Forest Products Industry

JCB has added to its popular X Series range of crawler excavators with the launch of the brand new 145XR, a second reduced tailswing model that delivers exceptional performance and productivity with compact dimensions and a full-size operator cab. Source: Timberbiz Key features include: A 27% shorter tailswing than a conventional 140X Reduced front swing and optional TAB boom layout Full-size X-Series cab Innovative JCB UX operator interface with 10” touchscreen display Up to 10% fuel economy improvement Extended maintenance intervals reduce operating costs Compact Counterweight The 145XR reduced tailswing model builds upon the success of JCB’s larger 245XR, delivering impressive performance in a compact design with a minimal counterweight swing. The 145XR has a 27% shorter counterweight overhang than a conventional 140X, making it an ideal machine for working within a highway carriageway, or on confined urban job sites. The machine weighs in at 15-18 tonnes, depending on specification, and can be supplied with a monoboom or a two-piece triple articulating (TAB) configuration. The monoboom layout provides a maximum digging depth of 6,027mm with a 3-metre dipper, while the TAB boom has a maximum of 6,167mm. Forward reach is up to 8,801mm for the monoboom and 9,230mm for the TAB specification. Powered by JCB’s proven Stage V Dieselmax engine, the 145XR boasts an output of 81kW (108hp). This features Auto-Stop and Auto-Idle engine functions, to reduce fuel consumption and emissions when idling. Engine working speed has been reduced to 1,700rpm, increasing fuel economy by 10% and cutting overall noise levels. The machine is built with heavy-duty track components, plates, bearings, and features graphite bushings on key pivot points, allowing up to a 250-hour greasing interval. Hydraulic filter changes are extended to 2,000 hours, meaning this new machine requires 24% fewer filter changes over 10,000 hours of service, reducing operating and maintenance costs. As with all X-Series models, the 145XR benefits from the full-sized JCB Command Plus ROPS cab. As well as being one of the largest on the market, with 2.86m³ of volume, the Command Plus cab benefits from a heated air suspension seat and a reduced in-cab noise level. The cab is further improved with a new 10” touchscreen monitor, with the JCB UX interface. The switch panel incorporates customisable hot keys, allowing personalisation for the operator. Climate control, keyless start, and twin cameras for added visibility are all standard. The JCB UX interface has up to 25 user profiles, which can be customised for the operator to set preferred joystick configuration to meet their individual requirements. Mobile phone connectivity has been improved, with phone book integration via the monitor. The machine is easy to use and help guides are available within the monitor, along with ‘how to’ videos covering all of the features of the JCB UX system. The 145XR is available with a range of options, to tailor the machine to an individual customer’s requirements. These include auxiliary hydraulic circuits with up to 15 attachment settings and a premium heated and cooled operator’s seat. LED lights are now standard, with options available to increase to up to 14 LED work lights. A birds’ eye 360 camera system, integrated within the 10” display, can also be offered, along with high visibility, all-round handrails.

