“It is normal for the TRP to include some coupes or areas outside the Allocation Order. VicForests cannot harvest these areas without prior special approval from the regulator.

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VicForests has started public consultation on draft Timber Release Plan and Timber Utilisation Plan amendments. Stakeholder feedback on proposed harvest areas is an important part of VicForests’ planning process.

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VicForests today said that its harvesting in water catchment areas complies with relevant regulations, including complying with slope limits.

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VicForests has met face to face with around 50 Victorian timber businesses since the Victorian government announced its plan to transition out of native timber after 2030.

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The Victorian Government's decade-long plan to end harvesting of native timber will drive VicForests to transform its business and support diversification and innovation in the native timber sector.

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Over the year VicForests delivered a strong financial result with a net profit of $1.953 million for 2018-19, the strongest return in three years

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VicForests has written to Forest Conservation Victoria representative, Christine Schuringa seeking a meeting to resolve the 11-day tree protest at its Martell coupe, Mt Baw Baw road, Noojee. VicForests notes a conflict of views regarding harvesting operations within the coupe. By discussing the issues in detail with Forest Conservation Victoria we seek a resolution to end the protest. VicForests is concerned about the sustained and heavy impact the protest, and halting of work, has had on the local contractor undertaking work in the coupe.

VicForests has completed the key first consultation phase of a revision of its harvesting methods and practices to enhance threatened species protection. The consultative process has benefitted from input from major stakeholders, including industry, environment groups and Government.

More than 100 stakeholder organisations have been directly contacted by VicForests. The extensive consultation is part of VicForests goal of attaining the Forest Stewardship Council® Controlled Wood standard by 2020.

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New published research has found Victoria’s Leadbeater’s possums living beyond the areas and mix of tree species so far considered their limited habitat. VicForests and Ecology and Heritage Partners have located six new Leadbeater’s possum colonies in the Central Highlands.

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VicForests has today released the Timber Release Plan (TRP) amendment following the Victorian Government’s release of the Allocation Order. VicForests Chief Executive Officer Nathan Trushell said the TRP provides detail on which coupes will potentially be harvested - subject to forest protection surveys, operational assessment and stakeholder consultation.

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Victorian forests are vital for the economic, social and environmental future of our state.  They support thousands of jobs across Victoria in the native timber, processing and manufacturing industries, provide beautiful locally grown and sourced materials for buildings and furniture and are a vital ecosystem protecting and fostering local biodiversity.

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VicForests has announced its successful 3-year re-certification under the Responsible Wood standard. An audit was conducted across the business in December 2018 and recommended VicForests re-certification highlighting its thorough workplace and contractor safety standards, contractor management and continued contribution to research.

The Responsible Wood standard is endorsed by the international Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) – the largest such system in the world which covers more than 300 million hectares of forest, has 49 national members and equates to around two-thirds of the world's total certified forest area.

Read more Download the report

VicForests is supporting Patchwork Collections Yarra Valley Inc. with a $2000 contribution toward the purchase of backing fabric, wadding and threads. The grant, delivered under VicForests’ Community Support Program, ensures Patchwork Collections Yarra Valley can continue their vital work providing quilts to those in need.

Since 2010, Patchwork Collections Yarra Valley has provided hand-made quilts, free of charge, to local community members impacted by hardship, illness and given to very sick children at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

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VicForests, today, released a study by Deloitte Access Economics showing the economic impact of native forestry in Victoria.

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VicForests refutes claims made by ABC regarding illegal harvesting. The ABC have based their story on a narrow interpretation of the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004.  Under the Act, VicForests must comply with the terms and information described in the Allocation Order as gazetted. VicForests is confident its operations are consistent with the Allocation Order including the forest zoning scheme.

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VicForests announced 34 community groups and organisations across Central and East Victoria would receive funding under the VicForests Community Support Program 2018. The program supports local community groups and organisations with grants of up to $2000 to undertake projects which increase community connectedness or community development.

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VicForests released the results of its May 2018 Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) Surveillance Audit report for Responsible Wood certification. The audit endorsed VicForests’ strong management practices and found the organisation conformed across all AFS indicators.

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VicForests, today, released the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) audit report (May 2018) and reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing certification of FSC® Controlled Wood standard. In conjunction with the results, VicForests released its FSC® 2020: VicForests Controlled Wood Roadmap outlining the steps for VicForests to achieve its goal and address non-conformities raised in the audit. VicForests will resubmit for certification of FSC® Controlled Wood standard by 2020.

FSC 2020: VICFORESTS CONTROLLED WOOD ROADMAP

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VicForests is celebrating the announcement of its General Manager of Strategy and Business Development, Anne Geary, as the winner of the Institute of Foresters of Australia’s NW Jolly Medal for 2018.

The NW Jolly Medal is the forestry profession’s highest and most prestigious award and recognises outstanding service and dedication to the profession of forestry across the nation.

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Applications are now open for VicForests’ Community Support Program 2018.

