Jamax Forest Solutions in Beechwood, New South Wales, Australia | Local service

Jamax Forest Solutions

Locality: Beechwood, New South Wales, Australia

Phone: +61 427 990 317

Address: 45 Koree Island Road 2446 Beechwood, NSW, Australia

Website: https://www.jamaxforestsolutions.com/contact-us-now!!

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25.01.2022 NSW ag sector feedback needed on right to farm & land use planning The NSW Agriculture Commissioner is hosting a series of webinars to help farmers provide informed feedback on the NSW Government's Agricultural Land Use Planning Strategy issues paper, including its Right to Farm Policy Review. (Source: The Muster, by Sheree Young, January 25, 2021) Farmers have until February 28 to provide the NSW Department of Primary Industries with feedback on a recent review of the state’...Continue reading

25.01.2022 Koalas are rare in healthy mature forests. In the 1840s, famous naturalist John Gould wrote that koalas were nowhere very abundant and could rarely be detected. Consequently, he predicted their extinction. Historian Bill Gammage stated in his award-winning book The Greatest Estate on Earth that koala habitats were distinct, lightly populated and few, but as Europeans occupied country, within a few decades they were a plague.

24.01.2022 WHAT IF NATIONAL PARKS WERE SUBJECT TO AN ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATIONS APPROVAL LICENCE, WITH A SIMILAR PENALTY REGIME TO THOSE APPLYING TO FOREST HARVESTING OPERAT...IONS? According to a Timberbiz article, the Forestry Corporation of NSW is facing fines of up to $1.21 million for allegedly falling nine trees in "protected" areas. How much would the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service be fined, for failing to protect koala habitat and rainforests from wildfires during the summer of 2019-20, if their management was subject to an environmental operations approval licence? Compared to natural disasters such as floods and megafires resulting from lazy land management, the penalty regime applying to non-compliances under the Coastal Integrated Forest Operations Approval (Coastal IFOA) seems to be out of all proportion to the potential for environmental harm. While the Coastal IFOA conditions were updated in 2018, it seems the main focus of the new rule book is to make potential breaches easier to penalise, rather than to deliver better environmental outcomes. Unfortunately, arguments for an active and adaptive management framework were ignored during the 'consultation' process. Some of the ironies of the previous rule book are set out below. Given the ongoing focus on tape measure compliance, there is no reason why we won't see similar examples in future. In May 2009, the then Forestry Commission of NSW undertook a fuel reduction burn in Nullica State Forest. Sixty hectares, which wasn't part of the burn approval and was designated Smoky Mouse habitat, was also fuel reduced. On 8 June 2011, FCNSW was convicted for contravening a condition of the Threatened Species Licence, fined $5,600 and ordered to pay the environment department's costs of $19,000. Some of the ironies of the guilty plea and subsequent conviction are below. 1. Four months before the burn, FCNSW staff and RFS volunteers spent two weeks stopping the area, subject to the breach, from being burnt by a much higher intensity wildfire, which was burning in the adjoining national park; 2. Due to the sparse and unpredictable presence of the Smoky Mouse in Nullica State Forest, the NSW environment department required conservation measures to be changed to focus on the identification and preservation of known Smoky Mouse habitat, rather than on known populations of the Smoky Mouse; 3. The environment department also directed that Forestry activities, including fuel reduction burning were to be excluded from Smoky Mouse zones; 4. A key food resource for the Smoky Mouse is Kennedia rubicunda (dusky coral pea). This plant thrives in post fire environments of bare ground and low levels of competition from other ground flora; 5. Long periods without fire result in this plant fading away due to competition from bracken fern, other flora and ground litter; and 6. There had been no record of a Smoky Mouse living in the area subject to prosecution since 1997. It would seem that a fuel reduction burn would deliver good environmental outcomes for any Smoky Mouse living in the "protected" area. Given no mice had been seen since 1997, it is likely that the lockup and neglect management approach demanded by the NSW environment agencies over the past two decades or more, resulted in the mice being starved out, if not eaten by feral cats. So much for "protection" of threatened species habitat. When will the current NSW conservation land management and environmental agencies start to employ staff with a practical understanding of active and adaptive conservation management? A letter to the Eden Magnet posted below pprovides more background on this seemingly perverse use of NSW taxpayers money. https://www.timberbiz.com.au/koala-court-for-forestry-corp/

24.01.2022 Could it happen here......? They overcame mutual loathing, and saved a town One of the most venomous battles in our polarized nation is the one that has unfolded between loggers and environmentalists in timber towns like this one in the snow-capped Blue Mountains of Eastern Oregon.... Yet, astonishingly, peace has broken out here. Loggers and tree-huggers who once loathed and feared each other have learned to hold their noses and cooperate and this may have saved the town. It may also offer lessons for a divided country. https://www.nytimes.com//loggers-environmentalists-oregon.

