Forest Products Industry

A millennia-old purification technique could be the cure for Europe’s microplastic-riddled drinking water. Source: EuroNews In a recent study, seeds from the ‘miracle’ moringa tree were found to match or outperform their chemical counterpart in filtering out aged PVC microplastics – one of the most harmful plastic types for human health. The findings could pave the way for a greener alternative for treatment plants. Tiny plastic particles released from car tyres, paint, textiles and degraded plastic packaging have been building up in global water systems for decades, creating a silent but growing health risk. In 2024, the EU ramped up monitoring protocols for microplastics in drinking water. But last year, researchers warned that tiny particles, which are more likely to pass through the intestine into the blood and organs, could be slipping through the net. The use of moringa for purification is as old as it is innovative: it is thought to have been used by Ancient Egyptians to remove bacteria and reduce turbidity of water. With its fast growth, drought resistance, and low water requirements, the perennial crop not only requires minimal inputs – it acts as a carbon sink, thrives in arid, degraded soils, and supports biodiversity. Moringa’s wide range of uses, from treating malnutrition and diseases to water purification and anti-ageing products, have earned it the nickname of the ‘miracle tree’. Beyond the immediate health impacts of microplastics, which could be linked to cancer, heart attacks and reproductive problems, these tiny plastic particles – less than five millimetres in length – can absorb and transport other hazardous pollutants throughout ecosystems and into the food chain. Currently, European countries use both physical and chemical methods to remove microplastics from wastewater. Aluminum sulfate, often referred to as alum, is an inorganic salt commonly used as a coagulant in water treatment, separating microplastics and other contaminants for removal. While effective at purification, improper use can lead to raised aluminium levels in water, which have been linked to potential neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease. Alum also produces large volumes of sludge in the coagulation process, which is difficult to manage and dispose of – typically going to landfill, where it can leach toxins into soil and waterways. The production of alum is also harmful, requiring strip-mining for bauxite in tropical regions like Australia, Brazil, Guinea, Guyana and Jamaica, which can lead to deforestation and habitat loss. Refining and processing raw materials into the finished product requires significant thermal energy, releasing planet-heating emissions. The recent study, led by Gabrielle Batista at São Paulo State University (UNESP), Brazil, and published in scientific journal ACS Omega, reveals the promise of so-called ‘miracle tree’ moringa as a plant-based, non-toxic alternative. It compares alum with a salt-based extract made from moringa. Both coagulants work by neutralising the negative electrical charge that causes microplastic particles to repel each other and evade filters. Once neutralised, the particles clump together into larger aggregates – called flocs – that can be caught by a sand filter. Both alum and its moringa counterpart successfully removed over 98 per cent of PVC particles in water, with moringa proving to be more consistently reliable across a wider pH range. The particles were around 15 micrometres – small enough to slip through standard filters. Moringa was found to be as effective for in-line filtration as direct filtration, meaning it could cut out the costly and energy-consuming flocculation process, which binds coagulated particles together. One drawback that the researchers say needs further scrutiny is the leaching of dissolved organic carbon during the process, which could complicate downstream treatment processes. Moringa also needs to be tested for efficacy at scale.  

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The US House of Representatives passed the Save Our Sequoias Act with strong bipartisan support, advancing a focused effort to protect and restore giant sequoia groves in California. Source: Timberbiz The legislation directs the US Forest Service and National Park Service to accelerate fuels reduction and restoration work to improve forest conditions and reduce the risk of severe wildfire. New research from the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition shows more than 17% of all mature Giant Sequoias have been lost to wildfire since 2015, with most of that loss occurring in recent years. About 18% of grove area has experienced high severity fire effects, and many remaining groves lack strong resistance to extreme fire. These findings align with the federal government’s own analysis released during the Biden administration. The report, Mature and Old Growth Forests: Analysis of Threats, found that wildfire is the leading threat to older forests, followed by insects and disease. Since 2000, wildfires have resulted in the loss of approximately 2.6 million acres of mature forest and more than 700,000 acres of old growth on Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands. Insects and disease have contributed to the loss of roughly 1.9 million acres of mature forest and more than 180,000 acres of old growth. The same analysis found that a majority of these forests are vulnerable to ongoing disturbance under current conditions. The Save Our Sequoias Act focuses on treatments that reduce fuels, restore stand structure, and support the use of prescribed fire. These are the tools land managers are using to address the primary drivers of forest loss. A number of advocacy groups continue to use litigation and administrative challenges to delay or stop forest management projects, often raising concerns about impacts to old growth forests. These challenges are frequently directed at thinning and fuels reduction projects that are designed to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest conditions. Delays increase costs, limit implementation, and leave forests exposed to wildfire, insects, and disease. As the bill moves to the Senate, it reflects the need to carry out management at a pace and scale that matches current conditions. Sustaining mature and old growth forests requires continued action to reduce fuels, improve resilience, and address the disturbances that are driving losses across federal forests.  

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The Adelaide University’s Mount Gambier campus is set to host a public lecture next month.
“The Planted Forest in the Pacific Northwest” to be presented by Dr Scott Leavengood from Oregon State University. Source: Timberbiz Discover how forestry in the US Pacific Northwest has evolved from native forests to plantation timber, and how innovation like mass timber, is shaping the future. The lecture will be held on Tuesday, 19 May at 6pm for a 6.30pm start in the Bob and Gayle Cowan Auditorium. Those attending are invited to join at 6pm for drinks before the event starts, with supper served afterwards. https://events.humanitix.com/mount-gambier-public-lecture-84f3z9nj/tickets

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Koala habitat is being restored across flood-impacted parts of the Northern Rivers with community groups and Indigenous Ranger teams leading the planting of thousands of vital eucalypt trees. Source: Timberbiz A total of 20,000 seedlings will be delivered through Koala Conservation Australia’s (KCA) annual Koala Food Tree Giveaway, helping to rebuild and reconnect critical habitat corridors for local koala populations. The tallowwood, grey gum and forest red gum seedlings have been grown from seed by Forestry Corporation and donated to KCA through a partnership spanning more than a decade. Since its inception, the program has delivered more than 185,000 seedlings to landholders, community groups and large-scale restoration projects across the NSW North Coast. This year the 200,000-tree milestone will be reached. Seedlings will be distributed through WWF Australia’s Koala Friendly Carbon Initiative with Indigenous Ranger teams supporting on-ground planting. Koala Conservation Australia’s Conservation Manager Scott Castle said the program is a critical step in restoring habitat following extreme weather events. “The annual koala food tree giveaway goes some way to regenerating and connecting existing habitats,” Mr Castle said. “We’ve helped restore critical habitat in the wider community after devasting bushfires and floods. “This year we’re changing the structure of the giveaway, and working on a few large projects, to recover and enhance flood affected habitat to our north.” KCA remains committed to growing koala food trees at its two koala food plantations at Maria River and Moripo as a cornerstone of its conservation work. Forestry Corporation’s Grafton Nursery produces more than one million seedlings annually to support plantation forestry and regional timber supply. Forestry Corporation’s Senior Manager Community and Partnerships Kathy Lyons said the initiative highlights the impact of strong partnerships. “These seedlings play an important role in strengthening koala habitat and supporting the resilience of koala populations in the Northern Rivers and will be delivered to multiple program partners, including Indigenous ranger groups, who are central to on-ground restoration and long-term land stewardship,” Ms Lyons said.

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