Forest Practices Authority Research Update Day

Posted 17 September 2025

Native regrowth forest management

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Private Forests Tasmania attended the Forest Practices Authority’s Research Update Day in September 2025 to hear from a range of scientists about new learnings related to native and plantation forest management.

Presentation subjects from the day included:

• the use of charcoal and pollen records to date the arrival of Aboriginals to Tasmania;
• damage that can be caused by fires to geoscience values;
• carbon storage in native forests;
• the use of audio recorders to detect threatened bird species;
• using remote technology for drought impact;
• adapting seed zones to future climate scenarios; and
• observations on genetic variability in Eucalyptus viminalis to Ginger Tree syndrome.

Researchers from the University of Tasmania also shared an interesting presentation about measuring fuel loads in native regrowth forests. The high fuel loads in these forests increases their risk of burning severely and at high intensity.

The research also showed that commercial thinning of these forests reduces the standing volume significantly but only minimally reduces the fuel loads. It is important for landowners and managers to manage fuel loads post thinning to further reduce the bushfire risk.

More information on managing native forest regrowth forests is available HERE.