Victoria’s forest industries are a catalyst for fighting climate change: they create essential renewable products and support communities and jobs.
Today, 30 August 2022, is Australia’s Inaugural National Forestry Day – a day to celebrate the great work forestry in Victoria does. From growing millions of trees that absorb carbon to making renewable products, creating new jobs, and supporting communities, we should celebrate the contribution of Victoria’s forestry companies, Deb Kerr, CEO of the Victorian Forest Products Association, said today.
Across Victoria, forest industries are responsible for:
- planting 15 million new trees every year
- supplying Victoria with essential and renewable products, such as house frames and structural timber, furniture and floorboards, sanitary products, and cardboard packaging
- supporting up to 115,000 businesses across our supply chains
- $7.6 billion direct sales – 33% of the national primary and secondary manufacturing
Deb Kerr said Victorian wood and wood fibre products often fly under the radar, but every Victorian needed them.
“Our homes are full of wood products. From the house frame to the timber floors and benchtops, through to cardboard boxes, we cannot live without forestry!
“We should be proud that aside from creating these essential products, Victoria’s forest industries are helping fight climate change, with trees absorbing carbon as they grow and locking it up in wood products.
“Forestry is also responsible for careful land and forest management and stewardship, while Australia’s native forest industries are the most highly regulated and sustainable on earth. Every tree we harvest is replaced and regenerated.
“This National Forestry Day, let’s celebrate all that’s good about Victorian forestry and be proud of the environmental, economic and social contribution they make state- and nationwide,” Ms Kerr concluded.
ENDS