Hitachi Construction Machinery has developed a “real-time digital twin platform”  that reproduces a construction site in a virtual world from data collected in real time, in cooperation with aptpod and Unicast. Source: Timberbiz Utilizing this platform will enable Hitachi Construction Machinery to collect various types of construction-related data and achieve progress management and the operation of autonomous construction machinery from a remote location on the Internet with the goal of realizing construction sites where people and machinery work in a coordinated manner. In recent years, labour shortages have become an issue in the construction industry due to the decreasing birthrate and aging population. Customers have high expectations that autonomous construction machinery will become one solution to that problem. To meet these expectations, Hitachi Construction Machinery aims to realize construction sites in which people and machinery work in a coordinated manner to balance safety and productivity through “collaborative safety” by mutually sharing information about the “people, machinery, and site environment.” Specifically, people would be alerted to pay attention and construction machinery would be controlled based on information collected by the machinery and sensing systems to carry out highly productive construction while guiding the overall site in a safe direction. To realize this type of construction, Hitachi Construction Machinery developed the “ZCORE” system platform for autonomous construction machinery in August 2020. In addition, the company invested in and signed a business alliance agreement with aptpod in May 2023 to promote the development of a digital twin system that visualizes an entire construction site and autonomously operates construction machinery. This platform can reproduce real-time real-world construction site in the virtual world, including various information such as the location and operational information of construction machinery, the location and biometric information of workers, terrain changes due to the progress of work, and other construction site conditions. This will enable adjustments to be made to the work details of individuals and the control of multiple pieces of construction machinery working on site with low latency on the Internet from a remote location to realize construction sites where people and machinery coexist with a high degree of safety. In the development of this platform, Hitachi Construction Machinery was in charge of providing the autonomous construction machinery (hydraulic excavators and wheel loaders) and defining the requirements for reproducing a construction site as a digital twin. aptpod developed the cloud system for data collection based on its “intdash” high-speed IoT platform and the mobile and PC user interface used by the workers and Unicast developed the software for converting the terrain of a construction site into 3D data based on data obtained from LiDAR. The ability of the technologies from aptpod and Unicast to transmit and process large volumes of constantly changing data enables the construction of a highly real-time digital twin. Going forward, the companies aim to realize collaborative safety which includes advanced autonomous construction machinery and improved site safety and productivity through repeated verification tests for the purpose of practical application.  

Climate change is increasing the susceptibility of the world’s forests to stressors such as wildfires and pests, according to a new flagship publication by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) that emphasizes the role of innovation in achieving a sustainable future for the forestry sector. Source: Timberbiz The report, titled “The State of the World’s Forests 2024: Forest-sector innovations towards a more sustainable future,” was released on Monday at the 27th session of the Committee on Forestry (COFO), which is being held at FAO’s headquarters in Rome until Friday. COFO is FAO’s top forestry governing body, tasked with identifying emerging policy and technical issues, seeking solutions, and advising FAO on appropriate action. This year’s meeting is themed “Accelerating forest solutions through innovation.” The State of the World’s Forests 2024 (SOFO 2024) report says there’s evidence to suggest that climate change is making forests more vulnerable to stressors such as wildfires and pests. Wildfire intensity and frequency are increasing, including in areas not previously affected, with fires in 2023 releasing an estimated 6,687 megatonnes of carbon dioxide globally. Boreal fire was previously responsible for about 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions. In 2021, such fires reached a new high, mainly driven by extended drought causing an increase in fire severity and fuel consumption and accounted for nearly one-quarter of total wildfire emissions. Climate change also makes forests more vulnerable to invasive species, with insects, pests and disease pathogens threatening tree growth and survival. Pine wood nematode has already caused significant damage to native pine forests in some countries in Asia, and areas of North America are projected to experience devastating damage due to insects and disease by 2027. Global wood production, meanwhile, remains at record levels. After a brief dip during the COVID-19 pandemic, production is back at about four billion cubic meters yearly. Nearly 6 billion people use non-timber forest products, and 70% of the world’s poor rely on wild species for food, medicine, energy, income, and other purposes. Projections indicate that global roundwood demand could increase by as much as 49 percent between 2020 and 2050. Faced with such challenges, the report argues that forest-sector innovation is a crucial enabler of progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. “FAO recognizes that science and innovation are crucial ingredients for achieving forest-based solutions,” FAO Director-General QU Dongyu wrote in the report’s Forward. “This edition of SOFO will inform FAO’s work to scale up evidence-based innovation in forestry. I believe it will also support