Introduction

Otway Ranges Environment Network | Otway Forest Issues | Otway Native Forest Logging | Otway Campaign/s | Other

Woodchip Driven Logging in the Otways: An Economic Analysis

Introduction

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Logging in the Otways is clearly woodchip-driven.

Successive Victorian State Governments, including the current Bracks’ Government, have expressly stated that, as a matter of policy, logging in Victoria’s State Forests must be sawlog driven and that woodchips can only be a by-product of sawmill-based logging

Despite this, no criteria have been established to define when logging is sawlog driven. In this context, the sawmilling and woodchipping industries, and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE), claim that logging is sawlog driven and conservationists claim that it is not

This report settles the matter in relation to the Otway native forests by carefully analysing three criteria, or benchmarks, which individually and collectively determine whether it is the woodchipping industry that is driving logging operations in the Otways, or the sawmilling industry. These benchmarks are:

Hardwood resource usage

Departmental (DNRE) Logging revenue

Financial returns to the two industries (sawmilling and woodchipping)

Terms used:

Clearfell logging - Logging practice that removes virtually all vegetation in an area. (Detailed description)

Coupe - An area of forest that is to be logged, or has been logged.

DNRE - Department of Natural Resources and Environment
DNRE is the State Government Department that manages publicly owned State Forest in Victoria.

Residual log - Trees that are too young, cracked, or bent to be used for sawn timber. These trees are turned into woodchips.




Woodchip Driven Logging in the Otways: An Economic Analysis
	Introduction

		Back