23.01.2022 How to really SAVE the forests - ‘Carbon account for which there is no scientific basis’ PROFESSOR Bradstock of Wollongong University and Lindenmayer of Australian National University want to conserve tall wet forests by locking them up and letting them burn at long intervals. The latest UOW offering is a carbon account for which there is apparently no scientific basis. In Forest Ecology and Management Jurskis, Burrows and Underwood state that it seems to be based on a mis...Continue reading

23.01.2022 Koala SEPP Update On Thursday, 19th November, the NSW parliament voted against amendments to the Local Land Services Act (LLS Act) that would have ensured the Koala Habitat Protection SEPP (2019) does not create a pointless burden on farmers in NSW. The amendments would have achieved our goal of decoupling the LLS Act from the new SEPP. As a Liberal member crossed the floor to vote against the Bill, it will now be reviewed in 2021 by an Upper House committee, chaired by the G...Continue reading

23.01.2022 Original post by Kelly Wilton on her Support Tassie’s Timber People FB page: BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! When I first stood up as an advocate for our Tasmanian timber community in 2011 to lead a grassroots campaign to fight the Labor/Green Government’s plan to shut down our native timber industry, I never imagined for a moment that I would still be lobbying government and fighting the cancerous green propaganda 10 years down the track. I have written countless emails to politicians, a...Continue reading

22.01.2022 https://www.facebook.com/Tom-Marland-food-for-thought-and-thought-for-food-388056525306104/?__cft__[0]=AZXp0QeuqEf3DfDZu419OK_IHAmpwg8z4QGUaui-Cps3F7eFDlLOkVYXLAeRalI-Kj_us5nZuARZ7V9GOA124A9fl1KpzqZToQSZesEe-c_kyEbbtpLSSrRQ7VWBY7sXrNKKzM6EQuoCUFYiDxw9cxevFu347MGNrjTWTuVq6m1erA&__tn__=-UC%2CP-R

21.01.2022 Lots of inspiration in this photo and we love it. This is Danielle and Taylah, they are forest scientists. The IFA/AFG are looking to post pictures like this te...lling a story about what the Australian forest sector is about and what forest scientists and managers do. If you have any such photos and would be willing to share them with us that would be greatly appreciated. Please email [email protected] and include attributions for the photos so we can acknowledge the source of the photos. #ImAForester #ForestScience #ForestEngineering #InstituteOfForesters #IFA #AustralianForestGrowers #AustralianForestry #TheForester Photo credit: OneFortyOne See more

19.01.2022 Forestry operations not responsible for extinction of flora or fauna There are no forest operations in Australia that have been identified as the reason for any extinctions of forest dwelling flora or fauna according to the Institute of Foresters. IFA/AFG President and forest scientist, Bob Gordon said the overwhelming reason for species extinction of fauna in Australia is feral animals such as cats and foxes. Source: Timberbiz Other reasons for flora and fauna species extinc...tion in Australia include, land-use change, invasive species and weeds, unsuitable fire regimes, disease and pathogens as well as mortality agents such as hunting and the collection of eggs and plants. Land clearing or land-use change is when forests are converted for example to urban development and agriculture, Mr Gordon said. It is important that land clearing that converts forests to other land uses should not be confused with sustainable forestry they are two very different activities. Sustainable harvesting in Australia’s forests has a very small foot-print and our sustainable forest management sees replanting as well as reestablishment of forests after a harvest operation, he said. Mr Gordon said the forest sector works very hard to achieve sustainable forest management and that’s why it was important to highlight that no forest operations in Australia have been identified as the reason for any extinctions of flora or fauna. Australia’s Regional Forest Agreements are a legal agreement developed 20 years ago to conserve forest biodiversity and provide Australians with a sustainable and ethical timber supply, Mr Gordon said. This is why we are calling for Australians to plant more trees, improve the management of invasive species and feral animals as well as adopt active forest management throughout the nation to respond to our changing climate and bushfire threat. If implemented, these initiatives, along with ecological forest management will ensure that our vulnerable forest flora and fauna is persevered, for all Australians to enjoy, Mr Gordon said.

19.01.2022 An excellent paper on "How Australian Aborigines Shaped and Maintained Fire Regimes and the Biota" by Vic Jurskis, Roger Underwood and Neil Burrows. "People proliferated across Australia, which was then a part of Sahul, from about 40 000 years ago when megafauna finally disappeared long before the Last Glacial Maximum. The so called ‘blitzkrieg’ hypothesis proposes that megafauna were extinguished by Aboriginal hunting. It is argued, either that there were some changes in veg...etation and fire regimes as a consequence, or that fire regimes and vegetation were largely unaffected by human arrival. However, there is an alternative view that Aboriginal burning changed the vegetation so that megafauna had insufficient food resources to sustain them. We aimed to resolve this debate by examining the published palaeological and historical evidence. This evidence indicates that Aboriginal burning initially turned much biomass into charcoal, reducing browse, changing vegetation and causing megafaunal extinctions. It created ecosystems whose health and safety depend on constant human input of mild fire. Mild burning of these anthropogenic landscapes consumes relatively little biomass and produces relatively little charcoal. Although burning by people has typically been regarded as an ecological disturbance, the historical evidence, together with traditional Aboriginal knowledge, suggests that it is actually maintenance, essential to sustain our natural environment. We conclude that people can reinstate resilient, healthy and safe landscapes irrespective of climate change."

18.01.2022 We don’t only do subdivisions, If you are in the market for a dam , house site, flood mound , property access , land clearing or anything that requires heavy earthmoving equipment give George a call on 0407417563.

18.01.2022 Those seeking to end the sustainable native timber industry in NSW are pushing for the Great Koala National Park by arguing the 3000 displaced forest management, timber harvesting, transport and processing workers will get jobs in tourism from GKNP generated visitors. However, one of the GKNP’s advocates, Christine Hosking, Conservation Planner/Researcher, The University of Queensland doesn’t believe Humans must not be allowed to compromise dedicated koala conservation area...s. Intrusive recreational activity is detrimental to the species, and can also reduce the chance quiet park visitors might spy a koala sitting high in a tree, sleepily munching on gum leaves. This rule should apply both to existing national parks, and a new Great Koala National Park. So what happens to those workers if there are no tourists??

