Trees for energy - a greenhouse and forests policy blunder

Monday, 12 July 1999 10:00

The NSW Government has just announced sawmill waste and thinings from native forest are to be burnt for electricity. We understand several plants are to be located around the state.

"The least efficient sawmill operations make the most wood waste. By creating an energy market for wood waste the Government will encourage inefficient mill operations reducing the incentive to invest in new machinery and use wood for higher value uses," said Jeff Angel Director of the Centre.

"The forests of north east NSW will also be drawn into the furnace with previously unloggable trees that were safe from the woodchippers now being burnt for electricity. These trees provide essential wildlife habitat and the scheme heralds an intensification of logging and the conversion of diverse native forests into virtual plantations".

"The Pilliga forests in west NSWNSW are also involved, and combined with the trees for charcoal/silican plan announced last month , decisions on a much-needed reserve system are being pre-empted."

"It is a very dangerous proposal and the predictions of last year that the Government's forest decisions would cause another 20 years of conflict are coming true. There are better ways of reducing greenhouse emissions and establishing a genuine green energy market that creates jobs and environmental gains."