Forest and Wood Communities Australia calls on policymakers to put science ahead of ideology

Forest and Wood Communities Australia, Media Release, 1 June 2026

Forest and Wood Communities Australia (FWCA) has welcomed the publication of a major peer-reviewed scientific review that concludes Australia’s native forests can be sustainably managed for timber production while protecting biodiversity, carbon values, water resources and other environmental outcomes.

The paper, Australia’s Native Forests Can Be Sustainably Managed for Wood Production Together with Other Important Forest Values, published in the journal Australian Forestry, brings together the expertise of highly respected forest scientists Dr John Raison, Professor E.K.S. Nambiar, Dr Geoff Kile and Dr Lindsay Bren.

FWCA Director Steve Dobbyns said the review should serve as a wake-up call for politicians and decision-makers who have increasingly relied on activist campaigns rather than scientific evidence when making forestry policy.

“For too long, public debate about native forestry has been dominated by misinformation, emotion and ideology rather than facts,” Mr Dobbyns said.

“This comprehensive scientific review examines many of the claims used to justify forest industry closures and harvesting bans and finds that they are often based on poor evidence, flawed assumptions or selective use of science.”

The authors conclude that sustainable native forestry does not cause deforestation, does not threaten biodiversity at a landscape scale, does not increase wildfire risk and does not generate the large carbon emissions often claimed by anti-forestry campaigners.

Importantly, the review highlights that native forest harvesting occurs on only a tiny proportion of Australia’s forest estate each year and that harvested areas are regenerated under strict regulatory requirements.

“The reality is that Australian forestry operates under some of the world’s most rigorous environmental regulations,” Mr Dobbyns said.

“The science confirms what forestry professionals, regional communities and independent experts have been saying for years – well-managed native forestry can coexist with biodiversity conservation, carbon storage and other community values.”

Mr Dobbyns said the findings are particularly relevant as governments continue to make decisions affecting thousands of regional jobs, domestic timber supplies and the long-term management of public forests.

“We have seen governments in Victoria and Western Australia close native forest industries based largely on claims that this paper directly challenges.”

“These decisions have devastated regional communities, increased Australia’s dependence on imported timber and reduced our capacity to actively manage forests for bushfire risk and other values.”

FWCA said the review also exposes the flawed assumption that plantations can immediately replace all wood currently sourced from native forests.

“The authors make it clear that Australia already faces a growing timber deficit and increasing reliance on imports,” Mr Dobbyns said.

“Politicians need to understand that if we stop producing timber from sustainably managed Australian forests, the demand doesn’t disappear. It is simply shifted offshore to countries that may have weaker environmental standards.”

Mr Dobbyns said forestry policy must be based on evidence rather than activist pressure.

“Every policymaker considering restrictions on forestry should read this paper before making decisions that affect regional communities, housing affordability, renewable materials supply and the long-term health of our forests.”

“The authors demonstrate that sustainable native forestry remains an important part of responsible forest management and that blanket harvesting bans have no sound scientific foundation.”

FWCA is calling on federal and state governments to ensure future forestry policy is informed by peer-reviewed science, practical forest management experience and a balanced assessment of environmental, social and economic outcomes.

“Australia deserves evidence-based forestry policy,” Mr Dobbyns said.

“Regional communities, forest workers and future generations should not pay the price for decisions driven by misinformation.”