Labor's timber plan angers conservationists

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

The conservation movement is disappointed at Labor's decision to rule out further protection for high value and old growth forests in Tasmania.

Labor leader Kevin Rudd's $20 million policy confirms both the Tasmanian Regional and Community Forest Agreements, provides money for skills and industry development and a fund for new downstream processing.

But while conservationists are angry, it has been welcomed by the state government, timber industry, and Scott McLean, from the Forestry, Mining and Energy Union.

"It will be very useful in respect to development of a whole series of things, not least of which is skills and research into how global warming and things will impact, or may impact on the forest industry, I think a very useful package," he said.

Sourced from ABC.