FAO Members and other stakeholders in enabling responsible, inclusive, and essential innovation in the forest sector to strengthen sustainability and the resilience of agrifood systems for a better world and a better future for all.” The report identifies five innovation types that enhance forests’ potential to address global challenges: technological, social, policy, institutional, and financial. Examples include the potential for AI to facilitate the automated analysis of a vast volume of existing and future optical, radar, and lidar data collected daily by drones, satellites and space stations; the adoption of mass timber and other wood-based innovations that can replace fossil-based products in the building sector; policies aimed at engaging women, youth and Indigenous Peoples in developing locally led solutions; and innovations in public and private sector finance to enhance the value of standing forests. Since innovation can create winners and losers, the report argues for inclusive and gender-responsive approaches to ensure the fair distribution of benefits among men, women and youth in all socioeconomic and ethnic groups. Promoting innovation must consider and integrate all stakeholders’ local circumstances, perspectives, knowledge, needs and rights. The report lists five enabling actions that will help scale up innovation in the forest sector: raising awareness, boosting innovation skills, capabilities, and knowledge, encouraging transformational partnerships, ensuring more and universally accessible finance for innovation, and providing an incentivizing policy and regulatory environment. It also presents 18 case studies from around the world, which provide a glimpse at the wide range of technological, social, policy, institutional, and financial forest-sector innovations – and combinations of these that are being tested and implemented in real-world conditions. FAO’s COFO meeting is taking place alongside the 9th World Forest Week, which FAO is also marking with the announcement of the winner of the 2024 Collaborative Partnership on Forests Wangari Maathai Forest Champions Award, as well as its Green Cities Initiative Awards, which highlight inspiring achievements of cities that combine actions in the areas of forestry, agriculture or bioeconomy with one of the two themes selected for the awards this year: Youth Engagement and Innovation. You can download the FAO report here.    

Launceston’s newest office building and one of the country’s most sustainable is officially open. Source: Pulse Tasmania The $27 million St Lukes Health wellness hub on Cimitiere Street is a seven-storey, cross-laminated timber structure that has been independently assessed as having less than half the carbon footprint of a typical commercial building. It is the first timber building of its type in Tasmania and one of only a dozen nationwide. Project director and board member Martin Rees said the project has been five years in the making and is a “very unique” addition to Launceston. “St Luke’s is probably the largest office-based head office in Launceston of anybody, with 140 people. We were spread all over the town, so this brings us to St Luke’s [in the] one building, which is fantastic,” he said. The building has been independently assessed by the University of New South Wales as having 55% less carbon than a typical commercial building, with further detailed certifications underway. “If you look at the Green Star building ratings on that criteria, that gives us a six-star building in terms of body carbon and that’s a very, very high success rate,” Rees said. “In terms of levels, that’s a very, very successful outcome for us.” “We’re really proud of that and we have benchmarked against other buildings, and this is probably one of the best in Australia.” The building features a mix of tenants alongside St Lukes, including Allianz, Salveo, Newton & Henry Chartered Accountants and ReadyTech. Retail spaces, including the brand-new St Lukes Dental Clinic, a playground and the Sweetbrew cafe, are located on the ground floor. St Lukes chief executive Paul Lupo says the new wellness hub has been custom-built with the goal of making every Tasmanian’s health journey easier. “This is a really exciting time for St Lukes. It’s a really tactile illustration that salutes devotion to make Tasmania the healthiest island on the planet,” he said. “This building and this floor is a real open invitation by St Lukes to the community to come into a space that’s hardwired for health.” The wellness hub is open to all Tasmanians, whether they are St Lukes members or not. St Lukes are holding a family open day this Saturday from 9am to 12pm, with activities, face painting and games.

Arbortech Industries, an Australian innovator and manufacturer of cutting-edge power tools and accessories worldwide, has reached a strategic licensing and supply agreement with worldwide industry leader Stanley Black & Decker. Source: Timberbiz The agreement allows Arbortech to transition into cordless equipment supported by Stanley Black & Decker’s world-class DeWalt battery system for professional users. Arbortech’s “Powered by DeWalt” products are expected to be unveiled mid-year, beginning with the BA200X, an evolution of Arbortech’s renowned Allsaw technology which over many years has revolutionised the masonry cutting industry. Subsequent product releases will include a range of woodworking and trade tools, marking a new era of versatility and performance. Headquartered in Perth, Arbortech has solidified its position in global markets, with offices spanning North America, Canada, and Germany. “This agreement with Stanley Black & Decker signifies a momentous leap forward in our journey,” Arbortech chairman Kevin Inkster said. “Not only does it underscore our dedication to innovation, but it also heralds a period of unprecedented growth and recognition for our brand. “In alignment with the Federal Government’s ‘Future Made in Australia’ policy, we are poised to contribute to the diversification and growth of the Australian manufacturing sector. This agreement presents boundless opportunities for global expansion and innovation.”