18.01.2022 Have your say on koala matters In November 2020, the NSW Parliament failed to pass amendments to the Local Land Services Act (LLS Act) that we had hoped would decouple the Act from the Koala Habitat Protection SEPP (2019). The Amendment Bill has now been referred to an Upper House committee chaired by Green’s Party member Cate Faehrmann. The public are invited to comment on the Bill through an online survey. It can be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/F7F3D77 until... Friday, 5 February. We strongly encourage members to use this survey to support the intent of the Bill and share feedback on why the recent Koala Habitat Protection SEPP is an inappropriate instrument for the farming landscape. More information on the Bill and recent developments can be found here: https://mailchi.mp//nsw-farmers-member-alert-covid-19-upda

16.01.2022 Twenty years ago this was a cleared paddock running cattle - now it is a private native forest - sustainable renewable timber - will be constantly thinned- have... careful hazard reduction burns (cool burning) and when selectively harvested - always replanted or regenerated - and happily hosts a wide variety of native animals See more

16.01.2022 "A ban on glyphosate would have serious environmental consequences. Weed invasions would increase in areas of native vegetation including national parks, and erosion would increase on farms,"

15.01.2022 Re-imagining the log and woodchip export supply chain A recently completed research project funded by FWPA took an in-depth look at the various elements of Australia’s log and woodchip export supply chain to discover how it can most effectively be managed. The team behind the comprehensive study reviewed optimum conditions for storage, haulage and at ports. Their findings are now being used to identify solutions and innovations for an enhanced and more cost-effective timber e...Continue reading

14.01.2022 Invasive cats, which kill billions of native animals each year, form a triple threat, the study finds, by hunting with greater intensity, in broader environments and in greater numbers than an equivalent native marsupial predator the spotted-tailed quoll. They eat everything and they’re in every environment, says study author Dr Rowena Hamer. They’re impressive, but devastating. Feral cats have a devastating toll on Australia’s wildlife, killing an estimated 2bn animals every year and being implicated in at least 25 mammal extinctions and pressuring a further 124 threatened species.

14.01.2022 The world's largest, emissions-free cargo ship is made of wood.

14.01.2022 Forest & Wood Communities Australia has lodged a complaint with the Australian Press Council over an industry hatchet job which appeared in The Monthly recently. https://fwca.org.au/complaint-lodged-against-the-monthlys-/

14.01.2022 Ecological forest management protects forest flora and fauna, not a threat The professional association representing some 1,000 forest scientists, researchers and professional forest land managers, the Institute of Foresters (IFA/AFG), has highlighted there are no forest operations in Australia that have been identified as the reason for any extinctions of forest dwelling flora or fauna. IFA/AFG President and forest scientist, Bob Gordon said the overwhelming reason for speci...es extinction of fauna in Australia is feral animals such as cats and foxes. Other reasons for flora and fauna species extinction in Australia include, land-use change, invasive species and weeds, unsuitable fire regimes, disease and pathogens as well as mortality agents such as hunting and the collection of eggs and plants. Land clearing or land-use change is when forests are converted for example to urban development and agriculture, Mr Gordon said. It is important that land clearing that converts forests to other land uses should not be confused with sustainable forestry they are two very different activities. Sustainable harvesting in Australia’s forests has a very small foot-print and our sustainable forest management sees replanting as well as reestablishment of forests after a harvest operation. Mr Gordon said the forest sector works very hard to achieve sustainable forest management and that’s why it was important to highlight that no forest operations in Australia have been identified as the reason for any extinctions of flora or fauna. Australia’s Regional Forest Agreements are a legal agreement developed 20 years ago to conserve forest biodiversity and provide Australians with a sustainable and ethical timber supply, Mr Gordon said. This is why we are calling for Australians to plant more trees, improve the management of invasive species and feral animals as well as adopt active forest management throughout the nation to respond to our changing climate and bushfire threat. If implemented, these initiatives, along with ecological forest management will ensure that our vulnerable forest flora and fauna is persevered, for all Australians to enjoy, Mr Gordon said. For those interested in more information on the topic, it can be found here: Australia’s State of the Forest Report 2018 https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/forestsaustralia/sofr Assessment of Australia’s Terrestrial Biodiversity Chapter 5 Threats to Australian Biodiversity Davey, S. M. 2018. Reporting Australia’s Forest Biodiversity II: Threatened Forest-Dwelling and Forest-Dependent Species. Australian Forestry 81 (4): 21430

13.01.2022 Latest Science on Koalas in the Hinterland forests of North-east NSW occurs in widely varying densities in eucalypt forests and woodlands of eastern Australia. is declining in many areas and is listed as vulnerable in a significant portion of its range (NSW and Queensland).... Major threats include permanent tree cover loss and fragmentation, increased development around bushland, road traffic, dog attack, climate change, disease, heatwaves, drought and fire. on average, 65 percent of survey sites (the small zone surrounding each recorder; 78.5ha) survey sites in modelled better-quality koala habitat were occupied by at least one male koala. The key drivers of koala occupancy in our study were elevation, cover of important browse trees, site productivity and extent of wildfire in the last 10 years. Occupancy was not influenced by timber harvesting intensity, time since harvesting, land tenure, landscape extent of harvesting or old growth forest extent. Indeed, the highest bellow rate (23 calls per night) across all sites surveyed was recorded at a site in Kiwarrak State Forest that was recently heavily harvested (though with a mosaic of harvest exclusions). Authors: Brad Law, Traecey Brassil, Leroy Gonsalves and Isobel Kerr

