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Timber Supplier in Brisbane Reminds Customers: “Always Buy Ethical, Sustainable Timber”

Announcement posted by Narangba Timbers 27 Jun 2016

Timber supplier reveals how unethical logging in native forests can affect people in Brisbane and across Australia.
Brisbane, QLD, 27 June 2016 - Recently, a group of 30 environmental organisations prepared a 50-page report about the impact of Regional Forestry Agreements (RFA’s) on Australian forests. These agreements between state and federal governments were signed during a four year period between 1997 and 2001. They gave loggers the right to log designated Australian native forests without having to submit an application to the Federal Government, as mandated under the Federal Government under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.

When these agreements were signed, they were touted as good for everyone. Supposedly, timber communities and the timber industry would both benefit from the absence of “red tape” and the “consistency” it would bring to the business. They were seen as a way to help guarantee sustainable harvesting and conservation of Australian forests.

However, according to the report, the RFA’s have failed to accomplish any of their original purposes. For numerous reasons, there have been unintended consequences. These include the near extinction of many endangered species, contribution to climate change and loss of revenue to the state. In addition, trees haven’t always been replanted as they were supposed to.

How Sustainable Forestry Works

On plantations, trees are harvested at an age when they are ready for replacement and new trees are planted to take their place. This retains the integrity of the plantation’s negative carbon footprint and ensures that wildlife in forest areas won’t have their ecosystem disrupted by deforestation.

Contribution to climate change is measured by the amount of carbon that is released into the environment. Carbon is an important element of greenhouse gases which affect the ozone layer, contributing to climate change. When humans and animals breathe, they use oxygen and exhale carbon. Trees do the opposite, which makes them symbiotic to other life on the planet; they consume carbon and “exhale” oxygen.

Trees store carbon by turning it into timber cells. This is why they are seen as having a “negative” carbon footprint. When trees are harvested sustainably and ethically, they are harvested when they have already stored as much carbon as they need and their process has slowed down. When they are harvested and turned into timber, they are replaced by newly-planted trees, which starts the cycle of carbon storage all over again.

Why These Timber Suppliers Object to RFA’s

Jack Kyle is the owner of Narangba Timbers: timber suppliers in Brisbane. According to Mr Kyle:

“In theory, these agreements would work great for everybody. However, in real life, it hasn’t worked that way. While most people in the business are honest, hard-working people, some companies have taken shortcuts. This has resulted in the unethical harvesting of timber.”

Mr Kyle concluded: “We demand ethically sourced and sustainable timber. We have a responsibility to our children and their children to make sure they have a liveable world in 50 years. That only happens with responsible and sustainable forestry.”

Narangba Timbers are timber suppliers in Brisbane. They carry a full line of timber for construction and home projects, including timber flooring, timber fencing and timber decking. All of their timber is obtained from sustainable, ethical sources. To learn more, call their Brisbane facility on (07) 3888 1293 or visit their website: http://www.narangbatimbers.com.au/.