Sammlung von Newsfeeds

Trees provide myriad benefits, from being a source of food to absorbing carbon and even contributing to gender equity. But across the planet, tree and plant species face many threats, including from the climate crisis, disease and deforestation for urban development and agriculture. Source: Timberbiz More than 1 in 3 tree species worldwide are at risk of extinction, according to new research from the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Urgent action is needed to scale up local, national and international tree conservation efforts, says the report. And while this help will be vital, there are many examples of how trees themselves can be resilient or adapt to adverse conditions while providing multiple benefits to the ecosystems and people around them. These are three resilient trees. The baobabs For centuries, Africa’s baobabs have been an important source of food, fibre for ropes or clothing, and medicine; supporting rural communities across the continent. This includes creating a livelihood for many women who collect and sell the trees’ fruit. The tree is also important for carbon sequestration, soil health and biodiversity. Recent research suggests that adult populations of this iconic ‘upside-down tree’ are thriving and do not appear to be dying off any faster due to the climate crisis. They are vulnerable to animals, including livestock which are partial to their roots. But many baobabs live for a long time, with some of the oldest reaching 2,500 years of age. This means that they are used to surviving harsh conditions. Alongside having non-flammable bark that makes them resistant to wildfires, they store large amounts of water in their trunks to survive dry seasons. Experts have found they will likely have experienced extensive fluctuations in rainfall during the past 1,000 years. The baobab is among the trees identified for their environmental, social and market potential in Africa’s Sahel region by 1t.org, the World Economic Forum’s platform for the trillion trees community. The project works to mobilize the private sector to conserve, restore and grow a trillion trees by 2030. The Giant Sequoias The largest trees in the world by volume, giant sequoias are indigenous only to the US state of California. They can grow to heights of 90 metres and the oldest is more than 3,200 years old. Part of the secret to this long life is that sequoias are resistant to insects and disease and have thick bark and high canopies that protect them against fires. In fact, fire helps them reproduce by removing competitors for light, water and food and releasing the seeds from their fallen cones so they can reproduce. In recent years, however, the effects of drought on the land, as well as the taller trees around them, have made giant sequoias more vulnerable to fire. Giant sequoias also have an impressive ability to capture and store large amounts of carbon dioxide over their lengthy lifespans. Experts say one tree can pull about 85 kg of carbon out of the atmosphere per year. Scientists say the trees grow best in their home in the Sierra Nevada mountains. But a recent study in the United Kingdom has found that giant sequoias, introduced to the country 160 years ago, are well adapted to the milder climate and are growing at rates close to their native ranges. The researchers note, however, that long-term consideration should be given to how they will thrive in the UK’s changing climate in the coming years. Mangroves Mangroves are trees and shrubs that have adapted to live in intertidal zones – areas where the ocean meets the land between high and low tides. They can be found on tropical and subtropical shores everywhere from Florida to South America, Africa to South-East Asia, which is home to nearly a third of all mangroves. They have grown to survive in hot, muddy and salty conditions that would kill off most plants. And they bring many benefits. Mangrove forests are among the most biodiverse places on Earth, providing a home for many species, from fish and sharks to hummingbirds and even tigers. They have an important role in coastal communities too, acting as a barrier against waves and storm surges. In fact, they protect more than 15 million people globally and reduce property damage by $65 billion. And they are very effective at capturing and storing carbon, up to five times more carbon per acre than tropical rainforests. However, the world’s mangroves are under threat from human activity, with up to 35% estimated to have disappeared since 1980. Experts say large amounts of mangrove habitat loss is restorable and initiatives such as the Vida Manglar project in Colombia are working with communities to do so. This project is an example of how close cross-sector collaboration between non-profits, communities and governments can help restore thousands of acres of this invaluable species.

