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US President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on imported goods from Canada and Mexico if the countries don’t curb the flow of illicit drugs and illegal migrants into the United States. Source: Timberbiz If he follows through with that threat, it could have economic consequences for the US lumber supply chain, according to Rajan Parajuli, an associate professor of forest economics and policy at NC State University. Canada is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of softwood lumber. In 2023, the US imported 28.1 million cubic metres of softwood lumber from Canada, primarily for residential and commercial construction. Trump’s proposed tariff would require US companies to pay a 25% tax to the US government when importing Canadian softwood lumber products, with the goal of encouraging those companies to invest in domestic production instead. US companies would likely attempt to recoup tariff-related losses by raising the price of Canadian softwood lumber, which would potentially impact the housing market by making building materials more expensive. “Tariffs unequivocally work towards pushing domestic lumber prices higher. When that happens, it usually adds up to higher costs for consumers,” Mr Parajuli said. When domestic lumber prices rise, US companies benefit from increased profits as US consumers have to pay more money for imported lumber, at least as long as demand for building materials and other lumber products remains steady. Mr Parajuli highlighted the 2006 US – Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement as an example of how tariffs can impact the supply chain. The agreement essentially allowed Canadian provinces to charge an export tax on softwood lumber purchased by US companies. Under the agreement, which was active until 2015, US lumber producers gained US$1.6 billion and US consumers lost US$2.3 billion as softwood lumber imports from Canada declined by 7.78% in the months when export taxes took effect. “US consumers not only paid producers’ gains, but also the losses that resulted from the export taxes,” Mr Parajuli said. Similar to the 2006 US – Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement, President-elect Trump’s proposed tariff would likely lead to a slight decline in softwood lumber imports from Canada because of increased prices domestically. US companies could increase softwood lumber imports from other trade partners, such as Germany and Sweden, to continue meeting domestic demand. Both countries have been exporting increasing amounts of lumber to the US in recent years. In the long term, the US would need to work with Canada to negotiate a new softwood lumber agreement, according to Parajuli. Germany, Sweden and other trade partners simply don’t have the inventory or capacity to displace Canada in lumber exports. Compared to the 28.1 million cubic meters of softwood lumber that Canada exported to the US in 2023, for example, Germany and Sweden only exported a combined 3.49 million cubic meters of softwood lumber to the US during the same period. “Up to 30% of softwood lumber consumed in the US each year comes from Canada. A small portion of the total market share is captured by other countries,” Mr Parajuli said. Mr Parajuli added that the US also lacks the capacity to meet domestic demand. While the US has plenty of land to harvest for softwood lumber, the forestry sector has struggled with workforce challenges in recent years. At the same time, Interfor and other companies have closed numerous sawmills across the southern US due to a combination of supply chain issues and weak demand caused by high interest rates. Mr Parajuli said the US lumber and the overall wood product markets may remain volatile given the uncertainty in trade and market policies under the Trump administration. “In an era where technological advancements are rapidly evolving, especially in the logging sector, the US should invest in upgrading the forest products supply chain,” Mr Parajuli said. “Sustainable markets are key to growing and conserving our forests.”

More young people are looking towards the forestry and wood sector as a career, according to the findings of a new Coillte commissioned survey, which revealed that 60% of respondents believed it to be an attractive option. Source: The Irish Examiner Coillte said this growing interest aligns with the industry’s pivotal role in addressing Ireland’s climate and housing challenges while meeting the increasing demand for sustainable timber. Public sentiment also strongly supports forestry’s role in addressing these challenges: Nearly 70% of the survey respondents favoured increased timber frame housing, reflecting a rise in support since 2022, while 80% believed Ireland should be self-sufficient in timber production. The forestry sector is recognised as a key driver of Ireland’s climate action objectives, requiring more than 1,700 skilled professionals by 2030 to meet the ambitions of the forest strategy. Coillte released the findings at the launch of its 2025 Forestry Scholarship Programme, which offers up to €20,000 per recipient across their degree, alongside paid summer placements and career opportunities with the company. The scholarship, created to address the growing need for skilled professionals to support Ireland’s environmental and economic sustainability, provides support for students pursuing a full-time, third-level forestry programme at University College Dublin (UCD) or South-East Technological University (SETU). Inaugural scholars Áine O’Dwyer (Donegal), Mia Sibbald (Kildare) and Alex Power (Waterford), now in their first semester at SETU, are already benefiting from the programme. Coillte Forest managing director Mark Carlin said forestry is essential to Ireland’s environmental and economic future, offering diverse careers in a wide variety of areas. He urged students to consider forestry as a meaningful career that contributes to a greener, more self-sufficient Ireland. “Forestry is not just about planting and harvesting trees – it is a dynamic, multifaceted sector,” he said, stressing that sustainability is at the heart of forestry today and technological innovation continues to transform the sector. Mr Carlin said there is a wide range of careers available, including planners who use sophisticated information technology to develop strategic forest management plans, ecologists working to protect and enhance biodiversity, supply-chain managers working to coordinate the supply of sustainable wood products, and recreation managers delivering trails and activities for people to enjoy. Inaugural scholar Alex Power said receiving the Coillte scholarship opened doors for him. “It’s not just the financial support—it’s being part of a sector that plays such an important role in tackling climate change and supporting rural communities.