13.01.2022 I wonder if Bunnings threatened Forest Defence NSW with the same legal action for similar protests and use of their logo or do Bunnings only threaten hardworking Australians trying to protect their livelihoods?? Poor form Bunnings!! Bunnings accused of ‘corporate bullying’ The CFMEU has accused Bunnings of corporate bullying by threatening community activists and workers defending local timber jobs with legal action. In a legal letter, Bunnings has reserved all rights reg...Continue reading

13.01.2022 Harvesting Trees in the Right Place at the Right Time Timber sales are an important part of the work to reduce wildfire risk on your national forests and grasslands. However, many of the policies governing how forest products are harvested and sold are decades old, and forest conditions, climate, forest products markets and our workforce have changed. Now, a record fire season is highlighting why restoring forests and reducing hazardous fuels when we harvest forests is so imp...Continue reading

12.01.2022 Australian research says forests use tricks to bounce back after bushfires A review by The Bushfire Recovery Project has confirmed how it is that Australian eucalypt forests survive and regenerate after devastating wildfires like the 2019-20 Black Summer fires. The expert review of published research on forest recovery following fire, undertaken by a group of five scientists from Griffith and Australian National Universities, reported that eucalypt forests typically bounce ba...Continue reading

11.01.2022 This Powerpoint presentation was provided to the Mid North Coast Joint Organisation (of Councils) in July 2020 to explain some of the facts behind the push for a Great Koala National Park including: The koala: 83% of moderate to high koala habitat on public forests is already within conservation reserves. Only 17% of this habitat was burnt in severe wildfire last summer. extensive field studies by researchers found no significant difference in Koala presence between logge...d State forests and unlogged National Parks and Koalas were detected at 65% of sites (https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/forestry/science/koala-research) likelihood of koalas was largely influenced by wildfire frequency, soil type and vegetation type The timber industry: of the 3 million hectares of public forest on the north coast, only 10% is subject to timber harvesting. the GKNP will remove a further 175,000 hectares or 10% of NSW’s remaining State forest. 3,000 direct jobs in forest management, timber harvesting, transport and processing NSW North Coast currently supply of the State’s hardwood The Region: all Local Government Areas within the region covered by the GKNP are already in the lower half of the most socio-economically disadvantaged in Australia, including 3/6 in the bottom 25 forestry industry generates $0.5M in output, $0.2M in value add and $0.2M in regional exports for every employee, which is higher than those for the rest of the local economy claims that tourism jobs will replace forest industry jobs has been used before and proven to be false. For example, after the decision to transfer management of 117,000 hectares of River Red Gum transferred to NP in 2010: the population of Mathoura declined by 20 per cent, agriculture, forestry and fishing jobs declined by 47 per cent and overall employment in industry has declined by 34 per cent, while just six Arts & Recreation jobs were created. The Mathoura Visitor Centre has recorded a decrease from 32,000 visits annually (in 2010) to 23,000 visits (in 2014). In 2019, Council data from January to March show that 55 visitors from out of town pass through Mathoura each month. The indigenous Cummeragunja timber cutters near Barmah lost a viable firewood business when the thinning and harvesting operations ceased in the region. Local community businesses cafes, supermarket, pubs, newsagency have all suffered or closed.

11.01.2022 Young forests capture carbon quicker than previously thought There’s increasing recognition of how nature can help tackle the climate crisis. From protecting standing forests to planting new trees, forests offer significant climate mitigation benefits. Now, new research shows that letting forests regrow on their own could be a secret weapon to fighting climate change. Source: Nancy Harris, Susan Cook-Patton, David Gibbs, Kristine Lister Experts at World Resources Institute (W...Continue reading

11.01.2022 Theft by another name! What else can you call it when a Government regulates your land to the point where it is worth nothing, and you cannot use it productivel...y? The Governments grubby green land grabs have to stop before our regions are completely wiped out. The black lines on the map are the proposed E3 zones.

10.01.2022 FWPA builds the resources of WoodSolutions Campus with Timber Engineering a new online course Presented by timber engineering experts Jon Shanks and Geoff Boughton, the six modules offer engineers the opportunity to increase their knowledge so they can design and specify timber products with confidence. It is available exclusively through WoodSolutions Campus. A glance through international and Australian architecture and design publications, both traditional and online, wi...ll show the growing use of wood and wood products, in decorative and structural roles. However, independent research has shown that lack of knowledge about designing with timber leads to a perceived increase of risk, so engineers tend to stay with materials they know. WoodSolutions Campus Timber Engineering Course has been created to address this impediment by providing a comprehensive introduction to engineering with a wide range of timber products. With many universities not being able to spend as much time on timber in their engineering and design courses, this is the ideal way to supplement the knowledge of undergraduates and graduates alike, said Eileen Newbury, Forest and Wood Products Australia Ltd’s (FWPA), National Marketing and Communications Manager and WoodSolutions National Program Manager, WoodSolutions Campus now has a depth and breadth of online courses targeted at audiences ranging from the industry supply chain to design and build professionals. The new Timber Engineering Course has been created and presented by Jon Shanks and Geoff Boughton, both recognised professionals in their field of engineering. Originally this course was given as a series of six online webinars and have now been adapted as a self-paced online learning course. The content begins with wood basics then progresses through engineering design to AS1720.1 and whole of building performance to various timber building systems. The course has been designed to equip engineers and design professionals with an understanding of the key considerations for timber engineering design and to identify topics they need to research further to continue to grow their skills in timber engineering. I urge industry members, especially those dealing with engineers and other design professionals to actively promote WoodSolutions Campus, said Ms Newbury, It will not only help them grow their own businesses, but will promote the sector as a whole. To discover the full range of WoodSolutions Campus courses, please visit www.woodsolutions.com.au/campus.

