Proposals to restrict permanent exotic forests in the ETS in response to concerns about the impacts on the environment and rural communities from these forests prompted Government to further investigate changes to the permanent forest category.
Our feedback reiterated some of the key points raised in our submission on the proposed changes to the ETS forestry settings. We noted our support for strengthening rural communities through on-farm diversification with a right tree, right place and right purpose approach. We strongly believe any changes to the permanent forestry category must support rural communities and the underlying rural economics.