Organisation
From 1950, a strong research focus was developed within FCV, with W Zimmer taking a lead role. He went on to establish what would become an enduring and influential Research Branch, which first appeared in the FCV organizational chart in 1957/58. As noted by B and L Dexter, the initial focus of the research was on germination characteristics of commercially important eucalypt species (“Articles about People”, Walter John Zimmer by B and L Dexter). W Zimmer retired in 1962 after 44 years’ service, including 13 years as a Silvicultural Officer. In the words of B and L Dexter, his vision and inspiration “fathered” the Research Branch of the Commission. History shows that the visionary work of W Zimmer was maintained and indeed expanded under the guidance of highly respected Research Branch chiefs including R Grose, J Jack, F Craig and B Dexter.
The early focus on regeneration following timber harvesting in a range of commercially important forest types recognized that post-harvest regeneration is the cornerstone of good and responsible forest management. This important requirement of sustainability has not changed in over 70 years.
The Branch progressively expanded to meet the ongoing needs for scientifically-based forest management practices (including research required under the Forests Act 1958) in both native forests and an expanding softwood plantation resource. Apart from meeting these needs, a number of developments and initiatives of strategic importance to forestry in Victoria had major and often long-lasting impacts on research priorities. These initiatives and regional/statewide developments included:
- A response to the Post World WarII housing boom.
- The Federal/State/Territory Plantation expansion initiative.
- A decline in productivity of second rotation softwood plantations in the Green Triangle.
- The 1986 Victorian Timber Industry Strategy; and
- The cessation of clearing native forests for softwood plantations in favour of plantations on cleared farmland.
The impacts on research priorities of these initiatives and developments are considered below.
1. The Impacts of the End of WWII on Forest Management
Victoria’s forests have played a critical role in the development of the State, particularly in the latter half of the 19th Century and the first half of the 20th Century, by providing vast quantities of timber for housing, bridge construction, rail sleepers, boiler fuel to generate power for gold mining and manufacturing, and firewood for domestic heating and cooking (Turner et. al 2011). Following the end of WWII, a critical housing shortage was experienced to accommodate returning service men and women, refugees and a boost in immigration. To meet these needs, against a backdrop of dwindling supplies from the salvage of forests killed by the 1939 wildfires, the FCV encouraged the timber industry to expand into the mountain regions of North East Victoria and North Central Gippsland and the foothill and coastal forests of East Gippsland. This initiative rapidly increased sawlog production to 1.3 million m3 per annum by the mid-1950’s.
The expansion of the timber industry into hitherto largely unharvested forest types presented a massive challenge, particularly in research to develop silvicultural guidelines for the successful regeneration of these “new” forest types. Numerous studies were initiated to urgently address the issue. As one of many examples, early attempts at regenerating harvested Alpine Ash stands using a seed-tree system and mechanical disturbance to create a receptive seedbed were often unsuccessful. This led to wide ranging and detailed studies by R Grose and colleagues between 1957 and 1965. The studies addressed flowering, fruit development and seeding, seed germination, seedling establishment and the development of a cost effective and reliable silvicultural system. Similar studies were undertaken by a number of scientists including B Dexter in the Red Gum forests, and more recently by P Fagg in the East Gippsland High Elevation Mixed Species forests. The response by a fledging Research Branch to rapidly develop a wide range of silvicultural systems for the contrasting range of forest types was remarkable.
2. The Federal/State/Territory Plantation Expansion Initiative
In recognition that existing native forests available and suitable for wood production in Australia would be unable to meet the long-term timber requirements of the nation, the Federal Government initiated a Plantation Extension (PX) program in the 1960’s with State and Territory Governments to expand the softwood plantation resource with the long-term aim of becoming self-sufficient in wood products. Victoria was an active participant in the subsequent PX program. This translated to establishing plantations across a wide range of site types hitherto not assessed as being suitable for economically viable softwood plantations. The research implications of this initiative were broad ranging and strategic. One of the early actions taken by research in close consultation with District staff was to establish test plots on untested site types to provide guidance on establishment techniques including site preparation, fertilizer requirements and weed issues (e.g. Neerim East, Heywood). Many of the prospective site types presented a number of challenges. A significant research program was initiated to underpin the PX program. It included:
- Improved site appreciation surveys that took account of rainfall amount and distribution, native plant indicator species, parent geological material and resulting soil type including fertility, structure and propensity to erode when disturbed during site preparation and harvesting.
- Development of fertilizer regimes for nutrient deficiencies previously not encountered.
- Development of weed management regimes for native species previously not encountered.