10.01.2022 FSC blocks organizations with false claims in bamboo supply chain In a recent review, FSC uncovered several companies that deliberately carried false claims and were terminated in the bamboo supply chain transaction verification but came back with new certificates. Source: Timberbiz Considering the substantial integrity risks exposed, FSC has decided to terminate and block the companies from certification for the foreseeable future.... FSC has terminated and blocked the possibility for any of these companies to acquire a valid license agreement, which is a prerequisite for holding a valid FSC certificate. The blocked organizations shall not carry out any activities associated with FSC. This includes, but is not limited to, trading FSC-certified products with FSC claims, labelling products as FSC certified, providing outsourcing services of FSC certified materials, joining a group or multi-site certification. Companies that do not, in good faith, follow the requirements of the FSC system will find themselves increasingly under scrutiny by FSC and Assurance Services International (ASI) as the system takes strong measures against companies that trade with non-conforming products and/or use false FSC claims. FSC recommends certification bodies and buyers to check the certification history of FSC new applicants or FSC suppliers. To get a full list of companies blocked for FSC certification, search on info.fsc.org by sorting certificate status for ‘suspended and blocked’ and ‘terminated and blocked’.

10.01.2022 Pellets ‘true example of circularity’, says Bioenergy Europe Bioenergy Europe has released the fifth chapter of its Statistical Report 2020, focusing on pellets. The report highlights the key contribution of wood pellets to the EU sustainable recovery, and to the 2050 carbon neutrality target, describing pellets as a ‘true example of circularity’.... In 2019, the EU28 produced nearly 18 million tonnes of pellets (approximately 7.6 Mtoe), showing a growth of 5% compared to 2018. Across the EU, the primary source of feedstock is wood processing residues, according to the report, making pellets a ‘true example of resource efficiency and circularity’. Pellet production gives an economic purpose to damaged wood, making sanitary cuttings and other necessary management operations viable. According to Bioenergy Europe, in several EU Member States including the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, and Belgium, this already represents a solution to incentivise damaged wood removal from forests. Pellets use, which is deemed a sustainable, efficient, and secure solution for households, commercial and small industrial processes, also represents a cost-effective way to de-fossilise the European heating sector. The Statistical Report 2020 shows pellets are often cheaper than fossil alternatives, making it a ‘perfect ally’ to tackle energy poverty. With 16.4 million tonnes of pellets consumed in the EU28 in 2019, heating with pellets is increasing in popularity across member states. Despite this, a high share of residential heating appliance still run on fossil fuels in the EU28. As confirmed by the State of Energy Union report, fossil fuels still enjoy various subsidies (over 50 billion in 2019, up 6% compared to 2015). Bioenergy Europe believes these measures undermine the competitiveness of renewable solutions, delaying the transition towards carbon neutrality. The EU’s proposed target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050 requires a rapid phasing out of fossil fuels across Europe. The report suggests heating and industry sectors are lagging. Pellets are one of the readily available and economically affordable solutions to phase out fossil fuels from the power sector, industrial processes, and residential heating, according to the report. Bioenergy Europe’s Statistical Report 2020 sets out several ‘essential’ recommendations for policymakers moving forward. More information can be found on the Bioenergy Europe website.

09.01.2022 There’s more to preserving forests than shutting the gate Responsible Wood has welcomed a suggestion by forestry leaders that all forests, including parks and reserves, should be certified to find out how well they are being managed. Simon Dorries, chief executive of Responsible Wood, which is the Australian arm of PEFC, the world’s largest certification system, said the certification standard was designed not only for production areas but also reserved areas. About half of A...Continue reading

09.01.2022 Trees are the Earth's lungsit's well understood they drawdown and lock up vast amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. But emerging research is showing trees can also emit methane, and it's currently unknown just how much. This could be a major problem, given methane is a greenhouse gas about 45 times more potent than carbon dioxide at warming our planet. However, in a world-first discovery published in Nature Communications, we found unique methane-eating communities... of bacteria living within the bark of a common Australian tree species: paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia). These microbial communities were abundant, thriving, and mitigated about one third of the substantial methane emissions from paperbark that would have otherwise ended up in the atmosphere. Because research on tree methane ("treethane") is still in its relative infancy, there are many questions that need to be resolved. Our discovery helps fill these critical gaps, and will change the way we view the role of trees within the global methane cycle. Wait, trees emit methane? Yes, you read that right! Methane gas within cottonwood trees was first reported in 1907, but has been largely overlooked for almost a century. Only in 2018 was a tree methane review published and then a research blueprint put forward, labeling this as "a new frontier of the global carbon cycle." It has since been gaining rapid momentum, with studies now spanning the forests of Japan, UK, Germany, Panama, Finland, China, Australia, US, Canada, France and Borneo just to name a few.

