Forest Products Industry

The proposed Academic Wood Tower build at the University of Toronto, Canada will be an iconic, precedent-setting building at a unique site on St. George campus. The tower will be the Canada’s tallest academic timber building. It is intended that the tower become a prototype for the use of mass timber both nationally and worldwide. Source: Timberbiz Given the prominent sustainable effort driving the project, the design approach will both reveal this unique timber structure to the street, while also responsibly designing the building envelope to respond to its four unique solar conditions via a passive design strategy. The intent is one that responds specifically to its context, while also delivering the highest energy performance and thermal comfort solution. The site offers a strong, highly visible location. A fully glazed façade to the north will showcase a timber structure to great effect along the Bloor St corridor. The ability to expose underside of timber decks will provide an attractive finished ceiling, with a resulting interior character evocative of Toronto loft buildings. The Academic Wood Tower will primarily accommodate the academic and research requirements of three groups: Rotman School of Management, the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy in the Faculty of Arts and Science and the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education. Even prior to construction, the Academic Wood Tower was attracting significant attention for its innovative design. Designed by award-winning Canadian firms Patkau Architects and MJMA Architecture & Design with consulting from Blackwell Structural Engineers and Smith+Andersen, the Academic Wood Tower’s unique and sustainable structure has already won a Canadian Architect Award of Excellence. The same team worked on U of T’s Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport, which included the tower’s foundation and basement as part of its construction. Now, with the first deliveries of mass-timber components to the site, construction of the Academic Wood Tower is proceeding under the management of industry leader Pomerleau. The university anticipates completing the building in 2026. The building is expected to serve as a case study for designers and engineers who can analyze this milestone achievement and potentially apply the tower’s best practices to their own projects.

Indonesia’s 2019 wildfires burned 3.1 million hectares, an area bigger than Belgium, blanketed six other countries in smoky haze, released almost 604 million tonnes of CO2 and caused some 900,000 people to report respiratory illnesses. The fires also inflicted US$5.2 billion in losses in Indonesia, according to the World Bank, adding to the US$16 billion caused by even larger fires in 2015. Source: Timberbiz According to the UN Environment Program (UNEP) worse is still to come; the UN body expects a 14% increase in forest fires globally by 2030 due to a mixture of climate change and changing land use. But in Indonesia, a UNEP-led integrated fire management pilot project, financed by USAID, has, since 2021, helped build greater fire resistance in three of the country’s most fire-prone districts. It draws inspiration from a “cluster-based” approach towards land management practiced in South Africa bringing together the knowhow of community fire-fighting brigades like Marlizar’s, the reach of government agencies, and the resources of some of Indonesia’s largest private companies. The project’s aim of enhancing coordination between community, government, and private land users could hold lessons for fire-prone countries around the world. “Forest fires inflict massive humanitarian, environmental and economic costs, especially when they occur on carbon-rich peatlands, so it’s in everyone’s interest to prevent them from breaking out,” says UNEPs program officer Johan Kief. “Indonesia has set ambitious goals on halting deforestation and reducing carbon emissions—reducing the risk of fires is a key component of achieving them.” After UNEP began forming fire prevention clusters in 2021, no fire hotspots were found in the first pilot district, Central Kalimantan’s Pulang Pisau, in the 2022 dry season. In Riau’s Pelalawan district, where Teluk Maranti is located, the number of reported fires decreased from 139 in 2021 to 88 in 2022. In South Sumatra’s Ogan Komering Ilir district, the third pilot area, the number of reported fires declined from 345 to 109. Based on the results achieved in the initial three pilot districts, the project is expanding to a further six priority districts, with the aim of eventually implementing the approach nationwide. “The efficacy of collaborative approaches to fire prevention has been proven through these clusters. Sharing the experience of these three districts not just in Indonesia, but also to other peat-rich and fire-prone countries in Latin America and southern Africa, is a contribution from Indonesia to the world,” said Bambang Suryaputra, Head of the Centre for Operation Control at Indonesia’s disaster prevention agency, BNPB. Indonesia has the third largest area of forest cover in the world, behind only Brazil and the Democratic Republic of Congo. But as with elsewhere on an archipelago that was 84% forest in 1900, the road that leads from Riau’s provincial capital Pekabaru to the UNEP pilot district Palalawan, tells the story of how industry and agriculture has led the forest to recede. Kilometre after kilometre, the cacophony of jungle has been replaced with uniform blocks of squat glossy green oil palm, spindly brown acacia, and white dappled rubber. At least 14 companies hold concessions in Palalawan district. One of the largest is paper and pulp maker APRIL, with some 150,000 hectares of acacia estate. Most fires in Palalawan break out on community rather than company land, APRIL’s deputy chief of fire and emergency response, Mr. Yuneldi says, but even when fires occur outside the company’s estate, APRIL has sent its ample resources, equipment, and personnel to assist the police and military in putting down fires. Equipped with satellite imaging and real time weather tracking technology, the resources at APRIL’s fire centre are a far cry from those available to community firefighters like Marlizar and his team, who gauge the dryness of the peatland they patrol by the way it falls through their fingers. It is these differences in resources that UNEP’s cluster approach is designed to address, through developing an integrated strategy to take on a challenge that affects everyone. In Teluk Meranti, community-based awareness raising efforts are paying off: new signage cautions fishers and bird hunters against tossing cigarette butts or starting cooking fires, and farmers have a better understand of the risks involved in burning dry peatland.

