Forest Products Industry

German company NiTO has developed wooden bricks with which it hopes to revolutionize the construction industry. It says these bricks are an innovative, sustainable and easy-to-use building system made of 100% solid wood that offer quick assembly, a healthy indoor climate and are fully recyclable. Source: Timberbiz At a time when the construction industry faces immense challenges, from skilled labour shortages to rising material costs to increasingly stringent environmental regulations, the NiTO wood brick presents itself as a solution. This innovative product not only promises ecological benefits but also addresses pressing economic and social problems. Made from 100% solid wood without additives or adhesives, it is fully recyclable and seamlessly integrates into natural material cycles. This consistent implementation of the circular economy in the construction sector is an important step towards reducing the industry’s ecological footprint. Moreover, every building constructed with NiTO wood bricks actively contributes to climate protection by binding CO2 in the long term. About one ton of CO2 is bound per cubic meter – a significant contribution to the fight against climate change. The shortage of skilled workers poses major challenges for the construction industry. NiTO offers a clever solution. Thanks to the innovative tongue-and-groove system, the wooden bricks can be easily stacked like oversized toy blocks. This simplification of the construction process allows even less specialized workers to be employed efficiently. The speed is particularly impressive. You need less than a minute for one square meter of NiTO wall, while conventional masonry takes about 30 minutes. This enormous time saving allows companies to realize significantly more projects with the same workforce, thus counteracting the shortage of skilled workers. The increase in efficiency through NiTO directly affects the cost structure of construction projects. Shorter construction times mean lower personnel costs and faster completion of projects. This not only increases profitability for construction companies but also makes new buildings more attractive and affordable for end customers. In addition, the simplicity of the system opens up new possibilities for personal contributions. As a builder, you can actively participate in the construction process and thus save additional costs. This flexibility and cost efficiency strengthens the competitiveness of construction companies. The NiTO wooden brick is more than just an innovative building product – it represents a paradigm shift in the construction industry. It shows that sustainable, efficient and cost-effective construction is not only possible, but the future of the sector.

The post Building a house of wooden bricks appeared first on Timberbiz.

Under the leadership of climate scientist Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, the Science and Timber Construction Alliance (SITCA) was launched. The initiative aims to transform the construction sector into a driver of climate protection through sustainable forest management and modern timber construction. Source: Timberbiz Together with its founding partners IIASA, Hilti, WIEHAG, binderholz, EGGER, Stora Enso, and the Austrian Federal Forests, SITCA combines scientific expertise with the innovative strength of leading companies from the construction and forestry sectors. “We are approaching dangerous tipping points in the climate system. At the same time, the global built environment is responsible for more than one-third of CO₂ emissions – making it the single greatest leverage point for preventing a looming ‘Hothouse Earth’ scenario,” Prof Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, Director General of IIASA, said. “Cities must be transformed from sources of CO₂ into carbon sinks. Timber construction is the most important tool to achieve this. “The combustion of fossil fuels and the destruction of natural ecosystems have significantly increased the concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere. Trees absorb CO₂ through photosynthesis and store the carbon in their wood. When this wood is used in long-lasting buildings, the carbon remains locked away for decades or even centuries, while new trees grow in the forest and absorb additional CO₂. In this way, CO₂ is continuously removed from the atmosphere and, metaphorically speaking, ‘pumped’ via the forest into the built environment. “Sustainable forest management and timber construction, combined with reuse and modern recycling technologies, can therefore create a long-term carbon sink.” The alliance’s primary objective is to provide scientific evidence and raise awareness among decision-makers. “With SITCA, we are creating the scientific foundation needed to convince decision-makers in politics, public administration, real estate, and the construction industry around the world of the need for a paradigm shift from CO₂-intensive materials to regenerative building materials,” Dr Erich Wiesner, CEO of WIEHAG said. Austrian Federal Minister Norbert Totschnig said: “Building with wood saves CO₂ twice over. On the one hand, carbon is stored in wood over the long term; on the other hand, the use of emission-intensive construction materials is reduced. “This is why Austria has consistently promoted timber construction for many years, for example through endowed professorships in timber engineering and the Austrian State Prize for Timber Construction. Particularly in multi-storey residential construction, however, there remains enormous, untapped potential. “Through initiatives such as SITCA, we bring together science, industry, and policymakers, strengthen innovation, and create the knowledge needed for a climate-friendly and sustainable future.” For Prof Daniela Kleinschmit, President of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), the societal dimension is crucial. “Timber construction can only succeed with healthy forests. We integrate biodiversity and social considerations from the very beginning to ensure the public acceptance required for this transformation,” Prof Kleinschmit said. IUFRO will be represented on the alliance’s advisory board as a scientific partner and will contribute expertise from its global network of researchers. SITCA works in close coordination with the communication initiative “Grow the Solution,” developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). “Globally, we are faced with a discrepancy between the urgent need for climate-friendly building materials and the still limited public awareness of sustainably produced wood in construction. We welcome the SITCA initiative, as it helps provide fact-based information on sustainable, forest-based solutions,” said Dr Ewald Rametsteiner, Deputy Director of the FAO Forestry Division, underscoring the initiative’s international significance. In addition to the scientific community, SITCA is supported by major players across the sector. The founding partners, together with HASSLACHER Group, which joined last week as the first new industry partner, represent the entire forest-based value chain. The Science and Timber Construction Alliance (SITCA) is a global platform dedicated to advancing timber-based construction through scientific evidence.

