What are the latest trends in forest management across the globe? And how is Forests NSW keeping pace? Leah Flint takes a look at some of the emerging forestry-related issues.

Certification

Increasingly, consumers want more information about the goods and services they buy and use. Recycling glass, paper and steel; saying no to plastic bags; and signing up for ‘green power’ are all part of daily life. But when it comes to timber products, information can be emotive or confusing with the science of forest management complicated. As a consumer, can you be easily assured that the timber you are buying is from a sustainably managed forest?

In many instances, the answer is yes, with Forests NSW recently joining other forest managers in Australia, America, Europe and elsewhere in the world to be independently certified to a globally recognised standard.

Forests NSW certification officer, Morgan Roche, said that NCS International had recently independently audited Forests NSW to the Australian Forestry Standard.

“The Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) sets a benchmark for the management of Australian forests,” Morgan said. “Meeting this standard demonstrates that timber production in New South Wales public forests is done in an environmentally responsible, socially aware and economically viable manner.”

Morgan said that AFS had recognition from both Standards Australia (AS 4708) and also internationally through the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC).

“The standard is based in internationally-agreed criteria for sustainable forest management and importantly will foster continuous improvement in timber production and other aspects of our business,” Morgan said.

“Put simply, Forests NSW has demonstrated that timber harvesting in NSW State forests is sustainable. Consumers of timber products manufactured from our logs can be assured that timber is indeed renewable and an environmentally-friendly choice for construction and other uses.”

Morgan said that organisations certified to AFS will use a simple logo in branding their timber products, which would make it easier for those wanting to make an informed choice.

“Many of our sawmill customers already have or are seeking ‘chain of custody’ certification, which will assure home builders or renovators that the timber products they buy are made from timber that was certified in the forest,” he said.

“Local timber from New South Wales’ own public forests should be consumers’ first choice, particularly over imported timbers that may not be produced to the same environmental standards. Consumers should use their buying power.”

Carbon trading

Forests NSW has been a leader in the field of forest-based carbon trading since the Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997. And while Australia has not ratified the protocol, NSW has continued its pioneering foray into carbon trading, with a localised scheme operating effectively and forming a benchmark for a recently proposed national emissions trading scheme.

Forests NSW manager investor relations, Nick Cameron, said that Forests NSW has so far registered several hundred thousand forest-based greenhouse gas abatement certificates with the scheme administrator, most of which have already been sold.

“We all know that trees are vital to human health, locking up carbon dioxide gas as they grow and releasing oxygen for us to breathe,” Nick said. “What carbon trading does is place a financial value on this ‘environmental service’, and gives individuals and companies a mechanism to offset their greenhouse gas emissions.”

While the NSW Government has made it mandatory for electricity suppliers to participate in the scheme, many individuals are also seeking to offset the emissions generated by their activities (see story page 5).

“Carbon trading gives an additional financial incentive to forest growers. In some cases, it might make a plantation in an area where timber growth would be slow, and therefore the economic returns delayed, more viable,” Nick said.

Non-timber forest products

Forests NSW has established a group specifically to examine the opportunities that arise from the non-timber products and services from forests. The newly created group is led by manager enterprise development, Dr Hilary Smith.

Hilary said that here in NSW, as elsewhere in Australia and overseas, there was increasing pressure to try and place a financial value on the other environmental services and products provided by forests.

“There is a general feeling that if people understand what a service is worth, in dollar terms, they may more actively manage and conserve these values,” she said.

“There is increasing recognition that products from forests are more than timber, and in fact contribute much more to the community.”

Hilary said that in addition to generating dollar returns from environmental services, Forests NSW was looking more closely at markets for non-timber forest products.

“There’s a diversity of opportunities that may not have been considered in the more traditional models of forestry,” Hilary said.

“This ranges from extractive resources like hard rock and gravel through to opportunities for telecommunications and other infrastructure within forests. We are developing mechanisms to ensure this will be done in an appropriate and environmentally responsible way.

“We are also looking at opportunities for commercial tourism ventures, ranging from forest-based four-wheel drive or walking tours through to trail developments and construction of huts and lodges.”

Hilary is monitoring trends in other parts of the world with interest.

“In Japan and New Zealand, alternative products like mushrooms and truffles are harvested in forests,” Hilary said. “It might not sound like it, but these are exciting community and business opportunities for high value foods.”

The risk of climate change is also resulting in innovative use of forest products.

“Power generation from timber logs or waste is also an increasing focus in countries like the United Kingdom, where the government recently announced an electricity generation plant fuelled entirely by timber, rather than coal,” she said.

Research is also continuing into options for ‘biofuels’ as an alternative to petroleum, with eucalypts a possible option.

“Forests NSW is watching movements in all of these areas, and will continue to work on initiatives that bring social, environmental or economic benefits for our local communities,” Hilary said.

This article appears in the Autumn 2007 edition of Bush Telegraph Magazine.