In December 2019 PFT sought quotations from a number of consultants to perform the Tasmanian Forest Safety Code Review.  The five quotes received were subjected to a screening process by a selection sub-committee of the Safety Code Review Steering Committee taking into consideration price, experience, previous performance, capability, conformity with the requirements of the Request for Quotation process and relevant PFT policies. Consequently, the selection sub-committee was pleased to make a recommendation to the Steering Committee that PF Olsen (Aus) Pty Limited was the preferred consultant.  PF Olsen have now been appointed as the successful consultant for the Forest Safety Code Review.

There are many forest scientists and forestry professionals who privately grow their own trees ‘on the side’. Some come from a farming background whilst many others have purchased land specifically to be private forest owners. They grow trees for many reasons, and often in ways, and using species, that are very different to conventional production forestry. This webinar is designed to share their experience and provide guidance for others interested in growing their own forests for the reasons that are important to them. Starting with some examples we will identify the options, equipment, skills and challenges involved in growing your own and how being a family forest owner is different.

If your business is impacted by the coronavirus you are encouraged to contact Business Tasmania Hotline on 1800 440 026.

This will allow Business Tasmania to discuss available support, and contact as further support packages become available. It will also assist Business Tasmania to understand the scale of the impact on business.  This factsheet also provides a list of dedicated hotlines for other matters (eg health concerns).

The State Fire Management Council (SFMC) are planning a reprint of the 'Planned Burning for Farmers and Landholders' booklet and are asking for feedback from landowners and land managers.

This bookelet is a handy guide for farmers wishing to conduct planned burns on their properties providing useful information, tools and checklists.

By 2050 the human population is forecast to expand from 7.5 to 9.6 billion people. We will require 70% more food (United Nations), 50% more fuel (International Energy Agency), and 50% more water (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development). We also need to reduce CO² emissions by over 80% (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). All of these will have to be achieved to ensure economic, social, political, climate, food, water and fuel security (Institute for Molecular Bioscience 2019). There’s no silver bullet, but there is one thing that can deliver increased primary production productivity while simultaneously delivering biofuel, improving water quality and efficiency, and improving the carbon balance - Trees.

Trees are the ultimate renewable.

Penny Wells, Chief Executive Officer of Private Forests Tasmania, explains.

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. The primary objective of the project is to identify and develop a suite of practical financial mechanisms that could most cost effectively expand farm forestry in Tasmania, including by potentially matching corporate investment opportunities with potential private forest landowners.

Round Two of the Landcare Action Grants Program will be open for applications from 1st February through to 31st March 2020.

The Tasmanian Government allocated funding of $1.8m over four years in the 2018-19 State Budget for the establishment of the Landcare Action Grants Program (the Program).  The Program has been established to provide State funded grant opportunities to co-invest with farmers, Landcare, and other community organisations on practical on-ground works for sustainable agriculture and Rivercare type activities.

Neha has recently accepted an appointment to the role of Business Support Officer at Private Forests Tasmania. In her previous role at a utility company, Neha was involved in project management, stakeholder relations, community engagement, process mapping and continuous improvement projects. She also has a diverse experience of 13 years across different sectors, such as telecommunication, media, consulting and aviation. In the various roles that Neha has worked in thus far, she has been involved in customer relations, contract management and event management.

Private Forests Tasmania’s Annual Report was tabled in Parliament Tuesday 29^th October.

The report highlights the continuing strong role of the private forestry sector within Tasmania’s forest industry with record private forest harvest levels being achieved for the seventh consecutive year, supplying 4.35 million tonnes of logs to the market.

Applications Open!

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.

Under the program, Tasmanian forestry harvest and haulage contractors have the opportunity to work with specialists in business and financial management to identify future opportunities and build stability and resilience into their operations.

On Wednesday, 31 July 2019, the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, asked the Committee to inquire into and report on supporting Australia's exports and attracting investment.

The Committee invites submissions addressing any or all of the terms of reference for the inquiry; and is seeking special focus on new and rapidly growing areas of export.

Private Forests Tasmania offers assistance to entities to alert the market of market opportunities or information via publishing on the PFT website and providing in an email to relevant PFT stakeholders who have consented to receive such information from PFT.

The Tasmanian Forest Industry Fire Management Committee (FIFMC) have developed procedures for forest operations to minimise the incidence of wildfire.  It outlines minimum fire equipment requirements for forest operations and procedures to follow to reduce the risk of fire.  Documents include Procedures for fire prevention at forest operations and audit form.

The inaugural Tasmanian Timber awards dinner was held at the Tailrace Centre, Launceston on the 9^th August 2019 and was supported by over 300 industry representatives. The evening provided an opportunity to recognise Tasmanian timber businesses and individual from across the state with 13 categories and 40 finalists.

Private Forests Tasmania (PFT) sponsored the Tree Farmer of the Year Award, and PFTs CEO, Penny Wells was awarded Outstanding Contribution to the Timber Industry (female) award.

California redwoods grow high value timber and create shelter for stock and pasture growth on steep, rocky land in NW Tasmania.

Private Forests Tasmania held a successful Private Forestry Forum at the Devonport Surf Life Saving Club on 3 July 2019 which was well supported by 75 attendees.

A summary of the evening has been made available.

Private Forests Tasmania is expanding its directory to include a listing of additional forest services such as Nurseries, Suppliers, Equipment providers, Contractors, Insurers and much more.  Please contact our office if you would like to be included.

The 2019 Tasmanian Export Awards program is now open and are acknowledged as one of the state's prestigious industry awards.  They recognise excellence in the export of goods and services by Tasmanian enterprises and acknowledge the important contribution made to the local economy.

