Forest Products Industry

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games are seeing sustainability in practice, with PEFC-certified timber used in iconic venues like the Olympic Aquatic Centre. Source: Timberbiz In the construction of the Olympic Aquatic Centre, Mathis, a French company renowned for its expertise in constructing large wooden buildings, chose PEFC certification to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability. During construction, Mathis collaborated closely with management teams and general contractors, aiming to meet the high expectations of both the Olympic Committee and SOLIDEO, the organisation overseeing the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. The decision to use wood as the primary material helped SOLIDEO to meets its environmental goals. For Mathis, this meant ensuring that the wood used was not only high-quality but also sustainably sourced, resulting in 95% PEFC-certified wood in the Olympic Aquatic Centre. “It is absolutely essential to ensure the best possible system, so we can say that we have certified wood. We are able to rely on a robust system because it carries the PEFC label,” explains Frank Mathis, CEO of Mathis. “The fact that we have a certification system like PEFC obliges all companies to come into line. This expectation must go down the whole chain. The question doesn’t have to be whether you feel like it or not. Those who want to continue to work have to get involved. The whole chain has to be part of this.” During construction, Mathis collaborated closely with management teams and general contractors, aiming to meet the high expectations of both the Olympic Committee and SOLIDEO, the organisation overseeing the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. The decision to use wood as the primary material helped SOLIDEO to meets its environmental goals. For Mathis, this meant ensuring that the wood used was not only high-quality but also sustainably sourced, resulting in 95% PEFC-certified wood in the Olympic Aquatic Centre. “It is absolutely essential to ensure the best possible system, so we can say that we have certified wood. We are able to rely on a robust system because it carries the PEFC label,” explains Frank Mathis, CEO of Mathis. “The fact that we have a certification system like PEFC obliges all companies to come into line. This expectation must go down the whole chain. The question doesn’t have to be whether you feel like it or not. Those who want to continue to work have to get involved. The whole chain has to be part of this.”

The European Commission should delay the implementation of the European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), according to a letter from three major timber industry bodies. Source: Timberbiz The European Confederation of Woodworking Industries (CEI-Bois), the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry (EOS) and the European Timber Trade Federation have called on newly re-elected European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to delay the implementation of the EUDR, saying it will put the European manufacturing sector “at a disadvantage on the international stage”. In a joint letter sent to Ms von der Leyen, the organisations congratulated the President on her recent re-election, and said: “We were particularly pleased at the observation you made in your re-election speech in Strasbourg where you rightly stated: ‘We all know there is no Europe without SMEs. They are the heart of our economy. Therefore, let us get rid of the burdensome micromanagement, and give them more trust and better incentives.’ “Alas, a prime example of such ‘burdensome micromanagement’ is the EU’s own EUDR which clearly puts the European manufacturing sector at a disadvantage on the international stage and creates significant additional administrative burdens for our companies. “In the current geopolitical and geoeconomic context, the EU green economy – of which the European wood industries are a significant player – must remain competitive and pursue a growth policy, while rightly also striving to reach agreed climate and environmental targets. However, a competitive Europe can only be achieved through realistic policies and implementable measures, all of which need to pass the proportionality and necessity tests. “The EUDR obligations to which our industries are now subject need to be implemented by law in a shorter timeframe than has ever been imposed on any other industrial sector affected by comparable European legislation. “As a consequence of the unprecedented tightness of the deadline, the transition period envisaged does not enable the objectives assigned to it to be met before the deadline expires. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that a delay of the entry into application of the EUDR is granted. “Please be assured that our industries strongly condemn illegal logging and deforestation and hence we support the aims of the EUDR. We believe that from an environmental point of view, these activities cause irreparable damage leading to a loss of biodiversity. “From an economic point of view, illegal logging disrupts markets and drives down timber prices, resulting in unfair competition that hampers efforts to implement sustainable forest management. “At the same time, deforestation has a direct and negative impact on the availability of wood, which is vital to the very existence of our sector. Consequently our industries are understandably at the forefront of the fight against illegal logging and deforestation. “In conclusion, against this background, in order to combat deforestation and translate the objectives of the EUDR into positive results, it is essential that our companies are placed in a position to effectively implement the obligations of the regulation within a credible timeframe, in particular by putting in place the appropriate instruments. This will only be possible if the EU grants as soon as possible an adequate delay in the implementation of the EUDR.”  

