A new report shows there has been a growth of 1000 full-time equivalent jobs in the forestry industry over three years even though the overall sector now represents just 1.6 per cent of total jobs in Tasmania.
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This is compared to 5 per cent a decade ago.
Resources Minister Guy Barnett took the data presented in the 2017 State of the Forests report as evidence the sector was rebounding but the Greens believed the figures did not add up.
The report stated in May 2016, there were 3658 full-time equivalent people employed in the forestry sector.
Resources Minister Guy Barnett said the document confirmed that forest productions and jobs had grown under the last government term.
"With wood being increasingly recognised worldwide as one of the most environment and climate-friendly products to use in building and a range of uses, we should be proud of being one of the world’s most responsible and sustainable producers of timber products," Mr Barnett said.
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showed there were less than 2500 people in the sector.
She said though the industry had grown in the plantation sector, it had declined in the native forest area.
The report noted that the private hardwood plantation pulpwood production had increased from about 200,000 tonnes in 2011 to 1.7 million tonnes in 2016.
This increased its value tenfold to $149 million.
The report stated a 31-per-cent decline in the native forest sector between 2011 and 2013, particularly in the rural areas.
“However, since 2013 there has been an increase in employment in the sector, bringing benefits for rural communities that depend on the forest sector,” the report said.
Total annual production of wood products from Tasmanian forests and plantations over five years from 2011 averaged 3.2 million tonnes a year, according to the report.
This was a 41-per-cent decrease from 5.4 million a year from the five years prior.
Mr Barnett said the quantity of wood produced from Tasmania’s forests in 2015-16 was 4.4 million tonnes.
Woodchips continued to be the state’s main wood product export at 76 per cent of the volume leaving the state. The report was launched on Monday at the three-day Forest Practices Authority conference.