NSW Farmers has welcomed the state government’s changes to private native forestry codes to ensure what they say is the long term sustainability of this important component of land management.
The new Farm Forestry Codes of Practice will help farmers manage their native forests with certainty, according to NSW Farmers Conservation and Resource Management Committee Chair Bronwyn Petrie. ‘Years have been lost for rural landowners to manage their native forests while the process has been tied up in unnecessary red tape and restrictions,’ said Mrs Petrie.
‘The new codes recognise the responsible management of timber on private land, and seek to take away the outdated and cumbersome regulations that have stifled the opportunities to develop this important agricultural land management activity.
A critical shortage of timber
‘With the critical shortage of timber in NSW, we welcome the release of these new codes of practice designed to facilitate this important agricultural industry.’
Private Native Forestry was a sustainable and beneficial way to manage private land and contribute to local farming and supporting industries, Mrs Petrie said. ‘However, there is still work to be done to ensure these on-farm activities reached their potential.
‘There is a critical need for timber supplies in NSW and importing from overseas is not in anyone’s interests.
‘We need development of the codes to increase the flexibility of operations to benefit new technology and practice in the industry, and I think the Forest Stewardship Plans will be an important addition.
Mr Petrie said that ultimately, with this opportunity comes an obligation on the NSW Government to significantly increase funding and staffing levels to Local Land Services to maximise the use of the codes and the economic and environmental outcomes that can be derived.
The new codes come into effect on Monday, May 2.
Let’s face it the ‘good’ol Aussie farmer’ couldn’t give a rat’s about the environment.
If it can’t be burnt, poisoned or shot then they scream blue murder till the government steps in to launch their genocide policies.
That is how they accomplished the extinction of the Thylacine, Warrigal Dingo, Emu and Species too numerous to mention, and now they are doubling down to eliminate any struggling to survive remnants, and the Koala in particular.
No trees, no bears, no worries !
Though “the critical shortage of timber in NSW” has been created by indiscriminate logging and total ignorance, now that is to be even more enthusiastically taken up by this crop of ruthless red-necks.
It’s a sick , sad World ! G”)
We are totally going to let you starve Ken. No goats for you!
I’ll just point out that Emus are nowhere near extinct and that Dingoes are an invasive foreign species.
I suspect you don’t understand why we burn, poison, and shoot things to maintain the environment.
If you are talking about the strip mining style farming that’s currently going on across the country, I suggest you ask President Xi why he is doing it. He is putting us out of business.
You may also want to look into why the destructive industrial farming protocols had to be put in place by 1985. Read a book called “The population bomb”.
No Christian, the ‘good’ol Aussie farmer’ is the most destructive invasive foreign species.
So you are welcome to keep your goats, I prefer the Dingos. Please rest assured we understand perfectly the ignorance, greed and lack of any common decency, that compels some to desecrate our magnificent environment. The attempt to implicate President Xi in the deliberation of your actions is beyond pathetic and this sort of self justification must logically lead you into competition with Putin in his mission of destruction.
Any acceptance of your “destructive industrial farming protocols ” renders any claim of responsible land-use to the pile of garbage that tries to validate genocide anywhere.
Population increase is about as valid as GDP, as any measure of progress.
Cheers, G”)
Maybe Ken’s experience of farmers has been poisoned by a personal traumatic experience with one or two rogues ?
His view is not the only picture.
I met many hundreds of landowners, farmers and graziers over my 25yrs of rural work, here locally and on the NE Tablelands, NW Slopes and Plains. All of them without exception had a keen awareness of native flora and flora and were true Conservationists in the best sense of the word.
They loved their properties and were often 3rd and 4th generation owners, wishing to hand over their properties in better condition to the next generation in the future.
Rob, I’m calling BS. You have an idealised view of farmers.
Coming from a farming background with over three decades on the land I don’t recognise your description of these “hundreds of landowners & farmers”. Few local farmers, if any, could identify &/or name all the local flora on their farms, or the birds & animals that visit, let alone know how they should be managed. Few are actively involved in landcare, reafforestation or habitat creation. The ones I know – & have tried to work with & educate for decades, including dozens of 3rd & 4th generation – still dislike trees & wildlife, & believe all water & the river is theirs to harvest, & trees do nothing but take up “valuable”pasture space, & roos & wallabies eat profits despite evidence to the contrary. A stand of remnant vegetation is just something to provide shade for cattle, unless it has hardwood species to be harvested. Get real. I would estimate less than 10% of farmers care about the natural environment
On a farm , Leave the hills , clear the flats , plant more plantations on the eroded flats and unused cleared flat land. At least 50 ft either side of the creek to be left . 100 ft would be better . Don’t overstock . Keep the cattle out of the creek. Move them around a lot so they don’t get worms and the pasture has a chance to grow back. Electric fence is great for this. ……….. In the steep bush , especially a mountain, just leave it. Get outa there . If you don’t , you’ll regret it 5 – 10 years later with erosion and fire hazard . Tall , thick bush with less trees per acre , big old trees , and a good shady canopy and a healthy understory , fire stays on the ground. Doesn’t go up into the canopy . A slow cold fire put through this every 5 to 10 years or so keeps it safe and healthy … .. Eg: Tathra .. … Open slather , butcherous logging on steep hilly country promotes fast grow back of fire hazard trees such as black butt. Drop enormous amounts of bark and branches . Skinny tall trees a telegraph pole thick , 60 ft tall in 20 to 30 years . Many many per acre. Weedy , crammed in unnaturally. Saplings . That’s all they are. To much sap wood . Only suitable for wood chip. Not much building timber in them. Not even a good pole . Termites love them and a known extreme fire hazard. Let’s the light in the understory so bracken fern grows . Large amounts . The worst bushfire hazard. Eg: State forest South of Eden . …. I wonder if it’s possible that if wild fire comes off wrongly and poorly managed state forest , races across the paddock , and it burns down my house , yards and sheds , fences , could forest Corp pay for a new one. Or the state gov. Only fair… They’re the ones that caused it. …. Politics ,, they’re playing politics with our lives. .. And well meaning people get sucked in by the blatant rhetoric. Dog whistling . Politicians are so good at it.