- Investigation of alternative site preparation techniques; and
- Formulation of pest and disease control programs on sites that favoured new challenges (eg. Dothistroma sp.)
Research capability was expanded to meet these new challenges of establishing plantations on a contrasting range of site types. Early establishment was found to be highly dependent on appropriate site preparation techniques and correction of nutrient deficiencies previously not encountered (e.g. Boron). Overall, it is reasonable to state that the R&D undertaken to underpin the PX program was very successful. The advanced test plots were invaluable to guide development of appropriate establishment techniques.
3. Productivity Decline of Second Rotation Plantations
In 1966, A Keeves of the Woods and Forests Department of South Australia (WFDSA) reported on some extensive inventory data of first rotation (1R) and second rotation (2R) Radiata Pine crops growing on sandy soils in the Green Triangle. These data showed a decline in productivity of the 2R plantations. The finding drew international attention and debate about the sustainability of monoculture forestry with exotic species. The finding also sent “shock waves” through Standing Committee on Forestry given that the maintenance of the productive capacity of sites is a key indicator of sustainable forest management.
The issue drew an immediate response by FCV, WFDSA and CSRIO (Mt Gambier) which designed and established a wide range of complementary studies. The Victorian approach was to set up a series of large plots to carefully compare growth of pine on the same sites and on “matching” ex-native forest sites over at least one rotation. Extreme lengths were taken to ensure a valid and non-confounding comparison (except rainfall and a decision not to burn the 1R slash following harvesting). As an example, seedlings for the 1R crop were raised using the same techniques used for the existing 1R crop with seed collected from the 1R plots. The plots were intensively studied for a wide range of parameters including soil properties. Complementary studies were also undertaken including quantifying the loss of nutrients during the slash burning practice between rotations, and testing of machinery to macerate slash from clearfelling prior to planting the next crop. Results were progressively reported in the scientific literature, including early evidence of increased productivity in the 2R. Confirmation of such an increase was confirmed when the 2R plots were clearfelled at the end of the rotation. This was primarily attributed to the retention of the slash from the first rotation that minimized nutrient loss and provided a mulching effect for newly planted seedlings. The practice was abolished, particularly on infertile soil types. In hindsight, it should have been obvious that slash burning and associated loss of nutrients and organic matter, as quantified by Flinn et. al (1979), would result in reduced productivity in the following rotations.
The study rates as one of the most significant and successful softwood investigations ever undertaken in the history of the Research Branch. It was co-ordinated by R Squire and overseen by an on-site researcher (P Farrell). The experiment was continued by Hancock Victorian Plantations (HVP) to final harvest at age 30 years which showed increased production in the 2R plots on the same sites as the 1R plots. This was definitive evidence that productivity had not declined in the second rotation. The trial has been extended into the third rotation by HVP. In the meantime, slash burning of clearfelled pine on infertile sandy soils and soils with inherent nutrient deficiencies was replaced in the early 1980’s by slash retention to conserve nutrients and to obtain the benefits of the mulching effect of the macerated slash.
4. Timber Industry Strategy
In 1986, the Victorian Government released a Timber Industry Strategy which amongst other things detailed substantial and challenging research initiatives, including an investigation of alternative silvicultural systems to clearfelling. A research team was assembled (including recruitment of new staff with special skills) to design what became known as the Silvicultural Systems Project (SSP).
Essentially, this multi-disciplinary study compared the economic, social and environmental effects of a range of silvicultural systems including single tree harvesting, shelterwood, seed-tree and clearfelling. CSIRO assistance was used to design the study which was conducted at Noojee (Mountain Ash) and Cabbage Tree in an East Gippsland coastal forest. Implementation of SSP was a challenge, especially at Noojee where alternative systems in tall and relatively dense forests presented new challenges, including OH&S issues associated with systems such as the single tree system where felling was soon deemed as dangerous.
Despite these new challenges, the experiment was implemented in full and was then subject to intense monitoring of regeneration, flora and fauna impacts, dynamics of resulting regrowth, and seed crop monitoring (particularly important at Cabbage Tree). SSP soon became a focus of interest groups from within and outside the timber industry. Early data were used to fine tune the existing clearfell system to provide increased benefits to flora and fauna (e.g. understory islands). At Cabbage Tree, the vast amount of data collected on seeding and tolerance of regeneration to overstory competition indicated that alternatives to clearfell were possible, including group selection systems that maintained the uneven aged nature of these coastal forests. While the project was eventually closed, recent field days indicated that the shelterwood system in Mountain Ash provided significant habitat advantages which was an unexpected outcome.
