Festival focus on managed forests

FORESTRY Tasmania will be centre stage at the Australia’s leading indigenous cultural event, the Yothu Yindi Foundation Garma Festival of traditional culture, from August 6-10.

The Arnhem Land festival is considered Australia’s leading cultural exchange event and attracts media attention from around the country. It only not only involves a colourful and vibrant presentation of indigenous culture but also aims to develop economic opportunities through education, training, employment and enterprise and community development.

Forestry Tasmania has been working with the Gumatj people of east Arnhem Land to establish a sustainable timber industry which includes harvesting and milling timber, housing construction, furniture making and training in Nhulunbuy and Wadeye.

 FT Managing Director Bob Gordon will be a keynote speaker at the major Garma Festival forum which has the theme Indigenous Education and Training – Looking to the Future.

“I’ll talk about the potential of managed forests for employment, carbon capture and self determination,” Mr Gordon said.

FT will also be a central part of the action with a working display of the Lucas mill by local workers and furniture making workshops and one of the outstanding tables made from local timber will be on display.

“It will give other local landowners the opportunity to see whether they would like to start similar projects,” Mr Gordon said.

“They will also have the opportunity to travel to view the houses being built through the project.”