August 2009

US producing wood pellets for Europe

Forest products markets / Holzproduktmärkte: Pellets, Pellets, Seefracht, Biomasse, Energie aus Holzbiomasse, Bioenergie, Biomass, Bioenergy, overseas shipping

Recently, the Wall Street Journal’s Russell Gold reported that the wood pellet industry in the United States is being driven largely by European utility companies.

Certified Forestry Is In Trouble, U.N. Report Says

Forests / Waelder: Forest certification, Forstzertifizierung

The certified-forestry movement is running out of steam, a United Nations report suggests.

Norway’s Statkraft to invest up to $1.4 bln with Södra

Forest products markets / Holzproduktmärkte: Papier- und Zellstoffindustrie, Pulp- and Paperindustry

The Swedish forestry and timber product company Södra and the Norwegian energy company Statkraft have signed an agreement of intent on renewable energy valued at up to SEK 10 billion (Euro 1 billion). The agreement initiates a range of investment projects and cooperative agreements in the energy sector.

Over 10,000 jobs already lost in Finnish forestry sector

Forest products markets / Holzproduktmärkte: Sägeindustrie, Papier- und Zellstoffindustrie, Plattenindustrie, Woodworking industry, Saw milling industry, Pulp- and Paperindustry, Panel Industry, Boardindustry

Finnish forestry’s contribution to the national economy has dropped by half since the start of the new millennium.

FEATURE-Carbon traders bet on California redwoods

Forests / Waelder: Handel (-Zertifikaten), trading, Carbon, Kohlenstoff

GARCIA RIVER FOREST, Calif., Aug 21 (Reuters) - A stand of young redwoods, survivors in what was once a magnificent forest of towering giants, could play a small part of the battle to slow global warming -- and forms part of an emerging market.

Global forest destruction seen overestimated?

Forests / Waelder: REDD+, Klimawandel, Klimaänderung, Climate change, Land use change, Landnutzungsänderung

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - The amount of carbon emissions caused by world forest destruction is likely far less than the 20 percent figure being widely used before global climate talks in December, said the head of the Brazilian institute that measures Amazon deforestation.

Study doubts UN calculation of climate change costs

Forests / Waelder: REDD+, Klimawandel, Klimaänderung, Climate change

The global cost of adapting to the effects of climate change will be at least two or three times higher than estimated by the UNFCCC, a new report states.

International Paper Treads Monsanto’s Path to ‘Frankenforests’

Forestry / Forstwirtschaft: afforestation, Aufforstung, Forstplantage, Industrial forest plantation, Pflanzung, planting

Aug. 28 (Bloomberg) -- International Paper Co., the world’s largest pulp and paper maker, plans to remake commercial forests in the same way Monsanto Co. revolutionized farms with genetically modified crops.

International wood pellets markets - a retrospection on 2008

Forest products markets / Holzproduktmärkte: Pellets, Pellets, Biomasse, Energie aus Holzbiomasse, Bioenergie, Forest energy, Biomass, Bioenergy

The use of wood pellets as fuel for domestic stoves and boilers and for co-firing in thermal power plants has been an amazing success story over the past 10 years. Recently, the exorbitant speed of growth caused supply problems and a slowdown of markets, but the next boom is waiting, says Christian Rakos.

Rising New Zealand Dollar a threat for wood processing industry

Forest products markets / Holzproduktmärkte: Sägeindustrie, Woodworking industry, Saw milling industry

Wood processing company Winstone Pulp International says the rising New Zealand dollar is a major concern.

Sawlog prices near 5-year low globally

Forest products markets / Holzproduktmärkte: Sägeindustrie, Holzprodukte, Sägerundholz, sawlogs, Woodworking industry, Saw milling industry

The Global Sawlog Price Index (GSPI) in the 2Q/09, increased for the first time since late 2007, reaching $68.87/m3. The Index, which is based on conifer sawlog prices in 19 key regions worldwide from 1995 to present, was still close to its lowest level in five years. Prices were slightly higher in most world regions this quarter mainly because of a weaker US dollar. In the local currencies, log prices adjusted downward in practically all countries with Russia and Western Canada being the only exceptions.

Guyana and REDD - An interesting Partnership

Countries / Laender

Guyana's deforestation projections under its proposal for seeking carbon payments for conserving its forests are raising questions, according to commentary published in Stabroek News.

Kehrt der Regenwald im Amazonas zurück?

Forests / Waelder: Deforestation, REDD+, Land use change, Landnutzungsänderung

Kehrt der Amazonas-Regenwald zurück? Neue Studien deuten darauf hin, dass nachwachsende Vegetationen den Dschungel zumindest teilweise ersetzen können. Kritiker befürchten jedoch, der Raubbau werde verharmlost - denn auch die Sekundärwälder werden oft wieder abgefackelt.

Brazil - Land Use Change - From and to Forests

Forests / Waelder: Deforestation, REDD+, Land use change, Landnutzungsänderung

In Brazil, Paying Farmers to Let the Trees Stand

QUERENCIA, Brazil — José Marcolini, a farmer here, has a permit from the Brazilian government to raze 12,500 acres of rain forest this year to create highly profitable new soy fields.

Weak forest definition may undermine REDD efforts

Forests / Waelder: REDD+

The weak definition of what constitutes forest under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) puts the effectiveness of a proposed mechanism for reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) at risk, argue researchers writing in the journal Conservation Letters.