Australian Bushfires 2019/20

The devasting bushfires currently ravaging Australia will have a long term impact on the plantation forest industry. The future wood supply profile from affected forests is likely to be vastly different to that underpinning the long term agreements that provide the balance between supply and demand.

Sadly, forest growers may have to accelerate harvesting in the short term to recover at least some of the value of their affected tree crops before the dead-standing timber degrades beyond a saleable quality.  The commercial reality is that many growers lack the contracted harvesting capacity and necessary marketing channels to maximise the recovery of this timber in the required timeframe.

SFM has been in this position before after the Tasmanian fires of Summer 2019. The difficulties of rapidly building a complex supply chain, in a complex environment, to manage a large-scale yet short-term operation cannot be overstated. Assessment of fire damage, timber harvesting planning, engagement of harvesting and haulage contractors as well as securing of markets and market access points all needed to be done quickly and efficiently before timber degrade occurred.

SFM can assist with advice, logistics and marketing of fire affected salvage material Australia wide - please don’t hesitate to contact our office on info@sfmes.com.au or (03) 6223 3536.

If anyone wishes to visit Tasmania to get an understanding of the challenges first hand, our door is open and we would be happy to host you on a field visit, please contact Jo Quigley in the first instance at jquigley@sfmes.com.au

Finally, best of luck to everyone for the remainder of the fire season and facing the challenge of dealing with the aftermath.