Forest Products Industry

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has selected 60 Young Forest Champions for 2026 to lead action on forest conservation, restoration and sustainable use underpinned by innovative monitoring approaches across six countries. Source: Timberbiz The new cohort, all aged 18-30, were selected from more than 1,700 applications from Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Peru, Uganda and Zambia, underscoring rising interest among young people in tackling forest and climate challenges. The forest champions represent a diverse group of students, young researchers, Indigenous leaders and community organizers. Many of those selected are already leading initiatives in areas such as mangrove restoration, agroforestry, biodiversity conservation and environmental education. “Young people are not only the future of forestry but are already leading change on the ground,” said Zhimin Wu, FAO Assistant Director-General and Director of the Forestry Division. “These 60 Young Forest Champions bring energy, innovation and local knowledge essential to protecting and sustainably managing forests and strengthening climate resilience.” Through the UK-FAO partnership on forest monitoring, AIM4Forests, this year’s Young Forest Champions will be equipped with the innovative technical approaches and solutions they need to scale up their impact. Participants will benefit from mentorship, technical training and peer learning focused on forest monitoring, remote sensing, geospatial technologies and digital data collection. By combining cutting-edge technology with local knowledge, the initiative supports more effective and inclusive forest management. It also aims to strengthen the role of young people, especially women, Indigenous Peoples and rural communities, in government decision-making processes that shape the management and future of forests. The Young Forest Champions initiative is linked to the Global Youth Network for Forest Monitoring, launched in October 2025 as a collaborative platform for young people passionate about forests, sustainability and climate action. The network promotes knowledge exchange, mentorship and peer learning among youth worldwide, creating opportunities to share experiences, innovative ideas and learning resources related to forest monitoring, restoration and conservation. Operating primarily through WhatsApp for active engagement and LinkedIn for professional networking, the network connects young leaders across regions and strengthens their collective role in protecting, restoring and monitoring forests for future generations.

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Waratah Forestry Equipment has introduced all-new, patented machined, no-shank saw teeth designed to maintain performance through dirt contact and rocky environments. Source: Timberbiz “Waratah’s no shank saw teeth are engineered to strike the right balance between cutting-edge performance and durability,” said Brent Fisher, product marketing manager for Waratah. “The patented machined tip helps reduce chipping from impacts and assists in supporting long-lasting cutting performance in tough, abrasive conditions. For operators who seek Waratah quality down to every part, the new saw teeth deliver.” Where other teeth may wear quickly or crack, Waratah’s are designed to perform through tough timber environments to help provide dependable durability and performance. With three tooth kerfs available (2 5/16”, 2 7/16” and 2 1/2”), they’re compatible with competitive wide kerf no shank (shankless) tooth enabled blades using 1” bolts and will be sold in kits of 18 or 20 pieces. “When operators see a product with the Waratah name on it, they can trust it was proven and built with performance in mind,” Mr Fisher said. “When it comes to keeping machines running, every part matters. Staying sharp, even through dirt contact, is what we set out to achieve and what our operators can expect with these new saw teeth.” The hardened no-shank saw teeth join an extensive offering of genuine Waratah parts. As with all Waratah parts and products, the saw teeth also come with easily accessible support for dealers and customers.

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Metsä Group’s impact on the Finnish economy is significant: the company’s value-added impact amounts to approximately EUR 3.4 billion per year, and its operations employ more than 30,000 people in Finland. The figures are based on an assessment by KPMG Oy Ab of Metsä’s economic impact in 2023–2025. Source: Timberbiz The results highlight the key role of the forest industry in the Finnish economy at a time when growth has been slow and the economic outlook remains uncertain. Metsä’s total output – its overall impact on the Finnish economy, amounts to EUR 10,060 million per year. This is generated not only by the company’s own revenue but also by its extensive domestic value chain, including procurement, investments and wages, as well as the economic activity they create across different industries. Metsä’s operations generate an estimated EUR 930 million in annual tax revenues in Finland. This is a scale that translates concretely into Finnish society, for example in the funding of public services. The amount corresponds to the annual salaries of more than 20,000 nurses in Finland. During the review period, Metsä directly employed an average of 5,750 people in Finland. Procurement, investments, and the spending of wages by directly and indirectly employed people generate an additional nearly 25,000 jobs. In total, the employment impact amounts to approximately 30,800 people, roughly equivalent to the entire employed population of a city. Metsä’s value-added impact, the economic value generated in Finland in the form of wages, profits and taxes, is approximately EUR 3.4 billion, a significant contribution to Finland’s GDP. The impacts extend widely across business sectors and regions: work carried out in forests, logistics and industry is reflected throughout society and the economy nationwide. Investments made in Finland create long-term effects on employment, business activity and public finances. The assessment demonstrates the extensive impact that forestry and the forest industry have on employment, economic growth and public finances in Finland. Value is created from Finnish forests and refined into a broad domestic value chain that provides jobs and generates wellbeing across the country. “In the current environment, it is particularly important that Finland does not, through national decisions, weaken the operating conditions for forestry and the forest industry, but instead supports their renewal, efficiency and international competitiveness,” said Jussi Vanhanen, President and CEO of Metsä Group. The assessment conducted by KPMG is based on data provided by Metsä for 2023–2025 as well as Statistics Finland data. The analysis was carried out using an input–output model and covers the company’s direct, indirect and induced effects, including the impacts generated by the spending of wages of directly and indirectly employed people in Finland.

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