Research funding to grow ‘green’ forest industry in Queensland

Funding worth $2.4 million has been allocated for five key research projects that will help drive a ‘green’ forest industry in the State.

Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle said the research and development projects were supported through the Plantation Hardwoods Research Funds, designed to help the State move from native forest harvesting to a plantation-based industry.

“We plan to phase out timber harvesting in Crown native hardwood forests by 2025 and have been working with the forest industry to decrease our reliance on native forests for timber production by building a hardwood plantation resource that is economically sustainable,” Ms Boyle said.

“The Plantation Hardwoods Research Funds support innovative research across the spectrum of industry activities – from the growing of hardwood plantations through to processing and manufacturing the plantation timber.

“The research will help accelerate the development of a home-grown, commercially viable and green timber industry that has great growth potential.”

Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said the projects covered important areas of research that would ultimately pay off for Queensland’s environment and economy, both key priorities under the Government’s Q2 vision.

He said the housing and furniture industries liked hardwood timber because of its strength, durability and appearance and that these had become industry requirements.

“Little is known about how plantation timber can meet industry requirements given that it is grown quicker and harvested earlier,” Mr Mulherin said.

“So there is obviously a need to make this a research priority. All of the research projects are strongly supported by industry and have industry collaborators.”

The five Plantation Hardwoods Research Fund projects include:

• $875,000 – researchers from the University of the Sunshine Coast and the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) will look at improving the quality of plantation hardwood trees through better breeding and selection

• $500,000 – a forest industry research organisation and CSIRO will examine pest and disease management in sub-tropical hardwoods. Defects in these trees due to insects and fungus can significantly reduce the sawlog value. The project will develop models for managing potential outbreaks

• $247,022 – DPI&F researchers will help address the gap in knowledge around the natural durability of plantation timber. If sustainably produced plantation hardwoods are to replace traditional native forest resources, growing markets need to be assured of the quality of plantation timber, especially for weather-exposed applications

• $438,420 – led by researchers at the DPI&F, companies from the plywood manufacturing sector will investigate the potential of Queensland hardwood plantations for high-value products such as veneer for plywood. This would improve the attractiveness of Queensland for investment in hardwood plantations through the higher value for logs

• $383,460 – a hardwood plantation log sawing firm, a plantation grower and DPI&F researchers will trial a state-of-the-art sawing system suitable for processing plantation material. Significant value can be added to hardwood plantations where the resource can be used for higher end solid wood products.

Mr Mulherin said that unless hardwood plantations were established, the increasing consumption of imported rainforest hardwoods from developing countries, including illegal logging, was bound to escalate.

The Plantation Hardwoods Research Fund is a component of the Queensland Government’s Statewide Forests Process which is about securing a sustainable future for the Queensland timber industry.

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Media contact: 3225 1005 or 0419 025 326

19 November 2008