29 April 2010
DAFF10/426B

The University of Tasmania, the CSIRO and GHD have been offered funding from the Rudd Government to help address the impacts of climate change on our forest industries.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke today announced the offers under the Government’s Forest Industries Climate Change Research Fund.

Twenty projects have been offered support to-date under the research fund, which was an election commitment to help address major knowledge gaps about the impact of climate change on Australia’s forestry and forest industries.

The University of Tasmania has been offered $149,966 to investigate the impact of climate change on forest biosecurity and pests.

A grant of $509,936 has been offered to the CSIRO to develop tools to help the forestry sector  identify ways for managing the impact of climate change on the mortality of plantation species.

GHD Australia has been offered $300,000 to research the impact of climate change on plantation bushfire risk factors.

Mr Burke said climate change has significant implications for our forests and forest industries and we need to ensure these industries are prepared for the future.

“The Government recognises the importance of Australia’s forest industries to our economy, and particularly to the economic growth of regional communities,” Mr Burke said.

“Australia’s forestry and forest products industries turn over around $23 billion annually.”

For more information on the grants go to www.daff.gov.au/ficcrf.