
The wood and the trees
15 Oct 2020
Outback Magazine - Jill Griffiths
Forestry in Australia has been, and continues to be, a controversial land use. Divisiveness over forests – whether they should be preserved or used – runs deep. That very divisiveness is a source of frustration to some people who are working hard to find a way forward.
Take Rowan Reid for example. Rowan came from a farming background and studied forest science, working as an academic and researcher for 20 years before returning to the farm. He has recently written a book “Heartwood – The art and science of growing trees for conservation and profit. In it he writes, “I want to do forestry in a way that’s attractive to farmers…. We need trees in the landscape.”