The post SITCA alliance launched to fight climate change with timber appeared first on Timberbiz.

Forest fires in France, Spain, and Portugal have devastated over 17,000 hectares of land due to prolonged heat. On Sunday, hundreds of firefighters continued to battle the flames, with temperatures reaching 40°C. Source: UNN The latest forest fires in France, Spain, and Portugal have already devastated more than 17,000 hectares of land amid the ongoing heatwave in the region. This is reported by Le Monde, writes UNN. On Sunday, July 5, hundreds of firefighters continued to battle forest fires in France, Spain, and Portugal, as temperatures in heat-stricken Europe rose again. The latest forest fires have already devastated more than 17,000 hectares of land — twice the size of Manhattan (a district of New York) — in the three countries, where temperatures in some places are forecast to reach up to 40ºC on Sunday. It is noted that a fire near the northeastern coast of Costa Brava in Spain has devastated more than 2,200 hectares of land. Meanwhile, nearly 600 French firefighters have been mobilized to contain a forest fire that has engulfed more than 1,000 hectares on the slope of Mount Trevillach, about 36 kilometres east of the southern city of Perpignan. Another 300 French firefighters are battling another forest fire in the mountainous region of the southeastern department of Drôme. In Portugal, emergency services said they had managed to bring 80% of a forest fire under control that devastated about 13,000 hectares of forests and scrubland in the north of the country. Spain and Italy sent reinforcements and water-dropping aircraft after Portugal requested help in fighting the fire, which injured nine people. According to a group of scientists from the international initiative World Weather Attribution, Western Europe already experienced heatwaves in May and June this year that would have been “virtually impossible” without climate change.

The post Massive fires in Europe destroy 17,000 hectares of land appeared first on Timberbiz.

Landholders across Victoria are being supported to integrate more trees into their farming systems, following an extension of the Victorian Trees on Farms (VToF) Program. Source: Timberbiz The program and Professional Service Provider Register has been extended to 1 November 2026, giving eligible landholders more time to apply for grants to establish trees on their properties. Through the Victorian Trees on Farms Program, landholders can access grants of up to $40,000 to deliver on-ground works such as shelterbelts, riparian planting and revegetation projects. The program supports farmers to improve productivity and build resilience, while delivering environmental benefits including better soil health, reduced erosion, increased carbon sequestration and enhanced biodiversity. Agriculture Victoria Acting Executive Director Forestry and Fibre Industry Liam Costello said the extension would support more landholders to take part in the program. “This program is about helping farmers integrate trees into their properties in practical ways that support their business and the long-term health of their land,” Mr Costello said. “The extension gives more landholders the opportunity to plan and deliver planting projects that improve productivity, resilience and environmental outcomes.” Mr Costello said trees on farms also play an important role in strengthening Victoria’s farming systems for the future. “Integrating trees into farming systems can deliver multiple benefits, from shelter for livestock to improved soil and water outcomes, while supporting sustainable land management.” The Victorian Government has invested more than $1.5 billion to support industry transition, impacted workers and communities, and the management and future use of Victoria’s forests. The VToF program builds on the Victorian Government’s broader investment in plantation development and farm forestry, helping landholders diversify income and make the most of their land. For more information about the program, visit the Victorian Trees on Farms Program page at https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/crops-and-horticulture/plantations-and-farm-forestry/trees-on-farms/victorian-trees-on-farms-program

