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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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In 2025, the WIDE Trust supported an innovative step forward in architectural education, helping equip future designers with the skills needed to respond to one of the most urgent challenges of our time: the climate crisis. Source: Timberbiz Through a grant of NZ$13,000, the Trust supported the University of Auckland School of Architecture & Planning to deliver a hands-on timber design and fabrication program to 124 second-year architecture students. Led by Professor Andrew Barrie, the initiative forms part of a reimagined curriculum focused on designing with timber, particularly mass timber, which is rapidly emerging as a sustainable solution in modern construction. The 2025 course introduced a refreshed structure, with 25% of teaching delivered through all-of-cohort sessions. These sessions connected students directly with leading voices in New Zealand architecture, offering insights into some of the country’s most significant recent timber projects. Guest speakers included: Dr Jeremy Smith (Irving Smith Architects) – Bioeconomy Science Institute Andrew Barrie – Cathedral Grammar Junior School Ewan Brown (Tennant Brown Architects) – Ngā Mokopuna Richard Naish (RTA Studio) – Fisher & Paykel Global Headquarters Maria Chan (Jasmax) – Tukutuku, AUT Divya Purushotham (Warren & Mahoney) – 90 Devonport Road, Tauranga.   Students also took part in technical workshops covering the Building Code, structural solutions, and timber engineering, including a specialist session with Professor Pierre Quenneville. At the heart of the WIDE Trust’s contribution was a practical fabrication project: designing and producing a timber stool using the school’s state-of-the-art CNC milling machine, also funded by the Trust. This hands-on exercise guided students through the full design-to-production process: Prototyping concepts with scaled laser-cut models Testing critical joints for precision and tolerance Producing shop drawings and digital fabrication files CNC milling final designs Hand-finishing and oiling completed pieces   Throughout the process, students engaged in peer reviews, refining their designs while developing a deeper understanding of material performance, craftsmanship, and production efficiency. The impact of the project was immediate and tangible. Students not only developed technical fabrication skills but also gained a strong appreciation for the precision required in digital manufacturing. Feedback from participants highlighted the value of the experience: “The stool task was a very cool opportunity… it was really cool to get to take home a stool out of it.” “It taught me how important it is to get it right the first time, otherwise it’s very time-consuming and costly to fix.” “I’d never done fabrication before, so I learnt a lot from that.” Beyond the classroom, the project also received recognition in the Faculty of Engineering and Design’s newsletter, reflecting its broader significance within the university. The WIDE Trust’s investment in this initiative goes beyond funding, it is helping shape a new generation of architects who are better equipped to design sustainably, think innovatively, and contribute meaningfully to the future of the built environment. The Trust’s continued support plays a vital role in enabling bold, forward-thinking education, and its impact will be seen not just in classrooms, but in the buildings and communities of tomorrow.

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Some of New Zealand’s wilding conifer challenges stem from well-intentioned decisions of the past. Species like lodgepole pine, originally introduced for erosion control and wood production in high country environments, have since spread aggressively. Without effective management, the consequences are significant. Source: Timberbiz Over the next 25 to 30 years, wilding conifers could spread across large parts of the country, affecting up to a quarter of New Zealand’s land. The impacts are wide-ranging: Loss of productive land Reduced hydroelectric generation Threats to native species and ecosystems Transformation of iconic New Zealand landscapes.   These invasions also affect cultural heritage and whenua. At places like Mount Tarawera, wilding conifers have been spreading since the 1960s and 1970s. Ruawahia 2B Trust, has worked tirelessly to manage the problem, but ongoing pressure highlights just how persistent and dynamic these invasions can be. Wilding conifers don’t respect boundaries, and neither can the response. If control efforts succeed in one area but fail in another, reinvasion pressure will continue to spread. This makes collaboration essential. Researchers at the Bioeconomy Science Institute work closely with the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme and the Wilding Pine Network, sharing knowledge, aligning approaches, and contributing to continuous improvement. This partnership approach ensures that: Research is translated into real-world action Control methods evolve as new knowledge emerges Communities and organisations stay connected and informed   Over the past decade, research has already delivered tangible improvements that are close to becoming implemented. For example, new spray technologies and formulations are predicted to reduce the cost of managing dense infestations by around 30%. But stopping the spread is only the first step. Today, the focus is shifting to a more complex challenge: How do we prevent reinvasion? This means looking beyond tree removal to better land management practices, restoring and strengthening ecosystems, and increasing resilience to future invasions. Addressing wilding conifers as an ecological problem requires collaboration across disciplines and borders. The Viva la Resistance program brings together expertise from: Lincoln University University of Canterbury Australian National University National Centre for Atmospheric Research (USA)   Together, researchers are working to answer key questions about invasion dynamics, ecosystem recovery, and long-term resilience. Ultimately, managing wilding conifers is not a challenge any single organisation, community, or sector can solve alone. It requires: Research and innovation Strong partnerships Coordinated action Long-term investment The goal of Viva la Resistance is clear: optimise wilding conifer management for the long term by minimising reinvasion and maximising resilience. It’s a complex problem but with a collective approach, it’s one New Zealand can tackle together. To learn more visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEq28-aFFkw

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