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New Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences forest data released this week shows Australia’s forestry sector is well positioned to help address the national housing and cost of living crises, according to Australian Forest Products Association CEO Diana Hallam. Source: Timberbiz The ABARES Australia’s State of the Forests Report: Synthesis 2023 (SOFR Synthesis 2023) released shows: Australia’s total forested area increased in the five years to 2021 by nearly three times the size of the ACT (750,000 hectares) with the total around 134 million hectares (more than 1.5 times the size of NSW) Carbon stocks in forests increased to over 19 million tonnes from 2016 to 2021, and there was a 5 per cent increase in the total carbon present in harvested wood products to around 167 million tonnes In 2022-23 the value of logs harvested from commercial plantations and native forests was $2.4 billion including $1.3 billion from softwood plantations Native forestry operations continue to sustainably harvest and regenerate just 0.06 per cent of Australia total native forest area annually – the equivalent of 6 out of 10,000 trees Forestry was identified as the least prevalent of 11 specified categories listed as threats for forest-dwelling flora and fauna. Land use change, unsuitable fire regimes and competition from introduced species were the most common threats. “I congratulate ABARES on the release of SOFR Synthesis 2023 and the huge amount of detailed work in the report,” Ms Hallam said. “I’m proud to say AFPA helped advocate for additional Commonwealth funding to allow for more regular forest data updates like SOFR. “Importantly the data demonstrates Australia’s forested area is increasing while countering disinformation that wrongly blames forestry for species loss. The data shows the drop in production in softwood timber highlighting the sector spare capacity available to support the Government’s housing targets. The data shows the importance of the sector to the national economy and how forestry and forest products are well placed to help Australia solve the national housing and cost of living crises,” she said. “Australia’s forest industries are an essential part of our country’s future providing essential housing, climate, consumer, employment, other economic and social benefits at home and internationally. Access to data that tracks our important forest resources is important for planning and accurate industry analysis. I congratulate ABARES and the Federal Government on the SOFR report.” You can download the report here.

A world first engineered wood product made exclusively from locally grown bluegum (Eucalyptus Globulus) timber has been manufactured in Warrnambool, providing a pathway to address Australia’s growing structural timber market demand. Source: Timberbiz The Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub and Forest and Wood Products Australia, working in partnership with WTIBeam (formerly known as Warrnambool Timber Industries), have unveiled the first of its kind GL18 timber product which can be utilised in everything from flooring to roof framing in both residential and commercial construction. It is envisaged that the laminated glulam product, produced from glued and finger jointed laminates, will help fill the void from the state’s cessation of native forest harvesting while reducing the state’s reliance on imports from volatile offshore markets. Victoria is Australia’s biggest importer of structural timber sourcing more than 40% of its market base, with demand anticipated to quadruple by 2050 due to population growth and urbanisation. The Splinters to Structures project, funded by the Federal Government, focused on creating new domestic value from the plantation hardwood trees that are traditionally exported to Asian markets including China and Japan. Developed after two years of extensive research trials, the GL18 product is capable of being utilised in everything from flooring to rafters in both residential and commercial builds. Victorian Minister for Jobs and Industry Natalie Hutchins and Member for Western Victoria Jacinta Ermacora yesterday met with the research group to understand how the product could fit into conventional and modular constructions to fill the state’s housing market demand. Minister Hutchins said this is an exciting product with wide potential. “This new world first wood product has the potential to address timber demand and help our booming construction industry who are working around the clock to build more homes across Victoria,” Minister Hutchins said. Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub CEO Tony Wright said the research group planned to use the findings to undertake commercial trials, building a pathway to commercialisation. “These commercial trials will help us understand how we best replace native hardwood with plantation hardwoods with a product that already has a broad domestic base. Ultimately, its envisaged that this bluegum GL18 product could be utilised in both domestic and commercial builds and is perfect for use in a prefabricated building, acting as a replacement for concrete or steel,” Mr Wright said. “The outcome for the sector is reduced reliance on exports, the creation of new local jobs, a cost-effective building material with a positive carbon outcome that can fix a shortfall in the domestic market” WTIBeam owner Edwina Vulcz, whose father Tim Goodall is a key figure in glulam product development and founder of the business, said their team had been “pleasantly surprised” by the trial outcome. “Historically trials had only looked at structural framing which failed in a commercial setting because of challenges in sawing. This is a completely different scenario. Bluegum (Eucalyptus Globulus) lends itself to GLT (glue laminated timber) production because of its suitability in a more hands on manufacturing application,” she said. “This product has the potential to save thousands of dollars in the construction of a home because you have a smaller beam that can be utilised further because of its strength, reducing the need for other materials.” GTFIH deputy chair and board director of Australian Bluegum Plantations (ABP) Laurie Hein said the low carbon product was paving the way for a more diversified regional market base, addressing the imbalance between supply and demand. “The Hub has always been focused on optimising the use of every piece of fibre grown in our region and we see this latest development as an important milestone,” Mr Hein said. “Whilst we work towards strengthening the intelligence from our existing trials the next major step is to undertake a feasibility study. This will allow us to understand how to take this product to scale through the construction of a manufacturing hub, developing multi-generational jobs and capturing as much economic value in the supply chain as possible.” The Splinters to Structures project is supported by Green Triangle-based hardwood plantation companies including Australian Bluegum Plantations, Midway Limited, New Forests (SFM Management and PF Olsen).