The post Victorian Trees on farms program extended appeared first on Timberbiz.

Increased trade is key to driving an innovative wood processing and manufacturing sector that will strengthen regional communities, reduce emissions, and build a more resilient and prosperous New Zealand, according to Mark Ross, Chief Executive of the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association of New Zealand (WPMA). Source: Timberbiz “This includes supporting trade policies that open markets for high-value wood products, backing programmes such as the Value-Added Wood Exports Growth Accelerator, along with encouraging investment in domestic wood processing to grow the sector,” Mr Ross said. “Equally important is supporting efforts to remove trade barriers that restrict market access and limit opportunities for New Zealand manufacturers.” Mr Ross said the National Party’s policy document released at the weekend, Building the Future: New Zealand’s Next Billion Customers, signals an on-going commitment to growing New Zealand’s export sector. “A clear focus on export growth and trade support is good news for New Zealand businesses. It’s encouraging to see these priorities recognised, and exporters will welcome the commitment to strengthening New Zealand’s international trade opportunities if National is re-elected,” he said. For our sector specifically, National has signalled a focus on driving value-added wood exports rather than raw log exports, with attention on opportunities created through trade agreements such as the CPTPP, RCEP and a future India Free Trade Agreement. The policy also highlights leading value-added wood and forestry trade missions into Asia and the Gulf region and promoting products such as engineered wood, mass timber and construction products. Trade should remain a priority for all political parties. New Zealand has a strong tradition of cross-party support for trade. Maintaining that approach will be vital for the continued growth of the wood products sector and for New Zealand’s future economic success. ” By working together to expand market access and support value-added exports, we can unlock greater economic value from our forest and wood resources, create more skilled jobs in our regions, and build a stronger wood processing and manufacturing sector,” Mr Ross said. National’s plan to secure New Zealand’s next billion customers includes: Prioritising new trade deals with European, South American, African and Asian countries, with an initial tranche of seven priority markets to pursue negotiations with in the next five years. Negotiating new essential supplies agreements with like-minded partners, using the NZ–Singapore AOTES agreement as the template. Cutting red tape by expanding paperless trade and digital customs, eliminating NZ$1 billion in non-tariff barriers. Creating new tools for businesses to help streamline their export experience. Giving New Zealand Trade and Enterprise a sharper mandate – leading Kiwi businesses to new opportunities and backing the next generation of exporters. Completing at least 23 trade missions over the next term, with a sharper focus on sector-specific missions and measurable commercial outcomes. Re-affirm our commitment to doubling the value of exports by 2034.   The seven priority markets are Brazil, Switzerland, Argentina, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Uruguay and the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). Together, they represent almost 700 million people and more than US$5 trillion in combined GDP. The Building the Future: New Zealand’s Next Billion Customers’ can be found here.  

The post NZ National Party releases policy document for growth appeared first on Timberbiz.

