Project to improve biodiversity at Niigi Niigi – Sealy Lookout: Forestry Corporation of NSW
A partnership of key local agencies will rejuvenate the bush to improve biodiversity at one of Coffs Harbour’s most visited natural assets. Forestry Corporation has partnered with Envite Environment and the Gumbaynggirr Ranger team of the Ngiyambandigay Wajaarr Aboriginal Corporation (NWAC) to undertake weed management and staged bush revegetation work within the Bruxner Park Flora Reserve.
NFF launches free information service to boost on-farm digital and agtech adoption
Digital and agtech adoption on Australian farms has been held back by connectivity issues and digital literacy, but this complex landscape will now be easier to navigate with the launch of the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) On Farm Connectivity Information Service … will provide free, practical, tailored support for farmers through the NFF’s Regional Tech Hub – as a key pillar of the Australian Government’s $30 million On Farm Connectivity Program (OFCP).
Forestry Australia releases new Position Statements
Forestry Australia has released three new and highly topical Position Statements to share its evidence-based positions on important issues relating to the management of forests across Australia ... “Now more than ever we need to ensure that there is evidence-based and balanced information readily available, given we live in an era of information overload, misinformation and disinformation”: Forestry Australia President, Dr Michelle Freeman.
Asia-Pacific forestry leaders tour the Watagans: Forestry Corporation of NSW
Delegates from the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission have taken part in a field trip hosted by Forestry Corporation looking at sustainable, multi-use forest management in the Watagan Mountains of the Central Coast. The commission is represented by international delegates, who report to the United Nations on forestry matters in the Asia-Pacific region.
New research confirms value of fuel reduction burning in karri forest: Bushfire Front
Peer-reviewed research published in the Australian Forestry journal has confirmed something that forest firefighters have long known: if forests are left unburned for many years, they still carry heavy bushfire fuels, making firefighting difficult and dangerous. The new research demolishes the theory that if forests are left unburnt, they become non-flammable ... the scientists measured and analysed fuels in karri forests that ranged from 1 to 92 years since last being burned.
Review finds Indigenous groups want more involvement
Timber harvesting was not a concern of Gippsland Indigenous groups, who overwhelmingly want to be involved in direct management of forests before, during and after bushfires, the RFA Major Event Review of the 2019-20 bushfires found ... “Traditional Owners seek to be managing fire directly, with their own crews and equipment. They see themselves as fire givers, not firefighters.”
Zero state action
The Victorian government has not replied to the RFA Major Event Review 18 months after it was submitted despite its 37 recommendations on forest management after the devastating 2019-20 bushfires ... Dr Tony Bartlett AFSM, as a science adviser to Forestry Australia, took the fight to the National Bushfire Preparedness Summit in Canberra last week.
VicForests audit 2022 – 96 per cent compliance
The 2022 official audit of VicForests has found an average 96 per cent compliance with the state's forestry environmental standards ... This audit was conducted according to four themes: environmental values in State forests, conservation of biodiversity, operational planning and record keeping, and coupe infrastructure for timber harvesting operations.
Historic end to native logging a step closer: Jarvis, Whitby
Western Australia will soon become one of the first States in Australia to end commercial logging of native forests ... The Cook Government is investing a record $350 million dollars in WA's softwood pine plantations ... committed to an $80 million Native Forest Transition Plan that included significant industry restructure payments, which have now been made to all eligible sawmills.
Feds’ flying visit to timber industry
As the Victorian Labor Government’s closure of the state’s native timber industry fast approaches the December 31 trigger point, New South Wales timber harvesters met with Senator Jonathon Duniam, Shadow Minister for the Environment, Fisheries and Forestry, and Sussan Ley, Member for Farrer and Deputy Leader of the Opposition to highlight the importance of the industry to the local economy and forest and fire management.
Bushfire preparedness is a 365-day a year job: Forestry Australia
Australia’s inaugural National Bushfire Preparedness Summit is a timely reminder that being bushfire ready is a 365-day a year job, the President of Forestry Australia Dr Michelle Freeman said. “It’s great to see the national spotlight on the critically important issue of bushfire preparedness, but this must be more than just a two-day flash in the pan,” Dr Freeman said.
Will jobs be lost by logging halt?
