist timber markets.
“This is very encouraging for the industry and for regional areas of the State where the majority of the industry is located,” she said.
Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin, responsible Minister for Forestry Plantations Queensland, described Timber Queensland as a great supporter of sustainable forest management.
Timber Queensland CEO Rod McInnes said the AFS initiative would help to reduce the current trade in timber sourced from illegal overseas logging operations.
4 June 2008
Media contact:
Minister Boyle’s office: Marcus Taylor (3224 2007 / 0419 025 326) or Kirstie Maier (3225 1005 / 0448 135 195)
Minister Wallace’s office: Paul Childs 0407 131 654
Minister Mulherin’s office: David Potter 3239 6530