Forestry and wood industry jobs were up 1.4% from 2012 to 2022 in Europe. In 2022, 3.6 million people worked in different fields in forestry and wood-based industry in the EU, a 1.4% increase compared with 2012. Source: Timberbiz Total employment in all areas in the EU increased by 8.4% between 2012 and 2022. In terms of employment status, 3.2 million people were employed in activities related to forestry and wood-based industry in 2022 (classified by NACE Rev. 2), and another 411 000 people were self-employed in that sector. The activity that employed the most people in the forestry and wood-based industry was the manufacture of furniture, which recorded a total of 1.1 million employed people and 165 000 self-employed people. From 2012 to 2022, employment in this field increased 0.9%.

In the small town of Killarney, in Queensland, where the whispers of timber mingle with the hum of machinery, Ralph Affleck crafted a symphony of industry all on his own. His sawmill wasn’t just a place of work; it was a testament to determination, craftsmanship, and a life lived with purpose. Source: Warwick Today Timber ran deep in Ralph’s veins, his journey beginning at the age of 16 in the timber industry. From driving steam log winders to crafting his own double-sided skidder tractor decades later, Ralph’s passion for woodworking knew no bounds. His solo-operational sawmill was more than a retirement project; it was a manifestation of a lifetime’s dedication to the timber trade. With meticulous planning and countless hours among the sawdust, Ralph brought his vision to life, sketching designs in 3D with a 30cm ruler to ensure every piece fit seamlessly together. Ralph was a unique man whose drive and commitment influenced everyone around him especially his son Bruce Affleck. “He was a really good role model, who instilled good life and work values into us,“ Bruce said. “The timber industry was his life, so to see him push to fruition a project he was so passionate about even so late in his life was heartening.” On top of creating one of the only solo-operating sawmills, Ralph’s hard work also became a popular tourist spot. Visitors could come and watch one man transform timber with a smile and a laugh. Despite numerous accidents and setbacks, Ralph’s commitment never wavered. In a Landline documentary, Ralph happily supplied the story of his now nine toes while showing off all 10 fingers. “Dad has had numerous accidents in his logging career, he was constantly getting badly injured but it never stopped him,” Bruce said. “He always went back because that was where he was happy.” Bruce recalled his favourite memories with his dad to be centred around logging. “As a kid, I used to go logging with him in the bush and watch him pull the logs on his tractor then as I grew up I worked with him,” Bruce said. Even in his late 80s, Ralph refused to retire. It was only after a fall left him unconscious that he reluctantly stepped away from his beloved mill. A few years later, Ralph passed away at 94. His passing left a void in everyone he has touched, but his legacy lives on in the memories of those who knew him. As his family sorts through the remnants of his workshop, the future of the sawmill remains uncertain. Insurance hurdles and logistical challenges cloud the path forward, leaving the mill dormant for now. Yet, amidst the silence of the saw blades, Ralph’s spirit endures—a reminder that age is no barrier to creativity, and commitment knows no bounds. The sawmill in Killarney may no longer echo with the sounds of industry, but it stands as a monument to Ralph’s indomitable spirit and unwavering dedication.

