Regional forum encourages community input into State Greenhouse Strategy

9/8/02
A community forum held in Northam today was another step towards the development of a comprehensive greenhouse strategy for Western Australia, Environment and Heritage Minister Dr Judy Edwards said.
The Land Management and Sequestration Forum, organised by the State Greenhouse Taskforce, covered a wide range of issues relating to the development of a State greenhouse strategy, including the State Government's new carbon rights legislation.
Dr Edwards and Agriculture and Forestry Minister Kim Chance both spoke at the forum, which also included a discussion panel and question and answer session.
Dr Edwards said the forum aimed to provide information on the current initiatives being developed as part of the greenhouse strategy, as well as encouraging community input into how the final plan should proceed.
"The State Government has already introduced legislation before Parliament to tackle greenhouse issues - with a ground-breaking carbon rights bill aimed at encouraging 'green' investment in the State, particularly within WA's plantation industry," she said.
"Today's public forum is part of a series of stakeholder meetings organised by the taskforce to foster community debate and interest in the development of this key strategy - which will have important outcomes for the State."
Agricultural and Forestry Minister Kim Chance told the forum there were innovative opportunities for the agricultural and forestry sectors to make strong contributions to emissions abatement, through carbon sequestration on agricultural and pastoral land and the development of bio-energy sources, including bio-diesel and woody biomass.
"Plantations, established on cleared farmland, provide a superb opportunity for the creation of carbon sinks in WA," Mr Chance said.
"Not only do we have the knowledge to establish and maintain extensive areas of plantations, but we also have the need to assist in the battle against salinity in the State's Wheatbelt.
"The Forest Products Commission is currently establishing maritime pines, eucalypts and other species in salinity-prone areas.
"As an example, three million hectares of maritime pine could accumulate a carbon sink of almost 1.2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide over a 50 year period. This is equivalent to 2.6 times Australia's total 1999 emissions."
Other speakers at the forum included Dr David Ugalde from the Australian Greenhouse Office, Rachel Siewert of the Conservation Council of WA and Gary English of the WA Farmers' Federation.
Environment Minister's office: 9220 5050
Agriculture Minister's office: 9213 6700