Forest Products Industry

Vida AB, a subsidiary of Canfor, will permanently close its sawmill operations in Urshult and Orrefors, Sweden. Source: Timberbiz “While this was a difficult decision, the closures are necessary given the ongoing imbalance between production capacity and access to fibre in southern Sweden,” said Karl-Johan Löwenadler, CEO of Vida AB. “By concentrating production in fewer more productive and efficient facilities, we will strengthen Vida’s competitiveness and better position the business for the future.” The closures will reduce Vida’s annual lumber production capacity by approximately 265,000 cubic metres. Following the closures, Vida will operate 13 sawmills across central and southern Sweden, along with its other facilities in packaging, specialty finishing, and logistics.

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Deep Forestry a Swedish robotics and AI company announced the successful close of a €3 million funding round led by Fairpoint Capital, with participation from Superorganism, SpatialCapital, The Arbor Day Foundation’s Impact Fund, First Gate Invest and others. Source: Timberbiz Deep Forestry’s autonomous under-canopy drone system produces the first end-to-end, precision single-tree inventory of the world’s forests. This is the foundational data layer that harvest planning, wildfire fuel-load management, carbon and biomass measurement, reforestation monitoring, biodiversity reporting, and timber logistics all depend on to modernize. Each is a multi-billion-dollar market primed for automation that only becomes achievable once precision single-tree ground truth exists. To date, Deep Forestry’s drones have completed more than 1,000 autonomous flights beneath the canopy in forests across multiple continents. The system measures stem diameter with a mean absolute error of 1.6 cm against harvester measurements along the full length of the stem, independently verified by a third-party government forestry authority. “Autonomous drone surveying beneath the forest canopy was by far the hardest problem to solve. But once achieved, it unlocked the acquisition of precision single-tree inventory: the foundational data layer that forestry and ESG industries had long been missing,” said Levi Farrand, CEO and Founder of Deep Forestry. “By solving end-to-end autonomy in nature, the most complex environment on earth, we’ve built a spatial intelligence stack that generalizes beyond forestry. Every other vertical becomes accessible from here.” Deep Forestry will use the funds to expand both its technical and commercial teams and establish a commercial presence in key forestry markets across the world, while deepening partner integrations with players running on top of its inventory layer. To learn more about Deep Forestry, visit https://www.deepforestry.com/

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The Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC) work is often rooted in standards, scientific data, and the tangible metrics of sustainable forest management. But the future of forests is not just a matter of policy; it is a profoundly human endeavour. With this in mind, FSC collaborated on Three Words for Forest, an innovative theatrical production that explores the complexities of our relationship with the natural world. Source: Timberbiz Three Words for Forest is a compelling project that steps away from conventional environmental advocacy. Instead, it invites the audience into the lives of those who steward our woodlands. The play is built upon a series of candid interviews with forestry specialists, capturing the diverse voices of people working on the frontlines of conservation. Through their narratives, the production delves into the urgent challenges, the complexities, and the quiet, persistent hopes and fears of managing forests in an era defined by the climate crisis. For FSC, engaging with the performing arts represents a vital shift in how it communicates the importance of sustainable forest management. While scientific reports and certification criteria provide the roadmap for a sustainable future, storytelling provides the emotional framework necessary to inspire action. By supporting Three Words for Forest, FSC aims to foster a deeper, more empathetic connection between the public and the stewards of the land. By humanizing the forestry profession, FSC can better articulate why sustainable management is not just a technical necessity, but a moral imperative. One of the most exciting aspects of this collaboration is its commitment to accessibility. The production is free to access, ensuring that this message can reach classrooms, community groups, and individuals around the world. To further support this engagement, the project includes a range of discussion and learning resources, designed to help viewers unpack the themes raised in the play and facilitate meaningful conversations about the future of our planet. Whether you are a student, a professional in the sector, or simply a concerned citizen looking to better understand the realities of forest life in the 21st century, Three Words for Forest offers a unique, reflective experience. It challenges us to look beyond the trees and consider the human stories that underpin our global commitment to forest stewardship. You can watch the play and explore the educational resources for free at https://threewordsforest.org.uk/

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