Poplars and willows offer a host of benefits including stabilising land which helps hold fertile soil in place instead of running into waterways and estuaries during storm events. Source: Timberbiz Northland Regional Council (NRC) member Rick Stolwerk says the benefits the two species offer is one of the reasons it subsidises both trees from the Mata nursery near Whangarei in New Zealand. “Keeping fertile soils on the land is in the interest of all Northlanders and without the protection poplars and other trees afford, hills can simply erode and wash away in severe rainstorms.” Councillor Stolwerk says eroded sediment is Northland’s biggest natural pollutant, research showing the Bay of Islands alone has lost an average of 500,000 tonnes annually for the past century. “Preventing erosion at source, for both environmental and economic reasons – is one of the reasons the regional council has invested heavily in its poplar and willow nursery.” He describes poplars and willows as the ‘unsung heroes’ of our rural environment as without the protection the trees offer, many of our hills would seriously erode in bad storms. The councillor (who represents the NRC’s Coastal South constituency the Flyger Rd nursery sits in) says poplars and willows offer a host of benefits. “They stabilise pastoral hill country, sequester carbon, provide timber, reduce sediment runoff, improve water quality, provide stock shade and enhance the farm environment.” Every year about this time the NRC invites landowners with erosion-prone properties from Topuni north to order subsidised poplar and willow material from the Flyger Rd nursery for the approaching winter planting season. Orders are open now and the council’s nursery manager John Ballinger says a poplar or willow will cost between NZ$1.15 to NZ$45.00 (GST exclusive) depending on size and whether it’s planted for erosion control or another purpose. Mr Ballinger says protective sleeves for 3m poles (largest size of tree) are NZ$7.50 (GST excl) each and depending on contractor availability, the regional council is also heavily subsidising the planting of poplars and willows up to an additional NZ $7.00 (GST excl) per tree. Mr Ballinger says due to cyclone damage last year, there are a limited number of 3m poles this year, but an abundance of 1m wands. Wands are cheaper than poles and are a good alternative for areas that can be easily fenced (temporarily or permanently). Demand usually outstrips supply, so people are being urged to order them sooner rather than later. “While payment doesn’t have to be made until 20 June, we will stop taking orders on 13 May or when stocks are all sold, whichever comes sooner.” Anyone interested in securing trees should contact a member of the council’s land management staff on (0800) 002 004 or email: nursery@nrc.govt.nz to arrange a consultation. Councillor Stolwerk says the fast-growing trees have broad and binding root systems and have been widely used for years in Northland to prevent and control erosion and cut waterway sediment pollution. “Although neither species is native, their rapid growth rates mean they can control erosion quickly, enabling grazing to continue without the need to retire the entire paddock.” Furthermore, in summer they provide shade for livestock and in winter drop their leaves allowing the grass to grow making them ideal trees for pastoral farming. He says general information about establishing poplars and willows is also available from the council’s website via: www.nrc.govt.nz/poplars Meanwhile, Cr Stolwerk says if a property is located within the Kaipara Catchment, either the Northland or Auckland part of the Kaipara Catchment – Kaipara Moana Remediation is now supplying poplar poles and wand material for soil conservation and erosion control. (KMR does not supply willow material.) If you are interested in accessing materials with expert advice, please express your interest at our website https://kmr.org.nz/landowner-expression-of-interest/ or email hono@kmr.org.nz “If you are currently working with KMR please discuss this with your field advisor.” “Kaipara Moana Remediation will send experts out to help you make a planting plan and place your order from the NRC nursery.”