Australian Forestry

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Australian Forestry Australian Forestry Australian Forestry is published by the Institute of Foresters of Australia (IFA) for technical, scientific and profes­ sional communication relating to forestry in Australia and adjacent geographic regions. The views expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the IFA. The journal is included in the Register of Refereed Journals maintained by the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training, and as from the first issue in 2008, in Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE). Managing Editor: Dr Colin Matheson Production Editor: Mr Alan Brown Editorial Panel: Dr Stuart Davey Dr Brian Turner Mr Jack Bradshaw Mr Neil (Curly) Humphreys Dr Ian Bevege Dr John Herbohn Dr Grant Wardell­Johnson Dr Humphrey Elliott Dr Russell Washusen Contributions Contributions to this journal are sought covering any aspect of forest ecology, forest management, forest policy and land use related to Australia and the South Pacific region. Contributions related to the performance of Australian tree genera elsewhere in the world are also welcome. Instructions to authors are given inside the back cover of each issue. Contributions should be sent to the Executive Director at the address below. Past issues Full­text copies of the journal for the years 2001–2006 are available to the public on our website, http://www.forestry.org.au/ifa/f/f15­ifa.asp Journal subscriptions 2010 A$268 including GST within Australia A$298 per year in all other countries The above prices are for hardcopy. For information about options for electronic access and pricing, please check the website or contact the Executive Director at the address below. All correspondence relating to subscriptions should be addressed to: Executive Director, The Institute of Foresters of Australia, PO Box 7002, Yarralumla, ACT 2600, Australia. Phone: 61 2 6281 3992. Fax: 61 2 6281 4693. Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.forestry.org.au Cover The front cover features Corymbia hybrids and their parents Corymbia torelliana (cadaga) and C. citriodora subsp. variegata (spotted gum). The hybrids are promising plantation varieties for subtropical and tropical environments in the 700 to 1300 mm MAR zone. The development of these hybrids was described by David Lee in Australian Forestry Vol. 70, pages 11–16. David also selected the photos on the cover. Main photo (No. 6): In the foreground is one replicate (a five­tree row plot) of a six­year­old Corymbia hybrid family, with a mean height of 14.8 m and a diameter at breast height over bark (dbhob) of 13.8 cm, on a black earth soil near Gympie, Queensland. Behind David (standing) is a C. torelliana family with a mean height of 7.7 m and a dbhob 8.5 cm. The C. citriodora subsp. variegata controls, which were badly damaged by frost, had a mean height of 7.2 m and a dbhob of 5.8 cm at the same age. (Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Lee.) Photo 1: Corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata buds developing on a grafted tree in a clone bank at Gympie in January 2008. (Photo courtesy of David Lee.) Photo 2: Grafted, potted clone bank established to aid production of Corymbia hybrids. These C. citriodora subsp. variegata clones are 18 months old and already yielding good quantities of pollen. (Photo courtesy of David Lee.) Photo 3: Healthy three­year­old Corymbia hybrids (on left of photo) with frost­killed C. citriodora subsp. variegata on the right. (Photo courtesy of David Lee.) Photo 4: One of many selected Corymbia hybrid trees harvested at age 3.6 years for evaluation of a range of wood properties. Coppice that developed on the stumps has been propagated and clonal testing of the hybrids is underway, with two­year­old clonal trials continuing to demonstrate the early good potential of the hybrids. (Photo courtesy of David Lee.) Photo 5: Ends of butt logs from selected 3.6­year­old Corymbia hybrids (diameter range 12–23 cm). These logs were used to study the wood properties of early­age Corymbia hybrid selections. Properties evaluated included sawing, splitting and pulping. (Photo courtesy of David Lee.) ISSN 0004­9158 ACN 083 197 586 Australian Forestry The Journal of the Institute of Foresters of Australia Volume 72 Number 4, 2009 ISSN 0004­9158 blank page blank Ron Adams 147 Guest editorial Forestry and wood products research and promotion moves with the times Australia’s dynamic forestry and wood products industry is roles of the national industry representative bodies of NAFI, A3P, embracing change as it responds to emerging opportunities and Australian Forest Growers (AFG), Engineered Wood Products economic uncertainties. Research and promotion for our industry Association of Australasia (EWPAA) and the Timber Importers are rising to meet these challenges. As the world grapples with Federation. It became clear that evolution into a privately owned greenhouse issues, we are taking a more muscular approach to research and services company was an essential