The EU’s climate and biodiversity policies have a very large impact on European forestry, according to the preliminary results of a research project by Maarit Kallio, professor of forest economics and forest policy. Source: Timberbiz According to preliminary results, achieving the LULUCF Regulation targets and the EU Biodiversity Strategy would require a reduction of 132 million cubic metres in felling in EU countries and Norway compared with the so-called baseline development in 2035. A quarter of the reduction would occur in the Nordic countries, the rest in the rest of the EU. In addition, sawmill and panel industry production in particular would decrease in the EU. Globally, logging would not decrease much, as 2/3 of the reduction in logging in the EU would be offset by increased logging elsewhere in the world. The largest logging outflow would be to North America (38%), South America (25%), and China and the rest of Asia (19%). Professor Kallio from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences presented the preliminary results of the research project “Leakage effects of EU biodiversity and climate policies on the global forest sector and its sustainability” at a seminar held in December 2024. The research project was funded by the Finnish Forest Foundation. “With the logging boom, the EU is losing the economic benefits of the forest sector to the rest of the world. At the same time, the risk of biodiversity and climate challenges spilling over outside the EU increases,” stated Professor Kallio at the seminar. Decreasing logging in the EU would result in a significant leakage of logging to countries where the risks of biodiversity loss are greater than in the EU. For example, these countries have higher species richness, lower coverage of protected areas and less controlled use of forests. “Assessing the overall impacts of policy measures is important and Kallio now brings a global perspective. Significant logging leakages from the EU to the rest of the world show the ineffectiveness of EU policy measures,” said Martta Fredrikson, CEO of the Finnish Forest Foundation. In the research project, Kallio used scenario analysis to compare the development of the forest sector with and without EU policy measures. The project compared the effects of the EU Biodiversity Strategy and the LULUCF Regulation up to 2035. Driven by global demand, the EU and Norway’s logging volume is expected to increase from the more than 500 mil-lion cubic meters (FAO) in recent years to approximately 580 million cubic meters in 2035, according to the so-called baseline. The results on the biodiversity strategy are new and the article Potential impacts of the EU’s biodiversity strategy on the EU and global forest sector and biodiversity is under peer review. Kallio’s preliminary results on the impacts of the LULUCF Regulation are an update to previously published studies on the subject (2018 and 2022) and a corresponding article on these will be peer reviewed early this year.  

US real estate development company Neutral has secured $US133.3 million in construction financing for its development project, The Edison, a 378-unit, mass timber, luxury apartment project in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Source: Timberbiz Bank OZK provided senior financing, and Pearlmark delivered the mezzanine financing, with JLL Capital Markets working on behalf of Neutral to facilitate the transaction. The Edison, located at 1005 North Edison Street in Milwaukee, will total 308,913 residential rentable square feet and 378 residential market-rate units (studio, one, two and three bedroom) as well as approximately 7,200 square feet of complementary retail space. The project will feature best-in-class amenities focused on residents’ wellness, including a cafe, fitness centre, spa, pool, sauna, demo kitchen, dog park, movie room, com-munity garden, entertainment deck with kitchens, and a top-floor sky lounge. The Edison represents Neutral’s commitment to redefining conventional development with innovation in sustainability and well-being: At 31 stories, The Edison is on track to be the tallest mass timber building in North America and one of the tallest mass timber structures globally. The Edison blends exposed mass timber with abundant natural materials and state-of-the-art ventilation systems, creating an environment that nurtures both resident well-being and environmental sustainability. The building’s materials are estimated to reduce embodied carbon footprint by 17% (without accounting for biogenic carbon) and 54% (with biogenic carbon), as well as reduce the operation carbon footprint and energy consumption by 45% compared to conventional buildings of the same typology and use. Edison will pursue Passive House certification from PHIUS 2021 Core Standard, one of the leading and strictest certifications for energy-efficient buildings. The Edison will also pursue Living Building Challenge 4.0. Core Certification, focused on regenerative buildings and overall resident well-being. The Neutral development team is led by CEO Nate Helbach, CPO Daniel Glaessl and CTO Matt Frazer. “We’re grateful to partner with Bank OZK and Pearlmark and for JLL Capital Markets’ leadership