The first half of 2024 proved to be a dynamic period for the global forest industry. Many shifts, fluctuations, and emerging trends have formed the industry’s landscape. Timber markets, lumber markets, wood fibre markets, and biomass markets each contribute a crucial piece to the puzzle that forms the global forest industry. Source: Timberbiz The Global Sawlog Price Index (GSPI) saw a quarter-over-quarter increase in 1Q/2024, despite being lower than the same period in the previous year. Interestingly, sawlog prices in the Baltic States continued their decline, while the Nordic countries experienced an increase. Global softwood log trade has been trending downwards over the past five years, reaching its lowest level in 15 years in 2023. Meanwhile, the Global Hardwood Fiber Price Index (HFPI) experienced a slight decrease in the early days of 2024 but remained notably higher than its 10-year average. In the global lumber markets, there was a weakening demand across the US, China, and Europe, making 2023 the fourth consecutive year of decline in the global trade of softwood lumber. Staying informed about these market movements is essential for industry professionals. Understanding the fluctuations in the global market is crucial for making informed decisions, creating strategies, and anticipating future trends. Market fluctuations have the power to influence not only profitability but also the strategic planning of operations. Professionals who keep themselves well-informed are better equipped to assess and mitigate risks stemming from market volatility, economic downturns, or unforeseen disruptions. Moreover, market trends often serve as a reflection of shifts in regulatory requirements and environmental standards. Staying informed enables professionals to adapt their practices to meet new regulations and certifications, thereby ensuring the promotion of sustainable forestry practices. This heightened awareness is particularly relevant for forestry professionals as they brace themselves for imminent legislation such as the EUDR, which is bound to have impacts on the future outlook of the global forestry industry. The comprehensive Market Insights report, ‘Global Forest Industry Summary 1H2024’, delves deeper into the major developments in the global forestry industry. It offers an in-depth examination of timber markets, wood fibre markets, lumber markets, and biomass markets. The report details valuable insights into the global trade of wood pellets, softwood lumber imports in China, British Columbia’s pulp industry, and the notable changes witnessed in Finland and Sweden’s lumber prices. You’ll find data-driven insights on the crucial shifts and trends that could shape the future of the global forest industry. To stay ahead in the global forest industry, download the full report to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the trends, insights, and market movements that could define the next half of 2024. You can download the resource here.

A Perth-based plant pathology lab says it was stripped of its permit to help unearth an effective vaccine for trees infested with shot hole borer, and its lab samples confiscated, after it ran foul of the authority’s narrative that treatment is impossible and infected trees must be removed. Source: WA Today During a symposium in South Perth on Friday, Bioscience biologist Peter Keating said initially the company was drawn in by an arborist firm, Classic Tree Services to find an effective treatment for trees infested with shot hole borer. In order to do so, the company obtained a directions permit to move material outside the quarantine area to its Forrestdale lab. He said very little was known about the lifecycle of the tiny beetle however it appeared to be very active in the hottest summer on record, but much reduced with the wet winter. “We made some important discoveries about the nature of the pest and its commensal fungi – but this ran foul of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development narrative that no treatment is possible, so despite our efforts and review, re-issue of the permit was refused,” he said. “We made some important discoveries…but this ran foul of the DPRID narrative that no treatment is possible, so despite our efforts and review, re-issue of the permit was refused.” Peter Keating, biologist “Many local government groups are antagonistic to the strategy of removal of trees as the only viable elimination strategy, thus cooperation with DPIRD is steadily waning. “Many local governments and particularly, their arborists are supportive of developing and testing effective treatments for PSHB [shot hole borer].” DPIRD chief plant biosecurity officer Vincent Lanoiselet said no chemical treatment options had proven effective in the field anywhere in the world to date. “Developing an effective treatment is extremely challenging as the borer and its associated fungus damages the tree’s vascular system and prevents chemicals being taken up and distributed within the tree,” he said. “The department recently conducted its own trials of some insecticides and fungicides, to limited effect – although a topical insecticide has shown some promising results as a preventative measure.” He said DPIRD was liaising with international experts, including those in South Africa and California, to explore other potential control options alongside a team of more than 160 staff inspecting trees across the Perth metropolitan region. A network of more than 3000 traps have been installed in the metropolitan area and the regions, which included the South West, Mid West, Wheatbelt and Great Southern. “Unfortunately, as there currently no effective chemical treatments available and infested trees can die within two years, tree pruning and removal of infested trees is the only way to stop the spread of PSHB to protect our urban tree canopy,” he said. PSHB has been detected in 25 local government areas across the metropolitan area. Data obtained by this masthead shows inner-city councils have logged the highest number of premises infected with polyphagous shot-hole borer with Nedlands leading the pack with 345 cases followed by Melville (145) and Claremont (105). Two years into a $44 million eradication strategy, environmental lawyer Bronwyn Waugh said more needed to be done as shot hole borer devastated inner-city suburbs such as South Perth. “There has been little done other than imposing quarantine restrictions and removing trees,” she said. “This clearly is not working. We must put funds into studying this disease. “We have the experts in WA and must identify how we can treat the disease. Quarantine can slow the disease down but will not eradicate it.” Waugh said scientists needed the opportunity to research shot hole borer and its symbiotic relationship with the fusarium fungus. “The fungus is the food source for the beetle, it is not clear why more effort has not been put into studying how we can treat the fungus as a means to controlling the spread of the shot hole borer,” she said. “Using legislation to mandate occupiers of properties where there are infected trees to remove the tree, or removing trees is not a sustainable answer.”