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The International Commission on Poplars and Other Fast-Growing Trees Sustaining People and the Environment (IPC) hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) published a comprehensive guide on the innovative use of fast-growing trees to help sustain people and the environment amid the climate crisis. Source: Timberbiz Innovative practices in the sustainable management of fast-growing trees: lessons learnt from poplars, willow and experiences with other fast-growing trees around the world explains the qualities of different species of fast-growing trees and the economic and environmental benefits they bring in a wide range of settings when managed sustainably. It also outlines the potential to maximise those benefits globally using the latest science and innovative practices. “Fast-growing trees have a strategic role to developing a thriving global bioeconomy,” said Zhimin Wu, Director of FAO’s Forestry Division. “They also provide livelihoods for local communities and hold significant potential for combating climate change.” Fast-growing trees such as poplar, eucalyptus, pine and spruce grow rapidly in suitable conditions, and these and other fast-growing species have been developed and used for millennia around the world to provide timber, fibre, energy and non-wood products. Many of these tree species not only grow fast but can colonize bare or degraded lands and adapt to poor conditions, rapidly turning dry areas green and productive by providing ‘ecosystem services’ such as watershed protection, climate regulation, better quality soil. With climate change posing threats to all forests, planting fast growing trees has increasingly become a vital part of the strategy in the global effort to reverse deforestation and mitigate the effects of climate change. The FAO-IPC publication emphasises the need for investment in planning and cultivating fast-growing trees as effectively and widely as possible to support the transition towards sustainable and productive agrifood systems and as part of action to restore degraded land, driven by the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2020-2030), to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Currently, 93% of the forest area worldwide is composed of naturally regenerating forests and 7% is planted, according to FAOs Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020. With global demand for wood products expected to increase by a third by 2050 and global temperatures and extreme weather requiring rapid adaptation and resilience-building, the new IPC publication aims to provide vital information to a wide range of stakeholders including researchers, landowners, land managers and planners and policymakers. Divided into eight sections, it explains the potential of fast-growing trees and their vulnerabilities, the ecosystem services they provide, their socioeconomic benefits and best practices for sustainable management of fast-growing trees in different environments and for different uses. These include landscape restoration, wood production, agroforestry and urban and peri-urban forests. Providing clear facts and figures and examples of best practice and innovations, with scientific references and graphs illustrating trends, it aims to enable the scaling up of successful planting of fast-growing trees worldwide.

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The author undertook this 5-year review of the alpine area post the 2019/ 20 Dunns Road bushfire, in particular the Kosciuszko National Park (KNP) section and areas to the west and south of this.  One of the reasons for this review was to provide a detailed photographic record 5 years after the Dunns Road bushfire and also consider opportunities to better manage the land and vegetation. Source: John O’Donnell The review involved an assessment of 100 kilometres of forest, woodland and grassland areas of the NSW alps next to sealed roads affected by the 2019/ 2020 Dunns Road bushfire. The author believes in the importance of providing alternative opinions in order to optimise fire management in this important area. The full review is here. The 2019/ 20 bushfires had a disastrous impact across the KNP landscape, as evidenced by the information in this review and photographs above.  The same disastrous impact applied with the 2003 KNP bushfires and earlier intense bushfires. The author considers that current fire management approaches across this landscape are not working. The current small scale prescribed burn approach is not going to work in the KNP, the areas to the west nor elsewhere.  Across NSW, prescribed burning of forested areas has an average of 0.6 % of forests per year over the last seven years.  Section 4.1 outlines current prescribed burning rates in KNP, in reality they are very low, although slightly higher than the very low recent NSW prescribed burning of forests % average. Over the landscape, fuels now contain a high proportion of woody material and for many years subsequent bushfires will have long burnout periods and be more damaging to the regenerating trees and vegetation. The author and others consider that it should be the aim of management of all forests that the scale and degree of impact of high intensity bushfires should be limited in extent as far as possible.  And this can only be done by professionally targeted and applied prescribed burning and cooperation between all key parties. The same applies to setting up fire resilient landscapes. Fire fighter and community safety are also very important. The author considers that repeat bushfires at 6 to 10 years post 2019/ 2020 may be a whole different proposition and likely result in large scale vegetation changes.  With the large fuel loads within KNP from the 2003, 2019/ 20, earlier bushfires and other areas of high fuel loads outside these areas, repeat bushfires and megafires are possible in any bad fire season, or maybe not even a bad fire season. Thirteen opportunities have been identified in Section 5 that represent real opportunities to start turning current fire management around.  The author has made the effort to document these opportunities in good faith and like most, wants to see a fire resilient, health and fire safe alps.  