Repairable and exchangeable skeleton modules with open load-bearing structures enable different types of use and uncomplicated adaptations in the event of future changes. Building heights of up to 24 storeys are possible. Source: Timberbiz The operating life and life span of buildings are often far apart. If a property is no longer fit for purpose, it is usually demolished even though it would still be perfectly usable. Even in the event of damage to individual parts of the building, the entire building usually has to make way. This is because in most cases it is cheaper to build a new building than to carry out a conversion or renovation of the existing one. However, this approach does not conserve resources. In the MOHOHO project, an interdisciplinary team from the Institute of Architectural Technology and the Institute of Timber Engineering and Wood Technology at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz), together with corporate partners Kaufmann Bausysteme and KS Ingenieure, have developed a system for a modular wooden high-rise building, which is designed with the purpose of extending its operating life and life span thanks to its flexible adaptability. A patent application has been applied for this system. The Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) has funded the project. “The construction industry is responsible for around 60 % of global resource consumption and almost half of global waste production and global emissions of climate-damaging gases,” said Christian Keuschnig from the Institute of Architectural Technology at TU Graz. “That’s why the circular R-strategies, such as refurbishment, repair or re-use, were very important for us in the MOHOHO project in order to develop a building system that offers a CO2-reduced alternative to conventional construction methods in high-rise construction and can be used for different purposes for as long as possible.” This was achieved by combining modular and skeleton construction. In modular construction, completely prefabricated 3D timber modules are used, which are stacked next to and on top of each other. The skeleton construction offers a supporting structure for free and therefore flexible floor plans that can be adapted by inserting or removing partition walls. These recyclable skeleton modules consist of cross-laminated timber floors and glulam columns and beams. The prefabricated skeleton modules can be joined quickly and securely using the connection node developed as part of the project. T he connection node also enables load redistribution, which means that the failure of individual columns does not lead to the collapse of the entire building. This firstly increases robustness and thus safety and secondly enables the targeted repair of individual modules. In addition, an elastomer bearing integrated into the node ensures a high level of sound insulation between the units. To replace a module or individual elements, it is necessary to disconnect the supply lines for electricity, water and heating and expose the connections. The node is designed so that a lifting cylinder can be inserted between the spacers, which slightly lifts the support above. This allows the spacers to be removed, and a shear plate redirects the forces after the lifting cylinder has been lowered. This relieves the pressure on the underlying components and creates the necessary space for the replacement process. In addition to accessibility, the individual elements must be able to be dismantled to ensure a repairable construction. In mathematical terms, a building with this construction system can be up to 24 storeys high, although from a height of more than six storeys a concrete core is absolutely essential, something which significantly increases the consumption of resources and CO2 emissions. “In MOHOHO, we have combined the advantages of modular wood construction, such as the high degree of prefabrication and the short construction time, with the advantages of skeleton construction,” said Mr Keuschnig. “The prefabrication of the modules in a production hall under controlled conditions enables higher quality and traceability of the joints compared to on-site assembly and ensures shorter construction times as well as reduced noise and dirt pollution. “The repairability and flexibility of the construction system should significantly extend the operating life and life span of the building. During dismantling, the modules can either be reused directly or separated by type. “We are already planning a follow-up project in which we want to test and scrutinise all of these things in practice.”