in facilitating this milestone financing. Successfully securing funding in to-day’s challenging financial market environment underscores the strength of the project’s fundamentals and our exceptional project team,” said Helbach. “With The Edison, we’re demonstrating that innovation in sustainable high-rise construction is both technologically and financially feasible. Edison will pursue some of the strictest sustainability standards, like passive house certification, by PHIUS 2021. We are also implementing design guidelines of LBC 4.0 Core Certification that focuses on the overall well-being and happiness of the people who will live and work in The Edison.” said Glaessl. Pearlmark team was led by Managing Director Mark Witt. “We are excited to be involved in the financing of this project with Neutral, a repeat sponsor of the firm. This project has a great location on the Milwaukee River and steps away from the Deer District, with its numerous entertainment and food options.” said Witt. The JLL Capital Markets team representing the borrower was led by Director Mike Brady, Associate Tara Hagerty and Analyst Merrick Evans. “We are thrilled to be a part of this team to not only add a unique luxury living option to Milwaukee but also advance mass timber developments. We believe this project will set a new standard for elevated living.” said Brady. Project construction is expected to start in the first quarter of 2025 and is expected to be complete in the second quarter of 2027, Neutral officials said.  

A baby totara tree at the east end of Clarkville’s Silverstream Reserve in New Zealand has been entered in the Waimakariri Tree of the Year competition. Source: Star News The tree was nominated by Noelene Francis, of Clarkville, who in 2023 won the individual award at the Waimakariri District Council Community Service Awards for her volunteer work at the reserve. Ms Francis said the totara was planted in 2016, three years after volunteers began a concerted effort to plant and look after the reserve. It was planted among established pittosporums to provide the early protection totaras need and is now thriving. “It is very happy growing among its sheltering companions,” she said. She believes the totara is a worthy Waimakariri Tree of the Year candidate because it is a “true icon” in the making. “I know it is just a baby, and you can’t see it very well, but it will be magnificent and given the stony, dry area it is planted in it is doing well.” All entries for the 2025 Waimakariri Tree of the Year will go in a draw to win a copy of Peter Wohlleben’s The Hidden Life of Trees the Illustrated Edition. The competition has been organised by the Waimakariri District Council’s greenspace team. Nominations can be sent to Mike Kwant at ParksandFacilities@wmk.govt.nz until Friday, 28 February 2025. The competition aims to identify trees to nominate for the New Zealand Tree of the Year. Entries for the New Zealand Tree of the Year competition can be made from mid-March to mid-April and an expert panel will select six finalists. Then from May 1, the public will be invited to vote for the tree they want to become New Zealand Tree of the Year from those finalists. The winner will be announced on 5 June 2025 – Arbor Day. The objective of the national competition is to celebrate New Zealand’s most interesting trees and acknowledge the stories that connect communities to them. Last year’s winner was named the ‘Walking Tree’. It is a northern rata on the South Island’s West Coast, near the Karamea Cemetery, with twin trunks stretched apart as if it was in mid-stride and wearing high heels. For more information about the New Zealand Tree of the Year competition and the Walking Tree, visit www.treeoftheyear.co.nz  

House of Science in New Zealand has launched an educational kit for primary school students, taking a mātauranga Māori approach to forest health and environmental issues such as myrtle rust and kauri dieback. Source: Timberbiz Activities in Te Ora o te Wao | Forest Health kit allow students to explore native forests through audio soundscapes, compare giant trees such as kauri and pōhutukawa and learn to conserve forests by dissecting seeds, studying tree growth and understanding diseases including kauri dieback. The kit also includes Scion’s interactive app E Heke e Heka! and the augmented reality tool Mātaihia Te Heka!, which help rangatahi identify other threats such as myrtle rust. House of Science CEO and founder Chris Duggan says the kits give young learners practical knowledge to understand and help protect New Zealand’s native ecosystems, inspiring the next generation to become stewards of our forests and environment. “By age 10, most children have formed a strong impression of careers they can see themselves doing. If science hasn’t been part of their lives by then, the chance they’ll follow this pathway is slim. “Empowering primary school teachers to deliver engaging science lessons will ensure a workforce with the necessary skills to embrace and support the future of work.” Te Ora o te Wao | Forest Health kit is part of a library of hands-on, bilingual science resource kits covering a range of topics, including electricity, climate change and