Michelle Freeman
The storms of June 2021 hit the Wombat Forest with a severity rarely seen, leaving widespread damage and vast areas of fallen trees. Source: Weekly Times
The scale and extent of damage was beyond ecologically normal levels and beyond what is required species habitat.
In this case, the fallen trees represent a real danger, not only to adjacent human communities, but to wildlife, due to the extreme fuel loads.
But there is a broader point, and that relates to how we steward forests through major disturbances that radically disrupt their structure.
With climate change elevating the risk and impact of severe climatic events such as storm and fire, it has never been more important to ensure that we manage our forests to be their most resilient.
When informed by scientific best-practice and Indigenous knowledge, and performed by trained experts, we can do this and, yes, sometimes it involves chainsaws and bulldozers.
Timber recovery operations – or the act of removing timber debris from areas affected by storms, fire or flood in forests – are the necessary, and the only practical, measure to ensure these areas of highest fire risk are effectively managed ahead of the bushfire season.
In managing that risk, it is critically important that timber recovery operations are conducted with ¬detailed planning, scientific expertise and under guidance and advice of Traditional Owners, the Dja Dja Wurrung.
Operations must respect the wide range of environmental, social and cultural values held in our forests.
There are a range of benefits of timber recovery after severe weather damage.
Firstly, it reduces fire risk.
After a severe weather event, windblown trees that are not ¬removed become part of the fuel load as they dry out over the next few years, adding to the convective component of fires.
If left alone in high volumes, they increase the likelihood of firestorms.
If not removed, high loads of heavy debris also create a barrier to firefighter access and inhibit the establishment of control lines in the event of a fire.
Secondly, in removing the trees, it makes sense to make use of this valuable natural resource before it degrades.
In the case of the Wombat Forest, the recovery of this timber will provide financial benefit to Traditional Owners and timber and firewood, which is currently in short supply, to the community.
Such timber recovery takes pressure off other forests designated for production, helps reduce reliance on imports and ensures timber, one of our most precious and versatile natural resources, does not go to waste.
Finally, timber recovery makes sure that forests are safer places for people to access for work, travel and recreation.
Dr Michelle Freeman is Forestry Australia president.