The Clarence Valley timber industry is still uncertain how many jobs could be lost due to the suspension of logging in the proposed Great Koala National Park as the NSW Government assesses the impact on the endangered marsupials and timber industry jobs ... “They still haven’t actually said what the areas are that they are going to not harvest in and where the actual koala hubs are, so it’s really hard to work out what the ramifications are going to be”: Donna Layton, Marshall Notaras Hardwoods GM and VP of Timber NSW.
The Great Koala National Park is not an extinction panacea: Forestry Australia
The Minns Government’s proposed Great Koala National Park is not an extinction panacea for koalas, says the President of Forestry Australia, Dr Michelle Freeman ... "it is simplistic to suggest that locking away forests is the great panacea for saving koalas from extinction ... In fact, experience shows us that declaring a National Park does not equal koala population growth."
Backing Portland as a renewable fuel manufacturing hub: Shing
Minister for Regional Development Harriet Shing announced the new study for a renewable fuel manufacturing hub in the portside city ... The feasibility study will be led by Portland H2 – a subsidiary of HAMR Energy - – towards establishing a plant converting plantation forestry residue to green methanol.
East Gippsland Shire Council votes 5-2 in support of timber ban reversal: FWCA
Last night (5 September), in the heartland of the Victorian sustainable native timber sector, East Gippsland Shire Council sat in consideration of a motion supporting the world class Victorian sustainable native timber sector. After hearing an emotional public submission from FWCA Executive Officer Mick Harrington, alongside a desperate plea from local councillor Sonia Buckley for council (who authored the motion), Council voted 5 to 2 in favour of the motion, cementing East Gippsland Shire as another Victorian council calling on the Andrews Labor government to repeal the statewide ban on sustainable native timber harvesting.
Clarence biodiversity in global spotlight
The globally unique extraordinary biodiversity of the Clarence Valley has been on show for 30 of the world’s top botanists who have sampled the region’s spectacular flora from the headwaters of the Clarence River to Yuraygir National Park. The botanists have descended on the region to attend the International Association for Vegetation Science 65th Annual Symposium...
Timber Towns Victoria calls for certainty for the future of forestry in Victoria
Timber Towns Victoria (TTV) and its member councils have released a Position Paper on the cessation of native forest harvesting in Victoria. The TTV members … have closely considered the implications of the cessation of harvesting of native forests in Victoria from the end of 2023.
Agricultural sector remains strong despite drier conditions to come: ABARES
Australian agriculture, fisheries and forestry are set to have the third-highest yearly gross value on record in 2023-24, with production value predicted to reach $86 billion. Executive Director of ABARES Dr Jared Greenville said release of the ABARES Agricultural Commodities and Crop Reports shows the sector is remaining strong despite challenging conditions.
Wattle Day: Robert Onfray
Today is the first day of spring in Australia, a day we celebrate as national Wattle Day ... we use today to celebrate a wonderful species that is, with a few exceptions, unique to our landscape. But to professional foresters, a recognition of wattles only reminds us of the deleterious effects of changed land management practices after millions of hectares of actively managed state forests have been converted to reserves since the 1990s. The effects have been compounded by massive wildfires that have occurred over that time.
Forester Frank, science and French folly: David Jefford Ward
Although my qualifications lie in other fields, I know Frank Batini as a modest, well mannered, well qualified, and experienced forester. His recent article about his past work on water supply from Wungong Dam, near Perth, has raised concerns with me about the management of water supplies in Western Australia ... Instead of following scientific advice, they seem to have switched their beliefs to the thinking of other kinds of experts, without any qualifications in forestry, fire, or hydrology, but expertly politically aware and active.
Community logging on to support timber industry
More than 2200 submissions were presented to Clarence Valley Council (CVC) Mayor Ian Tiley by General Manager of Marshall Notaras Hardwoods and Vice President of Timber NSW Donna Layton on August 28 as a formal response, rejecting a report made at a council meeting two months ago by the Biodiversity Advisory Committee (BAC) which proposes to phase out native logging on public land.
Seed shortage and fire puts Victorian forests at risk of collapse: Forestry Australia
Victoria’s Ash forests are on the brink of ecosystem collapse following a poor flowering season and repeated fire events, warns the State’s leading forest flowering and seeding expert. The issue highlights concerns raised by Forestry Australia, the seed collection services provided by VicForests, may be lost following the native timber sector shutdown in Victoria.