After the passage of the most recent Federal tax hikes, the Housing Industry Association (HIA), Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) and Property Council of Australia have united to issue a warning that proposed changes to capital gains tax (CGT), negative gearing and Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) investment rules will reduce housing supply, increase rents and make it harder to deliver the homes Australia needs. Source: Timberbiz Proposed tax changes disincentivise investment in existing rental housing and shrink supply. At the same time, new homes are more expensive to build than existing dwellings, meaning any slowdown in investment is likely to place further upward pressure on rents. UDIA National President, Oscar Stanley, said extensive engagement with developers, financiers, mortgage brokers, commercial finance specialists and property professionals across Australia, has delivered a clear message – the removal of SMSF investment from the new housing market will make it harder to finance residential developments and result in fewer homes being built. “The housing industry has spoken with one voice today,” Mr Stanley said. “This policy will make it harder to fund new housing and will ultimately reduce supply.” HIA Chief Executive Industry & Policy, Simon Croft, said that at a minimum, the changes should be amended to preserve the ability of SMSFs to support new housing supply, consistent with the broader objectives of increasing housing availability. “The Government has already acknowledged that its Budget housing tax changes will reduce supply by around 35,000 homes over the next decade,” Mr Croft said. “It is concerning that further restrictions on private capital have been introduced without any public assessment of the additional impact on housing supply. Apartment developments rely on meeting pre-sale thresholds, and SMSF investors play a critical role in getting these projects out of the ground.” Chief Executive of the Property Council of Australia, Mike Zorbas, said: “New housing supply is king. Construction and capital costs already prevent new projects taking flight. “Changes to SMSFs are the latest handbrake on investment nobody asked for at the same time as trust tax hikes suck the certainty out of new business and hiring decisions for a substantial part of the sector.” Treasury’s own Budget estimates show the proposed tax changes would result in fewer homes being built over the next decade. The impact will be significantly worse if SMSFs are prevented from investing in residential property. SMSF investment is critical to the viability of many new housing developments, with at least 30 per cent of apartment project pre-sales typically coming from SMSF investors. SMSF investment in new housing is a lynchpin for project pre-sales. Every investor helps deliver more homes for Australians. Removing this source of investment would make it even harder to get new housing projects off the ground. The industry believes more supply, not additional taxes, is the key to solving the housing challenge. The peak bodies are calling on the Government to: Consult closely with industry on rules defining the impact of the negative gearing, CGT and SMSF changes to avoid unintended and unworkable outcomes; Review the impact of the combined changes with a view to further fixes if the downside exceeds Treasury modelling; Allow SMSFs to continue to invest in new residential housing; and Prioritise policies to accelerate delivery of rental housing and increase housing supply.   Mr Stanley said that Australia was in the grip of a housing supply crisis. “Every policy should be working to increase the number of homes we build, not unintentionally reducing them,” he added.

The post Housing associations warn tax hikes will not help deliver homes appeared first on Timberbiz.

Australia’s push to build 1.2 million new homes is being undermined by a dysfunctional building governance system, the Building Products Industry Council (BPIC) has warned. Source: Timberbiz BPIC says the Federal Treasury’s NCC Modernisation Project is “tinkering at the edges” while ignoring the failures in the building regulatory framework that are slowing construction, driving up costs, and undermining national consistency. “The real problem is not the building code alone, it’s the governing system that sits above it,” BPIC Executive Officer Rodger Hills said. “We have a building governance model that is fragmented, opaque and increasingly unable to support a sector that makes up 10 per cent of Australia’s economy.” At the top of the regulatory structure sit the state and territory building ministers, operating under an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) designed to deliver a unified national approach. BPIC says the reality is far from that vision. Key failures include: Irregular building ministers’ meetings (BMM) with no consistent agenda and no industry involvement. Opaque IGA that has become a maze of overlapping responsibilities. States pursuing conflicting policies and agendas, eroding national consistency. No meaningful feedback loop for industry or the public.   “These are not minor administrative issues,” Mr Hills said. “They are structural failures that directly affect housing supply, productivity and the cost of building in Australia.” BPIC argues the NCC Modernisation Project being undertaken by Treasury is focused too narrowly on the code itself, rather than the governance system that determines how the code is developed, implemented and enforced. “Modernising the code without modernising the governing system above it is like renovating a house on weak foundations,” Mr Hills said. “We’re calling for the Modernisation Project to immediately review the intergovernmental agreement. This is a once-in-a-generation chance to fix a broken framework that is slowing housing delivery and driving up costs.” BPIC is urging governments to adopt a set of practical reforms, including: Regular, transparent building ministers’ meetings where industry and the public have direct input into building policy development. A clear and accountable IGA structure that sets medium and long-term priorities for Australia’s built environment. An Australian Building Codes Board that is a statutory body. Early and meaningful industry engagement on proposed policy considerations likely to affect the code. A unified national vision for Australia’s built environment. Consistent adoption and implementation across states and territories. Measurable performance indicators for regulatory success, a systematic way for industry and the public to provide input, and regular progress updates from the building ministers meetings.   “This is not just a building industry concern,” Mr Hills said. “It affects home buyers, renters, and anyone waiting for a home to be built. If governments are serious about tackling the housing crisis, they must fix the governance system that controls the entire building sector.”