soil. “Careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics are at the heart of many future workforce requirements and underpin the transition to a climate-resilient, sustainable, low-emission economy,” Mr Duggan said. Katerina Pihera-Ridge, Scion’s Portfolio Lead for Restoration, Protection & Mauri o Te Waonui a Tane, says the inclusion of E Heke e Heka! and Mātaihia Te Heka! in the kit is significant. “It will make the app directly available to all House of Science member schools and kura, presenting myrtle rust science in Te Reo Māori and English and allowing young learners to engage with this environmental knowledge in a relevant and interactive way.” Ms Pihera-Ridge led the development of the app after recognising a significant gap in accessible resources about myrtle rust, particularly in Te Reo Māori. “We identified a need to make scientific knowledge more accessible to whānau, communities and rangatahi,” she said. “This app offers an interactive learning experience that helps young people understand the impact of myrtle rust and empowers them in their roles as kaitiaki.” The kit is guided by the BioHeritage National Science Challenge’s Oranga – Wellbeing program, which combines Māori perspectives on well-being with scientific strategies for biosecurity, ecosystem health and resilience. Thanks to sponsorship from the BioHeritage National Science Challenge and the Freemasons Foundation, most House of Science branches nationwide will have two copies of the kit. “We have 20 House of Science branches serving over 700 schools across most of the North Island and Christchurch, and our kits have the power to reach more than 170,000 schoolchildren each year,” Mr Duggan said. Andrea Acton, a teacher at Bethlehem School, who recently trialled Te Ora o te Wao | Forest Health kit, says it was an outstanding resource that captivated the students’ interest. “We integrated it seamlessly across the curriculum, which inspired some of the best creative writing students have done all year. They also created posters full of newly learned facts and are thoroughly enjoying this hands-on, science-based approach to learning.” Te Ora o te Wao | Forest Health kit marks the second collaboration between Scion and House of Science. In 2022, they partnered to create “A Load of Rubbish”, a kit that introduced students to the six Rs of resource management – rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle and repair.  

Giant pine scale, or GPS, has been detected in Adelaide’s north-eastern suburbs following ongoing surveillance of an area where infected trees were removed in the Highbury Aqueduct Reserve and Hope Valley Reservoir Reserve last year. These sap-sucking pests have the potential to impact the state’s $1.4 billion forest industry. Source: Timberbiz The Department of Primary Industries and Regions is currently working with the Department for Environment and Water, SA Water, the South Australian forest industry and the City of Tea Tree Gully in managing this latest outbreak. Trees are being removed in the Highbury and Hope Valley areas, in order to protect both local street trees, surrounding urban forests and the South Australian forestry sector. Any wildlife found to be present, including protected animals and the eggs of protected animals, is being managed appropriately in accordance with relevant legislation. A spokesperson for the State Government said that they understood the loss of mature trees would have an impact on the Highbury community, and that the decision to undertake tree removal had not been made lightly. “Given the risk giant pine scale poses, it is important that all steps are taken to eliminate this pest insect,” the spokesperson said. “To protect street trees and the parks and gardens within the Highbury and Hope Valley areas, as well as South Australia’s $1.4 billion forest industry, there is an urgent need to contain the pest insect through the removal of affected and surrounding trees. “Other eradication options have been trialled in the area in an effort to reduce the impact of tree removal, however they have not been successful in full eradication of giant pine scale. As a result, the removal of trees remains the best-known option for eliminating the pest. “Previous giant pine scale detections at Dernancourt and North Adelaide in 2014 and Highbury in 2018 were successfully controlled through using this same approach and we are confident that the removal of these final known GPS-infected trees in SA will be again successful in mitigating this pest.” With human activity a known key driver of giant pine scale spread, particularly through the pest sticking onto shoes, clothing or equipment, a restricted area has been established around the infestation site, including the closure of the Aqueduct Trail. Visitors to Highbury Aqueduct Reserve are advised not to enter the restricted area or remove any wood material from the reserves. Once the tree removals are complete the restricted area will remain in place for up to three months to ensure that there are no live giant pine scale remaining onsite prior to re-opening for public access. The tree removal site will be remediated including revegetating with local native species of trees, shrubs and grasses