What a year it’s been for those involved in carbon markets. A raft of new legislation, a jump followed by a dramatic drop-off in carbon pricing and then a slow-down in trading. The roller coaster ride has caused plenty of angst for those foresters, emitters and investors with an interest in carbon forestry. Carbon markets, both in Australasia and internationally, have changed dramatically in just 12 months.
The Australian House of Representatives Standing Committee on Agriculture, Resources, Fisheries & Forestry has issued the findings of its inquiry into the forestry sector. It recommends that current regional forest agreements be extended and that a national strategy for the plantation timber segment be created. This would help reduce the import deficit in wood products for the construction industry, which reached $A468m in 2010.
The Minister for Climate Change, Cassy O’Connor today announced CO2 Australia Limited as the successful consultant who will carry out groundbreaking research into the carbon stored in Tasmania’s forests.
(Reuters) - Australia and Norway have crafted a proposal they hope will get troubled global climate talks back on track and win agreement on a broader climate pact by 2015.
If they succeed, it could mean a new climate deal could go into force by 2018 once nations sign and parliaments ratify the pact. But the idea is likely to face resistance from developing countries, which back an extension to the existing Kyoto Protocol.
In a landmark, first-of-its kind, acquisition for conservationists a global conservation group has led the purchase of Fish River Station, a former cattle station in the Northern Territory, and is to hand it back to indigenous traditional owners.
The land was acquired by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and its partners at a cost of $13 million, and marks the first involvement of conservation non-government organisations in purchases that are to be handed back to traditional owners.
IN AUSTRALIA, too often we're told the solution to all environmental problems is locking all native forests in unmanaged reserves, where they'll be immortal, grow forever and continuously suck large amounts of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
We're led to believe all forested landscapes can become old growth, and that forest management destroys forests. This is simplistic, flawed and represents missed opportunities for the environment, society and the economy.
Tasmania, Australia, Aug 18, 2011 - Gunns Limited Managing Director, Mr Greg L'Estrange, today welcomed the Tasmanian Government's decision to appoint a probity auditor to review Gunns' contracts but sought assurances that the process would be expedited to end the onerous uncertainty the decision has created.
Mr L'Estrange said the transparency that an audit process should bring was welcomed but was concerned with recent comments made about Gunns involvement in the Forest Agreements process.
There is a massive re-rating of native forest going on, even as world resolve to tackle climate change crumbles. Deforestation accounts for roughly 20 per cent of our greenhouse problem, on the ''sink'' side of the ledger (because it's not just about how much gas we pump up into the atmosphere - by clearing trees we damage the planet's ability to suck it back down).