Australian scientists are getting closer to detecting bushfires in record time, thanks to cube satellites with onboard AI now able to detect fires from space 500 times faster than traditional on-ground processing of imagery. Source: Timberbiz Remote sensing and computer science researchers have overcome the limitations of processing and compressing large amounts of hyperspectral imagery on board the smaller, more cost-effective cube satellites before sending it to the ground for analysis, saving precious time and energy. The breakthrough, using artificial intelligence, means that bushfires will be detected earlier from space, even before they take hold and generate large amounts of heat, allowing on ground crews to respond more quickly and prevent loss of life and property. A project funded by the SmartSat CRC and led by the University of South Australia (UniSA) has used cutting-edge onboard AI technology to develop an energy-efficient early fire smoke detection system for South Australia’s first cube satellite, Kanyini. The Kanyini mission is a collaboration between the SA Government, SmartSat CRC and industry partners to launch a 6 U CubeSat satellite into low Earth orbit to detect bushfires as well as monitor inland and coastal water quality. Equipped with a hyperspectral imager, the satellite sensor captures reflected light from Earth in different wavelengths to generate detailed surface maps for various applications, including bushfire monitoring, water quality assessment and land management. Lead researcher UniSA geospatial scientist Dr Stefan Peters says that, traditionally, Earth observation satellites have not had the onboard processing capabilities to analyse complex images of Earth captured from space in real-time. His team, which includes scientists from UniSA, Swinburne University of Technology and Geoscience Australia, has overcome this by building a lightweight AI model that can detect smoke within the available onboard processing, power consumption and data storage constraints of cube satellites. Compared with the on-ground based processing of hyperspectral satellite imagery to detect fires, the AI onboard model reduced the volume of data downlinked to 16% of its original size, while consuming 69% less energy. The AI onboard model also detected fire smoke 500 times faster than traditional on-ground processing. “Smoke is usually the first thing you can see from space before the fire gets hot and big enough for sensors to identify it, so early detection is crucial,” Dr Peters says. To demonstrate the AI model, they used simulated satellite imagery of recent Australian bushfires, using machine learning to train the model to detect smoke in an image. “For most sensor systems, only a fraction of the data collected contains critical information related to the purpose of a mission. Because the data can’t be processed on board large satellites, all of it is downlinked to the ground where it is analysed, taking up a lot of space and energy. We have overcome this by training the model to differentiate smoke from cloud, which makes it much faster and more efficient.” Using a past fire event in the Coorong as a case study, the simulated Kanyini AI onboard approach took less than 14 minutes to detect the smoke and send the data to the South Pole ground station. “This research shows there are significant benefits of onboard AI compared to traditional on ground processing,” Dr Peters says. “This will not only prove invaluable in the event of bushfires but also serve as an early warning system for other natural disasters.” The research team hopes to demonstrate the onboard AI fire detection system in orbit in 2025 when the Kanyini mission is operational. “Once we have ironed out any issues, we hope to commercialise the technology and employ it on a CubeSat constellation, aiming to contribute to early fire detection within an hour.” The researchers have published details of their experiment in the latest issue of IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth and Remote Sensing. A video explaining the research is also available at: https://youtu.be/dKQZ8V2Zagk

Established in 1948, the National Forestry Insect Collection (FRNZ) holds significance far beyond the modest confines of its home, a nondescript cabin on Scion’s Rotorua campus. The collection, largely made up of meticulously organised wooden boxes reminiscent of library volumes, is the most comprehensive compilation of forestry-related insects in New Zealand. Source: Timberbiz With around 175,000 specimens representing more than 3000 species, the National Forestry Insect Collection is a cherished national taonga that contains specimens from every rohe (region) across Aotearoa and many from beyond our borders. In October 2023, the collection welcomed its newest members, a series of Tasmanian eucalyptus leaf beetles. Scion entomologist and FRNZ curator, Stephanie Sopow, says the