when seasonal conditions are optimal for planting. Native to the eastern Mediterranean region, giant pine scale (Marchalina hellenica) causes branch dieback, gradual desiccation and tree death. It feeds exclusively on plants from the pine family, such as introduced pines, firs and spruces. “With surveillance so critical to this stage of the response, all agencies involved are calling on the public, particularly local residents, to report anything that looks suspicious,” the spokesperson said. Giant pine scale can be detected by looking for masses of the characteristic white cotton-like secretions on the trunks and branches of pine trees. If you see or suspect giant pine scale, report it to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881. Further information on the pest is also available at www.pir.sa.gov.au/giant-pine-scale For enquiries regarding the management of giant pine scale at Highbury Aqueduct Reserve, email NPWS-AMLR-PLS@sa.gov.au For enquiries regarding the management of giant pine scale at Hope Valley Reservoir Reserve, contact SA Water on 1300 SA WATER (1300 729 283).  

Two companies involved in an illegal forestry operation on a farming property south of Cooma have been fined a combined amount of almost $900,000. Source: The Riotact Whites Timber Products Pty Ltd was fined $600,000, and White’s Haulage Pty Ltd was fined $270,000 by the NSW Land and Environment Court in December 2024. This is the court’s second sentencing for the incident. Last year, farmer Michael James Green, who owned the farming property called ‘Doolondondale’ in Kybeyan, was convicted and fined $112,500 for his offences. Justice Nicola Pain said that the two companies had carried out the native forestry operations on Green’s property between September and November 2021. She said Whites Timber, the sole director of which was Dennis Gordon White, had been contracted by Green to undertake forestry operations on the property under a Timber Supply Agreement. Whites Timber then engaged White’s Haulage, run by Dennis’ son Justin Rodney White, as a subcontractor. According to the court, White’s Haulage conducted the day-to-day forestry operations under the instruction of Whites Timber, while both Justin and Dennis White were onsite managers. At least 8800 tonnes of pulpwood-grade timber and 985 cubic metres of sawlogs were harvested, and the two companies sold the harvested products to timber suppliers. However, in December 2021, Green contacted Local Land Services (LLS) and raised concerns about the condition of the harvesting areas after the operations. Dr Julian Wall, who has over 30 years’ experience in natural resource management, told the court that as a result of unauthorised harvesting, basal area and tree retention thresholds were breached and the vegetation had changed to a sparse woodland structure. “A substantial number of larger and older trees appear to have been harvested,” he said. “The small quantity of habitat remaining in the post-harvested forest following the forestry operations would not have been sufficient to support many species of native animals that previously resided in the forest.” Dr Wall said the operations resulted in a reduction of nesting, breeding and foraging habitat, ground moisture and “the capacity of the forest ecosystem to recover over the long term”. Justice Pain said that other than one tree with an eagle’s nest, no habitat trees had been marked during the companies’ survey of the harvesting areas. Whites Timber and White’s Haulage both pleaded guilty to three charges. These were one count of failing to retain the minimum number of habitat trees and two counts of reducing the stand basal area to a mean below the minimum limit. Justice Pain said, “The environmental harm caused by the offences viewed collectively was significant”. She said Dennis and Justin accepted they should have better understood the operation of the Private Native Forestry Code (PNF) Code. “The defendants’ directors made a significant mistake despite efforts to understand the regulatory context and, according to them, incorrect advice from LLS officers,” she said. She said one explanation for what happened was that previous methods applied by an experienced team were employed and these methods were not up to the standard now needed to comply with the PNF Code. Whites Timber hasn’t operated since November 2021 and Dennis, who is 72, does not propose to be involved in timber harvesting again. Justin said White’s Haulage had taken reasonable steps to minimise the occurrence of an event like this in future. “The defendants have shown genuine contrition and remorse and have already suffered significant financial impacts with flow on personal impacts to the directors,” Justice Pain said. She said Green received a large discount when he was sentenced due to his substantial assistance to authorities, as he reported the unlawful forestry operation on his property. However, she said the two companies had direct control over the offending conduct and were, therefore, in a better position to prevent the consequential environmental harm. Both companies were convicted of the offences, fined and ordered to pay the legal costs of the NSW Environment Protection Authority.

