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USC to lead forestry climate change project
A collaborative forestry project, led by the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC), is set to tackle the effects of climate change head on after receiving almost $1.9 million from the State Government.
State Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle today announced the funding for the Smart Forests Alliance Queensland (SFAQ) project which will use world-leading biotechnology to speed up production of trees that are best able to absorb carbon from the air.
Alliance partners are the University of the Sunshine Coast, CSIRO, the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, the Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines, Integrated Tree Cropping Ltd and Forest Enterprises Australia Ltd.
USC Associate Professor Helen Wallace said the alliance brought together all the players in forestry in northern Australia to scientifically speed up the production of fast-growing Queensland tropical and sub-tropical plantation trees.
Dr Wallace said the $5.5million project would have numerous benefits, including climate change mitigation through sequestration of carbon, increasing forestry investment in Queensland, and building rural and regional industries.
“The alliance will leapfrog Queensland to the forefront of tropical and subtropical forest biotechnology and attract the booming plantation investment sector to Queensland,” she said.
“It also will produce environmental benefits such as environmentally-safe plantations.”
Dr Wallace said she was working closely with USC plant scientist Dr Stephen Trueman, Dr David Lee of the DPI&F, and Jeremy Brawner of the CSIRO on the project.
“This ramps up research that we have been doing with our partners for a long time. We’re really building on our expertise in forestry and climate change,” she said.
“We’re ecstatic about the State Government funding. It’s a really strong team and we’re really pleased to have the support to tackle climate change with fast growing trees.”
— Terry Walsh