General News
5 November, 2025
Give forests back to people
ECOLOGIST and sustainable forestry advocate Dr Dan Collins is calling for a new approach to conservation with the launch of the ‘People’s Forest Movement’.
The grassroots initiative seeks to reconnect communities with forests and reimagine how Australia manages its natural resources.
Speaking at Sugarworld Adventure Park, Dr Collins described the project as a blend of traditional land use and modern environmental science.
“We used to have a state forest system where people could harvest timber, honey and other forest products sustainably,” he said.
“Then that was taken away and both conservation and communities suffered.”
The People’s Forest Movement proposes two models: one centred on restoring and managing native forests with controlled harvesting of timber, honey, bush foods and medicines. The other focused on agroforestry, combining agriculture and tree crops such as vanilla, balsa wood, teak and custard apples.
Dr Collins said these methods could diversify local economies and create “thousands of permanent jobs” for North Queenslanders in planting, seed collection and forest maintenance.
“The end of the timber industry really damaged communities in North Queensland,” he said.
“If we allow sustainable harvesting of forest products and plant new high-value timbers, we could rebuild regional towns and provide stable livelihoods for local people instead of relying on seasonal tourism.”
Dr Collins also emphasised collaboration with First Nations rangers and landowners.
“A forest-based system is far more sustainable than paddocks of sugarcane or bananas,” he said. “These landscapes can support timber, food, medicine and culture, and they can lock away vast amounts of carbon.”
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