Media Release

27 June 2014
CSIRO must rethink abandoning forestry science
The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) today called on CSIRO Chief Executive Officer Dr
Megan Clark to rule out axing forestry science as the organisation seeks major staff reductions driven
by Government budget measures.
AFPA Chief Executive Officer Mr Ross Hampton said, CSIRO management is clearly being forced to
grapple with a very challenging budget environment. However if reports of the complete, or near
complete, abandonment of forest related research are true, this would be a profound mistake and a
black day for Australia.
Forest and forest products research has already borne more than its fair share of the burden of CSIRO
funding cuts. In 1985 there were more than 320 staff working in this area. By 2005 the number had
shrunk to some 170. Cut after cut has reduced that to just 33 scientists in 2014.
If CSIRO now effectively abandons this field altogether it will be doing the national interest a grave
disservice.
All over the globe it has been recognised that we built the 19th century with steel, the 20th century
with concrete but the 21st century is seeing the resurgence of timber. There is just no choice for a
carbon constrained, resource constrained, and yet rapidly growing global population.
There is more construction forecast for the coming forty years than has occurred in all of human
history to date. Australia's competitor nations have realised that far from being simply a heritage
industry, forestry and timber products research, is a vital part of the future. In Canada, Chile, New
Zealand, Finland and elsewhere they are surging their forestry research to drive more productivity
from their fibre resources and making transformational breakthroughs in areas such as bio fuels and
bio plastics.
Unless CSIRO changes course Australia will look back on this decision with great regret.
Our best and brightest tree scientists, including those who have helped us understand the vital role
forests play in carbon capture and storage and those who have revolutionised the productivity of our
forest centres thereby underpinning communities in Mouth Gambier, Tasmania, Gippsland, Albany,
South East Queensland will soon be packing their bags to take the jobs in Canada, Chile, Vietnam and
China.
As Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in March, "We want the timber industry to be a vital part of
Australia's economic future, not just something that was a relic of our history. That's what this
Government wants", said Mr Hampton.
Picture Editor Note: AFPA CEO will hand-deliver letter to CSIRO at Limestone Ave Canberra at 12.30 arriving on a
timber framed racing bike called The Carbon Cycle
AFPA represents forest growers, harvesters, and manufacturers of timber and paper products.
Media contact: Nigel Catchlove,
AFPA Communications Manager 0419 428 646
nigel.catchlove@ausfpa.com.au www.ausfpa.com.au

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