Where Is The Timber Going To Come From?

A Love for Timber

I fully realise Jack Bowen wrote in last month’s bulletin criticising the Victorian Government’s decision to cease native forest production in Victoria. So why do I as an ordinary employee of Bowens, feel compelled to lend my critical voice to this decision?

In doing so, I confess my love for not only the timber products we sell but also for the trees from which these products come from. There is nothing more exhilarating than driving through the Dandenong ranges admiring giant Mountain Ash trees, gun barrel straight, reaching for the sky. Or the magnificent stand of Californian Redwoods near Warburton. Interestingly, like 65% of our native forests, the trees mentioned above are in national parks and reserves where logging is not permitted.

“Interestingly, like 65% of our native forests, the trees mentioned above are in national parks and reserves where logging is not permitted.”

Product Specialist, Frank Di Stefano, and Specialist Manager, Jeff Harvey, in Warburton Redwood Forest.

I also appreciate during a tree’s growth, they absorb carbon dioxide and store this as carbon in the form of wood fibre and release oxygen into the atmosphere, they are essential and support the biodiversity of the earth. I call trees the lungs of the Earth. However, as our native forests progress through their active growth stage, perhaps 80 years to 100 years, eucalypts become mature and branches, leaves and bark fall or break off. Consequently results in, this forests becoming carbon neutral, even carbon negative. If a tree dies or part thereof it will release the stored carbon back into the atmosphere; as is the result during bushfires.

Specialist Manager, Jeff Harvey, walking through Warburton Redwood Forest.

There are some misguided thoughts that hardwood plantations will replace the void left by this logging ban. I would ask, where are the established plantations and whether the quality produced by a young regrowth plantation tree will produce the renowned quality from older naturally grown Victorian Ash.

“I would ask, where are the established plantations and whether the quality produced by a young regrowth plantation tree will produce the renowned quality from older naturally grown Victorian Ash.”

I can recall about 20 years ago a renowned timber producer purchased a plantation to produce structural timber and flooring products which resulted in a failed business. They found the trees had too much growth in the branches and not enough in the stems.

Notwithstanding my timber bias, the government’s decision defies logic and facts (below) as to why this decision has been taken.

Accordingly, I thought I should state the following:

• 65% of our native forests are in national parks and reserves, like water catchments, that cannot be logged.
• The timber industry only harvests 0.04% of the forest estate – the equivalent of only 4 trees in every 10,000!!
• For every tree harvested another is required to be planted… by law!!
• Accordingly, how can this not be considered sustainable!!
• Younger regrowth trees absorb more carbon.
• Some regional Victorian communities will be hit with unemployment.
• Plantations will not fill the logging ban void.
• Expensive hardwood imports may be necessary to fill the void.
• Well-managed native forests can actually provide superior biodiversity, fire and climate outcomes.

Another possibility could be the increased use of non-timber products such as steel, aluminium and concrete. These products consume significant amounts of non-renewable fossil fuel energy to produce, releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Just compare this to our raw timber that comes from trees that grow from the sun and rain. Also, the carbon dioxide that a tree adsorbs is still present in the timber products we sell.

My final comment, I have tried to make my comments non-political, but based on the established facts listed above and with that in mind, the Government’s decision to me makes no sense.

“My final comment, I have tried to make my comments non-political, but based on the established facts listed above and with that in mind, the Government’s decision to me makes no sense.”

That said, they should have reviewed and taken a more holistic view of the timber industry based on the facts. It is an industry I have been proud to say I have been part of for over 60 years.

“That said, they should have reviewed and taken a more holistic view of the timber industry based on the facts.”