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Forester and landscape ecologist whose field surveys helped secure the Wet Tropics World Heritage listing, Dr Peter Stanton AM PSM, has been made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the King’s Birthday 2026 Honours List. Source: Timberbiz The national honour comes just months after Forestry Australia awarded Dr Stanton the NW Jolly Medal for a career spanning more than five decades advancing forest science, particularly in Queensland’s tropical forests and the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. “Peter Stanton’s career shows that foresters have led conservation in Australia for generations,” said Forestry Australia CEO Jacquie Martin. “A respected member of Forestry Australia for 60 years, Peter has shown lifelong commitment to the nation’s forests. “When we presented Peter with the NW Jolly Medal last year, we recognised more than five decades of work that transformed the understanding and conservation of Queensland’s forests and landscapes. Seeing that contribution recognised more broadly is a proud moment for the profession.” Dr Stanton began his career with the Queensland Forestry Department before transferring to the National Parks branch in 1967. He later spent two decades as a senior scientist with the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service, moved to Cairns in 1979, and remained in Far North Queensland for the rest of his working life. In the 1960s and 1970s, his systematic surveys mapped ecosystems from the rainforests of Cape York Peninsula to the Wet Tropics between Townsville and Cooktown. His vegetation mapping of the Wet Tropics bioregion classified some 90,000 polygons across 4,000 aerial photographs into 250 distinct ecosystem types, each one verified on the ground. Published in 2005, the study has been described by the Wet Tropics Management Authority as the most comprehensive vegetation mapping ever undertaken in the region. Dr Stanton was the first Australian to receive the IUCN Fred M. Packard International Parks Merit Award in 1982. He later received the Public Service Medal in 1996, the Centenary Medal in 2001, and an honorary Doctor of Science from James Cook University in 2023, before receiving the NW Jolly Medal in 2025 and being appointed a Member of the Order of Australia this year. The 2026 Honours List recognised 949 Australians, including Adrian John Kloeden, former Chair of HVP Plantations and Sustainable Timber Tasmania.

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The Federal and Tasmanian governments have officially committed to work together towards a bilateral agreement to support sustainable forestry in Tasmania into the future. Source: Timberbiz From1 July 2027 environmental law reforms will bring forestry operations covered by Regional Forest Agreements (RFA) under Federal environmental regulation. Forestry operations in RFA regions will be required to meet national environmental standards, bringing the sector into line with all other industries, while supporting a sustainable and well-regulated future. Federal Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt has issued a Notice of Intention to develop a draft bilateral agreement that would accredit Tasmania’s forest management framework alongside new national environmental standards. “Formally commencing the bilateral negotiations marks a significant step forward in aligning Regional Forest Agreement forestry operations with the Australian Government’s landmark reformed national environment law, delivering stronger environmental protections alongside greater certainty for industry,” Senator Watt said. “We believe in a strong and environmentally sustainable future for Tasmania’s forestry industry, and these reforms will see the sector meet the same environmental standards we apply to every other industry across Australia. “We will be working with the Tasmanian Government over the coming months to develop and then formalise the bilateral agreement which will support the industry to operate in line with national environmental laws,” he said. “Once signed, a new bilateral agreement will support landscape-scale approval of forestry operations in Tasmania.” Tasmania’s Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, Felix Ellis said the State government welcomed the formal commitment to bilateral negotiations as an important step toward securing the long-term future of Tasmania’s sustainable forestry industry. “For decades, the Regional Forest Agreement has provided the foundation for a strong and sustainable forestry industry in Tasmania, supporting regional jobs, investment and responsible forest management,” Mr Ellis said. “It is important that accreditation of Tasmania’s Forest Practices System continues, providing strong environmental protections while avoiding unnecessary duplication and red tape. “We will continue working closely with the Australian Government to secure a practical and durable accreditation pathway that gives industry certainty, protects investment and ensures a sustainable source of timber products critical to our economy and future housing needs.” The Federal Government is working closely with all RFA states – Tasmania, New South Wales and Western Australia – to develop landscape-scale approvals for forestry under the reforms. To support this transition, the Australian Government announced $28 million over two years in the 2026-27 Budget to help states with RFAs align their forest management systems with new requirements under the national environment law. Up to $8.5 million is available to Tasmania to support this work, recognising the scale and importance of its public native forestry sector, alongside its plantation and private forestry industries. This funding builds on the Federal Government’s $600 million investment in the forestry sector since coming to government. This includes the recently announced $300 million Forestry Growth Fund which will help grow the forestry industry, support delivery of the Timber Fibre Strategy, and deliver long-term, sustainable impact to maximise forestry contributions to housing and net zero transformation. Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins, said the federal government would continue working closely with industry, unions and the Tasmanian Government to support Tasmania’s forestry industry and the jobs it supports. “We have already delivered a $300 million record investment to back Australia’s forestry industry, because we know the critical contribution forestry makes in Tasmania and across the country,” she said. “We are continuing to back the future of the industry with a new $300 million Forestry Growth Fund which will bring our total investment to $600 million.”

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