The closure of native forestry operations in some states has not eliminated demand for native hardwood timber.
As supply increasingly shifts interstate and overseas, the industry is questioning why Australia is turning away from a renewable resource produced under some of the world’s strictest environmental standards.
That was one of the key themes to emerge from recent public debate surrounding native forestry, including the ABC’s Four Corners investigation Timber Turmoil and comments from Forestry Australia President Dr Michelle Freeman.
While native forestry operations have ceased in Victoria and Western Australia, demand for native hardwood products remains. Industry leaders argue the result is not less native hardwood use, but a shift in where that timber is sourced.
Native hardwood continues to be used in flooring, decking, landscaping, furniture, joinery and a range of construction and appearance-grade applications. For many of these products, demand has remained despite significant changes to domestic supply.
Speaking on 3AW Mornings, Dr Freeman said the outcome should not come as a surprise.
“Stopping timber harvesting in one area doesn’t magically make demand for that timber go away,” she said.
“If we’re not sourcing timber from our own backyard, we have to get it from elsewhere.”
Demand Hasn’t Disappeared
Dr Freeman’s comments follow reports that native hardwood sourced from Tasmania is now being processed in Victoria following the closure of Victoria’s native forest harvesting industry – a development many in the sector say demonstrates that demand for native hardwood has not disappeared.
The debate over native forestry is often presented as a question of whether trees should be harvested. However, many within the timber industry argue the more important question is how Australia will meet ongoing demand for native hardwood products.
Why Native Hardwood Still Matters
The timber industry maintains that sustainably managed native hardwood forestry continues to have an important role to play in Australia’s future timber supply.
Australian native forestry operates under extensive state and federal regulation, environmental protections and independent certification systems. Industry representatives argue that these frameworks provide confidence that timber is being sourced responsibly and sustainably.
Supporters of native forestry also point to timber’s environmental credentials. As a renewable resource, timber stores carbon and can be replenished through responsible forest management. Industry advocates argue that replacing timber with alternative materials does not necessarily deliver better environmental outcomes, particularly where those materials are more emissions-intensive to produce.
For many businesses, the question is straightforward: if Australians continue to use native hardwood products, is it better to source them from well-managed Australian forests or increasingly rely on supply from elsewhere?
More Than a Forestry Issue
The debate also has implications beyond the forest itself.
Native hardwood supports a network of businesses across harvesting, transport, processing, manufacturing, wholesaling and retail. Regional communities have been built around these industries for generations, creating skilled jobs and supporting local economies.
The Four Corners program highlighted communities such as Heyfield, Victoria, where the impacts of native forestry closures continue to be felt throughout the local economy.
Industry leaders argue that once processing capability, manufacturing expertise and skilled workforces are lost, they can be difficult to rebuild.
Looking Ahead
The future of native forestry remains a subject of ongoing public and political debate. However, one fact remains unchanged: Australians continue to use and value native hardwood timber.
As governments consider future forestry policy, the industry is calling for greater recognition of the role sustainably managed native hardwood forests can play in meeting Australia’s timber needs.
For many across the timber supply chain, the issue is not whether native hardwood will continue to be used. The issue is whether Australia chooses to produce that timber under its own world-leading environmental standards, or increasingly relies on supply sourced from elsewhere.
Related Viewing
ABC Four Corners recently aired Timber Turmoil, which examines the impacts of native forestry closures, interstate timber supply chains and the future of Australia’s timber industry.
