Forest Products Industry

This summer, Forest Fire Management Victoria’s helicopter rappel program is celebrating 40 years’ delivering forest firefighters to fight some of the state’s most remote and inaccessible bushfires to control them before they impact communities and the environment. Source: Gippsland Times Rappelling uses specialist equipment to transport firefighters from a hovering helicopter to the ground. It means fire crews can be deployed quickly to remote and mountainous locations where there may not be road access or space to land a helicopter. This allows them to bring small fires under control quickly using ‘dry firefighting’ techniques to slow spread until other resources can reach the fires, or clear areas to allow helicopters to land. Dry fire techniques include using rakehoes to establish mineral earth breaks and using chainsaws to create fire breaks or improve access to other firefighting resources. Since its establishment in 1985, more than 350 firefighters have taken part in the program. Chief fire officer Chris Hardman said 40 years was an incredible milestone. “Rappelling is a critical part of the way we fight fires in remote or difficult terrain, allowing us to stop small fires before they become big fires,” he said. Crews are based at Heyfield and Ovens and can be deployed across the state. When they are not deployed to fires, rappel teams help deliver FFMVic’s land and fire management works, including assessing and treating hazardous trees and clearing tracks. Each year, crews undertake several weeks of training in readiness for the fire season. That training begins this month for both returning and new members across Victoria, including in Melbourne, Ovens, Heyfield and Howqua. To be eligible for the program, new members must have had firefighting experience and a good level of fitness, but abseiling experience is not required. Training starts at the rappel tower at the Fire Equipment Development Centre at Altona, which includes a helicopter mock-up. Once students have demonstrated their competency in rappelling, they progress to a helicopter. Initial rappels take place about 120 feet, gradually increasing to 300 feet. The training is led by Bryan Rees, DEECA senior aviation operations officer, who has been a part of the rappel program since its start. Mr Rees said he was proud to be involved for four decades as he’s watched the program evolve. “We aim to instil a strong sense of teamwork, discipline and safety in our crews during training. Once rappel crews are on the ground, they are firefighters like any other,” he said “Lives, properties, infrastructure and landscapes have undoubtedly been saved by having the ability to put firefighters on the ground so soon after a fire is detected.” Mr Hardman said rappel training is just one of the ways FFMVic is preparing for this year’s fire season. He said it’s a reminder to the community they can play a role as well and encouraged all Victorians to take steps to prepare for the summer ahead.

The latest batch of forest industry leaders were put to the test last week during the Forest Practices Authority’s 2024 Forest Practices for Supervisors Course. Source: Timberbiz Private Forests Tasmania Operations Manager Jarrod Burn delivered a module on native regrowth forest silviculture, the art and science of sustainably managing the establishment, growth, health and quality forests for this year’s students. Mr Burn said the course was an essential part for forest practices supervisors to understand decisions on appropriate silvicultural treatments such as natural and assisted regeneration practices, thinning for ecological or commercial benefits, timber harvesting practices and pest and disease control practices. “The module gave understanding of the principles of silvicultural systems and how they derived and applied in the Tasmanian practices system,” he said. “There are a number of recognised and documented silvicultural regimes which have been developed for specific forest types and situations. “Silvicultural objectives can be developed with a focus on timber production, forest health, ecosystem services and other values which are important to the landowner.” A silvicultural system requires: A management objective A harvesting system A regeneration treatment Monitoring and protection “Tasmania’s extensive native regrowth forests have a long history of active management for timber production,” Mr burn said. “Up to 306,000 hectares of private native forests in Tasmania can be managed sustainably to produce timber, which can contribute significantly to Australia’s timber shortage, support ecosystem and forest health, and produce positive outcomes.” Positive outcomes include: Timber products – logs harvested can be sold to domestic and export markets, and are increasingly used in higher value wood products Non-timber products – native regrowth forest management enables the production of non-timber products such as honey Values and functions – regional employment, recreation, carbon sequestration and ecosystem services are supported by private native regrowth forest management. Mr Burn said choosing the most appropriate silvicultural regime requires a good understanding of forest growth dynamics and the factors that influence these dynamics. The practice of silviculture can be described as the employment of techniques to alter the structure of forest and stand to achieve specific management objectives such as: Removal of trees so that competition between trees is reduced and growth is encouraged. Removal of damaged or undesirable trees or other vegetation components. Changing the forest structure to promote desirable values (timber, biodiversity etc.). Encouraging the regeneration of desirable species and forest structure. In native forests, silvicultural techniques are focused on harvesting strategies and regeneration practices, but can also include the use of fire, thinning and other interventions. “Tasmania has vast native forest cover, much of which is on private land. Native regrowth forests can be actively managed for multiple benefits,” Mr Burn said. “With active management, you can improve the health of your native forest and its ecosystem functions. You can also produce highly valued timber and non-timber products. “Activities like selective harvesting give the forest’s remaining trees more light, water and nutrients. This means they are healthier and more productive for functions such as carbon sequestration. It also means the forest is less vulnerable to pests, disease and fire.” Private Forests Tasmania has a host of resources about private native regrowth forest management at https://treealliance.com.au/native-regrowth-forest-management

Australia’s forestry sector will be represented at the United Nations’ 29th Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan to promote the important role our forestry and forest products sector is already playing, as well as its further potential to help Australia fight climate change. Source: Timberbiz AFPA’s Senior Policy Manager, Sara Bray will attend COP29 over the next fortnight and participate in numerous events with a range of stakeholders, including the Albanese Government, to promote the role forestry plays in decarbonising the economy, the role timber will play in decarbonising the building sector and the role of bioplastics to transition away from fossil fuel-based plastics. There are seven formal events AFPA and Ms Bray have helped organise including: Decarbonising our skylines: Shaping buildings for a net zero 2050 Focused on decarbonising the built environment, this event will feature the President of the American Institute of Architects and the President of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Low carbon, high productivity agriculture: Meeting global needs In the Australian Government Pavilion, AFPA will moderate an event featuring the President of the International Dairy Federation, Gilles Froment, National Farmers Federation President, David Jochinke and representatives from the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and The Meat Institute (USA). Speakers will discuss achieving climate goals, while boosting global food and fibre security, including through the use of forestry. Put your money where your mouth is: Commitments and investments to reach net-zero agriculture This event will explore what’s required to achieve net zero agriculture and how to scale up regenerative and low-emission agriculture practices. Speakers include Australia’s Special Representative for Australian Agriculture, Su McCluskey, and representatives from the Japanese Government, the Brazilian Farmers Organisation, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the Danish Agriculture and Food Council. In addition to AFPA’s participation in these events, there will be significant advocacy and networking opportunities with other key stakeholders, including Australian Government representatives, to promote forestry and the sector’s contribution to fighting climate change. “AFPA’s impressive lineup of events demonstrates our standing and forestry’s standing on the global stage, particularly because of our world-leading sustainable forestry practices. Internationally, sustainable forestry, which is the management of forests for timber, the environment and societal benefits, is recognised as a key tool in decarbonising the agriculture sector,” Diana Hallam Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Forest Products said. “AFPA has been working with organisations like the International Dairy Federation, the World Farmers Organisation, the National Farmers Federation (Australia), and the Brazil, Danish and Canadian farmer representative groups to demonstrate how net zero agriculture, or low carbon agriculture can be a reality.”