The SSP study was co-ordinated by R Squire who promoted the study at the local and international levels. He was assisted by S Murphy who took a lead role in the conduct of many of the experiments and in co-ordination activities. It was a unique and complex study that was highly respected by industry and policy makers. Numerous scientific papers were published on a wide range of aspects of SSP at both sites. Like the 1R/2R study, the research resources required to execute the study were substantial. The scientists and technicians involved had a high respect for and ownership of the aims of SSP. It provided managers of native forests with a wealth of data to improve economic and environmental outcomes and flexibility in managing the predominately uneven aged coastal forests of East Gippsland. The high cost of the experiment was clearly justified.
5. Cessation of Native Forest Conversion to Pine and Increased Planting of Cleared Farmland
In 1987 the Victorian Government ceased clearing of native forests for softwood plantations in favour of future plantations on cleared farmland.
The switch to predominately farmland planting was accompanied by a new set of research needs and environmental parameters including greenhouse implications, soil disturbance and erosion, soil chemistry and acidity, water values (especially stream flow and water quality), pests and diseases, chemical inputs including herbicides, and biodiversity effects. These issues are discussed in detail in the booklet Forestry in the Agricultural Landscape published by the Department of Primary Industries (Turner et. al 2004). Some of the above parameters are beneficial whilst others have been the subject of earlier research which addressed issues like “pines ruin soils” and “pines dry up perennial and ephemeral streams”. Turner et. al (2004) provide detailed scientific information on these issues. However, as plantation extension on farmland accelerated, new problems were encountered that required high priority research.
A good example is the development of a condition commonly known as “speed wobbles” or more correctly stem deformity. Rapidly growing pine on fertile farmland soils often developed severely deformed stems, making the crop suitable only for low value pulpwood at best and of no economic value at worst. An intensive investigation of the issue involved a progeny trial of Radiata Pine on an ex native forest site at Warrenbayne using line plots. Within a few years, routine measurements of the trial found that some progeny were free of stem deformity while others developed severe deformation. The Warrenbayne site was relatively fertile. It was speculated that the deformity was associated with fertile farmland soils. This was confirmed by experiments conducted on an ex native forest site which showed that the deformity could be induced by heavy applications of nitrogen in particular.
The researchers took advantage of the progeny variation and were able to rapidly produce cuttings in nurseries that were tolerant of fertile soils.
This is just one of many issues that were associated with the switch to farmland. Managing new weed spectrums was another issue requiring urgent R&D. As a result of this new science, successful planation establishment on cleared farmland became relatively straight forward.
It is noteworthy that the new studies resulting from the above initiatives and developments required the recruitment of additional scientists and technicians with expertise in many disciplines including soil science, tree nutrition, forest hydrology, biometrics, OH&S, flora and fauna, entomology, pathology, genetics, silviculture, salinity, weed management, agroforestry and prescribed fire. They also required new laboratories and glasshouses equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation. Furthermore, field stations were progressively set up in a number of regional centers including Creswick, Rennick, Orbost, Myrtleford, Noojee and the Dandenongs (Mountain Forest Research Station) to ensure efficient use of research resources.
It is reasonable to state that the Research Branch responded to this contrasting range of research needs in a highly professional manner. They were under the microscope of many stakeholders. The studies were innovative and exceedingly well designed and executed, with results being communicated to practitioners and the scientific community in a timely and effective manner.
There are many other significant R&D challenges that the Research Branch addressed during this period including the ecological impacts of fuel-reduction burning, hydrologic impacts of conversion of native forests to pine plantations, salinity issues and the management of die back in East Gippsland coastal forests and beyond.
In 1993/94 the Branch underwent a major transformation into the Centre for Forest Tree Technology (CFTT). The vision for CFTT was to maintain in the long term a team of multidisciplinary scientists and skilled technical services required by Government and industry in the management of natural and plantation forests in Victoria and beyond. This required a strategy to secure a significant portion of funding requirements from the private sector (including Japanese Trading Houses) and Commonwealth agencies along with service agreements with the Department itself for research and technical services.
Accordingly, CFTT was set up as a Business Unit (the business name was registered with the Corporate Affairs Office on 26 April 1993) within the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (CNR) with a view of attracting more external funding to support and add value to research funding from CNR. In the first year of operation, CFTT attracted over $600,000 in revenue from external consulting and research services.
