Calls to end forest burns
Conservation group says smoke from regeneration harms health and hurts image
A leading Tasmanian conservation group has called for the end of the forestry industry regeneration burns, after smoke and ash from a weekend blaze lit south of Hobart was seen from Bruny Island.
Jenny Weber from the Bob Brown Foundation said although Sustainable Timbers Tasmania listed their planned burns online and through social media, the practice was harmful to human health and contrary to the image the state was projecting to the outside world. “It’s not good enough just letting people know they are burning, because they are enormous burns, and they are unnecessary because native forest logging is unnecessary,” Ms Weber said.
“For decades now, people have been saying that they harm human health.
“And we know that tourist outlets have had to close because smoke comes over their breweries and vineyards.
“So what will it take for these burns to finally stop?”
Sustainable Timber Tasmania general manager of operation Greg Hickey said burns were conducted every autumn to regenerate harvested forests in a similar manner to natural regeneration following a bushfire.
Mr Hickey said the burns also improved the safety of local communities across Tasmania by reducing fuel loads in the state’s public production forests.
“Research shows that fire is the best way to regrow healthy wet eucalypt forests,” Mr Hickey said.
“Regrowing native forests rely on fire to regenerate and thrive.
“Without fire, the layer of dead branches, plants and leaves on the ground reduce the likelihood of new trees growing.
“Another benefit to regeneration burning is that it lowers the bushfire risk at harvested sites by removing dry material.”
Sustainable Timber Tasmania has 180 burns planned across the state as part of its 2024 schedule, with 45 burns already completed.
Mr Hickey said that smoke dispersal was planned away from populated areas, and that while smoke could be visible from fires, it was usually travelling at a height that ensured impacts to communities were minimised.
“On days when poor smoke dispersal is anticipated, burning is postponed until suitable weather conditions prevail,” he said.
“Sustainable Timber Tasmania notifies and engages with immediate neighbours throughout its planned burning program planning stage, prior to any burning taking place.”
Ms Weber said her organisation was worried that STT burns were less about regeneration and more concerned with disposing of the large amounts of organic waste left behind by woodchipping operations.