collection is irreplaceable and fulfills three main functions: a diagnostic tool, archive, and a research tool. “Not only does this resource provide our entomology team and collaborating researchers with diagnostic and archival resources, it’s also a vital component used to identify potential biosecurity threats to New Zealand’s native and planted forests. “Each year, identifications are made on behalf of surveillance programs managed by the Forest Owners Association (FOA), Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), and Auckland Council, as well on behalf of concerned citizens. “Through these endeavours, we fulfill diagnostic contracts valued at over NZ$400,000, underlining our critical role in safeguarding forestry health.” FRNZ is a working collection and growth over the last five years has averaged more than 1000 specimens per year, primarily from research projects involving the mass collection of insects to monitor biodiversity, or for biosecurity. Recently pinned into a set of new wooden display boxes is a comprehensive range of eucalyptus leaf beetles from the Chrysomelidae family found in Tasmanian forests. Largely under-represented in the collection until now, the 29 specimens representing 17 species were welcomed in October last year. Their addition is mainly thanks to Dr Geoff Allen, a forestry entomologist from the University of Tasmania with more than 30 years’ experience. They were curated by his colleague, Dr Lynne Forster. Dr Toni Withers, an entomologist who has been with Scion for a little over 25 years, says the beetles were generously donated to Scion’s entomology collection as a gesture of goodwill, marking the end of the MPIs’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures funded research project which relied heavily on the university. “Over the years, Scion has enjoyed a meaningful collaboration with Dr Allen on research that has benefited New Zealand’s eucalyptus forestry industry by supplying researchers with beneficial insects that would eventually become biological control agents,” Withers says. “For instance, in 2022 we released the parasitoid wasp (Eadya daenerys) in New Zealand as a biological control agent to control the larvae of the eucalyptus tortoise beetle (Paropsis charybdis) that has been damaging eucalypts in Aotearoa for over 100 years.” Allen says the opportunity to work with Scion on mutually beneficial research has been a privilege. “Their uptake and interest in the research and their collaborative teamwork has been one of the major highlights of my career.” Scion entomologist Dr Carl Wardhaugh, whose expertise lies in the realm of beetles and who dedicates much of his time to studying the collection, says receiving these specimens significantly bolsters its representation of this important group. “These beetles are relatively harmless in their native Australia, where natural enemies keep their populations in check. However, those that are invasive and have become established in New Zealand have few, if any, natural enemies and can cause considerable damage. “Our borders are continuously vulnerable to invasions of beetles such as these and having an extensive reference collection of various species will greatly assist our diagnostic capability. In the case of a new biosecurity incursion, early detection combined with rapid identification of the organism offers the best chance of effective management.” Biological collections hold the key to unlocking the past and future. They are unique in that their information is stored largely in the specimens themselves and cannot be easily replicated digitally. Explaining the importance of this, Sopow says firstly, photos are not reliable for comparisons with fresh specimens as they can often lack resolution, colour accuracy, and detail. “Additionally, the collection provides reference specimens of adult and immature stages of many species, which reduces the need for costly molecular identifications, where DNA or RNA sequences are extracted and analysed. Consequently, it saves both the resources and time typically involved in these processes.” She says that as one of New Zealand’s oldest collections, it’s an important reservoir of historical information on forest insects, their distributions, host associations, and even their genes. “Scientists often utilise insect collections when researching questions concerning evolution, biological invasion dynamics, environmental contamination, and temporal changes in insect demographics due to factors such as climate change or habitat fragmentation. “It serves as nature’s time capsule, capturing moments in time, and we continue to contribute to its richness through various endeavours like biodiversity projects and biosecurity measures. History has shown us the importance of continually replenishing this repository with fresh specimens from both Aotearoa and beyond, ensuring the safeguarding of our future.”

