State and Federal Forestry Ministers in Launceston in October

Senator the Hon Anne Ruston, Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources will officially open the Australian Forest Growers National Conference 2016 running from 23 – 26 October in Launceston, Tasmania. Internationally recognised key note speakers include Professor Barry Brook, Chair of Environmental Sustainability and Professor Ted Lefroy, Director, Centre for Environment, both from the University of Tasmania, as well as David Evans, Senior Director Marketing, New Forests Timber Products.

The Hon. Guy Barnett, MP, Minister for Resources, Tasmanian Government, will address the Welcome Function before the international premier of ‘Agroforestry in Australia’.

Dr Kevin Harding, National President said, ‘The Conference helps landholders manage their forests for a wide range of conservation and production benefits while achieving the wider environmental and social values that the community now expects.’

In 1803 tree harvesting purportedly began in Tasmania after 40 000 years of sustainable land management by indigenous peoples.  Today, over 50 per cent of Tasmanian forests are in reserves on both public and private land.  Private land holders in Tasmania are arguably some of the best contemporary land mangers on Earth as they strive to sustainably manage their native forests and plantations on a landscape scale for complementary objectives including Landcare, conservation, environmental services, recreation, agriculture and timber. 

Australia’s major National Forestry Conference run by Australian Forest Growers (AFG) exposes these practices and current learnings. 

Delegates can now attend single events and or just a one-day field tour or the full three-day Conference.  The tours, hosted by individual and company leaders in agriculture, native forest and plantation management, conservation and restoration, planning, harvesting, timber production and manufacture, exhibit the best Tasmania has to offer the world.

A Conference highlight not to be missed will be the showcasing on the finalists and presentation of the National Tree Farmer of the Year Award at the Conference Dinner.

This is a unique opportunity to see, hear and learn from Australia’s leading farmers/private forest growers, scientists and industry.  Full Conference details and registration options are at http://www.afg.asn.au/

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Media Contact: Kevin Harding, President Australian Forest Growers Tel: 0410 471 957