Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) is collaboratively funding a suite of forest research investment plans to inform and promote investment in forest research, development and extension (RD&E). Source: Timberbiz
FWPA Forest Research Manager Jodie Mason has been working for the last few months with a group of FWPA members, through the Grower Research Advisory Committee (GRAC).
This work supports the GRAC’s Strategic Plan and Vision, which aims to double the value of Australia’s commercial forests by 2040 by fostering an innovative culture in our enterprises, applying world’s best practices, collaborating and investing in research and development as appropriate.
The investment plans will estimate the potential return from RD&E and provide a business case for investment, with the aim of increasing collaborative investment in forestry RD&E and contributing to the renewal, growth and sustainability of forestry research in Australia.
Glen Rivers, chief forester with OneFortyOne said: “The investment plans will provide a great framework for forest growers to understand opportunities and risks associated with managing our forests so that our investment in projects can be prioritised.”
The investment plans being developed will focus on:
- soils and nutrition
- damage agents (pests, disease, extreme climatic events)
- fire
- operations and supply chain
- genetics and tree breeding
- plantation silviculture
- native forest silviculture
- resource modelling and remote sensing.
FWPA members will have input into the GRAC project through consultations, draft reviews and opportunities to be involved in deciding on the amount of investment in each research area.
Each investment plan will be developed by three key groups of contributors: the lead service provider; panels of technical and operational specialists from industry, research and service providers; and the GRAC executive members.
“It’s important that we continue to invest to protect what we have and take advantage of new technologies and innovation to fully utilise our resource and the benefits they create,” said Mr Rivers.
