From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article or section may contain original research or unattributed claims. Please help Wikipedia by adding references. See the talk page for details.

Woodchipping is an Australian forestry production method of clearcutting, usually resulting in the deforestation of an area. The timber is converted to woodchips and sold, primarily, for paper manufacture. Forestry practices such as short rotation coppice are the usual methods adopted, in most other parts of the world, for the production of woodchips. Woodchipping uses cheap sources of the raw material, such as undeveloped State forests, to become an economical export commodity. In Australia, the Eucalyptus forest is clearfelled - not logged selectively - and regeneration is not possible except with introduced species.^{[citation needed]}

Other uses of wood chips includes the manufacture of particle board (or 'chip board') and other engineered woods, mulch, fuel, and ballast in bulk carrier ships.

Contents 1 Sources and process 2 Usage 3 Criticism 4 See also 4.1 Woodchip mill companies and locations 4.2 Woodchip critics and opponents 5 External links 6 Notes & Reference 7 Further reading

Main article: Forestry

The primary source of wood chips in Australia has been the extensive Eucalyptus hardwood forests found in that country. Prior to the colonisation of Australia, these forests were managed and utilised by the indigenous people. After settlement they were used as a source of timber and firewood or were clearfelled for farming purposes. During the late 1960s and 70s the high demand for paper and the relatively low cost and availability of the native forests made woodchipping a viable proposition for exploitation. The State Parliaments of the day released forrested land and provided infrastructure for the industries.

'Logging' roads are the first stage of the process, the provision of labour and woodchipper mills are the next requirement. The trees are removed from the area via logging trucks and any remaining impedance to further logging is removed or destroyed. The method therefore requires less sophisticated planning and logistics than selective logging and other practices.^{[citation needed]} The woodchips are converted into a fibre which is made into a low grade of paper, usually by the Kraft process, for use as newsprint or toilet paper. Most processing and value adding takes place outside of Australia. ^[1] The Australian economy benefits directly from a low cost and high volume export commodity. ^[2]

The environmental impact and effects of processing, such as energy expenditure and chemical waste products, were externalities to the industry. The deforestation of regions also increased salinity problems and erosion.^{[citation needed]} Loss of biodiversity remains an issue to conservation movements. Subsidisation by the governments of the day also insured that the industry was able to continue, creating employment and reinvigorating rural areas in recession^{[citation needed]}.

Main article: Paper

Wood chips, as a by-product of the timber industry, have been used in many ways for centuries, for example as a material for the production of wallpaper or as a disposable floor covering in butchers shop or drinking houses.[1] Wood pulp is the primary market for the woodchipping industry in Austalia.

The practice, known as woodchipping, was to make use of the entire plant in the production of wood chips. This was then converted into paper for news print and other low-grade requirements. An energy intensive process, it also involved the use of bleaches and other toxic chemicals. This stage of the process, known as Kraft pulping, was primarily performed in Japan and elsewhere. High demand for paper products saw purpose built bulk carriers increase the export of woodchips from Australia to Japan.

The separation of the chipping stage and the pulping and paper mills required the supply of energy usually sourced from by-products of the process. Additional energy expenditure is found in the shipping of raw materials and export of the finished product.

The large amount of capital investment and the lower number of employees makes this less profitable than other forestry practices.^{[citation needed]} Most forest types did not regenerate after the complete clearfelling of the trees.^{[citation needed]} Replanting of forests was often with a non-endemic tree species and this put further pressure on the surrounding bioregion.^{[citation needed]} An immediate and long term effect on the water tables contributed to the increasing soil salination (salinity) problems of Australia.^{[citation needed]} Logging roads increased the spread of introduced species like the fox (Vulpes vulpes) and Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus).^{[citation needed]} The effect of these species migration to new areas had an even greater impact than the deforestation itself, significantly reducing biodiversity.^{[citation needed]}

In the late 1970s and 80s, woodchipping of forests was brought into question and became the source of public debate in Australia. Environmental groups addressed, or were formed, to raise awareness. Protest campaigns and direct acts of civil disobedience were also undertaken.

• Clearfelling
• Logging

• Eden, New South Wales
• Gunns
• W.A. Chip & Pulp Co
• Wesley Vale pulp mill

• Australian Conservation Foundation
• Campaign to Save Native Forests
• Conservation Council of Western Australia
• Great Walk Networking
• Liberals for Forests
• South West Forests Defence Foundation
• Western Australian Forests Alliance

• History of woodchipping
• New Bush Telegraph report
• Gunns Mill pro- argument from NAFI

• Dargavel, John (1995) Fashioning Australia's forests, Oxford. Oxford University Press.
• Lines, William J. (1998) A long walk in the Australian bush, Sydney, University of New South Wales Press.
• Mcdonald, Jan (1975) The Australian woodchip industry : a bibliography Canberra : Subject Reference Section, Parliamentary Library Legislative Service, 1975 "This bibliography has been compiled in connection with the inquiry into the Australian woodchip industry by the Senate Select Committee on Social Environment"
• Routley, R. and V. (1973) The Fight for the Forests: The Takeover of Australian Forests for Pines, Wood Chips and Intensive Forestry, Research School of Social Sciences, ANU, Canberra.
• Tamaki, Mitsuzo. (1999) Green business alliance : The case of a Japanese/Australian joint forest plantation project. Asia Pacific journal of economics & business, Dec. 1999, p. 76-96
• Thompson, Herb and Tracy, Julie.(1995) Woodchipping in Western Australia : timber workers vs. conservationists. Perth, W.A. : Murdoch University. ISBN 0869054538. Working paper (Murdoch University. Dept. of Economics) ; no. 135..
• Walter, Terry (1976) “Some Cost-benefit Aspects of Wood-Chipping in Western Australia”, Economic Activity, 56- 65.