The Tasmanian Forests & Forest Products Network (TFFPN) is pleased to announce the inaugural Tasmanian Timber Awards will be held in Launceston on 9th August 2019.

The Awards will be a celebration of excellence and best practice within our industry. It is an opportunity to recognise those who are experts in their fields and recognised by their employer and the whole timber community for this skill.

The Tasmanian Forest Manager's Good Neighbour Protocol was launched at Agfest on 3rd May 2019.

Forest managers understand that the way we manage our forests can impact our neighbours and this Protocol provides a framework for neighbouring landholders to manage shared responsibilities.

PFT welcomes Stephen Clarke to our team.

Having recently accepted an appointment to the role of Senior Private Forest Advisor effective 29 April 2019, I take this opportunity to introduce myself.  Having interacted with many of you during the 18 years I have been involved in various aspects of the Tasmanian forestry industry, I look forward to ongoing cordial and productive engagement with you towards our common goal.

The CEO of Private Forests Tasmania, Penny Wells, recently participated in the Premier’s Trade Mission to Japan, in March 2019.  One of the main items of focus for the Trade Mission was the resources sector – including forestry, mining and bioenergy.

Private Forests Tasmania will assist private forest growers affected by the 2019 wildfires by providing a rebate for the private forest service levy (the levy), where the levy has been paid following timber harvesting operations in 2019 fire impacted forest areas.

Today (30 March 2019), the Tasmanian Government has released the Terms of Reference for the Independent Review into 2018-19 bushfires as a key part of the bushfire recovery process.

The review will consider the following matters:

Updated data 7 March 2019

Unless the fires flare up again, this will be our final update on areas of the private forest estate burnt.

The 2019 bush fires in Tasmania are having a significant effect on the forest industry.  Below is a description of the area of privately owned or managed forests effected by the fires as mapped by the Tasmanian Fire Service (TFS).  Please check back regularly as this information will continue to be updated as it becomes available.

Private Forests Tasmania can assist private forest owners determine how to respond to the bushfires by linking them with the information and assistance required.  Please contact us at admin@pft.tas.gov.au.

The Tasmanian Government has established a Bushfire Recovery Taskforce to oversee the medium and long term recovery from the current bushfires.  The Taskforce can be contacted on 1800 567 567 or recovery@dpac.tas.gov.au.

If your business has been impacted by the fires you can also call Business Tasmania on 1800 440 026 to register your details to keep informed of assistance provided by government.

Please keep up-to-date with bushfires within your area by visiting the Tasmanian Fire Service website www.fire.tas.gov.au or the TasALERT website www.alert.tas.gov.au and call 000 in an emergency.

4 March 2019 - Sarah Courtney, Minister for Resources

The Hodgman Liberal Government supports the forestry industry as a foundation of the Tasmanian economy and employer of more than 5700 people.

Today I have announced an initial package of strategic infrastructure measures that will support the sustainability of our Southern production forests. This has been informed by the work of forest industry leader, Evan Rolley.

The Tasmanian Government has announced new grant programs to support local businesses affected by bushfires.

Small businesses in the Huon Valley, Central Highlands, West Coast, and Derwent Valley areas have been hard hit by the recent fires. They can now apply for Bushfire Small Business Disruption Grants of up to $2,000 where they have experienced a significant disruption to their business as a result of the recent bushfire.

Private Forests Tasmania can facilitate private forest owners effected by bushfire to access information and expertise. Please contact PFT for assistance admin@pft.tas.gov.au (www.pft.tas.gov.au)

The updated 2018 Primary Wood Processor Directory is now available on our website.  If you are a forest owner with logs for sale, this directory can help you identify and contact potential buyers.

WeAct Pty Ltd provide a potential opportunity to enter the carbon market and receive carbon credits which can be turned into $$ for aspects of plantation management.

PFT Welcomes new forestry report.

A new report into the socio-economic impacts of the forest industry in Tasmania has been welcomed by Private Forests Tasmania.

Notes and summaries from our successful Agroforestry field days held at 'Formosa', Cressy on 22 August and 'Mt Vernon' and 'York House' on 29 August are now available on our website for your information.

Two new Agroforestry Case Studies conducted at 'Formosa', Cressy are now available on our website.  Agroforestry improves enterprise income and shelter increased pasture production by 30% are available under the PUBLICATIONS> CASE STUDIES tab in pdf format.

Tasmanian agricultural stakeholders visit one of four experimental sites at Cressy to gain a better understanding of the benefits of planting trees on farming properties for timber production.

The Examiner Newspaper, 1 November 2017.

New information sheets are available to assist private landowners with management of their eucalypt forests.  'Managing coppice regeneration in eucalypt plantations' and 'Management of natural regeneration in eucalypt plantations' are available in PDF format under the PUBLICATIONS> BROCHURES AND HANDOUTS TAB.

The Farm Forestry Toolbox is available for download under the 'WHAT WE DO' tab.  Please select 'SERVICES'.

CLICK HERE to be taken directly to the link.

The State Fire Management Council has developed a handy guide for farmers wishing to conduct planned burns on their properties.  Planned Burning for Landholders and Farmers was launched at Agfest and aims to provide private landholders with the useful information, tools and checklists to assist when undertaking planned burning on their properties.

Update... In addition to their 'Establishing Shelterbelts on land' fact sheet, The Australian Tax Office has released a new handout explaining the income tax consequences of engaging in forestry operations, including your entitlements to claim income tax deductions for the costs of acquiring, establishing or maintaining forest plantations often referred to as 'tree farming'.