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| Australian Forest Growers Association | |
|---|---|
| Name | Australian Forest Growers Association |
| Formation | 19XX |
| Type | Non-profit |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Region served | Australia |
| Membership | Private forest growers |
Australian Forest Growers Association is an Australian peak body representing private plantation owners, small-scale timber producers, and landholders engaged in tree growing and silviculture. The association engages with stakeholders across forestry, conservation, and rural industries, interacting with actors in the timber supply chain such as the Forestry Corporation of NSW, the Tasmanian Timber Promotion Board, and national bodies like the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics. Its activities overlap with policy debates involving the Commonwealth of Australia, state parliaments, and industry regulators such as the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
The association traces origins to regional tree-grower cooperatives formed alongside movements like the Australian Forest Products Association and the National Farmers' Federation during the late 20th century, with antecedents linked to colonial timber companies, the Tasmanian Forestry Commission, and post-war land-settlement schemes. Over time it responded to shifts introduced by the Howard Government's natural resource policies, the Murray-Darling Basin Plan discussions, and international frameworks such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, aligning tree-growing interests with carbon-market developments overseen by the Clean Energy Regulator. The organization evolved amid controversies involving the Australian Greens, state environment departments, and landmark inquiries like those pursued by the Productivity Commission and state royal commissions into land use.
The association’s mission emphasizes sustainable plantation management, rural community development, and value-chain enhancement, connecting to institutions like the CSIRO, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, and universities such as the University of Tasmania and the Australian National University. Objectives include promoting best-practice silviculture influenced by research from the Bureau of Meteorology, supporting biosecurity standards coordinated with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and advancing market access tied to trade agreements negotiated through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It also focuses on climate mitigation pathways compatible with reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and standards by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission for corporate disclosure.
Membership comprises private forest growers, family-owned enterprises, timber companies, and regional cooperatives that interact with bodies like the Australian Forest Products Association, the Timber Merchants Association, and peak agricultural groups such as AgForce. Governance structures mirror not-for-profit models registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission and comply with state corporate regulators like the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, with oversight comparable to boards in organisations such as the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. Leadership often includes directors with backgrounds linked to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, state forestry agencies, and research institutes including the Australian National University and Charles Sturt University.
Programs address plantation establishment, extension services, and silvicultural training, sometimes delivered in partnership with technical providers like ForestWorks and training organisations recognised by the Australian Skills Quality Authority. Activities feature workshops drawing on expertise from the CSIRO, the Bureau of Meteorology, and university forestry departments, and field days coordinated with state departments such as the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (Victoria) and Primary Industries and Regions SA. The association runs demonstration sites that reference models used by the Forest Stewardship Council, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, and industry initiatives promoted by the Australian Forest Products Association.
The association advocates on policy issues including carbon sequestration schemes administered by the Clean Energy Regulator, land-use planning matters debated in state parliaments such as the Parliament of New South Wales and the Parliament of Victoria, and trade policies negotiated with partners via the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It engages with environmental NGOs such as the Australian Conservation Foundation and collaborates with peak bodies like the National Farmers' Federation to influence inquiries by the Productivity Commission and submissions to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The group participates in consultations linked to international instruments like the Paris Agreement and domestic legislative processes in the Federal Parliament.
The association produces technical bulletins, policy briefings, and grower guides drawing on research from CSIRO forestry programs, university forestry departments including the University of Melbourne and the University of Queensland, and thematic reports paralleling outputs from the Bureau of Meteorology and the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics. Publications often cite best-practice standards from the Forest Stewardship Council and case studies similar to those published by the Australian Forestry Standard and the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, and contribute evidence to panels convened by institutions like the Australian National University.
Collaborations span research partnerships with CSIRO, extension linkages with state agencies such as Forestry Corporation of NSW and the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, and joint initiatives with industry associations including the Australian Forest Products Association and the Timber Queensland. The association works with conservation organisations like the Australian Conservation Foundation and engages in multi-stakeholder forums convened by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, participating alongside universities such as the University of Tasmania and applied research centres like the Centre for International Forestry Research.
Category:Forestry in Australia Category:Non-profit organisations based in Australia