Feed aggregator

Applications close this Sunday for Timber Queensland’s Growth Scholarships. The scholarships are open to architects, builders, certifiers, harvesters, machine operators, engineers, plantation workers, operations staff behind the scenes (like HR, Marketing & Accounts), students and researchers and offers up to $10,000 towards a learning opportunity of the successful applicant’s choice. Source: Timberbiz The awards include the Kennedy’s Timber Award – $10 000, HQPlantations Award – $5000, AKD Award – $5000 and the DTM Timber Award – $2500. The 2023/24 TQ Growth Scholarship Kennedy’s Timber recipient Katie Fowden has just returned from her study tour examining Canadian processes to establish First Nations sustainable forestry partnerships, which are significantly more advanced than Australia’s. AKD Award recipient John Said travelled to Germany to explore various new options for mechanized pruning that are being implemented internationally and DTM Timber Award supported Daniel Schweitzer to undertake a Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety The application is a simple, accessible, and fair process via an online application form. See the Growth Scholarship website page for more details. Applications are now open and close 5pm 30 June 2024.

The Perennial Prosperity Project is making significant strides in transforming the agricultural landscape of Tasmania. The project, led by CSIRO, aimed to increase the area of trees on farms in southern Australia in a way that would improve farm enterprise sustainability, profitability and resilience. Source: Timberbiz Private Forests Tasmania was a partner in the project by establishing six demonstration sites across Tasmania that integrated commercial trees into their landscape. A field day, held at Logan at Evandale, showcased some of the initial findings from three years of study. CSIRO shared findings in relation to: the improved value proposition for planting trees on farms demonstrating the optimum planting configurations for commercial and environmental plantings researching and quantifying a specific set of natural capital benefits of trees including biodiversity, agricultural production, carbon, pollination and cultural. Private Forests Tasmania will continue to work with CSIRO to share information from this research including relevant case studies, fact sheets and tools. The field day featured talks from CSIRO Senior Principal Research Scientist Anthony O’Grady, Logan Livestock Manager Clare Peltzer, Greening Australia Program Specialist Jo Lynch, CSIRO’s Danny O’Brien and Stephen Stewart, PFT’s Agriforester Molly Marshall and ecologist Dr Tom Baker. PFT will host a webinar with CSIRO in early-August as an extension of this field day. The date and more details on the webinar will be shared shortly. PFT sincerely thanks Clare Peltzer, of Logan, for her generosity in hosting us at her property, and the Evandale Primary School’s Parents and Friends Association for the delicious lunch with proceeds going towards the upgrade of their early childhood learning playground equipment. To read more about Logan and the demonstration sites go to https://treealliance.com.au/video-series

Forestry Australia is hosting its inaugural two-day Fire Summit 2024 on Prescribed Fire: Exploring Science, Culture and Practice, at the University of Melbourne today and tomorrow to examine this critical topic. Source: Timberbiz More than 30 experts from universities, government agencies and fire services, independent consultancies and Aboriginal corporations will share their knowledge and lead discussions with more than 150 attendees from across the country. Prescribed fire is all about deliberately and strategically setting fires in the natural landscape during the cooler season to reduce fuel-loads, heal Country through cultural connection and protect communities and the environment from catastrophic fire regimes. Forestry Australia Forest Fire Management Committee Chair Gary Morgan said there had never been a more important time for a national discussion and united action on prescribed fires. “Fire has been an important and natural part of the Australian landscape for millions of years,” Mr Morgan AM AFSM said. “It helps to maintain biodiversity and ecological processes in our forests. “Prescribed fires are an important part of this. The reality is prescribed fires save lives, protect communities, are fundamental to our environment and save governments millions of dollars in recovery and repair payments. “These strategically planned fires and cultural burning practices, supported by legislation, government policy and ongoing research, are the best bushfire mitigation tool we have. “Australia is one of the most bushfire prone countries in the world, and we must have effective fire management strategies that protect Australians and support healthy and resilient forests. “The Fire Summit is all about bringing this discussion back to the science and practical actions that actually work.  Our best and brightest minds will examine what is working, what isn’t and what do we need to do differently?” Day One Topics: Cultural Fire Practices and Aboriginal Forest Management Assessing The Effectiveness of Prescribed Fire In Reducing the Spread and Severity of Unplanned Fires Achieving Land Management Goals Using Prescribed Fire Prescribed Fire Research – Encouraging Effective Practice, what are Critical Gaps and How Can These be Filled? Day Two Topics Fire Communication Prescribed Fire for Environmental and Other Values Fire Management, Health & Risk Prescribed Fire: Considerations on the Way Forward

Extreme bushfires have more than doubled in frequency and intensity over the past two decades, according to a global study from the University of Tasmania. Source: Timberbiz Published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, the research reveals that six of the past seven years have been among the most extreme on record for wildfires. Dr Calum Cunningham, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Tasmania and lead author of the study, said the findings are alarming. “This study provides concrete evidence of a worrying trend. The intensity and frequency of these bushfires are increasing at an alarming rate, directly linked to the escalating effects of climate change.” Using 21 years of satellite data, the research team, including Professor David Bowman and Dr Grant Williamson, identified intense bushfire events by measuring the combined heat energy from fires each day. The study shows that not only have the number of extreme bushfires more than doubled between 2003 and 2023, but the average intensity of the 20 most extreme bushfires each year has more than doubled during this time. “The impact of these extreme events is devastating, not only for natural ecosystems but also for human populations. These fires release significant carbon emissions, threatening to create a vicious cycle that further accelerates global warming,” Dr Cunningham said. “Extreme bushfires result in catastrophic ecological damage, significant carbon emissions, and severe impacts on human health and safety. For instance, Australia’s ‘Black Summer’ bushfires of 2019-2020 were unprecedented in their scale and intensity, leading to massive ecological destruction and substantial carbon emissions.” The extreme bushfires are increasing fastest in the boreal and temperate conifer forests of North America and Russia. Hotspots of intense bushfires were also recorded in Australia, southern Africa, Mediterranean Europe, and South America. The study underscores the urgent need for adaptive measures to mitigate the growing threat of extreme wildfires. With global temperatures on the rise, the conditions that lead to these extreme bushfires are expected to worsen. As a result of that, the researchers are calling for robust climate action and improved bushfire management strategies. “Immediate global action is necessary to tackle the root causes of climate change. We must also develop more effective wildfire management practices that are tailored to the specific needs of each local area,” Dr Cunningham said. “Our findings highlight the critical need for both mitigation and adaptation strategies to protect our planet and its inhabitants.”