The post Building governance failures put housing target at risk appeared first on Timberbiz.

Sustainable Timber Tasmania has released the annual update to its Three-Year Wood Production Plan 2026-2027 to 2028-2029 to the Tasmanian community for feedback. Source: Timberbiz The Three-Year Wood Production Plan can be accessed on Sustainable Timber Tasmania’s website at www.sttas.com.au The plan identifies forest coupes in Tasmania’s public production forests that are available across a three-year period from which a schedule of harvesting, roading and regeneration operations will be developed. The release of the plan provides the community with an opportunity to identify which forest coupes and future operations may be of interest to them. Inviting community feedback on the Plan is part of Sustainable Timber Tasmania’s commitment to engaging with local stakeholders. Feedback will then be considered during detailed operational planning and decision-making processes. Sustainable Timber Tasmanian encourages the community to: Visit sttas.com.au Read the Three-Year Wood Production Plan View the access map to identify which forest coupes may be of interest to them Contact Sustainable Timber Tasmania with their feedback at stakeholder@sttas.com.au or (03) 6169 2800   The plan was developed from modelling and spatial data and includes coupe names, provisional coupe sizes (not final harvest boundaries), location coordinates, anticipated harvest type and method, and an estimation of anticipated volumes of log products for potential recovery. It contains a significant amount of information therefore, to make it easier for people to read and understand, a spatial layer was developed and available to view on a map of Tasmania. This can be viewed on the Access Map on Sustainable Timber Tasmania’s website at https://sttas.com.au/forests-you/access-map It’s important to understand that not all forest coupes listed in the Three-Year Plan will be harvested, and final harvesting and regeneration details for each coupe may be different from what is listed. This is because Sustainable Timber Tasmania has not yet undertaken detailed operational planning for each coupe. A list of frequently asked questions regarding the plan has been made available for reading on Sustainable Timber Tasmania’s website at www.sttas.com.au

The post Sustainable Timber Tasmania’s 3-year wood production plan open for feedback appeared first on Timberbiz.