New data shows imported timber volumes increasing at the cost of Australian jobs and an urgent need for ‘country of origin’ timber labelling. Source: Timberbiz A sharp increase in the value of imported hardwood products from places like Indonesia and Malaysia into Australia over the past decade further demonstrates that Victoria’s and Western Australia’s misguided decisions to close down native forestry have needlessly exported local jobs and economic activity, while destroying local and world leading forestry management practices that fight climate change through enhanced carbon storage. It also highlights the need for Australians to be better informed about where the timber they buy, comes from, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA), Diana Hallam said. “Australians need and love their hardwood products, and this new data shows that Aussies are increasingly getting them from overseas following the state based native forestry closures. “This is a tragedy because the state governments in Victoria and Western Australia have ignored the fact that local industry is operated to the highest global environmental standards and they’ve killed an industry that provided thousands of jobs in regional areas, and created essential and durable everyday products,” Ms Hallam said. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data shows the value of hardwood imports from Indonesia increased from around $35.5 million in 2015 to a peak of $218 million in 2020 at the height of the housing boom and still at $137 million in 2024, despite the housing slump, while imported value from Malaysia increased by two and a half times over the same period. “Australians are still getting hardwood products, but they’re getting more from overseas and from places that don’t enforce the stringent environmental practices and regulations our industry operates to in Australia. “It raises the point that many Australians probably aren’t aware of where their timber products are coming from, highlighting the need for ‘country of origin’ labelling reform to inform consumers,” Ms Hallam said. “Australia needs to keep sustainable native forestry open because doing so supports local economies and communities and it helps Australia fight climate change because we know properly managed native forests provide enhanced carbon storage compared with unmanaged forests, as identified by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). “This ABS data is further evidence that instead of supporting local and environmentally conscious industry that fights climate change and is the economic lifeblood of many regional areas, governments have chosen to replace our hardwood timber needs with imports that could be more environmentally damaging and that many Australians aren’t properly informed about,” Ms Hallam said.  