The Director of the Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life has been recognised by The Society of Wood Science and Technology (SWST) for her contribution to wood science and her renowned research excellence. Source: Timberbiz The Centre is a FWPA-supported initiative that aims to be a global leader in timber durability and design life research, by creating coordinated exploration into timber durability and encouraging and educating a new generation of research scientists to continue this work across the country. Professor Tripti Singh joined the Centre as Director in August 2023. FWPA CEO, Andrew Leighton said the award was further recognition of the Centre’s important work and Professor Singh’s leadership. “Since its inception, the Centre has made important progress to ensure Australia has access to the world’s leading research, building strong links between industry, academia and customers,” said Mr Leighton. “Professor Singh’s reputation for research and collaboration makes her the ideal leader for this innovative work. We are very proud to see her recognised on the world stage, raising the profile of her work, the Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life and the Australian timber industry as a whole.” Reflecting on the award, Professor Singh said, “I am deeply honoured to be recognised as a Woman Ambassador and join 22 other remarkable women included last year. I extend my heartfelt thanks to colleagues from Australia for the nomination.” Professor Tripti Singh joins the ranks of SWST’s ‘Women Ambassadors Creating the Future of Wood Science,’ and was formally recognised in a ceremony in Portoroz, Slovenia this month. Kyra Wood from University of Tasmania was one of the recipients of the award in 2023. Adding new members each year, the Women Ambassadors program produces a travelling exhibition sponsored by SWST, designed to showcase the work and accomplishments of women in wood science around the world. Following the ceremony in Slovenia, the Women Ambassadors exhibition will now travel the world, culminating in the 2025 SWST Convention in Fort Collins, Colorado.  

The Softwoods Working Group recently convened in Tumut, NSW following the announcement of a $13 million forestry funding package for a critical meeting with major stakeholders including Forest Corporation NSW, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW Rural Fire Service as well as major growers and processors within the South West Slopes of NSW. Source: Timberbiz This funding, aimed at protecting essential timber supplies in the Murray region ahead of the 2024/25 bushfire season, will support key fire prevention, detection, and response initiatives. “It’s absolutely critical that we get all the stakeholders involved to understand what we have, where our risks are, and where are the vital assets that need protecting,” SWG Executive Officer Carlie Porteous said. The funding package, developed through consultation with local communities, forestry industry groups and government agencies, reflects the NSW Government’s commitment to strengthening and safeguarding the State’s softwood forestry industry. “The infrastructure and assets that were considered by the group involved both physical capital expenditures and digital infrastructure such as IT integration and communications, with a focus on securing much of it by the beginning of the fire season,”  Ms Porteous said. SWG chairman Peter Crowe said the initiative was key to enhancing the region’s overall safety and resilience. “By investing in critical fire prevention and response infrastructure, the project aims to protect not only the forestry industry but also the homes, livelihoods, and well-being of the people living in the Murray region,” he said. During the meeting, stakeholders discussed various critical aspects, including the current state of play and the region’s fire risks related to fuel load, terrain, and the location of essential assets such as future wood supply, mills, orchards, and critical infrastructure. They also evaluated the existing infrastructure, its locations, and the human resources available to operate it, identifying gaps and prioritising new infrastructure needs. The meeting concluded with a prioritisation of infrastructure and assets to maximise their contributions to fire detection, management, prevention, and suppression. Discussions also touched on opportunities for future studies, including piloting and research on the effectiveness of the infrastructure on fire-related risk and outcomes. The next steps will involve further prioritisation within the funding rules, detailed cost considerations, and procurement processes.  

