Forest Products Industry

Australia’s forest industries are disappointed the Commonwealth and State governments have given up trying to eradicate the insidious Polyphagous Shot-hole borer (PSHB), a tiny, imported beetle with the potential to destroy Australian forests and devastate our forestry industry. Source: Timberbiz The National Management Group (NMG) met on Wednesday and determined it was no longer feasible to eradicate the pest and a transition to management will now be finalised. “We’re disappointed that governments have effectively accepted the PSHB is here and here to stay. The likelihood it spreads from metropolitan Perth to other parts of the country has increased as a consequence of the decision to move from an eradication to a management strategy,” Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Forest Products Association Diana Hallam said. The Polyphagous Shot-Hole Borer is a damaging tree pest that could seriously impact forestry industries and destroy trees and ecosystems from local gardens to national parks Australia-wide. The beetle, first detected in WA in 2021, is spreading through backyards, urban forests and native reserves across metropolitan Perth killing trees. “The risk this beetle poses to trees in forestry operations, national parks, reserves and even backyards is immense and the cost borne by our industry and other stakeholders, like local councils, to prevent its spread and manage its risk will unfortunately, likely increase. “We know in South Africa and California, where PSHB has already established itself, the losses and cost of management are in the billions of dollars across local governments, horticulture, forestry and the environment through tree deaths or increased management costs,” Ms Hallam said. “Despite our disappointment, we do welcome the Western Australian Government’s commitment of $26.5 million towards the PSHB response in the State’s Budget announced this week. “AFPA will continue to work with our industry and other stakeholders on the impact of the NMG’s decision and protecting forestry operations from the PSHB moving forward.”

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Timber engineers from all corners of the globe toured the world’s largest timber hybrid building this week in preparation for the World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE 2025) next week in Brisbane. Source: Jason Ross Wood Central The world’s largest timber-hybrid building under construction described as a “timber building inside a much larger building” is now visible across most parts of the Sydney CBD, with crews working to build the 39-storey skyscraper over the city’s central train station. It comes as dozens of the world’s top timber engineers toured the Atlassian Central Tower site on Thursday where they heard from Tim Allen, TTW’s timber structural lead and Tim Crawshaw, BVN’s project architect about the project, which will eventually see 30,000 cubic metres of cross-laminated timber and glulam supplied by European giants Stora Enso and Wieharg used in the construction of the building’s timber habitats. Wood Central understands that the habitats comprise seven different four-storey infills, with three levels of cross-laminated timber flooring (per habitat) sandwiched between steel and concrete floor plates. Speaking about the project last year, Mr Allen said the floors connect to the concrete floors via drag straps, using a lateral design that is one of the most advanced in the world. “Why build a 39-storey building partly out of timber? “It comes down to using the right timber for the right application,” he said. Today delegates will see several of Sydney’s other timber buildings, including the Eric Tweedale Stadium (winner of the 2021 Australian Timber Design Awards), the Macquarie Incubator and Law School, and Lendlease’s International House, the winner of the 2018 World Architecture Festival, Best Use of Certified Timber.

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In the April edition of the Builders Bulletin, Jeff Harvey stated some facts, repeated over the years by Jeff and the industry. Starting with the basic facts that our trees grow on rain and solar energy and are easily regrown – the ultimate “Carbon Capture and Storage Technology.” At the same time, although eucalyptus are great carbon (CO2) absorbers in their early years of life, they absorb less CO2 as they approach 80 to 100 years, drop branches and leaves, become carbon neutral and eventually, carbon negative. Management for the harvesting and regeneration of regrowth timber is not allowed through changes to State Government policy in 100% of Victoria’s native state forests. Previously the Victorian timber industry was harvesting only 0.04% per annum of total forests ie the equivalent of about four trees in every 10,000, from previously disturbed forest and all harvesting is replanted. I wonder how this 0.04% could possibly be unsustainable as the Victorian state government (under Dan Andrews) has decided? A tree grows on solar energy, absorbing carbon dioxide naturally. That carbon dioxide (CO2) is converted into carbon that is captured in the timber products we produce and sell. Approximately half of the dry weight of timber is carbon. All old growth forests are locked up and have been for many years. The timber industry has sustainable forest practices, the basis of which is to replant at least 4 trees for every tree harvested. Taking all the above into account, there is now an Industry Active Forest Management Strategy that I believe makes sense and would (should) satisfy all parties that are interested in the future of our native forests and the role timber can play in our quest for a liveable environment. Solutions that deliver important benefits and wider community needs including – forest health and resilience, reduced wildfire risk, greater biodiversity and wildlife protection outcomes, and also sustainable, renewable, local and independently certified Victorian hardwood products. Interrogate the forest management research to understand broader views rather than base forest management on narrow viewpoints. Some of this work has been completed. The current situation of no native forest operations enables the opportunity to consider forest management from scratch-a fresh start. The fresh start would not consider the industrial type of clear fall harvesting or coupe burning. Selective harvesting widely practised in the hardwood forests of Europe and USA for centuries have maintained the same forest and biodiversity in perpetuity. There is no burning of slash. Harvesting is low intensity so any remaining slash cannot carry a continuous fire. Crown cover is maintained not allowing too much light that would encourage fire prone ground species. Selective harvesting incorporates all forest values and is now being successfully practiced in Tasmanian private forests, with the same species as in Victoria under strict approved Forest Practices Plans This a low-cost model that enables funding for forest improvement and fire prevention and suppression work and the management of pest plant and animals. It is also self-funding. Monitoring is an important component both before and after forest activities to both show improvement and improve forest management practices. Currently much of the forest is unhealthy. There is a lack of resources to implement healthy forest management regimes. Forests are more susceptible to wildfire because flora has changed and there is not the access or intent to conduct low intensity burning. There is limited access to quickly control fires using existing roads and tracks. Pest Flora (eg weeds-blackberry, St John’s wort, ragwort, oxalis) are unmanaged, abundant and widespread. There is limited access to control. Pest Fauna (eg deer, foxes, dogs, cats, European wasps) are unmanaged, abundant and widespread. There is limited access to control. There is not enough money to manage state forests or national parks. All of the above reduces biodiversity values. Active Forest Management Offers a solution. Select harvesting of some areas allows healthy forests to grow. There is no burning and therefore no immediate carbon emission. Active forest management enables a better climate change solution as more carbon is stored in the forest and in forest products than under a lock it up system. Access is continually maintained for the management of pest flora, fauna, forest health and to control fires. Low-cost selective harvesting (no seed collection, burning or regeneration programs are required). Forest produce maintains an income for sustainable management. The industry accepts harvesting and maintaining road access costs are higher than the previous more intensive industrial harvesting and ‘cut out get out’ roading, and that these funds are used for whole of forest management. Healthy forests enable fire prevention and reduce the fire protection costs by having smaller less intense wildfires (saving the Victorian taxpayer). Jack Bowen is the chairman of Bowens Timber

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