Learning to handle forest management in a drying climate has been a central theme to a visit this week to the Green Triangle region by a French forestry delegation.
The visit has been prompted by the challenges faced by the French forest industry including unprecedented fires during the 2022 northern summer and the impacts of increasing temperatures and low rainfall.
The French delegation including forestry experts, independent foresters, administrators and researchers have been visiting the Green Triangle as part of a broader national tour to seek a greater understanding of forest management including fire management following the 2019–2020 Black Summer bushfire.
The delegation met the Minister for Forest Industries, Clare Scriven which included a discussion on the State Government’s recently announced $2 million upgrade of the Green Triangle’s fire observation towers and the $15 million 10-year investment towards the Forestry Centre of Excellence at Mount Gambier.
The Centre will be a central hub that focuses on innovation, sustainability and the creation of new market opportunities from Australia and across the globe.
With the similarities in management approaches and risk profiles in the forest industries of France and Australia, the study tour presents opportunities for future collaborative learning.
The delegation comprised 35 representatives from government and non-government bodies dealing with wide-ranging forestry matters in France, including policymaking, research and community engagement.
The delegation was led by Pascal Mayer, General Director GROUPAMA Forêts Assurances.
