Jack Bowen
Built by Nature is a “Network and grant-making fund dedicated to accelerating the timber building transformation in Europe. Radically reducing embodied carbon; safely stopping carbon in our buildings for generations; and sequestering carbon by championing forest stewardship and regeneration.”
Wood is built by nature and I’m sure if it was only discovered in recent times, it would be heralded as the greatest product mankind had ever come across. Unfortunately, that’s not what governments believe as evidenced by the Victorian Government’s decision to end native forest harvesting.
While softwood timber, from plantations, is the preferred timber for the framing of our new houses, the need for quality hardwood in joinery and feature house (and commercial) fittings is vital.
Overall Australia is short of ‘shelter’ for our growing population. The call to reduce our migrant intake will not stop this demand as the need for ‘new’ accommodation is NOW. National Cabinet’s target is for 240,000 detached and multi-unit commencements per annum but only around 160,000 will be commenced in 2024. A shortfall of 80,000.
While interest rates and overall cost of living increases are in the mix of why new house commencements have slowed, it does not help when manufacturers of hardwood finished products have had to source their raw material from overseas.
The 0.04% (4 trees in 10,000) of the forest that the Victorian industry previously harvested annually, and replanted (is being) replaced now by imports of Tasmanian hardwood, European and American oak, and the durable hardwood species from tropical forests of countries where the forests are not necessarily certified to FSC or PEFC. The extra cost of imported timber will of course be passed on to the consumer.
In an earlier Bowens Bulletin, I noted Forestry Australia’s comment that the Victorian government’s decision to end native forest harvesting is flawed and rather than being based on science, it is a decision motivated by ideology!
The President of Forestry Australia added that this was a big step backwards for sustainability. ‘There are very few productive systems on the globe that offer stronger sustainability credentials than well managed native forests. In fact, we know that well managed native forests can actually provide superior biodiversity, fire, and climate outcomes.’
However, it is sad to me that only recently Dr Michelle Freeman found it necessary to put out an opinion piece: ‘Standing up for our Profession’. As President of Forestry Australia this was issued in ‘response to disturbing media coverage that is disrespectful of our profession and the scientists and growers who study, manage and care for our forests … Forestry Australia is an independent professional organisation with 1,200 members. (These) members are individuals who have high levels of scientific expertise and extensive operational experience. They operate across all aspects of forest, fire and land management farm, forestry and tree growing throughout Australia …’
My reason for including some points in Dr Freeman’s opinion piece is that whatever ‘side’ or ‘views’ one might have about our forestry, each party should respect competing arguments, and in particular respect the need for factual arguments, particularly from scientists who are at the top of their profession.
Our forests are there for ALL Victorians and no one organisation, group or business (including timber sawmillers and timber merchants) has the right to claim them exclusively. The government has effectively shut out those of us who understand the need for timber in a built environment.
Concrete and steel have a place in building houses and communities, but they account for around 8% of global GHG emissions. On average, two tonnes of CO2 are emitted to manufacture one tonne of steel. Whereas wood removes more CO2 from the atmosphere than it emits during manufacture.
Some salient points are there for governments to consider:
The need to interrogate the forest management research to understand broader views rather than to base forest management on narrow viewpoints.
Our current situation enables the opportunity to consider forest management from scratch … a fresh start.
This fresh start would not consider the industrial-type clear fall harvesting or coupe burning. Rather we could utilise ‘selective harvesting’ which is widely practised in the hardwood forests of Europe and USA for centuries have maintained the same forest and biodiversity in perpetuity.
Selective harvesting incorporates all forest values and is now being successfully practiced in Tasmanian private forests, with the same species as in Victoria under strict improved forest practice’s plan.
This is a low-cost model that enables funding for forest improvement and fire prevention work. It is also self-funding.
Monitoring is an important component both before and after forest activities to both show improvement and improve forest management practices.
Native forest timber harvesting sparks significant emotion, passion and energy. Differences of opinion around the issue have been ongoing in Australia for decades. However, the irony is that regardless of ‘sides’, we all care deeply about forests. We want to see biodiversity flourish, we want to prevent devastating bushfires, we want to be sustainable, and we want to find better building solutions to climate change. We recognise the dire need to manage our forests better for the health and prosperity of our environment and society. (Dr Freeman)
In the meantime, Europe leads the way with many iconic buildings being built in timber – Australia is following with large-scale mass engineered timber buildings in WA, Victoria and NSW. The industry is also encouraged to see the Australian government join with 16 other countries at the GOP28 UN climate meeting in Dubai and agree to ‘advance policies and approaches that increase the use of wood in the built environment by 2030’. I live in hope!
Jack Bowen is the Chairman of Bowens Timber
