Feed aggregator

When we think about Sweden, we don’t think about drought conditions but forests in southern Sweden are suffering from recurring droughts, something that accelerated with the dry summer of 2018. Source: Timberbiz The trees have not yet recovered and are having difficulty starting to grow in several places. This was shown by this year’s forest damage report for 2024 from the Swedish Forest Agency. “There are forests that are still standing and stomping and do not want to start growing properly again after the drought and are therefore also more susceptible to damage. This is worrying for the growth in the forest,” said Lennart Svensson, forestry specialist and national forest damage coordinator at the Swedish Forest Agency. Even though 2024 was not a drought year, drought effects are still visible in the forest, which in all likelihood accelerated in connection with the warm and dry summer of 2018. Growth in Sweden’s forests has decreased over the past 10 years. Drought is considered to be the main and most likely explanation for the decrease in growth. The effects are most evident in the southern parts of the country, where Gotland and Kronoberg appear to be the worst affected according to observations made by the Swedish Forest Agency. On Gotland, extensive growth reduction and pine death in planted pine stands were noted in 2024. The pines are losing needles, showing signs of stress with yellowing needles and thinned crowns. The trees are at risk of dying prematurely. The drought in combination with fungal attacks is also considered to have been a triggering factor for the damage to birch in the form of significant bud and branch death that has been observed primarily in Kronoberg County. More injury trends and outbreaks across the country are also noted in this year’s report: A relatively severe outbreak of pine weevil was observed on Gotska sandön, where the distribution area was approximately 460 hectares. A rough estimate is that the mortality rate among the pines is between 5% and 15%. The bark beetle is the insect that is believed to cause the most damage to conifer plantations when it gnaws at the bark. Most reports come from Götaland, where the damage is estimated to be more common than before. The fungus Törskate, which attacks and damages pine trees, continues to be a concern in northern Sweden. Damage levels are still considered high in large parts of the region. Elm disease continues to spread in the country and 2024 seems to be a particularly aggressive year. Notes about infected and dead elms come from almost all counties in Götaland and Svealand. On Gotland, an inventory shows a sharp increase. Grazing damage to pine trees by moose and other deer continues to be a major problem. This year’s moose grazing inventory (Äbin) shows that 12% of pine trees in young forests (1–4 m high) have annual damage. This is more than double the society’s target of a maximum of five percent. “The best way to combat damage to the forest is to invest in the right trees on the right land so that they become strong and resilient. We also know that having a varied forest with different tree species and ages is effective in resisting storms and attacks from insects and fungi,” Mr Svensson said.

New Zealand’s Forest & Bird is concerned about modelling revealing that meeting the Government’s climate commitments would require planting vast areas of conservation and other Crown land in permanent pine forests, in a desperate attempt to meet Aotearoa New Zealand’s net zero emissions 2050 goal. Source: Timberbiz Official Ministry for Primary Industries modelling indicates that 280,000 hectares of new pine trees could be planted on Crown land and 230,000 hectares of this would be permanent. In stark contrast, there would be just 50,000 hectares planted in native trees. To give a sense of scale, the combined area of 330,000 hectares of Crown land being discussed is not far off the size of Mount Aspiring National Park. “Conservation land needs to be for conservation,” says Forest & Bird’s Chief Executive, Nicola Toki. “This is another move in a worrying trend where the Government has been looking to open up public conservation land for development by private interests. “Fast-track and other resource management and conservation reforms are all eroding protections that are in place for conservation land, that generations of New Zealanders have fought hard to secure. “We need to set the record straight about references by ministers to ‘low value’ conservation land. A review of 644,000 hectares of West Coast stewardship land recommended just 0.01% for disposal. “Most of the land was recommended for either national park or conservation park land status. So where is this land with very low or no conservation value they want to allow commercial interests to plant pines on? “The good news is that there is an opportunity here – we can plant native trees for carbon and deliver for our native wildlife and wild places. Forest & Bird supports planting trees to help with climate change, but any permanent sequestration planting needs to be native. “Native trees are suited to our soil and weather conditions and more robust during the growing number of extreme weather events. Getting this right would be a win-win – helping to meet our emissions target and ensuring conservation land is protected for our unique biodiversity and the benefit of generations of New Zealanders to come. “But just 50,000 hectares of native planting out of 330,000 is a massive missed opportunity. “We’ve seen the devastating consequences of planting pines in the wrong places, such as the erosion and sediment impacts during Cyclone Gabrielle in Te Tairāwhiti. “We also know that it’s not enough to plant native trees and walk away, otherwise we’re just giving feral deer, pigs, and goats a free lunch on the taxpayer. We need to wrap around targeted pest control to ensure that these invasive browsing mammals don’t destroy the undergrowth and young trees.” In December 2024, the Government said that native forests are important for biodiversity, to store carbon, and because they can increase resilience to floods, droughts, and storms. Forest & Bird expects future decisions to be evidence based and support native planting for carbon and biodiversity benefits.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is gearing up for the future, with the rebrand of the NHVR Portal to ‘NHVR Go’ on 14 April 2025. Source: Timberbiz The refreshed design and brand of the NHVR Portal will see NHVR Go become the heavy vehicle hub driving customers forward. NHVR Executive Director Michelle Tayler said the rebrand reflected the NHVR’s commitment to providing a single, online destination for industry and road managers to access an array of tools and services. “One of the most important resources we offer our customers is the Portal,” Ms Tayler said. “We’re committed to soon providing all regulatory services through our online hub, and the rebrand to NHVR Go forms part of an ongoing transformation to see the platform become our heavy vehicle business centre. “Our customers will still be able to access all the existing offerings through NHVR Go, with the changes improving the look and feel of the site to create a better user experience.” NHVR Go’s suite of tools for road managers and industry will remain as route planning, access information, compliance data, accreditation schemes and more. While operators will still use NHVR Go for tasks such as retrieving a permit application or submitting a Performance Based Standard Vehicle application, Ms Tayler said the rebrand would ensure the platform would better meet modern expectations. “With a refreshed name and identity, NHVR Go embodies our commitment to innovation,” she said. “Australia’s trucking industry has undergone a significant digital transformation over the past few years and both industry and government are embracing new technologies to improve efficiency and safety. “Our online platform is no different, and we’re reflecting a more modern and digitised industry in 2025. “The improved look and feel of NHVR Go will help us support an adaptive and fast-growing heavy vehicle industry.” NHVR Go will continue to embed growing technological offerings in 2025, including the National Network Map which offers a single and authoritative location for the heavy vehicle industry to map journeys across state and territory borders for their entire fleet. The NHVR will soon roll out an improved intelligent route planner, integrated within the map, to enable faster journey planning and better efficiencies for operators. This foundational work will integrate over time with the National Automated Access System, providing industry with a seamless experience through NHVR Go for all access information. NHVR Go will also see added tools for road managers, to assist with road network access decisions.