To meet the new requirements of CFTT, laboratory facilities and general working conditions were improved. For the first time in the history of Forest R&D in Victoria, a lot of effort was spent on securing Commonwealth Government and private funding for overseas projects. This was a very successful initiative, with significant contracts for research being awarded to the Centre for forestry projects in countries including Pakistan, China and Indonesia. It lifted the profile of the Centre and gave participating scientists and technicians of forest research institutes in the host countries a challenging but rewarding experience. It also enhanced the skills of participating CFTT staff, which benefited a range of Victorian Government studies.
CFTT used its resources to service the scientific and technical needs of the Forest Service and the Government and at the same time efficiently deliver quality research and consulting services to the private sector. There was an expectation that the expertise of CFTT, which was progressively becoming strongly oriented towards plantation forestry, would stimulate increased private sector investment in plantation forestry in Victoria. There is convincing evidence that this objective was accomplished for the new hardwood plantation estate.
The Research Branch of the FCV, and subsequently CFTT, had a long history of a close and beneficial relationship with the School of Forestry at the University of Melbourne. In the late 1990s there were a number of informal meetings canvassing the possibility of the two entities forming a strategic alliance. Such an alliance would, among other things, significantly broaden the expertise base for basic and applied research, provide enhanced academic opportunities, provide industry and Governments with vastly improved research and development services, improve technology transfer and increase opportunities for funding of forest and ecological services from Commonwealth agencies, State Governments, and local and overseas industrial organisations operating in natural and plantation forests.
In early 1998, the formation of a strategic alliance between the two entities was recommended. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the formation of the alliance was drawn up and ratified by NRE and the University of Melbourne. The MOU had a five year life span and stated, among other things:
- The objective of the alliance would position the new centre as a major force within Australia and the Asia Pacific region in applied and strategic research on forest issues by better meeting training and research needs of policy makers and other clients in an integrated manner.
- Staff transferring to the Centre would continue to be employed by the two parties on their current terms and conditions.
- I would be appointed as Interim Director for 6 months from the date of commencement of the new Forest Science Centre (FSC).
In 1999, there was a Government wide downsizing of staff. Few sections were exempt from this directive and CFTT lost nine positions as part of this process. In the absence of the alliance, CFTT would have been below critical mass. This further vindicated the formation of the new Centre which was to be based at Creswick. To this end, DNRE agreed to fund new laboratories and office space at Creswick. This was accomplished in late 1999 and provided the campus with world class facilities.
On 15 March 2004, Prof. Kwong Lee Dow, Vice Chancellor of Melbourne University, wrote to the Secretary of the then Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) confirming that the two parties had agreed on the establishment of the Forest and Ecosystem Sciences Institute (FESI) to replace the FSC. The University also accepted responsibility for the site at Creswick and that the responsibility for the Crown land will transfer to the University. Prof. Lyndsay Neilson, Secretary of DSE, signed off on these and other proposals in the March 2004 letter.
Forest research capacity collapsed at State and Federal levels across Australia in the early to mid 2000’s. Whilst FESI has also lost positions over the last few years, it remains a viable Institute to provide strategic R&D services to policy makers and industry on a wide range of disciplines.
Documentation
The work carried out by the Research Branch of FCV from the early 1970’s was recorded in numerous internal reports, published technical papers and bulletins covering virtually all projects in plantations and native forests. As an example, 350 Research Branch Reports were written between March 1971 and March 1992 (McHugh 1992). A significant number of these internal reports were published in peer reviewed journals. Indeed, a heavy emphasis was always given to external publication of appropriate reports and presentation of papers at national and international conferences. This systematic reporting of R&D was instigated by Fred Craig who appointed a scientific editor to maintain a uniform high quality of reporting of forest research for distribution within FCV. This system of reporting R&D was maintained by David Flinn who was in charge of forest research during the successive institutional changes over the next two decades. The numerous reports produced over almost 40 years became an exceptional record of forest research in Victoria. The importance of this work was recognised by the Bureau of Resource Sciences who funded the preparation of a ‘Compendium of Forest Research in Victoria’ as a record of the historic R&D that formed the knowledge base of forest management in Victoria (Murphy et al. 1998). A similar document was prepared in 2011 by Turner et al. titled Management of Victoria’s publicly-owned native forests for wood production: A review of the science underpinning their management. This 216 page report is an excellent example of how an extensive and sustained R&D program enabled the native forest estate to be managed according to well established scientific principles. It greatly assisted VicForests in obtaining certification.
Whilst Research Branch Reports and Bulletins were dominant in the documentation process, there are a further three series that warrant a brief mention.
Forestry Technical Papers (FTP) were first published by FCV in April 1959. In the first instance, they were aimed principally for Departmental circulation. However, as the series matured, FTP’s became focused on informing not only FCV staff but also the broader community on a wide cross section of scientific issues. Many of the articles in the more recent volumes of FTP included Research Branch Reports which underwent a more rigorous editing process prior to publication. The series was discontinued in June 1986 following a Departmental restructure.
