Complete solid timber processing systems Ph 02 9609 5911
JULY 2013 Issue 4 Vol. 22 • P: (03) 9888 4834 • E: l.martin@ryanmediapl.com.au • www.timberbiz.com.au
Royal assent for Tasmanian forestry bill TASMANIA’S FOREST peace deal legislation is now a reality following Royal Assent by the Governor of Tasmania, Peter Underwood. "In the name of her majesty the Queen, I assent to this Act," the Governor said. Resources Minister Bryan Green now has less than a month to define which areas will be protected under the legislation, by tabling an Initial Proposed Reserve Order in both Houses of Parliament. Now the Bill has received Royal Assent, the Minister will also establish a special council to advise on the implementation of the Forest Agreement. The council is expected to be formed this month. And, while still on the subject, it has been interesting to note some of the notable quotes emanating from Tasmania during the process … Today is indeed a historic day. Today is indeed an important day for the forestry industry and today the Liberal Party show their true colours - they don't care. We will be able to build a new future for Tasmania, a new future for forestry industry." – Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings In Government, the Liberals will undo any new reserves. We will do everything that we possibly can to unlock every single stick." – Tasmanian Opposition’s Peter Gutwein It will not resolve conflicts over forest protection. My Tasmanian counterparts will determine whatever they do in terms of the salvage operation, but I can tell you that the Tasmanian Forest Agreement is dead." – Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne Assurances from Forestry Tasmania are not something any clear thinking environmentalist would put faith in at the best of times, especially when looming elections are predicted to change Governments who will then change Forestry Tasmania and when Forestry Tasmania already appears to be using tricky wording to support their assurances.” – Markets for Change CEO Peg Putt The amended legislation would not achieve peace. It would only entrench the continued logging of native forests and protests would continue.” – Jenny Weber, Huon Valley Environment Centre.
Optimistic future for Tasmanian plantations By Rosemary Ann Ogilvie
A
T FORESTRY Tasmania (FT), we’re very focussed on adding value to our plantation estate,” says Dr Paul Adams, who heads the productivity group of the company’s research and development branch. “This is mainly achieved through improving productivity so that per hectare, there is more wood, and higher-quality wood of higher value. All our research is focussed on achieving these objectives, which we’re doing through our nutrition, silviculture and treeimprovement programs.” With production of high-quality pruned logs the target, Dr Adams and his team of five are looking at key aspects of productivity improvement. “To this end, we have a nutrition and fertilisation research program where we’re improving our understanding of soils, sites and limitations to growth, and have developed effective fertilisation regimes to boost growth. We are also working on second-rotation establishment, and the importance of maintaining slash and conserving organic matter onsite. So we’re looking at all aspects of site management and sustainability.” Silviculture research is another important area of work. Of FT’s 37,000 hectares of eucalypt plantations across the estate, some 80 per cent are targeted for pruning and thinning. “We aim to optimise the application of pruning and thinning across the range of site productivities, and also across the two main species we grow: Eucalyptus globulus, which accounts for 20% of our estate, and Eucalyptus nitens, which is about 80%,” says Dr Adams.
of course many sites will remain under nitens because globulus doesn’t grow well at higher elevations or in colder areas.”
Alternative thinning regimes The research team has just completed the first stage of a major investigation into alternative thinning regimes for the eucalypts, and plans to apply some of them to new plantings as they come along. They’re also installing a number of rotation-length trials to evaluate various alternatives and improve the silvicultural and wood-quality models. These regimes are targeting the production of large-diameter pruned trees as these have greater value for the business. Currently several endproducts are being investigated, with the product-development team focusing primarily on peeled-veneer products and the HARDLAM laminated veneer product range – although native regrowth is currently the main resource being tested for this. “So in other words, we’ll be producing plantation pruned logs for peeling and for sawn timber, and there’ll also be unpruned logs for the same purposes, along with chip and other material,” says Dr Adams. The first trees are now being cut from some of the earliest plantations established over 20 years ago. “As the bulk of the plantations come on-stream over the next five to 10 years, a considerable volume of wood will enter the market,” says Dr Adams.
As the bulk of the plantations come on-stream over the next five to 10 years, a considerable volume of wood will enter the market In the past, E. nitens was planted in the majority of sites because of its greater frost tolerance and disease resistance. However, improved site analysis has revealed that it can be planted in more areas, so the plan over the longer term is to increase the proportion of E. globulus to around 50% of the plantation estate. “Globulus has some superior wood properties compared to nitens, which means log values are greater,” explains Dr Adams. “But
“FT is using this early period to undertake product development, and to characterise and quantify the plantation resource. This involves assessing the wood properties and characteristics of the nitens and globulus coupes in different parts of the estate.” He acknowledges issues exist in regards to sawing plantation hardwoods, particularly with nitens. These relate mainly to internal checking, where little cavities develop in the wood after
felling and drying. However, peeling nitens is a different story: the thin veneers don’t seem to have the same problems with checking. “There’s a fair amount of work still to do on how to properly manage these problems,” says Dr Adams. “It has certainly been an issue for the industry, which has been reluctant to use much of our wood until it can understand how to manage the checking and optimise recoveries. “However, we’re nearing the end of a sawing study with one of the state’s major mills, and the results are looking reasonably promising,” he continues. “We’ve sawn the logs, dried and graded them, and the next step is to send the boards to various end users so they can evaluate the wood and give us their opinion on its use and value. In this way we’ll have a better continued on page 4.
The Black Flash VH200B security cam
Number One Tree best in the breeding program.