Australia's National Association of Forrest Industries

Forest Management and Sustainability

Sustainability

The primary wood waste resources for renewable energy are found in native and plantation forests. Managing these forests for wood production generates a range of products, from high value timbers for furniture, flooring and decking, through to low-value wood for pulp and paper manufacture.

Wood waste is a by-product of normal timber harvesting activities. No additional trees are harvested simply to obtain biomass.

The harvesting that currently takes place in Australia aims to be sustainable. Forest management regimes, and harvesting schedules, are conducted in accordance with strict government regulations and codes of practice.

Criteria for the sustainable management of Australia 's forests are detailed in the Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) (see www.forestrystandard.org.au for more information). The AFS has been internationally recognised by the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC), based in Europe . A number of Australian public and private forest managers have subscribed to this Standard.

Information Sheets:

2: Forest and forest harvesting regulation in Australia

4: How are forests and plantations managed in Australia ?

Timber from native forests

In Australia ’s native forests, timber harvesting has evolved on the basis of 100 years of forest management.

For example, wet eucalypt forests regenerate following catastrophic wildfires such as those seen in 1939, 1967 and 2003.
As a result, timber harvesting can replicate this system on a very small scale by removing a high proportion of the trees in a
harvested area, burning the debris, and re-seeding the area with seed taken from the site prior to harvest.

Dry eucalypt forests regenerate over a longer period of time, where younger trees emerge through ‘gaps’ in the forest left by
older trees dying, or through fire. Harvesting in these forests is designed to mimic nature by removing a small proportion of older
trees and leaving the younger ones, to allow light into the forest and space for the younger trees to grow.

The volume of wood waste that can be removed from the forests can be scientifically determined, on the basis of protecting
ecosystems and habitats.

Timber from plantations

Various stages of plantation management, including the thinning and clearfelling operations, generate wood waste.

As the plantation trees grow, they compete for light and nutrients on the site. To make sure the trees grow fast and straight
with small branches, some are ‘thinned’ to ensure the remaining trees are healthy and effectively using the site’s resources.
Thinning is essential to maintain the health and productivity of the forest.

Thinning creates timber for a range of markets, including pulp and paper products, wood-based panels (chipboard, medium
density fibreboard), biomass for renewable energy, and small sawlogs.

Timber for renewable energy

Timber harvesting generates wood waste. Very little of this wood waste can be used in existing paper and timber mills.

This means Australia has around 7 million green tonnes of wood waste potentially available from existing timber harvesting
operations each year that could be used to generate clean, green power.

By effectively utilising wood waste as a resource, Australia could produce enough electricity for around 400,000 houses,
and reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2.2 million tonnes.