I had an email from a Queensland mate the other day. “I recently took a train trip from Brisbane to Charleville” he told me, “And there were huge piles of concrete sleepers beside the line to the Toowoomba Range and elsewhere.” Source: Australian Rural & Regional News I knew exactly what he was talking about. In September 2024 I travelled by train from Perth to Adelaide, from Ballarat to Melbourne and from Melbourne to Sydney. Alongside every railway line along this trip were piles of “used” concrete sleepers. Some of the piles were very large, containing hundreds of old, failed sleepers. It was obvious that the piles were growing, as I could spot the fresh additions. As everyone of my generation knows, the railway system of Australia was built on hard-wood timber sleepers, cut from our native forests. They were produced in their countless millions, initially hewed by sleeper cutters in the bush using a broadaxe, then cut in sawmills. Iconic sleeper timbers included the river red gum, jarrah, wandoo and ironbark. Jarrah sleepers (and crossings) were so good they also went in their thousands to India and to England. As recently as the 1970s, timber sleepers were still going into the great iron ore railways in the Pilbara and the coal railways in Queensland. Laying timber sleepers, and spiking down the rails with iron dogs, and replacing sleepers that had come to the end of their life, was one of the great Australian bush occupations, undertaken by “snake charmers” as the navvy gangs were always known. Timber sleepers had a lot going for them. They were relatively cheap to “manufacture”, they were relatively light, they bounced rather than shattered if they fell off the back of a truck, and they could be recycled. If nobody wanted a used timber sleeper, nature took care of that. Timber is biodegradable, and the old used timber sleeper gently disappeared, devoured by termites or fungi, or desiccated by wind and sun or converted to ash by a passing fire. Unfortunately, timber sleepers had enemies. Foremost among these were the “Save the Forest” environmentalists who thought that if timber sleepers were no longer used, the demise of the hated timber industry would be hastened, and our forests would sooner be “saved”. A campaign directed at the various State government railway departments was mounted. This was a wholly illogical and dishonest campaign. For one thing, the environmentalists claimed that using timber for fine furniture or craftwork was not a threat to the forest but using it for railway sleepers was. Needless to say, like so many green campaigns, the fact that it was silly did not matter, and it carried the day. Railway engineers were also complicit. They had always preferred a concrete (or steel) sleeper to one made of timber, but until they got support from the Greens, they had not succeeded in getting timber archived. To the engineer, concrete offered a significant advantage over timber: coming out of a mould, using specified ingredients and a standard process, the concrete sleeper was always exactly the same (perfect) dimension and exactly up to specification. They would no longer have to rely on timber inspectors at sawmills “passing” or rejecting timber sleepers in an often-subjective manner. The engineers also falsely promoted the idea that concrete was indestructible, resistant to white ants, fungi and the weather, and that sleepers made from concrete would never need replacement. The reality was different. Concrete sleepers often broke when being unloaded, and then eventually they always failed, sooner or later, especially on railways carrying very heavy loads. It is true that the average life of a concrete sleeper is longer than that of a timber sleeper, but not all that longer, and possibly shorter if we are talking economic life. Nothing more clearly puts the lie to the idea of concrete invincibility than the view from train windows: an unending litter of failed concrete sleepers lying willy-nilly along the trackside. Concrete can be recycled – crushed into gravel that can be used as road base but the process of collecting used sleepers at trackside in remote places seems to be too difficult, because it is not being done. I don’t understand why the same wagons and loaders that bring out the new concrete sleepers cannot be used to take away the old ones, but apparently not. The cost of crushing concrete is also great and energy intensive. Clearly there is no economic incentive to recycling concrete sleepers at present, or no means of turning them into a profit. If there was, they would not be accumulating. Old timber sleepers on the other hand are in great demand, especially from landscapers. I have seen whole farm buildings and yards built out of them. Unfortunately, they are a finite resource, no longer being produced. And if the old sleepers were not used, they would simply rot away or burn. When I was a young bloke working in the karri forest, the remnants of the old timber logging tramways could still be found in many parts of the forest. The rails had all been pulled up and reused, and all that was left of the sleepers was a slot in the formation, where the sleeper had once been and rotted away or consumed in a bushfire. The big push by the greens to do away with timber sleepers and replace them with concrete is an example of misplaced environmental do-goodism going astray. Australian hardwood forests were never threatened with destruction by the production of timber sleepers. This is amply demonstrated by the fact that the forests are still there today, after having millions and millions of sleepers cut from them over the years. Indeed, many of these forests are so nice that they are now national parks.  As every forester knew, as far back as the invention of the railway, both the sleepers and the forests from which they were cut were recyclable. Apart from being non-biodegradable, virtually non-recyclable and a blot on the […]