Forest Products Industry

FSC ANZ hosted its 17th Annual General Meeting on 30 May, marking a significant milestone with the celebration of 30 years of FSC globally under the theme ‘ FSC for Life.’ The event, held in Canberra and attended by members both in person and online, highlighted the organisation’s achievements and set its future direction. Source: Timberbiz The meeting provided an opportunity to delve into FSC’s International and national priorities, explore the alignment with the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), and highlight the achievements of the FSC (ANZ) team across the organisation’s policy, promotional licencing, and brand awareness work. Discussions also focused on the challenges facing the organisation and its future direction, while the Board could present a remarkable financial turnaround for the organisation and a very positive outlook for the coming years. FSC ANZ celebrated the contributions of outgoing directors Mike Thompson and Alfred ‘Parry’ Aguis, for their support and guidance throughout such a successful year and welcomed new and returning directors, namely, Jon Dee and Stuart Blanch in the Environment Chamber, Suzanne Feary, Scott McLean and Rachael Cavanagh in the Social chamber and Michelle McAndrews and James Felton-Taylor in the Economic chamber. The current Board of Directors comprises: Social Chamber: Suzanne Feary, Scott McLean, Rachael Cavanagh Economic Chamber: James Felton-Taylor, Carlie Porteous, Michelle McAndrew Environment Chamber: Nicky Moffat, Stuart Blanch, Jon Dee The event featured special guest presenters Vanja Kitanovic from HVP Plantations, who explored the organisation’s 20 years of FSC certification and the collaborative work they have done with FSC. Michael Brand, Forestry Extension Officer at the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade Northern Territory Government of Australia showed an incredible video showcasing the Birany Birany community forestry project led by the NT Government and University of Sunshine Coast with the support of FSC ANZ and other organisations.

Forestry Corporation has embarked on a seed collection program to safeguard some of the most iconic forests in New South Wales. The giant eucalypt forests of the NSW high country dominated by Alpine Ash were severely impacted by the Black Summer bushfires. Source: Timberbiz The species, despite its enormous dimensions is highly susceptible to fire and large tracts of mature trees died in more than half of the species’ distributions across the forest estate. A similar outcome was also recorded for the species White Ash, which occurs in tableland and coastal forests of southern NSW. Alpine Ash (Eucalyptus delegatensis), growing up to 70-metres in height, and White Ash (Eucalyptus fraxinoides), growing up to 40-metres, are ‘obligate seeders’ meaning the trees die after exposure to fire, even where the fires are not hot or intense. The species regenerate solely on seeds stored in soil or the tree canopy. This means after a single fire, ash trees can regenerate in large numbers, however, the regenerating forest is vulnerable to future fires until it has matured to develop seed itself, which occurs after 20 years. Forestry Corporation’s Southern Resources Supervisor Joel Dawson said there is now a risk that future wildfires could impact both species’ survival. “Having a seed bank for these species will be crucial in the event of another fire. This is why it is so important that Forestry Corporation builds an insurance seed store,” Mr Dawson said. “The collection of Alpine Ash seed has centred around Bago and Maragle state forests near Tumbarumba as these populations are most of risk of repeat fires,” he said. To ensure these species will continue to inhabit our forests a seed program was initiated, which identifies where mature trees in the forest are carrying seed and flowering. “We have had staff conducting surveys of flowering for a couple of years now and we are expecting good seed crops in the coming years based on those surveys,” Mr Dawson said. Forestry Corporation has contracted trained arborists who specialise in seed collection and extraction to scale the ash trees and prune seed pods from the canopy. “We collect from healthy trees through a light pruning of about 30-50% of the canopy. It’s a one-time collection operation from each tree and then we record their location and exclude them from future seed collection programs,” Mr Dawson said. “We need to preserve these important species from not just fires, but also pests and weeds that threaten the health of the forest. “We will also look to use these seed stores to actively regenerate areas where we identify poor regeneration following the 2019/2020 bushfires.” So far this year, White Ash seed collection has occurred on the Far South Coast and Alpine Ash seed collection has been completed in Maragle State Forest. “We have monitored the forests over the past few years to pinpoint the flowering events and found and harvested these seeds collecting 25-kilograms of white ash seed to restore the stock,” Mr Dawson said. The seeds are extracted from pods through a drying process in a rotary kiln and then stored in a cool room at Eden. “It’s an extensive process where nearly a tonne of seed pods produces about 25 kilograms of seed, which is just enough to fill three buckets,” Mr Dawson said. “Eucalypt seeds are very small, and despite the massive size of the mature trees an Alpine Ash seed is only 2-3mm in size once extracted,” he said. After the 2019/2020 bushfires some harvesting occurred in the burnt Ash forests, which allowed some of the dead timber to be utilised before it degraded, but that harvesting has now finished. Regeneration surveys following the fires are being conducted by drones to determine if any additional rehabilitation and seed sowing might be required to regenerate the forest. Find out more about Forestry Corporation at www.forestrycorporation.com.au