step. With the publicising wood’s many advantages. exception of pulp and paper, FWPA spans all forest industry sectors, including imports. As an engineer with over 40 years experience in this industry in Western Australia, and a family involvement spanning three The transition reflected the industry’s desire to undertake generations, embracing the hardwood and softwood sectors, coordinated promotion of forest and wood products in an I have had the privilege of serving on the boards of Bunnings increasingly competitive marketplace, and to more effectively Forest Products and Wespine (with its links to Wesfarmers and promote its environmental credentials. Developing an industry WESFI (now Laminex)), National Association of Forest Industries promotion campaign for timber and wood products has therefore (NAFI), and Australian Plantation Products & Paper (A3P). In been high on our agenda. that time I have seen enormous changes: We aim to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the • Forty years ago green hardwood was the norm for timber­ Australian forest and wood products industry by investing in framed houses in many Australian states. Framing is now innovative and relevant R&D, and promotion of the industry’s dominated by softwood. products, services and values. We undertake industry­level • Not so long ago, plantations were mostly established on cleared activities where a collective approach delivers more effective and natural forest. They are now typically on former agricultural valuable commercial outcomes than individual action can. And land. we deliver services that support the industry’s capacity as a major • The popularity of managed investment schemes over the past exporter and its vital role as a mainstay of regional communities ten years has seen a quadrupling of the area under hardwood in many parts of Australia. plantations to 900 000 ha. As a statutory authority, FWPRDC was controlled by the • Forestry has now intensified to a small number of regions across Common wealth Public Service Act. It maintained industry contact the country. It is significant that Albany (in WA) has become a through NAFI and A3P. In contrast, FWPA has direct interaction major forest industry centre; not many years back the forestry with its member companies, and a contractual relationship with presence there was minimal. the Commonwealth Government. We are not alone — about half • Larger softwood mills are now processing around 400 000 to of Australia’s ‘rural’ R&D corporations have become private 800 000 cubic metres annually, three to four times what an companies. average mill was handling when I first entered the industry. All industry members who pay domestic processor levies, • And we are rapidly adopting forest certification — most large grower levies or wood import charges are eligible to apply for industrial forest growers are already certified or are well on free membership of FWPA. I think it’s significant that the state the way to certification. This is possible and desirable because government forest services chose to be levy payers. We have our industry needs to continue to address many issues around revised the structure of the industry advisory committees that sustainability. provide feedback to the board and management on the research programs to better reflect the wood value chain. Our focus on Over the past few years I’ve been able to assess industry progress the value chain also reflects our stronger commercial focus and from a unique vantage point: I’ve had the immensely satisfying emphasis on services and outcomes for the industry. responsibility of chairing the Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation (FWPRDC) and also more recently its New research directions successor, Forest and Wood Products Australia Limited (FWPA). The aggregate annual R&D expenditure across the whole industry I believe the formation of FWPA has opened a new chapter for is about $100 million, of which our share is an investment of our industry. As an industry­owned services company established $7–8 million. On the face of it we are not a big player, but we in September 2007, it is an unlisted public company. In contrast, invest strategically in projects with the potential to influence FWPRDC was a Commonwealth statutory authority that had been research, development and adoption by other organisations. a key investor in forest and wood products industry research and We seek to expand our influence in such a way that the benefits development since 1994. will be multiplied by partnering organisations, yielding greatly In the two­year lead­up to the change we consulted widely with expanded gains for modest outlays. Wherever possible we choose stakeholders to identify expectations and requirements of an ‘cornerstone’ activities with a multiplier effect. Partners could industry services body with an expanded role beyond research and include CSIRO or an international consortium. development. This role was supportive of the critically important Australian Forestry 2009 Vol.
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