Minister Proposes ETS Forestry Changes

While the ETS Review discussion on forestry is limited in scope it appears more significant proposals will be released over the next 12 months.

Associate Minister for Primary Industries Jo Goodhew released a press statement yesterday to coincide with the ETS review outlining some of these changes such as:

• accounting methodologies for post-1989 foresters, including averaging, harvested wood products, and emissions from adverse events;
• the exemption provisions for tree weeds for pre-1990 forests;
• the transfer of participation for post-1989 forestry; and
• the penalty and prosecution regime.
  

Both averaging and harvested wood products could have a significant impact on the attractiveness of carbon forestry by reducing the amount of carbon liability to be repaid upon harvest and reducing perceived risk.

The Press Release can be read here.