09.01.2022 Wood chip, lime and tomatoes - Who knew? Promising new technology using leftover forestry wood to extract clean carbon dioxide is expected to benefit commercial greenhouses growers and the environment. A Kiwi CO2 invention would help increase crop yield and reduce emissions at the same time. New Zealand Gourmet's Roelf Schreuder said the produce wholesaler is currently getting CO2 for their Taupo crops from Taranaki as a waste product, which is brought in through trucks every... week and "can be a hassle". Now, Hot Lime Labs has developed a way of producing clean CO2 on site. The technology uses wood chips to warm the plants at night while producing carbon dioxide, which is soaked up by limestone pellets, which acts as a "CO2 sponge," founder and CEO Vlatko Materic said. It grabs CO2 and lets all the other components out and then releases CO2 on demand on contact with air." Trials have shown the higher-quality gas creates better produce. It gives a bigger yield and better fruit at the same time so they probably would have increased the output by 10 per cent, Materic said. The company now wants to work with the forestry industry to use its problematic waste wood, or slash. All the things that would be otherwise just rotting on the ground, emitting their CO2 anyway, and are much lower cost and also readily available everywhere. The technology is seen as a game changer for growers in the South Island who rely on coal, which is subject to the emissions trading scheme. Switching to biomass fuel like slash would avoid the cost of levies placed on higher emission energy sources. "By using the opportunity to take the CO2 production from that biomass and add it to the greenhouse, that makes it a much more attractive option for growers," Tomatoes NZ’s Helen Barnes said. A commercial model is expected in the middle of next year, and there is already interest from growers around the country. Source: TVNZ

09.01.2022 Which forests are better at storing carbon An international team led by the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has studied which types of forest, in terms of biodiversity, are the most effective in storing carbon. Inventory data from natural forests on five continents show that species diversity is optimal for equatorial and tropical rainforests, and that, conversely, in forests located in cold or dry regions, it is the abundance of trees and not their diversity that favours the re...Continue reading

08.01.2022 IFA/AFG Director recognised with Australian Fire Service Medal The Institute of Foresters of Australia and Australian Forest Growers (IFA/AFG) has congratulated Director Dr Lachlan (Lachie) McCaw for being awarded the prestigious Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) as part of the Australia Day Honours. Dr McCaw received the medal, which recognises distinguished service by members of Australian fire services, for his ability to bring strategy, fire science and incident manage...ment together to inform best practice fire-management principles. Fellow AFSM recipient and Chair of the IFA/AFG’s Forest Fire Management Committee Mr Gary Morgan AM AFSM said Dr McCaw’s significant contribution to forest fire management and fire research made him a thoroughly deserving recipient of the award. Lachie’s dedication to forest fire management through his research and operational management is second to none, Mr Morgan said. He exemplifies the best form of research not only conducting significant research but also applying this knowledge actively through the practice of forest fire management. Lachie is also very generous in imparting this knowledge and experience to colleagues and peers, which makes him such a valuable contributor to fire management throughout Australia. Dr McCaw has worked in forestry since 1980 and is a Registered Professional Forester (RPF) with skills in native forest management. He has extensive experience in bushfire research and management with a focus on forests, woodlands and shrublands of Western Australia. His research interests include fire behaviour, fire climate and weather, and the role of planned fire in sustainable land management. He has been involved in a many aspects of native forest management including regeneration processes, thinning of regrowth stands and forest health. He works as a Senior Principal Research Scientist with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Western Australia, manages a 15ha family forest at Manjimup and has been an active member of Australian Forest Growers. As well as being a Director of the IFA/AFG, Dr McCaw adds to the wealth of knowledge and experience on the IFA/AFG’s Forest Fire Management Committee. Other committee members who have been acknowledged for their contribution to forest fire management in Australia include Gary Morgan AM AFSM, Ruth Ryan AFSM, Euan Ferguson AFSM, Kevin Tolhurst AM, Phil Cheney PSM and Neil Cooper PSM.

08.01.2022 FWCA lodges complaint with Press Council about timber story Forest & Wood Communities Australia has lodged a complaint with the Australian Press Council following a story on the timber industry published in The Monthly. It has also complained directly to the editor and provided a detailed critique to outline dozens of issues with the work by Paddy Manning. Source: Timberbiz Vicforests has also registered its disappointment with the article entitled ‘Coup de grâce’ which it cl...aimed contained a number of false and unfair claims. The critique is central in a submission to media regulator the Australian Press Council to complain about the standards of objective journalism which the FWCA believes the article has breached. It also accompanied a letter to the editor at The Monthly in which the FWCA asked that action be taken. It would have been easy to ignore the ‘essay’ given how few people appear to be aware of it, but the more we leave these unjustified attacks unanswered, the more traction they get, said FWCA Managing Director Justin Law. If they did, they would report the immense amount of work and cost that goes into restoring the forests and adhering to the precautionary principles laid out under environmental law. They would highlight the efforts that go into minimising the risk of harm to native fauna in supplying natural timber products, or that just four trees in 10,000 are harvested and regenerated in scattered areas to reduce environmental impacts on the whole forest estate. They would also point out the alternatives to wood sourced from heavily regulated, world-certified Australian forests are plastic, concrete or timber imported from countries where there is genuine concern for forest health, Mr Law said. Instead, all they are doing with these biased attacks is further damaging the credibility of objective journalism and ecological science. Perhaps it’s time these media crusaders surprised us all by examining corporate activism and its exploitation of dubious environmental issues to peddle outrage and dupe gullible Australians into funding their multi-million-dollar operations. That would be a story in the public interest, he said. Photo: Justin Law managing director FWCA

