Representatives of one of Australia’s largest forestry regions say prolonged drought conditions are killing pine trees and increasing disease risks, threatening long-term timber growth. The Green Triangle region consists of around 334,000 hectares of pine plantations in south-east South Australia and south-west Victoria. Parts of the region are in drought and experiencing their driest weather on record, which industry representatives say is now taking its toll. Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub general manager Tony Wright said forestry pine plantations were planted on a 30-year rotation. He said the current drought damage had stunted tree growth, which was unable to be recovered throughout the trees’ life cycle. “An impact on growth in any particular year will affect the yield at the end of that rotation and that then will affect the supply chain.”