Research and Development Notes (R&D Notes) were an initiative of the Forest Research Branch in response to District staff requesting scientific information on issues of internal and/or community concern covering native forests and plantations. These 2–4-page fact sheets were produced at very short notice and were made widely available to staff and the community. They proved to be exceedingly popular. Many of the R&D Notes remain relevant to the present day.
Research Activity was a series published by FCV between 1969 and 1977. They provided an annual summary of the range of studies conducted during the year. Many of these studies were subsequently expanded and produced as Research Branch Reports or published in appropriate scientific journals. A notable feature of the annual editions was the relatively large group of scientists and technicians employed by FCV covering a wide range of disciplines (including environmental, silvicultural, genetics, insects, diseases, management and recreation). The early Forewords to this series by Dr F Moulds, Chairman of FCV, are instructive, reflecting the serious consideration that FCV took to addressing community concerns about forest practices.
Collectively, the suite of reports and publications demonstrate the commitment taken by FCV to forest research, including a significant focus on impacts of forest activities on a wide range of environmental values.
In response to a strong demand from planation owners and the agroforestry sector, the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) published a booklet titled “Forestry in the Agricultural Landscape: A review of the science of planation forestry in Victoria” (Turner et al. 2004). This booklet cites over 130 studies, a large proportion by FCV/CFTT scientists, and provided those involved in private forestry access to the best available science on a wide range of issues including:
- Greenhouse implications
- Soil disturbance and erosion
- Plantation soil chemistry
- Water values
- Pests and diseases
- Chemical inputs: and
- A range of socio-economic issues
Collaboration
Australia, for over two decades, had a process in place to ensure open and timely co-operation between State and Territory forest research agencies, CSIRO, Universities and industry. The process was called the Research Working Group (RWG) system. There were around ten RWG’s covering most aspects of forest science. Each Working Group met bi-annually to review the status of research for the individual areas of forest science, and to make recommendations to the Standing Committee on Forestry (SCF) on issues of national or regional importance. The process was coordinated by the Directors of Research Committee (DORC), comprising Directors of research in the State and Territory agencies, who vetted the RWG recommendations and reported directly to SCF on strategically important issues identified by each of the Working Groups. It proved to be a very successful model for timely communication between research agencies and SCF. The FCV Research Branch was strongly committed to the process through membership of all Working Groups and a member of DORC. SCF took the advice of DORC very seriously.
Forest research by FCV and the Departments that followed always had a strong commitment to collaboration with a wide range of research bodies including the two CSIRO Divisions of Forestry and Forest Products. This was seen as an opportunity to add value to the overall research program by accessing (often at no cost to the State of Victoria) expertise not available in-house. This collaboration included many projects and major research initiatives including the East Gippsland Silvicultural Systems Project (SSP), the East Gippsland Regrowth study and the Trees for Profit program. Victoria also regularly commissioned CSIRO to undertake reviews of high-profile forest science issues. An example is the strategic scientific review of the environmental impacts of broadscale application of a commonly used fire retardant. Such consultancies were managed by the Victorian Director of Forest Research who prepared the brief and oversaw the preparation of a final report. There is no question that this collaboration and interaction with CSIRO in particular significantly enhanced the quality and depth of science applied to particular research projects, bringing new skills to Victoria in a cost-effective manner.
References
Flinn DW, Hopmans P, Farrell P and James JM (1979). Nutrient loss from the burning of Pinus radiata logging residue. Aust. For. Res. 9;17-23.
McHugh, B (1992). Index of unpublished forest research reports March 1971-March 1992. Department of Conservation and Environment, Forest Research Section, Research Report No 350, 53pp.
Murphy S, Polak-Scowcroft C and Coy R (1998). Compendium of Forest Research in Victoria: Published, unpublished and research in progress. Bureau of Resource Sciences, Department of Primary Industries and Energy, Canberra, Australia, pp. 275. (ISBN 0-642-47505-9)
Turner J, Wareing K, Flinn D and Lambert M (2004). Forestry in the agricultural landscape: A review of the science of plantation forestry in Victoria. Dept. of Primary Industries, 53pp. (ISBN 1 74146 129 4)
Turner J, Flinn D, Lambert M, Wareing K and Murphy S (2011). Management of Victoria’s publicly-owned native forests for wood production: A review of the science underpinning their management, Forest and Wood Products Australia, Project Number PRC 147-0809, pp. 216.