05.01.2022 If ever there was a time to fight, it's now. Activist bullies are making lawyers rich by taking away our livelihoods. We're fighting and need you to join us to make us a strong voice to Government and the media. Just $5 a year gives you a voice. http://www.fwca.org.au/fwca-sign-up.html

05.01.2022 A recent study into forest thinning and fires finds ... nothing. In an attempt to prop up earlier works by ANU's activist academics on the impacts of forestry on bushfire severity, this article rehashes their earlier assumptions and is not very definitive where "their findings suggest", thinning potentially facilitating the spread of fire through the forest and "thinning tended to". The articles quotes IFA/AFG member Prof Rod Keenan from University of Melbourne saying, "I wouldn’t be dismissing more widespread thinning as a fire management option on the basis of this study".

05.01.2022 NSW: Salvaged timber recovery milestone Recovery milestone: Two million tonnes of fire salvaged timber sold - Forestry Corporation of NSW has reached an important recovery milestone two million tonnes of fire-affected timber harvested, hauled and sold from the organisation’s bushfire-affected Tumut and Bombala softwood plantations. Forestry Corporation’s Acting Snowy Regional Manager, Louise Bourke, said the milestone represents around 46,700 truckloads of logs and was a si...gnificant boost for communities recovering from the devastating 2019-20 bushfire season. Congratulations to our staff and industry partners for this result, Ms Bourke said, adding The salvage harvesting program has meant the local timber industry has had an incredibly busy year, and can continue to support the region’s recovery from the impact of the bushfire season. Forestry Corporation is working with local harvesting and haulage contractors and mills to help ensure timber is available for the NSW community to rebuild after the fires. Whilst the fire was clearly a devastating event, the recovery process has been a boost for some local contracting businesses this year in what are otherwise very difficult times, Ms Bourke said. Roughly one third of the plantations in the area surrounding Tumut and Bombala were impacted by the 2019-2020 bushfires. Fire-affected timber has the same structural properties as unburnt timber, so can be harvested and processed into house frames, furniture and other essential renewable wood products. After a fire, there is a 12-month window to salvage the timber before it starts to deteriorate. To find out more about Forestry Corporation and the recovery harvesting program, see www.forestrycorporation.com.au/ Source: Forestry Corporation NSW

04.01.2022 Despite claims that billions of animals perished during last summer's bushfires, it's amazing how well adapted our native fauna and flora is to the harsh environment we all inhabit.

03.01.2022 A little bit of good news for the 80% of Australia's threatened species susceptible to feral pests (and weeds).

03.01.2022 Forest Growers look for future funding boost Australia’s forest growers are being asked to support a proposed increase to the sector’s R&D and biosecurity levy to address the decline in funding and capacity for vital forest science research, development and extension (RD&E) and to tackle ever-increasing biosecurity threats. A group of forest growers that collectively produce over 90 per cent of Australia’s log volume has developed a research strategy that, if supported across... the sector through a proposed increase to the Forest Growers Levy, will boost productivity, lower costs, increase resilience and reduce losses from drought, fire, pests and diseases. The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) has backed the proposal and urges all Australian forest growers to support the minor increase which will deliver benefits across the plantation and native forest estates through Commonwealth-matched RD&E projects. With this proposal forest growers have the chance to increase current investment levels for RD&E and biosecurity to grow our renewable industry over the long term, increase the resilience of our forests, and build much-needed RD&E capacity, AFPA Chief Executive Officer Ross Hampton said. Australia’s biosecurity threat from exotic pests has never been higher. For example, Giant Pine Scale was discovered in 2015 in Victoria and then South Australia and has since been declared un-eradicable in Australia. This exotic pest may be slow moving, but it has a devastating impact on the trees it infests. Investing in biosecurity will help us improve Australia’s success rate in eradicating exotic pests which currently sits at half the success rate achieved globally. Forest growers are seeking industry-wide support for an increase to the existing forest growers levy of $0.135 per m3 of log in two parts: an increase to the forestry RD&E levy from $0.05 to $0.135 per m3 and an increase to the PHA biosecurity levy from $0.005 per m3 to $0.05 per m3. The proposed levy increase needs to be agreed and voted on by a majority of forest growers who participate. To register to be part of the voting process, and participate in the consultation process, please visit https://ausfpa.com.au/forest-growers-levy/ or email [email protected] or call (03) 6163 8901 by the 6th November 2020. I encourage forest growers across Australia to become involved in the current consultation process and participate in voting. Achieving this proposed RD&E & biosecurity levy increase is a critical next step to investing the future of our renewable forest industry, Mr Hampton concluded. Source: Australian Forest Products Association

03.01.2022 Original post by @Tom Marland - Food for thought Seeing the forest not just the trees I grew up in hard wood eucalypt forests on my home property at Gaeta in the Wide Bay region of Queensland....Continue reading

02.01.2022 Responsibly sourced timber is the only renewable mainstream building material available the ultimate renewable.