VicForests’ Community Support Program provides grants and funding of up to $2000 to not-for-profit organisations and community groups which encourage community connectedness and community development.

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VicForests welcomes the release of the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council’s (VEAC) Central West Investigation Draft Proposals Paper. The VEAC report provides an important opportunity for public debate around the conservation, use and sustainability of public forests and reserves in central west Victoria.

Through its Community Forestry program, VicForests undertakes operations in many areas reviewed by the VEAC investigation including Mount Cole, Mount Lonarch, The Wombat and Wellsford State forests and the Pyrenees ranges.

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A media story has been prominent in the last two days alleging VicForests admitted a research project it is undertaking in East Gippsland may cause the death of Greater Gliders.

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VicForests would like to take the opportunity during NAIDOC week to reflect, acknowledge and respect the long-held forest based cultural and spiritual connections that Aboriginal people have.   These connections are significant, current and respected.  Aboriginal people developed and implemented land management techniques and fire regimes over millennia which shaped the forests that Australians know, love and value.

Aboriginal people are a part of the forest and timber industries and we encourage this going forward.  

With respect to this year’s NAIDOC week, ‘Because of Her, We Can!’ we would particularly like to acknowledge Aboriginal women and their connections to forests and community.   As well we’ve recently met with female Traditional Owners from the East Gippsland region and we would like to take this opportunity to once again thank them for their generosity during these meetings.  

Finally, we wish Aboriginal communities an enjoyable NAIDOC week.

VicForests today released to the Mirboo North community a social impact scoping summary report that assessed concerns and support around plans to harvest coupes near the town.

VicForests’ General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Alex Messina, said he has released the  report to  give stakeholders, including the Preserve our Forests Steering Committee, the community and Local Government a summary of feedback provided to VicForests during interviews in August 2017.

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Scoping Study

The Federal Court today continued an injunction brought against VicForests by the Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum (FLBP), preventing VicForests from harvesting timber in five coupes in the Central Highlands and West Gippsland.

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A Spot-tailed quoll was recently sighted in the Erica State Forest.

Spot-tailed quolls are rare; they are listed as Threatened under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 and Vulnerable under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC)

Please see attached Media Release

VicForests today released pre-harvest maps of a Noojee timber coupe indicating that total protected and buffered areas comprise 13 hectares, or nearly one quarter (24%), of the gross coupe area.
This area includes about 7ha of additional voluntary visual buffers in response to community preferences to screen the “Backdoor” coupe from the centre of the township. 

The Noojee coupe plan is available on request. 

VicForests will defend an application for an injunction brought by the Friends of Leadbeaters Possum Inc (FLBP).

The court today granted an interim injunction regarding six coupes until 2 May, 2018, when the Court will hear arguments about whether a final injunction will be imposed.

VicForests said today that it respected the sentiments of South Gippsland Shire Council, which voted against native timber harvesting in Mirboo North.

“We urge the Council and the community to continue talking with us,” Alex Messina, VicForests General Manager Corporate Affairs said.

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VicForests announced today that it would retain habitat areas around about 20 habitat trees identified through field assessments and  three night surveys of the Noojee Backdoor coupe, scheduled for harvesting towards the end of April.

Alex Messina, VicForests General Manager Corporate Affairs said “This is part of a routine and thorough pre-harvest process designed to double check and update desktop data before any harvest. 

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The Federal and State Government has confirmed that the North East, Central Highlands and East Gippsland Regional Forest Agreements in Victoria will be extended to March 2020.

This provides certainty for our customers and contractors while a more extensive review by State and Federal Governments is undertaken.

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After listening to the Noojee community VicForests has confirmed it will implement a 100 metre wide buffer on a timber harvesting coupe nearby to ensure the area will not be visible from the centre of town.

This buffer, which is an extension to the existing environmental buffers, was confirmed at an Open Day VicForests hosted in Noojee on Sunday 18 March.                                                                         

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VicForests is pleased that the Federal Court today rejected the argument brought against it by the Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum.

The Court found that VicForests’ operations in the Central Highlands were not affected by government delays in reviewing the Central Highlands Regional Forest Agreement. 

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The Rubicon State forest has been a vital resource in supplying quality timber products to Victorians and supporting the regional economy for more than 100 years.

The Rubicon sits within the Central Highlands Regional Forest Area which generates more than $500 million dollars and directly employs more than 2 000 people every year.

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Protestors are blocking the road leading into the Strathbogie State forest in order to stop timber harvesting operations from commencing.

Arthur Rylah Institute has conducted surveys in this area and our Conservation Biologist individually markied trees to ensure best available habitat is protected for the Greater Glider.     

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A group of protestors stationed themselves at a live harvesting site in far East Gippsland putting themselves, and the workers, at risk and caused timber harvesting operations to be suspended.                   

The protestors have now been escorted from the area by authorised officers and operations can safely recommence.

The Neerim South Wetlands played host to the 2017 Neerim Frog Festival, celebrating a decade-long rehabilitation of the wetlands by Neerim District Landcare group.