Around 300 scientists, researchers, forestry professionals and foresters have gathered for Forestry Australia’s National Symposium being held in Ballarat this week. The key theme for the Symposium is healthy and resilient forests for our future. Source: Timberbiz Acting Forestry Australia President Dr Bill Jackson said healthy forests can deliver a range of environmental, social, cultural, and economic benefits and are much more likely to withstand future shocks and stresses, such as those generated by bushfires, invasive species and climate change. Kirsha Kaechele, co-owner of MONA and sponsor of the Forest Economics Congress spoke on the art of radical diplomacy, saying “negotiators need get out of those ugly board rooms”. Ms Kaechele said we can’t move forward without caring for people – Australia can have the best forest practice in the world by working together; for all sides to be brave enough to welcome broad conversation; and invite peer-review to achieve truly sustainable practice. Professor Lori Daniels from the Forest Services Centre in Canada spoke about the need for transformative change based on active management that combines the depth of Indigenous knowledge with western ecological science. “In Canada, forest managers are considering a new future of diversified, proactive, collaborative and evidence-based management for forest resilience,” Professor Daniels said. Secretary of Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Adam Fennessy identified the key role forestry can play in solving many of societies key challenges. He announced that the Federal Government is supporting this potential through investing in national forest policy, capacity and capability, climate change and research and development. Forestry Australia is proud to facilitate conversation and explore strategies that address these issues and create a bright and innovative future for forests in Australia. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is a major sponsor of the symposium. “We are passionate about natural resource management and support for sustainable forestry industries throughout Australia,” Secretary Adam Fennessy said. “The department’s portfolio industries, including the forest sector, are on the frontline of climate change. “Forestry, and sustainable forest management more broadly, are essential parts of the nation’s emissions reduction efforts along with supporting regional jobs in sustainable forestry industries. “I’m delighted to have had the opportunity to highlight DAFF’s work in delivering the government’s forestry agenda, and our role in supporting industry capability, research and innovation. “The symposium will provide a forum for wide-ranging discussions about the environmental, social, economic and cultural benefits of healthy forests and the importance of active management to ensure that those values can continue being delivered. “This includes presentations from several traditional owners, noting how their perspectives on caring for country can inform forest management. “The symposium will also highlight innovative management to mitigate threats to forest health and resilience, and effective forest recovery and restoration following major disturbances. “There are critical links between forests, regional development, human wellbeing, connection and creativity, which demonstrate the importance of this symposium, and the work undertaken to implement science and best practice into forest management in Australia.”  

They play an essential role in supporting life on Earth, but many species are in decline, researchers found.