Australasia's home for timber news and information

AFPA calls for wide approach to bushfire prevention at Royal Commission

The Australian Forest Products Association has called for an ambitious whole-of-landscape approach to bushfire mitigation and active land management, including mechanical fuel reduction alongside controlled burns to ensure we don’t see a repeat of the Black Summer fires. Source: Timbe
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FOA UN paper says forestry is one of the most dangerous professions

The forestry industry must take steps to improve its safety record and promote decent rural employment in support of the Sustainable Development Agenda, according to a new Food and Agriculture Organisation (UN) paper published on World Day for Safety and Health at Work. Source: Timber
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Royal Commission told prevention is the cure by Foresters & Forest Growers

Australia should urgently accept that bushfire prevention rather than suppression is the only way to avoid the widescale loss of lives, property and biodiversity experienced last summer according to the Institute of Foresters of Australia and Australian Forest Growers (IFA/AFG). Sourc
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Wood Products tells Royal Commission to recognise native forestry

Future national and state land and bushfire management policies need to clearly recognise the critical importance of the ‘plantation and native hardwood timber production sectors’ play as part of the overall solution in preventing wildfires like those of this past tragic Black Summer,
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No AUSTimber 2020 now AUSTimber 2021

The organisers of AUSTimber 2020 have rescheduled this year’s event over CoVid-19 concerns and will now work on delivering the event in November 2021. Source: Timberbiz It was planned for April this year, and then was postponed until November because of the bushfires in the Gippsland
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NZ back to work but caution is advised for OH&S

New Zealand Forest Owners Association President Phil Taylor is cautioning foresters about jumping the gun getting back to work tomorrow after the lockdown, and that health and safety on the forest work site goes well beyond the COVID-19 protocol observance. Source: Timberbiz He says t
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New research paper argues for prescribed burning in southern states

A new research paper arguing prescribed burning can save lives, property and biodiversity has been strongly welcomed by the Institute of Foresters Australia (IFA) the paper is titled Prescribed burning in south-eastern Australia – history and future directions. Source: Timberbiz The p
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ForestWorks seeks views on skills and training

ForestWorks is seeking forest and wood products industry participant views on the challenges and opportunities in relation to training and skills development for jobs, organisations and industry overall. Source: Timberbiz The Industry Reference Committees for Forest and Wood Products,
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Timber mills take COVID-19 very seriously

Some of the Green Triangle’s largest timber mills are undertaking mock COVID-19 scenarios to mentally prepare its workforce for a potential corona virus case. AKD operations, including both Colac and Heywood (Portland Pine Products) have undertaken extensive desktop exercises and full
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Review of SA bushfires must prioritise fire ready not suppression

The peak organisation representing more than 1000 professional and scientific forest land managers have stressed the need to prioritise broadscale fire preparedness in place of fire suppression as they put forward their submission to the Independent Review into South Australia’s 2019/
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