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A Journal of Forestry Research article has highlighted Scion’s work to improve propagation and increase the production of indigenous species in nurseries. Source: Timberbiz The article showcases a New Zealand-first study that investigated the impact of container grade size on the survival and field performance of 12 key natives – to better understand the link between containers and post-planting seedling survival and growth performance. The study saw Scion raise seedlings from the 12 native species in different container sizes and testing how they performed in good or poor-quality sites. Scion collaborated with Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service, Minginui Nursery, CNI Iwi land Management, the Tumunui Land Trust, Timberlands, Rotorua Lakes Council and the Tipu Waiariki Charitable Trust (Tipu Wai), which provided the sites and helped with preparation and planting. Industry-standard pots were compared with smaller containers such as 7cm and 8cm paper Ellepots and forestry-grade pots. The effect of differences in length of time, type of container and tree spacing were monitored to determine the impact on survival rates and tree growth. Program lead David Siqueira says results showed high-quality sites and larger container systems tended to promote higher survival and faster early growth. “Some species, such as Leptospermum scoparium (manuka), survived and grew well (>75%), even when raised in small containers, while others such as Sophora microphylla (kowhai) had very low survival rates (< 25%) even when raised in revegetation container grade sizes,” he said. Other species such as Aristotelia serrata (wineberry), Cordyline australis (cabbage tree), Plagianthus regius (ribbonwood) and Podocarpus totara appeared to depend more on site quality. “The results show the importance of aligning the choice of container grade size to the needs of individual species,” Mr Siqueira said. “Nursery container systems for raising New Zealand native plants should be chosen based on the biology of the species, nursery management practices, quality of the planting site and a balance between cost and benefit for each situation.” Nurseries have traditionally used large containers to successfully establish native species, but this is labour-intensive at the planting stage and limits the rate of establishment. Seedlings raised in larger containers can suffer greater transplantation shock, which hinders post-planting survival and growth performance. “The conventional approach of sowing native seed, setting out and then growing in containers takes 12-36 months, adding significantly to native tree establishment costs over typical New Zealand-grown exotic forest trees,” Mr Siqueira said. “By building a better understanding of how container size affects native tree growth, we hope this research will result in more plantings of native forests, increasing New Zealand’s biodiversity and contributing to the mitigation of climate change.” This research supports forestry-scale deployment of indigenous species under New Zealand’s One Billion Trees (1BT) Program. The report can be found at Container size and site quality affect survival and early growth performance of New Zealand native tree species, Journal of Forestry Research.

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The Australian Forest Contractors Association (AFCA) will hold its AGM on 18-19 September in Canberra this year. Source: Timberbiz Alongside the AFCA AGM there will be a demo day hosted by Onetrak and Tigercat. Onetrak and Tigercat will also host the dinner, and there will be a breakfast hosted by ARTes and Mobius as part of the event. AFCA has also changed its mailing address, which is now PO Box 49, Dalton, NSW 2581. For more information contact Charlotte Hobbs AFCA Engagement Manager office@afca.asn.au  