With a month to go before the Federal Election the Australian Forest Contractors Association has released its platform of policies and initiatives for a secure future for specialist forest operations for plantation and native forest estates. Source: Timberbiz Forest services businesses are an essential link to the forest products value chain. The entire sector relies on safe, sustainable and viable businesses operations and practices within forest areas and to safely transport logs, wood fibre and biomass to mills, ports and other processors, AFCA Chief Executive Officer Tim Lester said. “Active forest management is the key to long term forest health, and it includes sustainable harvesting of native timber with continuing strong environmental and regulatory protections,” Mr Lester said. “The vast majority of Australia’s public native forest estate is already protected for conservation. Our management of native regrowth production forests is so good after a short time they are almost indistinguishable from other areas. “The World Bank says that every dollar generated by forest industries multiplies two and a half times through the economy. Forest operations are high quality, extremely skilled and specialist jobs located in rural and regional areas which support thousands of families, hundreds of small businesses and many, many communities. “Growing forests are also proven as an extremely effective carbon sink. In fact, government figures show that in the 20 years to 2021 native production regrowth forests captured an additional 120 million tonnes of carbon while forests managed for conservation emitted more than 250 million tonnes. “Whether for plantations or native forests, securing the future of our specialist forest operations businesses and workforce is a win-win for carbon, communities and the economy,” Mr Lester said.  

Victoria is strengthening its position as a global leader in sustainable timber, engineered wood, and next-generational biomaterials, capitalising on the demand for low-carbon alternatives to create regional jobs and secure a local supply of construction materials while tackling a changing climate. Source: Timberbiz The Victorian Forest Products Association (VFPA) is playing a key role in this transition, having launched the Victorian Wood Fibre Roadmap to 2050. A bold and comprehensive strategy that positions Victoria’s $9bn wood fibre industry as a global leader in sustainable wood fibre production, advanced manufacturing, and circular bioeconomy innovation, the Roadmap outlines an ambitious way forward for the state’s wood fibre and forestry industries. VFPA Chief Executive Officer, Andrew White, said the Roadmap paves the way forward for Victoria to develop innovative new products, such as biofuels, next generation building products and nanocellulosic materials. “There is significant global interest in cellulose nanomaterials as a substitute for synthetic materials or nano-reinforcement for polymers in industries like healthcare, packaging, textiles, and even 3D printing,” said Mr White. “This is about using every part of the tree, multiple times over, and transforming our existing industry strengths into global leadership in low-carbon materials and sustainable design. With the right policy settings, we can grow this sector even further to deliver climate solutions, housing materials, and manufacturing jobs where they’re needed most.” The Roadmap’s key actions include: Expanding Victoria’s softwood and hardwood plantations. Fast-tracking investment in engineered wood products and innovation hubs. Prioritising local timber in construction to cut embodied carbon. Boosting wood fibre recovery and reuse to build a circular economy. Backing next-gen biofuels, textiles, and biochemicals through targeted R&D. The industry already injects over $9 billion into Victoria’s economy and supports more than 17,000 direct jobs – mostly in regional areas. Now, with a strong policy focus and a rising global appetite for sustainable materials, Victoria is laying the groundwork for a world-leading timber and biomaterials sector. VFPA is calling on all levels of government to back the vision and support strategic investment in plantations, domestic processing, and future innovation potential. “We’re asking the parliament to work with us on a bi-partisan basis – not just to support what we have now, but to build something even better,” Mr White said. “If we make smart investments off the back of Victoria’s strong scientific credentials, it’s not impossible to think that Victoria could be a leading player in turning renewable wood fibre into real climate and economic outcomes.” Download the Roadmap here.

