FOREST ECONOMICS CONGRESS TO EXPLORE THE VALUE OF TASMANIA’S FORESTS
Tasmania’s forests will be the topic of conversation at a Congress hosted by the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) in late November. Sparked by a question from Mona’s Kirsha Kaechele—what is the value of Tasmania’s forest today?—the Forest Economics Congress will bring together 120 leaders, innovators and thinkers to try to answer it.
Drawing on expertise from the fields of science, economics, industry, community (regional and First Nations), conservation, policy, the arts (and more), over three days the delegates will consider the significant and specific value of forests and how they can benefit Tasmanian communities.
Kirsha Kaechele says:
‘I’ve decided to pose a question: what is the actual value of Tasmania’s forest? And how can this value be translated into outcomes that work for the state as a whole, with longevity? I don’t have the answers, obviously. Luckily, some of the smartest people in the world are joining forces at our Congress this November to employ the best scientific, economic strategy—beyond political and cultural lines—and to imagine an optimal future, one that includes everyone. What I find truly exciting is that Tasmania has the opportunity to establish a model with global relevance. We are small enough for this to be achievable; our problems are surmountable. If we succeed, the whole world could look to Tasmania for the blueprint—a unique, bespoke, cultural approach to forestry.’
We are living in a time of great change—soaring costs of living for communities, rising temperatures, imminent environmental threats and changed policy settings all impacting the forest and logging sectors in Australia and worldwide. The Forest Economics Congress presents a timely opportunity to think differently about forests in the state, while sustaining rural and regional Tasmania.
Underpinned by a principle of no preconceived ideas, the Congress is intended as an occasion for genuine conversation and is, importantly, not about shutting down Tasmania’s native forestry industry. A politics-free zone, the Congress takes a science and economics-based approach to examining how to get the best value from forests for all Tasmanians.
Delegates will consider a wealth of topics—such as natural capital, enhanced livelihoods, community and regional development, investment opportunities, land use planning and management, biodiversity protection, culture and tourism—and discuss opportunities for Tasmania. Outcomes will be presented to the community and policy-makers.
With Mona as venue, the delegates will participate in a curated experience like no other.
The Forest Economics Congress will take place 28–29–30 November 2023.
Hear more from Kirsha Kaechele in a blog post here.
About Kirsha KaecheleKirsha Kaechele is an artist and curator at Mona (Museum of Old and New Art), and founder of Material Institute—her charity with branches in two countries—New Orleans, USA, and lutruwita / Tasmania, Australia. She is interested in the space where complex problems exist, and places transformation at the heart of her work. For Kaechele, problems are a medium for art.Her projects include: 24 Carrot—building kitchen gardens in low-income schools and communities; CA$H 4 GUN$—a conceptual artwork in the form of a gun buyback scheme in New Orleans; Heavy Metal—an art-science initiative hellbent on cleansing timtumili minanya (River Derwent) of heavy metal contaminants; Ladies Who Jump—a philanthropically minded annual skinny dip in the depths of winter; and Eat the Problem—a super-deluxe food and art compendium featuring a series of ‘recipes’ using invasive species (both real and surreal) with an accompanying exhibition at Mona that featured the world’s largest glockenspiel, tuned to the frequency of the Earth. She is currently investigating and investing in forests globally.