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A New Zealand study has found the country’s native forests are absorbing more carbon dioxide (CO₂) than previously thought. Source: Timberbiz Study leader, National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd’s atmospheric scientist Dr Beata Bukosa, says the findings could have implications for New Zealand’s greenhouse gas reporting, carbon credit costs, and climate and land-use policies. She says forests both native and exotic, play a vital role in absorbing CO₂ through photosynthesis, but previous studies may have underestimated the amount of carbon taken up by New Zealand’s mature indigenous forests, which were thought to be roughly carbon neutral. Using advanced modelling and NIWA’s supercomputer, the researchers examined a decade of atmospheric data, from 2011 to 2020, to better estimate the amount of CO₂ absorbed by New Zealand’s land ecosystems. The NIWA team worked with collaborators at GNS Science and Manaaki Whenua as well as other New Zealand and overseas universities and institutes. The team used an inverse modelling technique – this combines atmospheric greenhouse gases with a model showing how air is transported through the atmosphere to identify CO₂ sources and sinks and compared the results against New Zealand’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory as well as ‘bottom-up’ models. While the Inventory applies a combination of field inventory, modelling, and remote sensing to quantify forest carbon stocks and stock changes, the ‘bottom-up’ models use calculations based on ecosystem processes, land use and climate across the country, “It was thought that some areas and land use types were in a near-balance state with the absorption and release of CO₂. Earlier estimates of how much carbon was removed by New Zealand land ecosystems ranged from a net 24 to 118 million tonnes a year,” said Dr Bukosa. “Our research found that New Zealand’s natural environment absorbed approximately 171 million tonnes of CO₂ annually.” She says the largest differences between earlier estimates and the new findings came in the South Island. “This was especially in areas dominated by mature native forests and certain grazing lands. We also found seasonal variation, as during autumn and winter, less CO₂ is released into the atmosphere than earlier estimates suggested.” The research follows a pilot study in 2017, which also suggested indigenous forest in Fiordland might be absorbing more CO2 than expected. “That study was based on only three years of data, and we weren’t sure if it was just a transient effect related to the climatic conditions, or if the effect was confined to Fiordland. Our new study shows the carbon sink is more widespread than we thought, particularly across the South Island, with greater uptake of CO2 extending up the West Coast,” said Dr Bukosa. “With improvements in our modelling techniques, and data coverage, we’ve now shown the extra carbon uptake has persisted for at least a decade. More research could help us understand exactly why our method has shown such a difference in the carbon source and sink balance compared with other methods.” Inverse modelling provides an independent estimate of emissions that can complement inventory-based approaches for emissions reporting, she says. “New Zealand was the first country to develop the capability to infer national CO₂ emissions from atmospheric data and has since supported other countries to develop similar capability.” Dr Andrea Brandon, a Ministry for the Environment principal scientist who co-authored the study, said the findings help build a clearer picture of the role New Zealand’s natural systems play in absorbing emissions from the atmosphere. However, further work will be needed before they can be included in official emissions reporting. “We continually improve the Inventory – New Zealand’s annual record of emissions and removals – as new science and evidence comes to light. This ensures we have robust information so that we continue to meet our international reporting obligations,” she said. “The findings from this study indicate there may be additional carbon uptake somewhere in the system that we are currently not tracking. We need to identify what we are missing so that we can further refine our Inventory methods to capture it.” Dr Bukosa says the results, due to be published shortly in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics and available here in preprint, have important implications for New Zealand’s tracking of carbon emissions and climate policies. “We need to better understand why our native forests are absorbing more CO₂ than expected, and what this could mean for our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve our domestic and international targets.” The research was part of a NIWA-led, MBIE-funded Endeavour programme called CarbonWatch NZ, which ended last year. NIWA principal scientist Dr Sara Mikaloff-Fletcher led CarbonWatch NZ and says the team is now looking to extend this work to definitively solve the puzzle of the difference in carbon between inventory methods and atmospheric measurements. “This research suggests that we could make the most of opportunities to slow climate change through changes to land management. Projections suggest New Zealand will need 84 million tonnes of emissions reductions on top of what can be done at home to meet its 2030 international commitments under the Paris Agreement. In addition to reducing the need for overseas offsets, better management of our native forests and other lands could enable New Zealand to be long-term stewards of our carbon sinks and offer magnificent biodiversity co-benefits,” says Dr Mikaloff-Fletcher.

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Tasmania’s timber industry is preparing for its biggest celebration yet, with nominations now open for the 2025 Tasmanian Timber Awards. The biennial event will culminate in a black-tie Gala Awards Dinner on Friday, 5 September at the Tailrace Centre in Launceston. Source: Timberbiz Proudly presented by the Tasmanian Forests and Forest Products Network (TFFPN), the Awards bring together the sector to recognise the people, projects and passion that shape one of the state’s most vital industries. “The Tasmanian Timber Awards showcase the innovation, resilience and pride that drive this sector forward,” said Professor Julianne O’Reilly Wapstra, Chair of the TFFPN Board. “They are an opportunity to highlight those who work, often behind the scenes, to make a real difference across the supply chain. I warmly encourage individuals and organisations to submit a nomination and join us in celebrating our shared success.” Following the success of the 2019, 2021 and 2023 events, the 2025 Awards will feature 12 categories recognising excellence from the forest floor to final product including harvesting, processing, innovation, design, safety and environmental practice. Refinements to the judging and nomination process, based on industry feedback, aim to encourage wide participation and ensure the Awards remain the industry’s ‘night of nights.’ For 2023 winner, Indicium Dynamics, who received the Innovation Award, the recognition was a turning point. “Winning the Innovation Award at the 2023 Tasmanian Timber Awards highlighted the powerful role that technology can play in helping land managers understand their impact on the environment,” said Rob Vernon, CEO of Indicium Dynamics. “It also reflected our dedication to applying technology in new and practical ways to support more sustainable use of natural resources across Tasmania’s agricultural and forestry industries. “The awards are an important platform for recognising progress and innovation, we encourage others to nominate and help showcase the incredible work being done across the sector,” he said. Mike Ross, Chief Technology Officer at Indicium Dynamics said that award ceremonies play such an important role in any industry. “They give us a moment to pause and recognise the hard work, innovation and impact being achieved not just within individual organisations, but across the sector as a whole. “They also create space to share ideas, inspire others, and build a sense of momentum around what’s possible when we work towards a common goal.” Dr Nathan Kotlarewski, winner of the 2023 Emerging Leader in the Tasmanian Timber Industry Award, said the recognition shines a light on the values that define the sector. The Tasmanian Timber Awards reflect the holistic network of relationships, resilience, leadership and best practice within our communities. They highlight the innovation, dedication and sustainable practices that define our industry and the people who choose to be part of it. “We celebrate these awards to demonstrate local excellence and inspire future generations to champion a future where timber continues to be a cornerstone of Tasmania’s economy and communities,” he said Guests at the Gala Awards Dinner can look forward to an evening of connection, inspiration and celebration with fine food, outstanding company and the remarkable stories behind Tasmania’s timber sector on full display. “We’re expecting another sell-out event and look forward to welcoming everyone, from trainees to trailblazers, to what promises to be an unforgettable evening,” Professor O’Reilly said. Nominations for the 2025 Tasmanian Timber Awards are now open. To view the full list of award categories, nomination criteria and ticketing information go to https://www.tffpn.com.au/tta-award-categories/  