Scion Principal Scientist Brian Richardson was awarded the Minister’s Biosecurity Award in 2024 acknowledging his outstanding contributions to New Zealand Biosecurity. The award was presented by Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard in Wellington. Source: Timberbiz Sam Davidson was presented with the Forest Growers Research Young Scientist Award; recognising a promising young scientist who demonstrates passion, industry engagement, and communication skills Serajis Salekin was presented with The New Zealand Institute of Forestry Chavasse Travel Award, supporting international travel to increase their and the forestry sector’s experience and knowledge. Kiryn Dobbie was awarded the Australasian Plant Pathology Society Student and Early-Career Researcher Conference to support participation in the 2023 Australasian Plant Pathology Conference. Rosie Sargeant was presented with the Forest Growers Research Award for Contribution to a Science Team at the 2023 Forest Growers Research Annual Conference. Lisa Langer was presented with the Best Oral Presentation Award at the International Electronic Conference on Toxics for her presentation “Up-The-Pipe Solutions: A Best Practice Framework to Engage Communities in Reducing Chemical Contamination in Waste”. Roya Rezanavaz received Kiwi Innovation Network Emerging Innovator Funding. Scion scientists were celebrated at the annual Science New Zealand awards for work to help cut industrial CO2 emissions, reduce microplastics in the environment, and connect Māori communities with research and science. Early Career Researcher award – Dr Bing Song. Dr Song joined Scion in 2019 and leads the Solid Biofuel Project while also mentoring colleagues, leading and supporting funding bids, and reviewing papers for journals in his field. He has produced 40 publications in his career so far (31 during his time at Scion), including three book chapters and 37 research articles. Of the 37 published papers, 32 have been in Q1 journals – the highest ranking in a particular field. Individual/Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr Tanira Kingi. Dr Kingi’s 30-year career has covered management, consultancy, and academic positions across the primary sectors. Dr Kingi (Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Awa, Te Arawa) is a Climate Change Commissioner, an advisor to the Ministries for the Environment and Primary Industries and an independent research scientist. In his time at Scion, he worked collaboratively with teams across the organisation providing mentorship, and strategic advice while leading programs in climate mitigation and land use change scenario modelling. In 2021 he was made an emeritus scientist at Scion. Team Award – Microplastics Team. Scion’s microplastics team includes Dr Lloyd Donaldson, Beatrix Theobald, Ross Anderson, Ben Davy, Dr Kate Parker (project leader), Dr Robert Abbel, Anna de Lena, Maxime Barbier, Steph Davy, Dr Jamie Bridson, Queenie Tanjay and Regis Risani. They have been determining how much microplastic is in our environment, its source and environmental consequences. Their work has contributed to a wide range of projects including fundamental research, community engagement and outreach, and commercial projects which include determining the amount of microplastic in our food.

The Gippsland Forestry Hub has announced its 2024/25 committees, reflecting a dynamic blend of expertise across its executive and general committees. Source: Timberbiz The Executive Committee, led by Chair Trevor Nicklen, continues to focus on sustainable forestry initiatives, while the General Committee introduces fresh perspectives, including members from diverse sectors such as local government, education, and industry. This year’s appointments aim to strengthen the Hub’s mission of fostering innovation and sustainability in Gippsland’s forestry sector. Executive Committee Chair: Trevor Nicklen, DEECA Vice Chair: Simon Gatt, AKD Treasurer: Ian Reid, AusTimber Lou Bourke, HVP Tony Cantwell, Committee 4 Gippsland Tom Schraenkler, Sumitomo Forestry Australia Jon Lambert, Heartwood Unlimited Steven Zyhajlo, Opal Lesia Goodwin, Gippsland Forestry Hub   General Committee Mark Coleman, Wellington Shire Council Tony Britton, Radial Timber Angela & Luke Olarenshaw, Alberton Timber Julian Hay, AKD Linda Austin, TAFE GIPPSLAND Peter Devonshire, Gippsland Agroforestry Network  

