Maroc - TIMBERBIZ.COM.AU - A La Une - Hier 23:34

On the path to becoming tomorrow’s forester

For Lily Marshall, the path to becoming a forester was anything but straightforward. Originally from New Zealand, she grew up surrounded by trees, thanks to her family’s horticulture business, but she initially studied biomedical science, fascinated by genetics and pharmacology. Source: Timberbiz After some globe-trotting, a stint as a sky-diving instructor in Sweden, and a return home just in time for the COVID-19 lockdown, Ms Marshall was rethinking her career. “I came across an ad on Facebook encouraging more women to join forestry,” she says. “I did some research, talked to people, and soon enough, I knew this was where I wanted to be.” After completing a two-year Diploma in Forest Management, she joined OneFortyOne in 2022 as a Value Optimisation Forester, based out of Mount Gambier. OneFortyOne manages the largest softwood plantation in the Green Triangle, which covers over 80,000 hectares of south east South Australia and south west Victoria. Ms Marshall’s role is to maximise the value from every tree harvested so nothing’s wasted. “Once a tree is cut down, we determine its value based on its end use whether it’s structural timber, industrial products or pulp. The goal is to get the most out of each part,” she says. Her days are a blend of office work, data analysis, and forest field visits. For Ms Marshall, this balance is one of the best parts of her job. “I love the problem-solving side of it. Each day is dynamic, and there’s always something new to learn,” she says. “I get to analyse data, work with harvesting teams, and even lend a hand during prescribed burns. It’s a perfect mix.” As the world seeks greener solutions to fight climate change, forestry stands out as an industry that’s truly sustainable, and Ms Marshall is passionate about its role in tackling the climate crisis. “We’re planting trees that sequester carbon, and every harvested tree is replaced. Plus, timber can be a substitute for materials like steel and concrete, which have much higher emissions,” she says, adding that there are now entire skyscrapers made of engineered wood around the world. Forests, she says, aren’t just rows of trees; they’re complex ecosystems supporting a wide range of plants and animals. “Forests support biodiversity, and as foresters, we work hard to protect native areas within our estates,” she says. South Australian plantation estates protect over 40,000 hectares of high-value habitats. This is something Lily is especially passionate about, describing foresters as “tree huggers” who genuinely care about sustainability and conservation. Forestry isn’t just good for the environment it’s also massive for the state’s economy. The sector contributes $3 billion annually, employs 18,000 South Australians and is a key driver for construction, manufacturing, tourism, and regional communities. South Australia produces 35% of Australia’s housing timber, 25% of Australia’s locally produced particleboard (think flat-packed furniture), as well as 60% of Australia’s agricultural timbers – that’s poles, posts and fencing for farms, and also the nation’s biggest producer of domestic-use wood products.