Following a ‘pilot’ festival last year supported by VicForests, this year’s Neerim Frog Festival attracted more support, activities and attendees, who came out to see, and appreciate, Landcare’s work on the wetlands. 

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The crew from 7MATE’s Going Bush recently joined VicForests, and a team of auditors, to learn how native timber harvesting operations are certified in Victoria.

Forest certification is important to VicForests because it provides reassurance from third-party experts that their operations comply with internationally recognised environmental standards.

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Consultation period runs from 4 December 2017 to 12 January 2018

VicForests is seeking input from local community members on the proposed updates to its Timber Release Plan, relating to timber harvesting operations in North East Victoria, West Gippsland and East Gippsland regions.

Listening to the community ensures that we are aware of what is important to them, so that we can incorporate these things into our plans. Read more                                                                                                      

A $2,000 investment in Warragul-based charity, Baw Baw Combined Churches Food Relief, will go towards helping more than 700 families within the Baw Baw Shire access emergency food supplies.

The grant was provided by VicForests, as part of its Community Support Program, and will go towards the operational costs of the volunteer-run organisation, which relies on donations and contributions to continue providing its vital services to those in need.  Read more

A low intensity timber harvesting operation will commence in the Strathbogies State forest in January 2018.

VicForests’ General Manager Stakeholders and Planning, Lachlan Spencer, said the operation will use the single-tree selection harvesting method. Read more

Cann River Community Centre this year awarded two prizes worth $250 each as part of its 2017 Arts, Crafts and Photography Expo thanks to VicForests’ Community Support Program contributions.

The Expo, running from 3 to 7 November, had 189 entries from 61 artists, which showcased the artistic skills of the local community with a wide range of art forms represented, including quilting, painting, photography, drawing, soft textiles, woodwork and mixed media. Read more

VicForests has commenced a stakeholder consultation phase to encourage relevent stakeholders to comment on our expertise in, and execution of, forestry management practices as journey towards our goal of seeking Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) Controlled Wood (CW) certification for our operations in the regions of Central Highlands and East Gippsland.  Read more

Click here to read more about our plans to seek FSC®

An environmental group has issued legal proceedings regarding VicForests operations under the Central Highlands Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs).

Nathan Trushell, VicForests CEO, said VicForests believes its operations are in accordance with the Central Highlands RFA.  Read more

VicForests Media Statement regarding tabling of Parliamentary Inquiry Report. Read more

VicForests Media Statement regarding harvesting delay in Princess Cut, East Gippsland. Read more

VicForests has achieved a positive profit from operations before tax of $1.5 million in 2016/17, highlighting the continued demand for native timber in Victoria. This is a good result considering the operational challenges we have faced. The company’s result after tax was a loss of $3.2 million, due to a decrease in the accounting valuation of the area of State forest available to be harvested for timber. Read more

VicForests Media Statement responding to Murrindindi Shire statement calling for an end to timber harvesting in the Shire 9/10/2017. Read more

VicForests letter to the editor sent to The Age titled ‘The root causes’ printed 20/09/2017.

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The Victorian Government announced this morning that the purchase of the Heyfield Mill has been finanlised.

VicForests welcomes this announcement as it it a very positive outcome for the Victorian timber industry and the Heyfield community with clarity around the future arrangements for the mill.

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VicForests Media Statement released following a town hall meeting VicForests attended on 14/9/2017 

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VicForests attended a community meeting in Mirboo North on Thursday 14 September to speak to local residents about planned operations in the area. Lachlan Spencer, VicForests General Manager Stakeholders and Planning said that VicForests openly encourages input from the public into its operations. 

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VicForests Media Statement responding to ANU report on economic contribution of timber in the Central highlands released 5/9/2017.

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VicForests Media Statement responding to the community in Mirboo North 8/9/2017.

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VicForests Media Statement responding to Frinds of the Earth report released on 7/9/2017

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VicForests Media Statement sent to The Guardian in relation to the article ‘Greater gliders: fears of 'catastrophic' consequences from logging in Victoria’ posted online 7/9/2017

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Nathan Trushell has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of VicForests following a successful period of acting CEO.

VicForests’ Board Chair, Michael Humphris, said Mr Trushell brings a wealth of experience in the Victorian native timber industry.

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VicForests has released its 2017 Resource Outlook which forecasts the amount of high quality timber that can be commercially supplied from State forests in eastern Victoria on a sustainable basis.

Nathan Trushell, Acting CEO VicForests said the Resource Outlook is developed using a range of systems and processes.

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Every year hundreds of millions of eucalyptus seeds are spread across Victoria’s State forests. The seeds are used to regrow areas that have been harvested to supply wood to Victoria’s timber industry. Helicopters aerially spread seeds over larger areas and smaller areas are sown by hand

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VicForests is inviting not for profit community groups and services to apply for a grant as part of its 2017 Community Support Program before the deadline of Friday 16 June 2017.

The Community Support Program has been designed by VicForests to assist regional community groups and services who are working to positively contribute to their local area.

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