Building approvals data reveals the ongoing strengthening in the new home building market and continue to point to a moderate-pace recovery in 2025. Source: Timberbiz The Australian Bureau of Statistics released its monthly building approvals data for November 2024 for detached houses and multi-units covering all states and territories. HIA Senior Economist, Matt King, said that total dwelling approvals fell by 3.6% compared with the previous month but were still up 7.2% over the three-month period. Total dwelling approvals were up 5.4% in the three-month period compared with the corresponding period in 2023. And detached house approvals in the three months to November 2024 increased by a modest 0.7% on the previous three-month period and climbed 7.1% compared with the same period in the previous year. “Following a period of prolonged weakness, there are signs of life again in building approvals, which is pointing to a nascent recovery in new home building.” Mr King said. “November 2024 marked exactly one year since the RBA last raised interest rates. Unchanged interest rate settings have provided a welcomed degree of certainty for consumers. “Population growth rates have slowed across the country but remain elevated which is contributing to strong underlying demand for housing. “Detached house approvals continue to rebound off a very low base, further confirming that the trough of the cycle is now in the rear-view mirror,” he said. Multi-unit approvals rose by 20.1% in the three months to November 2024 and were up 2.6% on the corresponding period in 2023. Despite some observable improvement, approvals for multi-units have been trending at decade-low levels and remain subdued amid challenges with capacity. “For the entirety of 2024, multi-unit approval volumes were erratic and trending at decade-low levels,” Mr King said. “The sector is still reeling from a perfect storm of building material cost escalation resulting from supply chain bottlenecks, skilled labour shortages, credit constraints for businesses, and an elevated public sector infrastructure pipeline that is absorbing skilled trades. “The overall outlook for new home building is characterised by a multi-speed recovery with increasingly divergent trends across different regions and housing types.” Perth, Adelaide and South-East Queensland continue to lead the way in new home contract sales and building approvals. Meanwhile, activity in Sydney remains muted and there is no indication of a lasting recovery in either detached housing or the multi-unit sector, for now. “At the national level, market confidence is returning as the majority of capital city and regional markets now appear to have moved through the trough in new home building activity. A national recovery is in sight,” Mr King said. “Nevertheless, the size of the upswing in new home building activity will be heavily influenced by Federal and State Government housing policy settings. “Policy makers must double-down on the pursuit of efficiencies and improvement in industry red tape, the excessive taxation of home build, the availability of land for residential development, and the supply of skilled labour.” Detached house approvals in the three months to November 2024 rose by 40.8% in Western Australia compared to the same time in the previous year. This was followed by South Australia (+26.5%), Queensland (+14.6%), and the Northern Territory (+10.5%). The other states and territories recorded declines over the same period, led by the Australian Capital Territory (-34.6%), followed by New South Wales (-7.5%), Victoria (-4.5%), and Tasmania (-2.7%). Multi-unit approvals in the three months to November 2024 climbed significantly in Western Australia (+207.5%) compared with the corresponding period in the previous year. This was followed by Queensland (+16.0%), Victoria (+9.4%) and New South Wales (+1.6%). The Northern Territory registered a flat result. Declines were recorded in Tasmania (-85.7%), the Australian Capital Territory (-82.4%), and South Australia (-15.1%).  

