Bob Brown’s claims on Glasgow declaration ending native forest logging branded “nonsense”

Former Greens leader Bob Brown has been accused of telling half truths, when it comes to the UN Climate Change Conference.

The Australian Government and timber industry say sustainable harvesting of native forests, followed by regrowth meets the Glasgow declaration.

The Federal Government and local timber industry have dismissed former Greens leader Bob Brown’s claim that Australia has committed to ending native forest logging by signing onto the Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use in Glasgow this week.

Mr Brown told media this morning that by joining world leaders to sign the declaration Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had promised an end to native forest logging globally and in Australia by 2030.

“That will be very popular in Australia, and is a top goal for the environment movement — though we want it immediately,” Mr Brown said.

But Australian Forest Products Association chief executive Ross Hampton said the claim was “nonsense” and that the declaration was about ending deforestation, not the type of sustainable native forestry practised in Australia.

“This is Bob Brown telling half truths masquerading as a whole truth, which is a non truth,” Mr Hampton said.

Federal Assistant Forestry and Fisheries Minister Jonno Duniam said that the declaration did not amount to a ban on native forestry, but was the opposite.

Senator Duniam said Australia’s sustainable native forestry practices were consistent with the aspirations of the declaration.

“Australia is already delivering on our commitment to reverse the net loss of forests and was one of three APEC economies to actually grow our forest area from 2007-2020,” he said.

“Shutting down forestry, as the WA and Victorian Labor governments have done, will only lead to the importation of unsustainable timber to Australia.

“Sustainable forestry management ultimately leads to better carbon abatement outcomes and Australia is leading the way in this area.”

Speaking on Australia’s commitment to the declaration this week, Mr Morrison said it was all about “promoting sustainable management of forests” and reducing deforestation.

“Forestry and forest products can play a vital role in the carbon they capture and store,” he said.

It’s a point Mr Hampton said the International Panel on Climate Change had backed by arguing sustainable native forestry as practices, such as those used in Australia, played a key role in capturing carbon.

The United Nation’s definition of deforestation is “the conversion of forested areas to non-forest land use such as arable land, urban use, logged area or wasteland”.