Andrew Lang

From MoxyWiki

Andrew Lang

Andrew Lang is a farmer and tree grower from the state of Victoria, Australia who has been awarded both Churchill and Gottstein Fellowships. His key areas of interest are forestry management and policies driving bioenergy adoption.

As inaugural chairman of SMARTimbers (Sustainably Managed Australian Regional Timbers), Lang is responsible for log sourcing and milling management. His achievements include driving the setting up of this co-operative of farm foresters, with its advantages of economies of scale resulting from aggregating members' wood and non-wood products within a single desk marketing structure; group certification of sustainably managed plantations; strategic alliances between the co-operative and other small local processors and consequent regional job creation. These are all part of Andrew Lang's innovative and pragmatic approach. ^[1]

The main areas of activity of SMARTimbers are:

1. the commercial production and marketing of farm sourced timber products
2. lobbying for better policy and management of the farm forestry area within the overall private forestry sector, including R&D work

Lang believes that farm forestry has enormous potential for carbon sequestration, as a source of biomass for energy and as a sawlog source for the timber industry ^[1] A primary focus of SmarTimbers is the native hardwood sugar gum (Eucalyptus cladocalyx) - timber that was once mainly grown by farmers as a plantation species for stock shelter and firewood has now been recognised for its machinability, high strength and density, durability and drought resistance. It is now being sold as a specialty timber with further value adding opportunities being pursued in the areas of furniture, flooring and veneer. Research has confirmed The co-operative structure facilitates sustainable marketing of family farm timbers.^[2]

Andrew is actively involved with key stakeholders in the global bioenergy arena:

1. Convenor of The Wood Energy Group, an apolitical non-profit organisation helping to promote the adoption of energy from woody biomass in Australia.
2. SMARTimbers has been a partner in the formation of the Farm Forest Growers Victoria (FFGV) an umbrella body for the 12 incorporated Victorian farm forestry networks, giving growers a voice in policy development, funding and R&D.
3. Andrew Lang has been appointed to the Victorian Sustainable Timber Industry Council
4. SMARTimbers has been active in contributing to the set up of Farm Forest Growers Victoria, the peak farm forestry body in Victoria. ^[3]
5. Committee member of the Central Victorian Farm Plantations Inc^[4].

In reference to his position representing the South Pacific region on the Interim Board of Directors of the World Bioenergy Association^[5], he says:

1. I am a member of the board because I want to: Help reduce dependence on fossil fuels by developing the significant and application of bioenergy as a cost effective and sustainable option.
2. Important issue at home right now: Low knowledge among policy makers and media commentators of the potential for bioenergy (including energy from municipal waste streams), and short planning timeframes and conflicting policies on renewable energy generally.
3. Important issue globally right now: Over reliance on fossil fuels and increasing energy use per capita.
4. Special interest/knowledge in the bioenergy area: Development and management of family forestry marketing cooperatives. Economics and logistics of small scale production from multiple benefit family forestry. Logistics and economics of conversion of forestry and timber industry waste to energy plant feedstock. Development of underlying policies that make biomass a cost competitive fuel^[6]

Significant reports by Andrew Lang include:

1. Private forestry timber marketing, value adding and sustainable management certification in North America, Europe, Scandinavia and Japan, report from Winston Churchill Fellowship^[7]
2. Energy from Wood – Policies, Logistics and Economics of Bioenergy in Nordic Countries, the report from his 2008 Gottstein Fellowship,^[1]
3. Study trip over May/June 2005 looking at production aspects of non-industrial private forestry in Scandinavia and North America^[8]

References:

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Energy from Wood – Policies, Logistics and Economics of Bioenergy in Nordic Countries pg 4
2. ↑ Case Study No. 8: Co-operative Timber
3. ↑ Farm Forest Growers Victoria
4. ↑ Central Victorian Farm Plantations Inc
5. ↑ Cheaper and cleaner - bioenergy leads the way in Scandinavia
6. ↑ World Bioenergy Association website
7. ↑ Private forestry timber marketing, value adding and sustainable management certification in North America, Europe, Scandinavia and Japan
8. ↑ Study trip over May-June 2005 looking at production aspects of non-industrial private forestry in Scandinavia and North America