The Canadian Institute of Forestry/Institut forestier du Canada (CIF-IFC), the Institute of Chartered Foresters (United Kingdom), the New Zealand Institute of Forestry, and Forestry Australia, are offering a unique opportunity for rising leaders in forestry to participate in a 3-month paid international work placement, to share knowledge and gain hands on experience in international practices. Source: Timberbiz Host employer organisations in each of the four participating countries have stepped forward to support this program. By opening their doors to these young professionals, they are providing life-changing opportunities and showcasing the exceptional forestry expertise and innovation within their organisations. These are the successful candidates and their host organisations. Candidates from the UK Emyr Parker will be joining Juken NZ, a leader in sustainable forestry and wood product manufacturing, in New Zealand. Alex Donaldson MICFor will work for Forest Corporation of New South Wales in Australia.   Candidates from Canada Hope Rebonne will gain experience with Sustainable Timber Tasmania in Australia.   Candidates from Australia Prue Crundall will be hosted by the Duchy of Cornwall in the UK. Sean Boucher will work with Strategic Natural Resource Consultants, a trailblazer in forest management and resource consulting, in British Columbia, Canada.   Candidates from New Zealand Pheobe Milne will join the Ontario Woodlot Association, a champion of sustainable private forest management, in Canada. Tor Drummond will head to Tillhill Forestry, a leading sustainable forestry and timber harvesting company in the UK.   From March to May 2025, these young professionals will bring their expertise, curiosity, and passion to their host organisations. In turn, the host employers will gain fresh perspectives and insights from these emerging leaders in forestry. During their placements, candidates will maintain blogs, offering a glimpse into their experiences and the forestry practices of their host countries. They will also share their learnings in an article upon completion of the program. To learn more about the program, please visit: Institute of Chartered Foresters: www.charteredforesters.org/what-we-do/young-professional-foresters-exchange-programme Canadian Institute of Forestry/Institut forestier du Canada: www.cif-ifc.org/what-we-do/national-awards/young-professional-foresters-exchange-program/ New Zealand Institute of Forestry: https://nzif.org.nz/ Forestry Australia: www.forestry.org.au/

A Call for Proposals for the January 2025 Forestry Research Program is open. This program supports collaborative research, development, and extension (RD&E) activities designed to deliver measurable benefits to Australia’s commercial forest growers and drive industry innovation. Source: Timberbiz The Forestry Research Program provides a unique opportunity to advance the science of commercial forestry and its practical adoption. By addressing critical challenges and leveraging industry partnerships, this program aims to enhance productivity, sustainability, and resilience across the sector. “This program reflects FWPA’s ongoing commitment to supporting our forest grower members through research that drives productivity, sustainability, and innovation,” said Andrew Leighton, CEO of FWPA. “This program is about creating tangible value for Australia’s commercial forest growers,” said Jodie Mason, Head of Forest Research at FWPA. “Our focus is on fostering innovative research with strong industry support to address key priorities and deliver impactful outcomes. Collaboration is at the heart of this effort, ensuring the research is both practical and transformative.” Aligned with FWPA’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, the program focuses on key RD&E priorities that reduce risk, loss, and cost while increasing productivity across the sector. The specific industry priorities are articulated in FWPA’s grower RD&E investment plans, across the themes of: Climate Change Damage Agents Forest Operations & Supply Chain Impact of Fire Native Forest Silviculture Plantation Silviculture & Nutrition Tree Breeding & Genetic Improvement Proposals addressing topics outside these priorities may also be considered if strong support from the forest-growing industry is demonstrated. The Forestry Research Program follows a two-stage application process: Submission of Concept Notes (due Monday, 3 February 2025) Submission of Full Proposals (due Monday, 7 April 2025) Funded projects must commence in the 2025/26 financial year. Proposals will be assessed based on their alignment with FWPA’s Strategic Plan, demonstrated industry need and support, scientific merit, and a clear pathway to delivering measurable benefits for Australia’s commercial forest growers. FWPA encourages prospective applicants to engage early with potential industry partners to ensure meaningful collaboration and alignment with industry needs. A minimum of three industry partners is required for each project. Information and Support For more information, including application guidelines and templates, visit the Forestry Research Program webpage here.

Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA) has announced the signing of a new Statutory Funding Agreement with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) that is in effect from 1 January 2025 to 2034. Source: Timberbiz As a Rural Research and Development Corporation (RDC), the FWPA’s Statutory Funding Agreement (SFA) represents the renewal of a 10-year contract between the Australian Government and FWPA. The new contract is in response to changes in the levies legislation passed by Parliament. Key changes include: Streamlining and Modernisation: DAFF ‘s updates to the levies legislation aim to reduce complexity and inconsistencies, making it easier for stakeholders to understand and comply with these regulations. Future adjustments to levy settings will also be simplified. Under the new levies legislation, the new SFA defines FWPA as being the Declared Recipient Body under the Act for the forest and wood