AFG

TreeSmart is pleased to be teaming with Australian Forest Growers with the introduction of a new AFG-TreeSmart program.

AFG and TreeSmart have mutual interests in providing services and opportunities for farm foresters in Australia. AFG has long been the first point of call for farm foresters seeking information or assistance in establishing or developing farm forestry plantations. TreeSmart has developed a growing reputation for representing the interests of small farm foresters in the emerging issues associated with carbon offsets and the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS). TreeSmart remains the only carbon offset organisation in Australia dealing in plantations that are destined for eventual harvesting.

In the past few years, AFG and TreeSmart have developed a working relationship on several fronts. TreeSmart presented a paper on carbon sequestration at the AFG 2006 Conference in Launceston, and have also had several articles published in the AFG magazine. TreeSmart also offset the travel emissions associated with delegates travelling to the 2006 AFG Conference, and have offered the same sponsorship for the 2008 Conference in Albury.

AFG have recently launched a web portal, MarkeTree, which will provide an online resource for Australian forest growers in a number of different areas, including carbon offset trading. Discussions between TreeSmart and AFG have indicated that a collaborative undertaking may be a good way to handle the carbon offset trading activities, with mutual benefits for AFG, TreeSmart and Australian forest growers.

The AFG-TreeSmart program was formally launched at the AFG 2008 National Conference held in Albury in October 2008.