The Tasmanian Forest Products Association (TFPA) welcomes the Coalition’s forestry initiatives, as outlined by Peter Dutton in northern Tasmania. Speaking after the announcement, TFPA Chief Executive Officer Nick Steel said the industry is pleased the Coalition plans to back all forms of our sustainable industry. Source: Timberbiz “Peter Dutton’s commitment to all forms of forestry – including our sustainable native sector – provides the certainty our industry needs to invest and grow our businesses for years to come,” Mr Steel said. “Tasmania’s forest industry is predominantly based in rural and regional towns, so the ability to plan and invest for the long term means our businesses can support the communities that they live and work in into the future. “News that a Coalition Government will provide $40 million in matched grants to establish a new Timber Manufacturing Expansion Program will further assist local businesses to value add on-island and will work hand-in-hand with the Tasmanian Government’s on-island processing grants. “Recommitment to the Coalition’s TFES improvements is also welcomed and following the success of Tasmania’s Permanent Timber Production Zone (PTPZ) program, it’s pleasing to see the Liberal, if elected, will roll out Similar zones across Australia. “Today’s announcement shows that the Liberal Party is committed to protecting our sustainable industry into the future, and we look forward to receiving similar strong commitments from the Labor Party in the coming weeks.”  

Australia’s forestry and forest products sector has welcomed the Coalition’s suite of election commitments for its industries announced this week. These policy and funding measures align with the Australian Forest Products Association’s (AFPA’s) Election Platform and will make a considerable and positive impact for our sustainable sector, if delivered, AFPA Chief Executive Officer, Diana Hallam said. Source: Timberbiz The Coalition has committed to: Country of Origin labelling for wood – so consumers know where what they’re buying comes from Supporting Australia’s native forestry industries, stating – “A Dutton Government will not support any further bans on native forestry” Establishing Permanent Timber Production Zones to support ongoing and reliable access for plantation and native timber $40 million in grants to establish a new Timber Manufacturing Expansion Program – where mills must utilise wood from their own region Removing public funding from the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO), cracking down on hollow activist lawfare and ensuring only sensible regulation that properly considers economic and social benefits. “This is a welcome package that demonstrates the Liberal-National Parties’ commitment to plantation and native forestry and our downstream processing and manufacturing cogs of the supply chain,” Ms Hallam said. “It’s an excellent start from the Coalition for what Australia’s forest industries need to realise their potential for the economy, local communities, the climate and Aussie and export consumers into the future. “Country of Origin labelling is an important reform that allows consumers to choose to buy Australian timber and understand the potential environmental implications of imported timber. With more dubious, imported product in the Australian marketplace, it’s critical that consumers can compare the origins of their product. “The Coalition’s support for native forestry is also essential in a political environment that has seen the industry under attack. The Australians that rely on the native forestry industry deserve to know that the next Federal Government – whatever their political stripes – has their back. “The Coalition’s funding for manufacturing expansion will allow us to do more with our existing timber resource and is welcome to boost capability in goods creation across the sector. The commitment for permanent timber production zones boosts sovereign capability in timber and wood-fibre – especially by enhancing the standing of much needed new timber plantations. “We are asking all sides of politics to sign up to our Australian Timber. Australia’s Future Election Platform in full this campaign and will continue working to secure the best outcomes for our sector from the next Federal Government. “Forestry and forest products have an important role providing local and highly skilled jobs that support communities, creating essential and sustainable everyday products we all use and helping the economy decarbonise with products made from sustainably Aussie grown resource,” Ms Hallam said.

The Australian Forest Contractor’s Association has welcomed the strong statement of support and commitment for Australia’s sustainable forestry industries made by the Coalition at the weekend. Source: Timberbiz The release of a policy statement on Australia’s forest industry has confirmed that a Dutton Coalition Government will not support any further bans on native forestry, and secure ongoing managed and regulated timber harvesting by establishing Permanent Timber Production Zones. Welcoming the commitments AFCA Chief Executive Officer Tim Lester said these policies would provide much needed certainty for businesses, hundreds of communities and tens of thousands of workers. “Production forestry from our regrowth native estate is sustainable and renewable, with positive payoffs for communities and the environment,” Mr Lester said. “The alternative is exporting our jobs, importing more timber and Australian taxpayers spending more to manage our forests. “Jobs in forestry are stable, sustainable and high quality, supporting rural and regional communities around Australia. The World Bank tells us that the overall economic impact of forest industries is $2.50 for every dollar generated by the industry. “We know from data collected by the NSW National Parks that managed timber harvesting poses no threat to koalas or other species. “We are pleased to see this practical approach to protecting the future of our sustainable industry and look forward to receiving similar assurances from the Australian Labor Party during the election campaign.”