02.01.2022 https://quadrant.org.au//on-the-whole-koalas-are-smarter-/ Koala Clowns Dress Up For Another Circus In Sydney

01.01.2022 German innovation for transporting long logs A marvel of German engineering is once again upon us - this time it's a truck that divides in half to better transport long logs. "In Central Europe in particular, the transport of long and heavy logs on mountainous terrain, narrow forest paths and serpentines is a daily challenge for the transporter," says Ratioplus developer Doll Fahrzeugbau.... When it's headed to the jobsite and unloaded, the truck is compact. At the jobsite, the driver gets out and hops onboard the crane. He then unloads the truck's second-half, which is carried on the back. The driver then grabs a log, placing it on the second-half. And then the genius part - he then drives the second-half via remote control away from him, creating the necessary space to transport the log. The rest of the logs are then loaded the same way. Logs are then lashed together and the crane is folded back up. Check out a video of the process below:

01.01.2022 FORMER FAIRFAX JOURNALIST CONTINUES RELENTLESS ATTACK ON COMMERCIAL NATIVE FORESTRY OPERATIONS. No surprises in any of the opinion presented by Peter Hannam, an... opinion reporter with the former Fairfax newspaper company and now Nine Entertainment. He continues to whine about "subsidies" to the Forestry Corporation of NSW. When a journalist relies on a former Green MP to provide economic analysis to support his opinion piece, you know we are reading the scapings from the bottom of the activist journalist barrel. When he was managing editor of BusinessDay.com.au, does anyone recall Mr Hannam complaining about subsidies to the car manufacturing, tourism or hundreds of other industries that get government support in one form or another? In line with activist mode of operation, the only industries that are put under the subsidy spotlight are those industries that don't fit with their eco-political agendas. From the early 1940's until the early 1990's, Fairfax newspapers relied on a significant portion of newsprint supply being profitably manufactured from Florentine Valley, Tasmania old growth forest. The Fairfax company was one of a consortium of newspaper companies that built, owned and operated the Boyer newsprint mill from 1941. When will Mr Hannam do an analysis on how much subsidy his former employer received from those forest operations? Fairfax maintained part ownership of the Boyer mill until 10 December 1990, when the company collapsed with debts of $1.7 billion. The article claims, "Our native forests are worth so much more standing as recreational reserves for nature-based tourism and for biodiversity protection than they are as wood chips or decking." Has Mr Mr Hannam been into the Blue Mountains World Heritage site in recent months? The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) the official advisor to UNESCO advises, "Many species that are attributes of the Outstanding Universal Value of the site were impacted by the fire." Is Mr Hannam aware that as a result of 71 percent of the site being burnt last summer, IUCN has determined: The conservation outlook for this site has been assessed as "significant concern." This is a formal downgrade to the second lowest category in the world heritage ratings. How is this downgrade adding value to nature-based tourism? The photo below shows the aftermath of the Border fire, that burnt through Mt Imlay National Park, which is the only home of the Critically Endangered Species, Eucalyptus imlayensis. No word yet as to whether this species will be added to the extinct species list. How is the exclusion of timber harvesting working for biodiversity protection? https://www.smh.com.au//forestry-corp-facing-massive-reven

01.01.2022 We're seeing dishonest fundraising campaigns which accuse forestry of causing extinctions. The Institute of Foresters of Australia/AFG says it's simply not true. Ecological forest management protects forest flora and fauna, not a threat The professional association representing some 1,000 forest scientists, researchers and professional forest land managers, the Institute of Foresters (IFA/AFG), has highlighted there are no forest operations in Australia that have been identif...ied as the reason for any extinctions of forest dwelling flora or fauna. IFA/AFG President and forest scientist, Bob Gordon said the overwhelming reason for species extinction of fauna in Australia is feral animals such as cats and foxes. Other reasons for flora and fauna species extinction in Australia include, land-use change, invasive species and weeds, unsuitable fire regimes, disease and pathogens as well as mortality agents such as hunting and the collection of eggs and plants. Land clearing or land-use change is when forests are converted for example to urban development and agriculture, Mr Gordon said. It is important that land clearing that converts forests to other land uses should not be confused with sustainable forestry they are two very different activities. Sustainable harvesting in Australia’s forests has a very small foot-print and our sustainable forest management sees replanting as well as reestablishment of forests after a harvest operation. Mr Gordon said the forest sector works very hard to achieve sustainable forest management and that’s why it was important to highlight that no forest operations in Australia have been identified as the reason for any extinctions of flora or fauna. Australia’s Regional Forest Agreements are a legal agreement developed 20 years ago to conserve forest biodiversity and provide Australians with a sustainable and ethical timber supply, Mr Gordon said. This is why we are calling for Australians to plant more trees, improve the management of invasive species and feral animals as well as adopt active forest management throughout the nation to respond to our changing climate and bushfire threat. If implemented, these initiatives, along with ecological forest management will ensure that our vulnerable forest flora and fauna is persevered, for all Australians to enjoy, Mr Gordon said. For those interested in more information on the topic, it can be found here: Australia’s State of the Forest Report 2018 https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/forestsaustralia/sofr Assessment of Australia’s Terrestrial Biodiversity Chapter 5 Threats to Australian Biodiversity Davey, S. M. 2018. Reporting Australia’s Forest Biodiversity II: Threatened Forest-Dwelling and Forest-Dependent Species. Australian Forestry 81 (4): 21430