Victoria’s $1.5 billion forestry transition has ended with a stark warning for every timber town in New South Wales and Tasmania – closing an industry is easy, rebuilding the communities left behind is another matter entirely. Source: Timberbiz Forest and Wood Communities Australia is warning that the closure of Victoria’s forestry transition program should sound an alarm for timber communities in New South Wales and Tasmania, after the scheme wound up without delivering the replacement economy regional towns were promised. “Victoria is the case study every government should be forced to read before making another decision about native forestry,” said Steve Dobbyns BSc (Forestry), Chairman of Forest and Wood Communities Australia. “Politicians told timber workers and regional towns they would be looked after. They promised transition, new industries, new jobs and a stronger future. What many communities got instead was uncertainty, hollowed-out businesses and managed decline. “That is not a transition. That is an industry shutdown dressed up in softer language.” The program closed on the final day of the financial year, more than two and a half years after Victoria shut its native forests to harvesting. Of the $1.5 billion the state committed, only $320 million was allocated through the Forestry Transition Program itself to support affected workers, businesses and communities. The results are stark. A Victorian Auditor-General’s report found the department running the program could not demonstrate that displaced workers were better off. The share of displaced workers in full-time employment fell from around 80% before the closure to around 60% after it, while part-time, casual and contract work increased. Headline job figures of 137 roles created and 436 retained were not supported by reliable evidence, and the Auditor-General found the department could not adequately show whether the program was delivering sustainable employment or business viability beyond 2026. Across Gippsland, employment in agriculture, forestry and fishing has reportedly fallen to 5%, down from 12% five years ago. On the ground, the promised replacement economy has not arrived. Mills at Swifts Creek and Yarram have closed in the past eight months, downstream businesses across Noojee, Powelltown and Orbost are thinning, and towns once built on timber are now being told to stake their future on tourism. “The lesson from Victoria is brutally simple: once the timber industry is gone, the jobs, skills, contractors, mills and supply chains do not magically reappear,” Mr Dobbyns said. “You cannot replace a working production economy with glossy transition brochures, grant rounds and vague promises about tourism. Timber towns are not museum exhibits. They are working communities built around real industries, real skills and real families. “NSW and Tasmania need to look very carefully at what happened in Victoria, because this is exactly what is coming for them if governments keep making forestry policy to appease activists rather than protect regional communities.” The program’s closing months were also dogged by allegations that transition money followed the logs interstate, with Tasmanian native timber shipped across Bass Strait for processing in Victorian mills. The Victorian Greens have since proposed laws to make it illegal for Victorian mills to process native forest timber sourced from anywhere in Australia. Forest and Wood Communities Australia says that episode proves a basic truth that governments continue to ignore – ending an industry in one state does not end the demand for timber. It simply moves the harvest, the jobs, the scrutiny and the environmental responsibility somewhere else. “Victoria banned its own public native forestry and then still needed timber,” Mr Dobbyns said. “That should surprise no one. Homes still need to be built. Floors, stairs, furniture, appearance-grade hardwoods and durable timber products still need to come from somewhere. “If governments shut down responsible Australian supply, they do not save a single plank of demand. They either shift that demand to Tasmania, New South Wales, private land or imports from countries with weaker standards. That is not environmental leadership. It is political outsourcing.” Forest and Wood Communities Australia says the Victorian experience is not a one-off. It is a documented warning. With native forestry under sustained political, legal and regulatory pressure in New South Wales and Tasmania, FWCA says governments must now answer a simple question: do they have a credible plan to protect timber workers and regional economies, or are they prepared to repeat a $1.5 billion transition that left communities worse off? “Before any government even thinks about shutting down more native forestry, it must explain what happens to the workers, the contractors, the mills, the towns and the timber supply,” Mr Dobbyns said. “Victoria spent $1.5 billion and still could not prove it had delivered secure, sustainable futures for displaced workers. That should stop decision-makers in their tracks. “NSW and Tasmania should not be next in line for the same failed experiment.”

The post Victoria’s $1.5 billion warning – NSW and Tasmania are next appeared first on Timberbiz.

NSW Nationals Leader and Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh, Member for Clarence Richie Williamson and Member for Oxley Michael Kemp have slammed the Minns Labor Government’s decision to cut jobs at Forestry Corporation on the North Coast. Source: Timberbiz The MPs have said staff have been informed via email that dozens of jobs, estimated at around 50, including more than 30 in Coffs Harbour alone, are to be cut at a time when regional communities and local economies are already under enormous pressure. These jobs are to be a mix of management, office and field roles. According to an ABC report, a NSW government spokesperson said in a statement that it was working to move affected Forestry Corporation staff to suitable roles in the National Parks and Wildlife Service. It said the creation of the Great Koala National Park (GKNP) would add 100 new roles. “Before the election Chris Minns and Labor promised to help regional workers transition out of forestry. Today, they’re putting politics over people and science,” the MPs said. Critics of the GKNP have included the Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union, which has publicly declared the carbon method funding the Great Koala National Park should be dumped because it rewards locking forests away instead of managing them. “There shouldn’t be an incentive for future governments to lock up land simply to fill government coffers without solid scientific rationale,” the MPs said in a statement. “With timber harvesting already halted under the moratorium, as well as this current round of job cuts, it’s unclear how the government will be able to claim any carbon credits for this project. “The NSW timber industry is among the most sustainable in the world, operating under some of the highest environmental standards while providing a resource that is desperately needed during a housing crisis. “Chris Minns said it himself – he does not understand regional communities. And he never will. “Today is yet another sad day for the hardworking men and women at Forestry Corporation who are paying the price for Labor’s budget mismanagement.”  

The post Forestry Corp jobs cut via email appeared first on Timberbiz.