The primary reason for harvesting native forests is for the production of sawn timber and veneer. Sawn timber cannot be produced economically from young (<20 years old) plantation trees, and it will be many years before sufficient quantity of plantation trees of sufficient maturity is ready for harvest. Present technology has difficulty producing high quality sawn timber from young eucalypts in an economically viable manner. In the meantime there is a strong demand for the finished products that can be produced from native forests.
Natural forests are sustainably managed, subject to environmental, economic and social objectives. The majority of timber used by Gunns is sourced from state forests, which are designated as multiple use forests under the Tasmania Regional Forest Agreement (RFA). All forests harvested, whether state or privately owned, are regenerated, and harvesting and regenerating native forests maintains biodiversity whilst generating economic value.
The growing of plantations is similar to the growing of any other agricultural crop – except for the much longer time between cultivation and planting and the harvesting. As with any farmer, plantation managers use chemicals where necessary, in carefully controlled ways, to protect their crops from insect pests and diseases or competition by weeds. Measures taken include, where necessary, the use of herbicides to control weeds, and use of chemicals to protect plantations from insect damage. Chemical application is subject to strict state and federal government regulations and guidelines. All chemicals used are approved and registered for use by the Australian Government’s Agricultural Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) which undertakes a thorough evaluation of each chemical made available for use in the forestry and agricultural industries. Non-chemical methods such as cultivation (weed control) are used wherever economically viable. There has been considerable research into the benefits these chemicals provide to seedling growth, as well as the environmental impacts associated with their use. This research is used to ensure any chemical use is both warranted and conducted in a manner that minimises risk. Gunns actively monitors, and where appropriate, participates in research in order to adopt latest available technologies to maximise seedling growth and minimise other impacts. It is important to note that, as long rotation crops, the use of chemicals for forestry is minimal relative to annual crops. Chemicals are generally only used at the start of a plantation’s average 13-year lifecycle. Gunns does not use 1080 poison in its Tasmanian forest operations to protect its seedlings from browsing animals. Instead it uses a range of alternative measures and management strategies to protect its plantations from browsing animals and maximise the plantation's growth. These alternative measures include the use of strong, hardy seedlings and the application of bio-degradable netting to seedlings.
The nationally accepted definition of old growth forests is “ecologically mature forest where the effects of disturbance are now negligible.” 86% of the old growth forests standing on publicly owned lands in Tasmania is either protected in reserves or will be unavailable for harvesting under the conditions of the Forest Practices Code. A small amount of wood is harvested from old growth forests; mainly for high quality sawlogs and veneer logs, but in total less than 3% of old growth forests on public land will be subject to clearfall in the next ten years.
The forest industry is gradually transitioning away from the use of mature age resource, as regrowth and plantation resource expands, and processes are developed to produce quality products from younger, smaller diameter logs.
In fact selective logging is used in many harvesting operations. Over 50% of forest coupes harvested are done so selectively. The decision on what proportion of trees will be harvested on a particular coupe is made by experienced, professionally trained foresters, aimed at achieving the best possible regeneration of the forest after harvesting. All trees have a natural life span, and in the absence of any other disturbance, eucalyptus trees will normally live for 200-400 years. However in reality the absence of other disturbance over such a period of time rarely happens.
Tasmanian forests have evolved over tens of thousands of years in the presence of regular fires, both naturally occurring and man-made. What the harvesting process seeks to do is emulate the effect of fires that would normally shorten the "natural" life span of a particular forest. In the case of dense forests growing in wetter climates, this often means clear-felling – emulating the hot, destructive fire which such forests are prone to in summer – which provides optimal conditions for germination of seed which is naturally released after fire. After clear-felling, seed collected from the site during harvesting is distributed by hand and from the air.
In the case of drier, less dense forests, selective harvesting is more commonly used, leaving a varying percentage of the standing trees after harvesting, depending on the condition of the forest in question.
More information: http://www.forestrytas.com.au/forestrytas/
Concerns have been raised as to the social impacts of plantation development upon rural communities as working farms are replaced with plantations.
Depopulation of rural communities is recognised throughout Australia as a broader social issue, given the general trends of an ageing farming population, increasing labour efficiencies, and the need for farms to consolidate to achieve economies of scale. Plantation forestry provides farmers with an opportunity to exit or restructure their business with confidence.
In cases where Gunns acquires farmland for plantation development, every effort is made to sub-divide and retain dwellings for sale or rental. This policy is extremely effective in maintaining rural populations in areas of Tasmania which have experienced more intensive levels of plantation development. The Good Neighbour Charter established by the industry, to which Gunns is a signatory, is designed to address this issue, and minimise any negative impact of plantation development on neighbouring landowners.
Importantly, forest establishment, management and processing activities create significant employment in the state. Wood and paper product manufacturing is the second largest employment sector in the state.
Much of Gunns' plantation development is carried out through Gunns' prospectus business, GPL, and represents a very large annual investment in the rural sector by primarily city-based investors.
Back to Top