UniSC Forest Research Institute

🎄 Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the FRI 🎄 As we close the year, we reflect on a year of discovery, and innovation with our forest and wood product sector partners, we just want to thank all our partners, colleagues, and supporters for an amazing 2024! Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season filled with friends and family, and here's to even bigger and better things to come in 2025! 🥂🌟

Some interesting thoughts for the FRI director as we head to the holidays and towards what will be an exciting 2025 for applied forest industry research!

Green Firebreaks: A Nature-Positive Approach to Bushfire Mitigation Imagine a solution to bushfire risk that not only protects communities but also enhances biodiversity and sustainability. PhD researcher Jady Smith from the University of the Sunshine Coast is exploring this possibility through green firebreaks—strips of low-flammability vegetation strategically placed to reduce fire spread. Checkout the update on Jady’s research, page 15, in the December in the Natural Hazards Research Australia news letter!

Are Mixed-Species Forests Less Affected by Forest Fires? Mixed-species forests have gained attention for their ecological benefits, such as higher biodiversity and resilience to environmental stresses like pests, diseases, and climate change. The diversity of tree species in these forests can buffer vulnerabilities, creating more stable ecosystems. But how do they fare when faced with forest fires? Conventional wisdom suggests that pure forests, with their uniform structure and composition, are more vulnerable to fire damage compared to mixed forests. Homogeneous stands are thought to encourage intense crown scorch and higher mortality. However, is this assumption universally true? To investigate, we analyzed data from the Spanish National Forest Inventory, encompassing over 50,000 plots and nearly a million trees measured between 1986 and 2007. We focused on plots impacted by fire, studying tree mortality over time and comparing pure and mixed stands. We also examined how species combinations influence fire-related outcomes. The results surprised us. Mixed forests are not inherently better at withstanding fires. In fact, certain species combinations in mixed stands can increase vulnerability to fire damage compared to pure stands. Species with contrasting fire-adaptive strategies can either amplify or mitigate fire impacts, depending on the interplay of their traits. Mixed-species forests require careful consideration of species compatibility to harness their potential benefits. Not all mixtures improve resistance to disturbances like fires—some may even exacerbate vulnerabilities. Our results and the different species combinations and their post-fire mortality can be found in the full article: https://lnkd.in/dXU44ZZS Peris-Llopis, M., Mola-Yudego, B., Berninger, F., Garcia-Gonzalo, J., Gonzalez-Olabarria JR. Impact of species composition on fire-induced stand damage in Spanish forests. Sci Rep 14, 8594 (2024). https://lnkd.in/d9vFTWqe This has been a common research effort between the University of Eastern Finland and the Centre de Ciència i Tecnologia Forestal de Catalunya. We express our gratitude to the Suomen Kulttuurirahasto / Finnish Cultural Foundation, the European Research Executive Agency (REA) #HEurope #H2020 projects eco2adapt and Marie Curie RISE #DecisionES, the #CERCA programme and the European Forest Institute travel grants.

I am pleased to share that my team at UniSC Forest Research Institute has recently completed the project "Exploring Perceptions and Best Practice Adaptation of Silvopastoral Systems as a Strategy for Drought Resilience in the Northern Gulf Region." This report was prepared for the North Queensland Regional Forestry Hub (Timber Queensland) and Gulf Savannah NRM (funded by Tropical North Queensland Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub). The report will be published on the Forestry Hub website shortly. I will update the link once it is available online. To support knowledge sharing, I have summarised key findings in a factsheet and presented results to stakeholders during a workshop organised by Gulf Savannah NRM and the North Queensland Forestry Hub. This project would not have been possible without the invaluable contributions of many researchers, staff, and producers who generously provided their expertise and insights (see their names in photos below). Thank you again to everyone who contributed to this meaningful project.

Congrats to Charlotte on being recognised for her UniSC News article continuing to be the most read piece at 16,700 views and counting!

🎉 FRI Student Sigyel Delma at the Australia-Bhutan Research Conference 2024 🌏 We're thrilled to share that FRI student Sigyel Delma attended and presented her research, "Potential of Community Forestry in Bhutan to Increase Carbon Stock and Mitigate Climate Change," at the Australia-Bhutan Research Conference 2024 in Perth 🌱 This conference, themed "Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Emerging Topics – Bridging Innovations between Australia and Bhutan," serves as a platform for fostering knowledge exchange, innovative solutions, and strengthened bilateral relations between the two nations. It brought together researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to tackle Bhutan's development challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration and actionable strategies. The event highlighted critical areas such as sustainable growth through digital innovation, cultural preservation, and strategies for societal well-being. It also featured keynote addresses from distinguished leaders, including HE Sonam Tobgay, Ambassador of Bhutan to Australia, and Dasho Chewang Rinzin, founding director of the Royal Institute for Governance and Strategic Studies. Sigyel's work contributes meaningfully to these discussions, emphasising the transformative potential of community forestry in achieving sustainability goals. Congratulations, Sigyel, on this impactful presentation! 👏 Learn more about the conference: https://lnkd.in/gyDiDdMx

🌱 Improving Wood Quality for Australia’s Softwoods 🌲 Exciting advancements in wood quality assessment are transforming Australia’s forestry sector! As highlighted in this week’s Friday Offcuts, a groundbreaking project led by Associate Professor David Lee in the Forest Research Institute (FRI) is at the forefront of developing innovative technologies and methods to enhance the quality of Australia’s softwoods, with the support of Forest & Wood Products Australia. These efforts not only boost productivity but also support sustainable practices across the industry. 📖 Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/gjseCFy4 Kudos to A/Prof Lee and the team for leading this impactful work! What do you think is the next big step in improving wood quality? 💬 #Forestry #Innovation #Sustainability #WoodQuality #FridayOffcuts

This recently published Final Report on Mechanical Fuel Load Reduction Trials by the Australian Government offers critical insights into innovative approaches for reducing bushfire risks.   This comprehensive study evaluates the effectiveness of mechanical thinning techniques in managing fuel loads, highlighting their potential to enhance forest resilience and community safety. By integrating these methods with existing fire management practices, we can move closer to sustainable land management solutions that balance ecological health with risk reduction.   📘 Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gH2Suvij  

Applied research advancing wood quality assessment for Australia’s softwood industry, led by the Forest Research Institute at UniSC! Supported by FWPA, this innovative research leverages Resi technology, a resistance drilling method, to deliver faster, more accurate predictions of key wood properties like density and stiffness. Resi is three times faster than traditional methods and has been standardized for consistent industry use. Forest & Wood Products Australia David Lee Vilius Gendvilas