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Around 50 people joined Private Forests Tasmania at farmer Dougal Morrison’s property at St Peters Pass in Oatlands to celebrate the launch of operations as part of the Stems for CO2 Project. Source: Timberbiz During the event, attendees heard from Private Forests Tasmania about its project and insights from participating farmers Mr Morrison and Alison Napier. Professor Matthew Harrison from the University of Tasmania spoke about carbon forestry, the Australian Carbon Credit Units Scheme and different types of forestry carbon projects that could be registered in Tasmania. In addition, a presentation on FullCAM carbon modelling was shared by Bernard Prosser, which included examples of the carbon modelling undertaken as part of the Stems for CO2 project. Participants then received an operations update at the site of one of Mr Morrison’s woodlot plantings adjacent to the Midlands Highway. It was great opportunity to introduce the Stems for CO2 Project to neighbouring landowners, and to share information about the benefits of planting trees for timber and carbon outcomes. To find out more about Private Forests Tasmania’s Stems for CO2 Project, visit https://pft.tas.gov.au/stems-for-co2-program-2024  

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Reducing the time period within which a consent authority must process and decide an application for a resource consent for a specified wood processing activity to one year after the date the application is lodged as outlined within the new Resource Consenting (RMA) Act passed in the New Zealand parliament this week is applauded by the wood products industry. Source: Timberbiz “With examples of resource consent renewal for wood processing sites taking up to 13 years and costing in excess of NZ$2 million due to the drawn-out regional council processes, a more efficient system is essential,” said Chief Executive of the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association of NZ (WPMA), Mark Ross. “The new Act amends the RMA to open up a consenting pathway for all wood processing and related activities, which is intended to reduce costs and time frames, plus open up much-needed investment opportunities for the industry. “In adopting this change, the Government has listened to WPMA and our members and for that we thank the Minister responsible for reform, Chris Bishop, and Act MP and Parliamentary Under-Secretary Simon Court, for providing the leadership needed to back future development of both new and existing wood processing facilities.” As a low net emissions industry, wood processing offers many public benefits, including being a high-value regional employer, adding value to commodities that are otherwise exported in raw form, along with providing domestic resilience in terms of the supply of building materials, residues for sustainable packaging and biofuel. The full replacement for the RMA will be introduced to parliament this year, be passed into law next year, and be in effect by 2027, but in the meantime, through this Amendment Bill, it should be a quicker and simpler process to consent wood processing activities, incentivising future growth within the industry. As defined in the new RMA Act, wood processing activity means the establishment, operation, or maintenance of a facility that specialises in the production of long-lived wood products, products derived from wood fibre, or wood-derived bioenergy, for example, the production of sawn timber, panel products (for example, veneer, plywood, laminated veneer, lumber, particle board, or fibreboard), pulp, paper, and paperboard, wood chips, bioproducts, chemicals, and materials; or provides for the storage of logs, processed wood products, or hazardous materials used in or produced by the operation of the facility.

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SFM is collaborating with land data analytics company Agtuary to support its assessment of properties suitable for carbon project development, helping to streamline decision-making and enhance the integrity of its project pipeline. Source: Timberbiz Through Agtuary’s transparent, science-backed benchmarking platform, SFM will be able to evaluate the carbon potential and land value of properties with greater speed, accuracy and consistency. The engagement will enable SFM to make earlier, more informed decisions about where carbon projects can deliver strong environmental and commercial outcomes. “Agtuary’s customisable platform allows us to align scientific data with our project criteria — from carbon sequestration to co-benefit potential — all while ensuring transparency and efficiency in our processes,” said SFM’s Managing Director, Andrew Morgan. “It’s a smart investment in both technology and rigour as we continue to grow our portfolio of high-integrity carbon projects.” Agtuary enables third-party assessments using independent data sources and geospatial modelling, providing valuable insights on land performance, opportunity, and value. The platform will support SFM’s ongoing efforts to identify properties in Australia that can support long-term, sustainable land use change through carbon forestry. “SFM is applying Agtuary in exactly the way it’s intended — as a decision-support tool grounded in science and built for practical outcomes,” said Brent Wedesweiler, Chief Operating Officer at Agtuary. “We’re pleased to be contributing to projects that create measurable environmental and economic value.” This collaboration underscores SFM’s continued leadership in sustainable forestry and carbon development and reinforces its commitment to evidence-based project design.

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‘The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) welcomed the opportunity to represent the forestry sector at the recent Agriculture Productivity Roundtable convened by Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins. Source: Timberbiz “Like all sectors, improved productivity is a priority for us, and we believe the answers lie with various reforms and changes including, strategic regional planning, improved R&D outcomes to maximise resource opportunities, as well as technology upgrades,” AFPA’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer Richard Hyett said. “Our sector provides the solutions to many of the Government’s challenges, including helping solve the housing crisis and decarbonising the economy. It’s important we work with Minister Collins and her Ministerial colleagues in the Albanese Government to get the policy settings right, to improve productivity for our sector and to enhance our national contribution to the economy, climate and the creation of essential products,” Mr Hyett said. At the Roundtable, AFPA focussed on the importance of strategic regional planning, increased forestry research and development investment, improved timber and wood-fibre outcomes, along with improved supply chain technology and policy settings that promote the sustainability of the forestry industry and its products. The Strategic Forest and Renewable Materials Partnership – made up of industry, unions and other sector stakeholders working with Government, has developed the Timber Fibre Strategy, released several weeks ago. It also recommends a number of Albanese Government actions to drive a step change improvement in productivity, including: Recognising forestry and wood products as a priority industry under the Government’s Future Made in Australia Network Promoting investment in workplace productivity across the sector including trialling the “smarter” High Performance Workplace model to encourage programs, projects and pilots De-risking investment in modern manufacturing capability by improving cross-government regulatory reform “We have a huge potential using our amazing materials, maximising use and value of the resource as well as developing new uses. It’s all key to our future success,” Mr Hyett said.  

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