In today's episode, we focus on the latest achievements of the FWPA-supported ForestLearning initiative.

And with so much exciting news to report - from new and highly innovative resources, to award wins, glowing testimonials from kids and teachers, the embracing of new technologies such as drones, and much, much more - we’ll be presenting this episode in two parts … a first in the history of WoodChat!

So make sure to keep an eye out for Episode 2 next week.

During the latest episode of FWPA’s WoodChat podcast series, listeners will hear from two thriving Australian forest and wood products companies adopting smart manufacturing principles.

Applying these principles during the wood processing stage brings a range of benefits, including increased profitability, improved worker safety, and better environmental outcomes.

Hosts Sam and Georgia spoke to Trevor Innes, Technical and Sustainability General Manager at Timberlink, and Daniel Wright, Director and National Business Development Manager at Australian Sustainable Hardwoods (ASH), about some fascinating recent innovations in timber manufacture.

In the face of a climate likely to become hotter and drier in the future, and with bushfires continuing to pose a significant threat, a variety of forestry-related research initiatives are currently underway across Australia.

As an industry, forestry is particularly vulnerable to bushfire threat, with the associated risks having the potential to impact plantation companies, native forest managers, wood processors and manufacturers in a variety of ways.

The latest episode of WoodChat focuses on a recently-completed FWPA-supported research project aimed at increasing the industry’s capacity to minimise the impacts of future bushfire events. This work is focused on updating fuel accumulation and fire spread models for Australian forestry plantations. The project was co-funded by most of Australia’s large plantation managers, with matching funding from the Australian Government.

During the episode, we also provide a round-up of other interesting projects around bushfire mitigation and management happening around Australia.

Discover more about what you hear during the episode at the following links:

https://www.forestry.org.au/nbmp-objectives-kpis/

https://fwpa.com.au/characterising-and-managing-fire-risks-to-plantations-under-changing-climates/

djadjawurrung.com.au

A hugely positive mid-term review of the FWPA-supported National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life has resulted in the extension of the Centre’s important research activities for a further five years, with the potential for three more.

The latest episode of FWPA’s WoodChat podcast series features an interview with Director, Professor Jeff Morrell, who talks about the evolution of the Centre since commencing in 2017, its work to place Australia at the forefront of international best practice, and efforts to underpin consumer confidence in timber products.

Listeners will also hear directly from scientists involved with exciting Centre-led research projects.

Transcript: https://fwpa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FWPA_WoodChat_transcript_episode-26.pdf

Discover how new research into priority areas identified by Australian forest growers will be addressed, thanks to six new PhD research scholarships at the University of Tasmania.

The research projects were selected for funding by a working group of FWPA and forest grower members, known as the Grower Research Advisory Committee (GRAC).

Successful PhD students will work to address a wide range of challenges, from the risk that browsing herbivorous mammals pose to plantations, to traits in genetic material that affect resistance to drought, heat, diseases and pests. Also covered will be management approaches to help maximise tree survival under various conditions.

For each of the six projects, GRAC members and companies with a particular interest in each specific research area will become project partners and/or advisors, meeting regularly with supervisors and students in either a formal or informal capacity, to allow industry direct input into the projects.

Discover an approach that will enhance the Australian forestry industry’s sustainability credentials through improved use of natural resources.

Learn more about a recently completed FWPA-commissioned report which lays out a series of sample ecosystem accounts for use by the forestry industry.

Plus discover how one Australian forestry company is leading the way by committing to the development of an annual report relating to its own activities in this area.

Take a deep dive into some exciting Australian projects focused on the fusion of forestry and technology to help shape and strengthen the forests of the future.

Listeners are invited to discover how scientists are working to make smarter, healthier and more productive forests, utilising everything from Artificial Intelligence (AI) to genomics and airborne sensors.

Listeners will hear about research efforts to increase the Australian timber industry’s bushfire preparedness, and capacity to minimise the adverse impacts of future fire events on forestry plantations.

Listeners will hear about a research project that took an in-depth look at the various elements of Australia’s log and woodchip export supply chain, and how it can most effectively be managed.

The team behind the comprehensive FWPA-supported study reviewed optimum conditions for logs during storage, haulage and at ports. Their findings are now being used to identify solutions and innovations for an enhanced and more cost-effective timber export process.

In this episode we consider the potential for technologies to be installed permanently within forest environments, to inform better decision making and support optimal forest management.

During the episode, listeners will hear about advanced technologies currently being used in Tasmania to monitor the nests of at-risk wedge-tailed eagles, in what could be the first step towards developing a ‘fully networked’ forest.