The silent and devastating toll of people stealing wood from Victoria’s forests and parks has been revealed as public land authorities announce a crackdown on escalating illegal firewood take and habitat destruction threatening the survival of native wildlife and Aboriginal cultural heritage. Source: Corryong Courier, Timberbiz In 2023 alone, firewood thieves damaged or destroyed more than 9,200 native trees or cleared roughly 462 hectares of public land in Victoria, with much of the stolen wood sold on to unsuspecting people by illegal firewood operators. The ABC reports that data from the Victorian government’s Conservation Regulator shows the number of trees being cut down from protected forests each year could cover the MCG nearly 180 times over. The Conservation Regulator has overseen 30 convictions for illegal firewood harvesting in the past two years. And in the same time frame, the regulator — along with Parks Victoria, and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action — issued a total of 540 individual charges. The Firewood Association Australia general manager Dane McGreevy told the ABC illegal operators had long plagued the sector, but he believed the issue was exacerbated by the closure of the state’s native timber harvesting industry. “There’s now a hole in the market,” he said. “Unfortunately, we’re in a real demand-driven market at the moment for firewood, especially sustainably harvested and sourced firewood. “With the absence of a legal market, a black market will appear.” Mr McGreevy told the ABC the black market sellers were causing frustration for those operating within the law, and were ripping off members of the public trying to buy wood in good faith. In response, the Conservation Regulator and Parks Victoria has launched Taskforce Ironbark, a joint state-wide initiative targeting illegal commercial firewood removal from public land and empowering Victorian firewood consumers to make choices which help protect our forests and native wildlife. “With winter here and factors like rising living pressures and a lack of community awareness, the demand for cheap firewood is likely to increase, exacerbating illegal firewood theft and the destruction of vital habitat,” said Brady Childs, Taskforce Ironbark Manager. “We have seen a rapid rise in firewood-related damage on public land and native trees are being stolen from Victoria’s forests and parks faster than they can be replaced, leaving our native birds, reptiles, and small mammals without crucial habitat. “We formed Taskforce Ironbark to disrupt illegal commercial firewood operators and remind all Victorians they play an important role in preserving our forests and parks, protecting wildlife habitats and reducing the harm associated with firewood theft. “When Victorians unintentionally buy illegally sourced firewood, often through online marketplaces, roadside stalls and word-of-mouth, they could also be inadvertently supporting the individuals and syndicates destroying native forests and wildlife habitat.” To help buyers recognise reputable firewood sellers and tell if wood has been illegally sourced, they are encouraged to ask them: Where does your wood come from? They should be able to detail where their wood was sourced. Can I get a receipt? They should provide a tax receipt with a business name and ABN listed. Why is the wood so cheap? If the firewood seems cheaper than similar nearby, ask them why. Many of the trees targeted by thieves are large, old, slow-growing species that are unlikely to recover or be replenished in this generation or the next and their illegal felling directly risks the survival of some of our most threatened native species which rely on hollows in both standing and fallen trees for habitat. Victoria is also rich with Aboriginal cultural heritage and only a small percentage of historical sites have been recorded. “Firewood theft has serious potential to damage Aboriginal scarred trees and once gone, these important cultural representations and reminders of Indigenous land use practices are lost forever,” Mr Childs said. Authorised Officers are conducting targeted patrols across public land and using intelligence-gathering methods, such as concealed cameras and community reports, to catch commercial firewood thieves. Last year, the Conservation Regulator and Parks Victoria issued 130 infringement notices and laid more than 220 charges related to habitat destruction and the illegal cut and take of firewood from forests and parks. In Victoria, it is illegal to cut and take timber from public land without authorisation and offenders face maximum penalties of more than $9,879 and/ or 12 months in prison for each charge. Chainsaws, trailers, and vehicles used in the offending can also be seized. “Illegal firewood theft is devastating our local parks, forests, wildlife, and cultural heritage,” said Mark Breguet, Senior Manager Enforcement, Parks Victoria. “With nearly 10,000 trees destroyed last year alone, the impact is far-reaching, threatening the survival of native species and damaging irreplaceable Aboriginal cultural sites.” The community can help by reporting suspicious sellers or firewood theft from public land to 136 186. For more information on responsible sourcing of firewood, visit: www.vic.gov.au/sourcing-firewood