Leading chainsaw brand, STIHL, has launched STIHL Chainsaw Safety Week in Australia from 3-9 June to build awareness of the necessary safety precautions for operating a chainsaw this winter and beyond. Source: Timberbiz With almost one thousand chainsaw injuries reported in Australia each year, STIHL Chainsaw Safety Week seeks to address a need for better education around safe chainsaw use. Managing Director of STIHL Australia, Leeson Brook, recognised the need for education tailored to Australian chainsaw users. “At STIHL, we’re committed to making sure that Australians are putting their safety first. As Australia’s most trusted brand for chainsaws and outdoor power equipment, we recognise we have a role to play to support the safe use of these essential tools,” Mr Brook said. “Through our dealerships across the country, STIHL Australia has been providing in-person education to Australians for years. We’re proud to make it even more accessible for users through online educating content to make sure all Australians are using the proper protective equipment when they’re operating a chainsaw.” STIHL launched the campaign with a donation to the Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES), supporting its Monash unit as one of the busiest VICSES units across Victoria. With more than 660 requests for assistance over ‘tree down’ emergencies in FY24, the Monash unit was the most heavily impacted following storms in mid-February this year. With chainsaw safety grounded in community engagement, the donation will help accredited VICSES crews to continue providing on-the-ground support to communities around Victoria, reducing the risk of Victorians tackling dangerous hazards. As the control agency of flood and storm, VICSES volunteers harness their extensive training and substantial experience of Chainsaw Operations, to safely support communities and remove trees down over roads and properties and help to repair building damage. The past three years have been three of the busiest years’ in VICSES history following severe storms, major flooding and numerous deployments supporting storms or flood ravaged communities across the country. VICSES Deputy Chief Officer Readiness and Response, Alistair Drayton, said that the donation is greatly appreciated in supporting communities around Victoria through difficult situations. “We’re pleased to support National Chainsaw Safety Week and are very grateful to STIHL for the donation of $10,000 worth of chainsaws which will go to some of our volunteer units across Victoria,” said Mr Drayton. STIHL has extended the impact of the safety awareness campaign nationally, rolling out educational resources and support online and via its dealership network. The resources include an interactive opportunity for chainsaw users around Australia to assess their knowledge of proper safety practices, with the opportunity to enter a prize draw for those committing to their safety. The major prize winner will receive a battery chainsaw and PPE package, valued up to $2,548, with five further winners winning a Chainsaw PPE kit worth $361. STIHL’s commitment to community further extends through its dealership network, providing professional advice and services to maintain a standard of care across over 600 dealerships nationwide. To find out more about STIHL Australia’s inaugural Chainsaw Safety Week, visit https://www.stihlchainsawsafety.com.au/

Australia’s forest industry can now celebrate the removal of the ‘water rule’ that for years has deterred new timber plantings participating in the Emissions Reduction Fund. Source: Timberbiz As of 1 June 2024, the water rule that had added conditions that plantation forestry needed to meet to participate in the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme has been removed. The removal of the “water rule” was a Labor Party election promise prior to the 2022 Federal Election and following a consultation process 1 June 2024, was confirmed in July last year as the ‘rule’s’ end date. “This week is a great week for Australia’s forestry industry,” AFPA Chief Executive Officer Diana Hallam said. “The removal of the water rule means plantation and farm forestry projects will now be treated the same as other carbon methods and not excluded from many areas that are suitable for tree planting,” she said. “The removal of the water rule will now enable farmers in many areas to invest in trees, diversify their income and create market options to help them achieve net zero. “It’s a Berlin Wall sized barrier coming down that for years has hindered new investment in much needed timber trees. Ms Hallam said the removal of the restrictions nationally was great news because Australia desperately needed new production tree plantings to grow future timber and wood fibre supply and decarbonise the economy. “Just last month, AFPA released How Timber Can Help Solve Australia’s Housing Crisis, a plan for how our sector can help supply the timber to build 50,000 much needed new homes, to help solve Australia’s housing crisis. “The removal of the water rule is one very important cog in the wheel of success towards this goal,” she said. “We thank the Albanese Government, in particular Ministers Murray Watt, Chris Bowen and Tanya Plibersek, for honoring its 2022 election commitment to remove the water rule, as well as the Coalition for taking the same policy to the election. This recognition and bipartisan support for industry investment is very important for our sector. “AFPA will continue to work with Minister Watt and the rest of the Government on how to leverage the removal of the water rule, including through the plantation establishment grants and other policies relevant the boosting the forestry sector,” Ms Hallam said.