The Australian forestry industry will promote the use of biomass for energy production, with the aim to diversify the sector to increase profitability.
Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Anne Ruston chaired the sixth annual Forest Industry Advisory Council meeting last week.
She said the industry recognised a need to take a “less traditional approach” to forestry into the future.
Ms Ruston said foresters would seek to develop markets for timber and biomass products to be used as renewable energy resources.
“The industry is very keen to pursue a bio-based economy for forestry to make sure that we are maximising the opportunity for all of the parts of the tree,” she said.
“The industry is very keen to move into this renewable energy space.”
Ms Ruston said using timber as fuel for energy production would make forestry “sustainable into the future”.
WA Plantation Resources (WAPRES) chief executive officer Ian Telfer said foresters were already on the hunt for new markets that would import timber for energy production.
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