products industry. Focus on Clarity: The primary goal of these changes is to enhance comprehension and ease of compliance with the levies legislation, while maintaining the individual levy settings as they currently are. Government Commitment: The government remains dedicated to providing matching funding for eligible R&D activities conducted by RDCs, with the new legislation designed to streamline the current processes. Specifically for FWPA the new legislation provides access for full matching funding up to 0.5% of sector GVP. The levy system represents a long-standing collaboration between the Australian Government and industry. It is designed to bolster productivity and competitiveness in international markets by imposing statutory levies on producers, processors, and exporters. These levies are collected with industry input and are crucial for funding initiatives that benefit the agricultural sector. Australia’s rural R&D levy system is often regarded as a global benchmark for government and industry partnerships in agricultural innovation. It balances efficiency, inclusivity, and shared responsibility, driving improvements in productivity and sustainability while addressing industry-specific challenges. This new agreement and modernisation of the levies will empower FWPA to further enhance the services it can deliver to its members and other levy payers, providing substantial benefits to our members and the wider industry. “On behalf of FWPA, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for their support and partnership, demonstrated by the renewal of our SFA,” FWPA Board Chair Craig Taylor said. “This new contract is not only a testament to our collaborative efforts but also a commitment to the future of the forest and wood products research and development, and the industry in Australia. “Based on the 2023 GVP of the sector, this new contract makes available approximately $11.5 million per annum in matching payments for R&D investments made by the industry through FWPA,” he said. “As our sector grows, so will the matching funds available. We are excited about the opportunities this will create for innovation and growth, benefitting our members and the broader community.” For more on the levies go to https://www.agriculture.gov.au/agriculture-land/farm-food-drought/levies/rates#forestry

In a commentary in the Latrobe Valley Express, Victoria’s Forest and Fire Management Chief Fire Officer, Chris Hardman stated that: “…you should know that Victoria is prepared and that our land and fire agencies have worked all year to reduce bushfire risk. We are prepared and ready to respond”. Source: Latrobe Valley Express by John Cameron The truth is that Victoria is unprepared and is at risk of large catastrophic bushfires with potential to destroy life, property, livestock, environmental values and disrupt water supplies in both regional Victoria and greater metropolitan Melbourne. We risk a repeat of events like Black Friday (1939), Ash Wednesday (1983), Black Saturday (2009) and the Black Summer (2019/20). This risk is primarily because our key fire agencies have demonstrably failed to implement adequate fuel reduction, have a track record of untimely fire detection and delayed initial attack and have often failed to mount fire suppression with sufficient force. Mr Hardman talks up his agency’s fuel reduction on 90,000 hectares last year and 138,000 hectares of public forest this year. To put that in perspective, the area of public forest fuel reduced represents only 1.2% and 1.8% respectively of 7.5 million hectares of public forest land. This fuel reduced proportion is well short of the recommendation of the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission, which called for fuel reduction on greater than 5% of the forest each year (on a rolling average basis). Fire behaviour scientist in submissions and evidence to the Royal Commission, called for fuel reduction on 8% pa, consistent with the highly successful bushfire mitigation employed for more than 60 years in the forests of South West WA (only two lives lost to bushfire in their south-west forest over the last 60 years). Since 2009, our ‘responsible’ agency has been fuel reducing less than about 1.5% of the forest each year. Large areas of Victoria now have very high forest fuel levels (flammable dead bark, branches, leaves etc on the forest floor) of up to 40 tonnes per hectare. According to fire behaviour expert David Packham, the energy released by combustion in a bushfire of this amount of fuel (at about 10% moisture content) would be about 680,000 megajoules per hectare, resulting in a very severe bushfire under adverse weather conditions. This forest fuel load has the potential energy output of 14,000 litres per hectare of petrol, however, the forest fuel is potentially more dangerous than petrol because of the potential of burning bark shards to create new fires 10 to 20 kilometres ahead of the fire front. Because of very high forest fuel levels, Victoria is a ticking time bomb. The large 1.8 million hectares burnt as a result of Victoria’s 2019/20 bushfires has been attributed to insufficient fuel reduction in the burnt areas in the years preceding the fire – only 0.6% pa of the forest area was fuel reduced in prior years and the fuel reduced coupe size was too small and there was insufficient fuel reduction close to ignition points. Weather conditions and Forest Fire Danger Index were moderate for about two weeks after initial ignitions on 21 November. Other deficiencies included tardy fire detection, delayed initial attack (attack delayed to second and third day after ignition for two fires that went on to burn about one million hectares), and not mounting suppression with sufficient force, particularly early when fire weather was moderate and the fire perimeter was relatively small. John Cameron (Dip Hort. Burnley, MBA Monash, and tertiary units in economics, mathematics and statistics) is a forestry and business consultant previously holding positions in general management, corporate development and research in forestry and forest products.