Forest Products Industry

Forestry Australia has poured water on the latest bushfire research that suggested prescribed burning could make Australian forests more flammable. Source: Timberbiz “Scientific consensus amongst bushfire scientists confirms that prescribed burning is a key tool in managing bushfires,” Forestry Australia Science Policy Adviser Dr Tony Bartlett (AFSM) said. “While there is no panacea for reducing the impacts of catastrophic bushfires, prescribed burning is a scientifically proven part of the solution. Simply, reduced fuel levels in forests will reduce the severity of bushfires on all bar the most catastrophic fire weather conditions. “Any criticism that prescribed burning can make Australian forests more flammable is misguided. Criticising prescribed burning is like dismissing the value of seat belts in cars because people still die in car accidents. Both seat belts and prescribed burns are highly beneficial most of the time. “Forestry Australia’s view is that using cool burning to reduce fuel hazards is critical to good forest fire management and very consistent with the way Aboriginal people managed these forests for thousands of years. “Reducing the risks from bushfires in forest areas should include well-planned, risk-based strategic programs of prescribed burning, silvicultural management, fuel breaks and track maintenance, with appropriate public consultation. “Importantly, Australia’s bushfire management is based on decades of on ground research and lived experience. While new ideas on how to improve bushfire management are always welcome, it is essential that untested theoretical concepts are carefully considered in light of the existing knowledge on how wildfires behave in Australian forests.” “Increased investment in prevention and preparedness is essential to achieving enhanced management of fire and to address the increased risk of more frequent and severe bushfires.”  Dr Bartlett added that “the claim that further investment in drone technologies can contain bushfires has not been proven.”  

New Zealand’s Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA) says it is hugely concerned about the viability of forestry contracting businesses in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle. Source: Rural News The organisation says pressure has been exacerbated by the cyclone which hit New Zealand in February 2023, but that pressure comes on the back of a tough three years characterised by Covid-19, fuel hikes, high inflation, and continuous wet weather. Compounding those issues are additional problems that are impacting the primary sector overall, including increased operational costs, staffing issues, market instability, and contractual issues. FICA spokesperson Ross Davis says the already low log price, which is expected to drop once again next month, will mean a reduction in harvest targets and cancelled contracts, something many cannot afford to endure. “A recent survey of our members showed a widespread reduction in production over the past year,” Davis says. He says 57% of respondents suggested their production had been reduced by 20% or more and 16% said their production was down by more than 30%. “When asked if they could survive at an 80% production level for a year, only 26% of respondents indicated that they could,” Davis says. He adds that currently, 21% of respondents do not have a current contract and a further 40% only have a one-year contract. Recently, two larger Gisborne-based contractors have ceased operations after operating in the region for 15-20 years, he says. “Each day we are getting phone calls that confirm more and more contractors are falling over. Our role at FICA does not stop at the forestry gate – we want to support our members.” Davis says that working with the wider industry and the Ministry of Social Development on subsidy schemes is imperative. He adds that FICA is working with the Ministry for Primary Industries, particularly Te Uru Rakau Forestry New Zealand to get better recognition at the Government level. Davis says the forestry sector is the third biggest contributor to NZ export earnings alongside dairy and meat, and there is concern for contractors, workers, families, and communities that rely on it for income. “We’re still seen as a turn-on, turn-off industry,” he says. “It’s not a blame game at all, but if we want logging contractors to be around in another 12-24 months then something needs to change now. “We employ thousands of people, and we cannot keep operating at a loss. Jobs will be lost. Homes will be lost. Communities will be lost,” he says. “Without enough contractors, the industry will really slow down and that is not something any of the sector groups want. It is a matter of becoming more business savvy and having a good partnership between contractor and principal with any negotiation being fair and demonstrating the sharing of the risk.”

