Timber

Private Forests Tasmania welcomes Molly Daskey-Willis to our team

Molly Daskey-Willis has recently accepted an appointment to the role of Agriforester within Private Forests Tasmania (PFT).

This role will see Molly assisting PFT in delivering its new strategic plan, particularly its goals to work creatively with stakeholders to expand private forestry and to communicate the benefits of wood.

There has never been a better time to plant trees

There is a global shortage of timber, and farmers are the key to delivering the commercially viable resource of the future. In fact, the global demand for timber is expected to quadruple by 2050 (The World Bank, 2016).

Within Australia demand is being driven by the home building market and the desire to replace carbon intensive materials and plastics with...

Report on sustainable systems of dairy production

Department of Primary Industries, April 2003 - PR Bird

Sustainable systems of dairy production - a review of water quality, biodiversity, soil salinity/acidity, farm forestry, shade/shelter and productivity issues, and the likely impact on these of revegetation of dairy farm.

View full report

Windbreaks: Their influence and value

U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1911 - Carlos G Bates

An in-depth study of the benefits of wind breaks and how they have developed over the years, from early settlement to the twenty first century, by Carlos G Bates – Forest Assistance US Department of Agriculture.

View the study here

Rob Smith offers his expertise to advance Tasmania and help the planet at the same time

Originally from the UK, Rob Smith has been a Private Forester with PFT for the last 15 years. Bringing his passion for forests and the outdoors to PFT, Rob was in similar roles in Northern New South Wales and before that, across the UK. Combining his extensive knowledge in forestry, his love for nature and eagerness to help...

Market for Plantation Grown Wood: Where we're at and where we're going

As we continue to see the impacts of COVID-19 across the forestry sector, many aspects of our lives and jobs are put on pause as we take a considered approach on the best path forward. Despite this global pandemic, it is crucial that our industry continues during this time to help deliver the products our society demands and to ensure...

Sorting the wood from the trees

Outback Magazine - Mark Muller

A group of Victorian landholders are bringing new ideas to old plantations, and driving the rise of sugar gum as a fine timber.

Andrew Lang a Victorian farmer has introduced sugar gum trees into his property to help protect his prized sheep from prevailing winds, whilst providing much-needed timber.

Read article.

Institute Of Foresters Of Australia Seeks Public Apology From UTas Over Retracted Paper

Media Release, 31 August 2020

The professional association representing some 1,000 forest scientists, researchers and professional forest land managers will be seeking an apology from the University of Tasmania after a paper suggesting forestry harvesting activities make forests more bushfire prone was withdrawn by the journal Fire due to...

A guide to buying plantation species seedlings webinar recording available

On the 2nd of September, Private Forest Tasmania (PFT) hosted another virtual webinar in response to stakeholder feedback to ensure continued communications with stakeholders during the current worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.

The Webinar recording and presentation documents are now available for viewing here.

Why farmers should plant trees now, and manage them for the mass timber buildings of the future

Michael Lee from the Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood (CSAW) at the University of Tasmania has been working with the Tasmanian timber resource for around 25 years. The role of CSAW, which is a research and education unit under the Faculty of Architecture and Design, is to help the Tasmanian industry to get sustainable timber products into...

Ten percent multipurpose tree cover for every farm: A low risk, high opportunity first step

U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1911 - Carlos G Bates

Victorian Farmers Federation, Farm Tree and Landcare Association - Otway Agroforestry Network - Faculty of Land and Food Resources, The University MelbourneAndrew Stewart, Rohan Reid

Agricultural research suggests that farmers can confidently plant trees for shelter and land protection across at least five per cent of their farm without risking agricultural productivity or...

Tree Change

Horizons Magazine - Cormac Hanrahan

This article discusses how planting a wide variety of trees can support diversity, sustainability and create positive revenue. Rowan Reid and fellow farmers discuss the importance of trees in agricultural landscapes.

Read article

Bowsden - Planting trees in the harsh Midlands provides much needed shelter

The Burbury family recognised the benefits of trees to their farming enterprise many years ago.

Initially Damian's father started the process to integrate trees into their farm and now Damian has continues to establish shelterbelts primarily to provide shelter for the pasture and the livestock which is particularly useful for lambing ewes and freshly shorn sheep.

Read more.

Improving durability to enhance the value of plantation, regrowth and regenerated Eucalptus

Timber durability is generally rated by its resistance to fungal decay and insect attack and is a key factor for market acceptance of new building products. Researchers at the University of Tasmania are currently investigating various aspects of the durability of plantation, regenerated and regrowth Eucalyptus species.

Willowbend - Strategic tree planting to restore eroded gullies and improve farm productivity

Chris and Guiliana planted trees to improve farm productivity, water quality and biodiversity as well as produce timber.

They prepared a property management plan to integrate trees into their farm with their main aim to protect streams from livestock and revegetate the stream sides. They planted 3 heactares of trees in 2007 and 2008.

Read more.

Formosa - Agroforestry improves enterprise income

When timber and non-timber values are accounted for, carefully integrating trees into agricultural landscapes can be a profitable and attractive option with strongly competitive internal rates of return.

Read more

Developing glulam from fibre-managed plantation Eucalyptus nitens

Glue laminated timber, commonly known as ‘glulam’, is a highly attractive, versatile structural solution for architects and structural engineers thanks to its ability to achieve long spans and curves, without compromising strength or aesthetic qualities.

Formosa - Shelter increased pasture production by 30%

Pasture productivity in spring 2017 was on average 30% higher in the sheltered half of a paddock compared to the unsheltered half. A Prinus radiata shelterbelt occupied approximately 1 ha of the paddock (4%), but induced a 15% increase in pasture growth over the remaining 24 ha, and effectively increased the pasture production to the equivalent of a 29 ha...

Private Forests Tasmania welcomes David Monckton

David has recently joined us for twelve months to manage our Private Forest Investment Project. The project has been identified as a priority in PFT’s Corporate Plan to assist with engaging with and supporting farmers involved or interested in farm forestry.

Forestry contractor resilience

Tasmania’s forestry contractors can now apply for funding to improve their business practices under the $500 000 Forestry Contractor Resilience Program, which is being delivered through Rural Business Tasmania.