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The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) thanks Minister for the Environment, Senator the Hon Murray Watt, for the invitation to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Reforms Roundtable, in Canberra. Source: Timberbiz The key message from AFPA to those assembled was that reform of Australia’s environmental laws must recognise the nation’s environmental, economic, and social goals and that sustainable native forestry and much needed plantation forestry is vital if Australia is to achieve its decarbonisation ambitions. Attended by AFPA Chief Executive Officer Diana Hallam, the Roundtable included representatives from across environmental, industry and property sectors, and discussed the Albanese Government’s EPBC Act reform agenda, including the establishment of a national Environment Protection Agency (EPA) along with National Environmental Standards. “When invited by the Minister to speak, I made it clear that we support EPBC Act reform, but that sustainable native and plantation forestry must be allowed to continue and grow in recognition of its importance to Australia’s climate goals,” Ms Hallam said. “I alerted those gathered that in the five years since the independent review of the EPBC Act (the Samuel Review) was handed to government there have been many developments in science, innovation and data capture that demonstrate forestry’s improved custodianship of the environment. “We have also seen some terrible consequences arising from decisions made in haste that have been to the detriment of forest industries and the environment. “For example, since the removal of the Victorian Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) and abolition of VicForests, the Victorian Government is now forced to pay forest contractors $72 million annually for bushfire management. “Expanses of Victorian Mountain Ash have failed to regrow following severe bushfires, something VicForests would have been legally required to address, and uncertainty reigns because EPBC Act approval requirements remain unclear without the RFA and VicForests guidance impeding plantation investment. “More recently an Australian Federal Court decision in January 2024 confirmed that Regional Forest Agreements are achieving the objects of the EPBC Act and it is noteworthy that the NSW North East RFA references the EPBC Act 94 times. “Improvements to Australia’s environmental laws will help provide regulatory certainty and allow Australia’s forest industries to be rightfully acknowledged as leading practitioners of ecologically sustainable development. “Without native and plantation forestry, we cannot protect the environment, and we cannot decarbonise the economy. A strong forestry sector is required to meet so many of Australia’s future challenges, and its essential the Albanese Government’s EPBC Act Reforms support a strong forestry industry going forward,” Ms Hallam concluded.

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More than 650 of the world’s top timber engineers have attended the opening ceremony of the World Conference on Timber Engineering in Brisbane. Source: Jason Ross The first WCTE to be held in Australia, home to some of the world’s most ambitious mid-rise and high-rise timber buildings — Professor Keith Crews, chair of WCTE 2025, welcomed delegates from 44 countries to the June 22-26 conference, which will eventually see up to 1000 delegates attend the five-day conference. Addressing a packed auditorium at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC) in South Bank, Professor Crews revealed that behind Australia (with 250 delegates), Japan (127), Canada (68), the United States (60), New Zealand (52) and Germany were the countries with the most representatives at the conference, with this year’s theme focused on “Advancing Timber for the Future Building Environment.” Among the delegates was Karl-Heinz Weiss, the first of several keynote speakers at the conference. Speaking to from the auditorium stage, Weiss, considered a pioneer in UK and Australian-based engineered timber, said that Australia’s timber engineering history dates back more than a century. “Atlassian (the 39-storey hybrid skyscraper that is currently under construction over Sydney’s Central Station) is making headlines, but its background is much deeper,” he said.

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