Firewood, fence post and specialty timber cutters will be banned from harvesting standing and fallen timber from 5 February – five months ahead of the planned mid-year cut-off. Source: Weekly Times Fifty licensees, who operate under Victoria’s community forestry program, were told last May they had until June 30 this year to wrap up their operations, with some likely to gain exemptions to continue beyond that date. But VicForests chief executive Monique Dawson wrote to all forest product licensees this month warning all harvesting would have to stop in less than a fortnight, due to Supreme Court action by the Wombat Forestcare group. “We are disappointed to let you know that VicForests will not defend the current court proceedings brought against it by Wombat Forestcare, in which injunctions are being sought to prevent operations collecting windthrown timber following the 2021 storms in the Wombat State Forest, as well as other small community forestry operations throughout the Midlands and Bendigo forest management areas. “Unfortunately, what that means is that we can no longer continue the community forestry program because of the risk of litigation to VicForests and to licensees and the associated direct legal cost. “The court is also requiring what in VicForests view is a disproportionate survey effort for the type of operations encompassed by community forestry. “As such, this means all community forestry operations will cease by February 5, 2024.” The Weekly Times understands VicForests was put under legal pressure to survey harvesting sites for up to 50 threatened species, which it regarded as unviable given the staff time and cost. Firewood cutters Dale Tiley and Gary Kirby, who were salvaging fallen trees from the 20ha Wombat Forest site that was subject to the legal action, said the government could have acted to protect the industry. “(But) the government has done nothing,” Mr Tiley said. “We’ve been thrown to the wolves.” The government has set up a community forestry compensation program, which includes training assistance to find other work. But Mr Tiley said a lot of wood cutters were “battlers”, aged in their 50s or 60s who had only ever worked in the bush. The early phase out means about 500,000 tonnes of windblown trees will be left lying on the Wombat forest floor, despite warnings it is a ticking fire bomb set to engulf nearby towns. It also means Victoria’s firewood shortage will worsen this winter, forcing yards to source timber from interstate, forcing up prices for rural and regional families who cannot afford soaring electricity.

A concerning trend observed in Labor-led state governments in Australia – the locking up of productive state forests – raises questions about the relationships between bureaucrats, inner-city Labor MPs and the activist class and the poor understanding they have of rural communities, according to Forest & Wood Communities Australia executive officer Michael Harrington. Source: Timberbiz Mr Harrington said that these forests, which could be utilized for sustainable timber harvesting alongside healthy and productive past times such as hunting, fishing, prospecting and horse-riding etc were increasingly being placed off-limits to everyday Australians. “This policy shift raises questions about the relationships between bureaucrats, inner-city Labor MP’s and the activist class and the poor understanding they have of rural communities,” he said. “One of the key issues at hand is the impact on local economies that heavily rely on the sustainable native forestry and timber processing sectors. “These industries have long played a vital role in supporting employment and local businesses. “However, the tendencies for state Labor governments to convert productive state forests into National Parks has been disastrous.” Mr Harrington said that whether it was the attempt to lock-up many of the most productive parts of the New South Wales public land estate with the “Great Koala National Park” or the signalled move of Victorian Labor to lock up a further 335,000 hectares in poorly managed National Park – the potential immense harm to regional, rural and remote communities was deeply concerning. “These poorly managed parks also contribute significantly to out-of-control wildfires across the landscape and terrible outcomes for biodiversity as well as posing significant threats to small at risk rural and remote communities that often are surrounded or nearby parks with almost unmanaged fuel loads,” he said. “The argument here is not against real environmental conservation. It’s about finding a sustainable middle-ground that does not include the biased voices of a few elitist activist academics that currently pervade the national public land management conversation alongside the willingness to actively manage the public land estate.” Sustainable forest management practices had been developed to ensure the long-term health of ecosystems while supporting the economic needs of communities. “By locking up productive state forests, we risk neglecting the potential for a harmonious coexistence between conservation and industry,” Mr Harrington said. “Moreover, it is disheartening to observe that some environmental ‘charities’, through public donations, are supporting actions not necessarily focused on saving endangered species or rehabilitating environments. Instead, these actions are engaging in green lawfare cases against honest, hardworking Australians with the end aim to destroy their sustainable industries, families and communities. While environmental protection is crucial, it’s essential to distinguish between legitimate concerns and cases that are driven more by extremist ideological agendas rather than actual ecological preservation.” He said a call for transparency and accountability was necessary, urging governments to ensure that public funds and donations directed towards environmental causes genuinely contribute to the betterment of our ecosystems. This included supporting initiatives that focus on real practical environmental outcomes and community education rather than solely fuelling legal battles that do not align with reality. “As we navigate the complexities of environmental conservation and economic sustainability, it’s important to foster open dialogue and inclusive decision-making processes,” Mr Harrington said. “Stakeholders from all sides – scientists, industry representatives, and community leaders should be invited to participate in constructive discussions that lead to policies reflecting the diverse needs of our society. “Unfortunately, this is often not the case with the NSW Labor Government refusing to allow Forest and Wood Communities Australia a seat at the table on the Great Koala National Park Industry Advisory Panel.” Mr Harrington said that while striking a balance between environmental outcomes and economic prosperity was a delicate task, locking up productive state forests without considering sustainable management practices would harm both local economies and the environment. “By promoting transparency, accountability, and inclusive dialogue, we can work towards policies that address the concerns of all stakeholders, ensuring a more sustainable and harmonious existence for all Australians alongside a future that does not rely on foreign imports from countries with much poorer environmental records than our own,” he said.