US Universities receive $40 million grants to develop a viable wood-based biofuels industry

Forest Business Network reports Washington State University and the University of Washington will each receive a five-year, $40 million grant to help develop a viable wood-based aviation biofuels industry in the Pacific Northwest and to develop alternatives to petroleum-based fuels and chemicals as a whole.

Yes, there is more to forestry than jobs

Australia is the seventh most forested nation on Earth, says VAFI's Shaun Ratcliff at ABC Online.

We have the ability to sustainably manage our forests for a range of values, including those of an ecological and social nature; as well as for timber production to ensure Australia can meet its domestic needs.

Plantations cannot replace native forest in Victoria for quality timber

According to a report by Poyry Management Consultants, covered by The Age and on the The Sydney Morning Herald and the Brisbane Times websites, existing timber plantations cannot replace native forest in Victoria for quality timber used in construction and design.

By excluding biomass fuelled by sustainable forestry residues carbon price could reduce investment in renewables

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the Federal Government's proposed carbon pricing scheme could actually reduce investment in renewable energy, as it excludes bioenergy fuelled by residues from Australia's sustainable native forestry industry from renewable energy target regulations.

According the article this decision was made without any consultation with the industry, including companies already in the process of making such investments.

East Gippsland native forestry worth $150 million

The value of native forestry in the East Gippsland Forest Management Area as documented by a study by Coakes Consulted, has been reported in the Snowy River Mail, the Bairnsdale Advertiser and industry publications Friday Offcuts and Timber and Forestry E-News.

Growing Careers profile on Lisa Marty

Forest and wood products jobs publication Growing Careers has published a profile of VAFI CEO Lisa Marty.

The Age: Call to review timber's energy rating

The Age has reported that Victoria's builders and forestry industry have called for an overhaul of housing energy rating software to recognise the environmental benefits and energy-saving attributes of timber.

This story also ran on the websites of the Sydney Morning Herald and the Brisbane Times; and was featured in Daily Timber News.

The Weekly Times: VAFI CEO Lisa Marty on the Coalition State Government's first 100 day

The Coalition Government is showing itself to be decisive and sensitive to the needs of the forestry industry, the 24.000 people it directly employs and the rural communities it supports, says VAFI CEO Lisa Marty in the 9 May issue of the Weekly Times.

Snowy River Mail: Map shows effectiveness of prescribed burns

A picture is often worth a thousand words. This map in the Snowy River Mail convincingly shows how prescribed burns in East Gippsland helped contain fires in the area last week.

The Age: Minister challenges logging advice

In an article in The Age, Victoria's new forestry minister, Peter Walsh, has challenged the idea that the timber industry is putting endangered species at risk of extinction, arguing correctly that only a fraction of the state's forest is logged.

This has caused a lively discussion in the paper's letters section, including a response from VAFI.

Quadrant: Is Native Forestry an Endangered Species?

Forester Mark Poynter discusses the dangers posed by populist environmentalism, which may perversely result in worse environmental outcomes.

Portland Observer: ANU report shows how much region depends on timber jobs

Western Victorian local paper, the Portland Observer, has published an in-depth report on research conducted by the Australian National University's Dr Jacki Schirmer, who has analysed how important the forestry industry is to a number of towns in south-west Victoria.

Sky News: Victorian voters support local forestry

Sky News reports on results from a Galaxy Research opinion poll commissioned by VAFI that show a majority of Victorian voters support local forestry and oppose the Greens' forest policies. looks at the decline in plantation development in Australia, and why this makes exiting native forests harder.

The Age: Plantation drop spooks industry

The Age reporter Maris Beck writes about the decline in plantation development in Australia, and why this makes ending the harvesting of native forests harder.