Australian timber industry news

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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FSC has revised its core standard setting general requirements for certification bodies, FSC-STD-20-001, and published a new version (V5-0) on 1 April 2025. Source: Timberbiz The transition period for implementation will run until FSC invites stakeholders to join a public webinar introducing the revised standard to support them in understanding and applying the updated requirements. This session will provide a clear and practical overview of the key changes and new concepts introduced in FSC-STD-20-001 V5-0 General requirements for certification bodies, as well as their implications for implementation. The webinar will also include a live Q&A session, giving participants the opportunity to raise questions and gain clarity on practical application and compliance expectations. Key topics Overview of FSC STD 20 001 V5 0 revision process Major changes compared to previous versions New concepts and requirements for certification bodies Implementation considerations and timelines Interactive Q&A session This public webinar is open to all interested stakeholders, including certificate holders, certification bodies, FSC members, FSC network partner staff, and other relevant stakeholders seeking clarity and guidance on the revised standard. The webinar is on 30 June 2026, 18:00 – 19:30 AEST/20:00 – 21:30 NZST Register at: https://fsc-int.zoom.us/meeting/register/X22iPqJqQKO_Y31b2XdjkA#/registration

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The New Zealand government’s review of how Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) is funded should be accompanied by a wider examination of whether FENZ is delivering for rural communities, forest owners say. Source: Timberbiz The New Zealand Forest Owners Association (NZFOA) and Federated Farmers wrote to Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden last week, calling for an independent review just 10 years after FENZ was first established. The Minister has since confirmed a review of the insurance-based levy which provides most of FENZ’s funding. NZFOA chief executive Dr Elizabeth Heeg says the review presents an opportunity to assess whether the 2017 fire services reform has achieved its intention of delivering improved fire capabilities and protection for rural communities. “Rural landowners carry substantial cost and risk under the current system, with limited evidence of delivering the efficiencies, transparency and service improvements that were originally expected,” Dr Heeg said. “For example, has the merger of urban and rural fire services delivered the efficiencies and benefits originally intended when FENZ was established? “Examining whether rural communities are receiving fair and effective fire and emergency services, relative to the risks they face, should be a central part of the review’s scope.” NZFOA fire spokesperson Sean McBride says the forestry sector plays a critical role in managing fire risk. “Forest owners and farmers are at the frontline of rural fire prevention and control,” he says. “The capacity and expertise that our people bring to fire management is a critical extension of our country’s response network.” Strengthening collaboration with FENZ during large-scale incidents, where local expertise is often essential for effective suppression, will be critical to ensuring this capability is fully utilised. “With climate pressures increasing the frequency and scale of fire risk, the industry needs confidence that FENZ has the specialist knowledge, capability and focus needed to manage large-scale vegetation and landscape fires,” Mr McBride said. “Spending decisions and performance measures must also reflect the very different risks and operating environments across rural New Zealand.” NZFOA’s priority is to ensure New Zealand’s fire response system adequately supports frontline response, training and capability. “Forest owners understand risk and responsibility better than most,” Dr Heeg said. “We are not asking for concessions. We are asking for a system that is transparent, evidence-based, and clearly demonstrates it is delivering the fire protection and capability it is funded to provide.” She says the call for a wider review is consistent with questions being raised across the primary sector about whether expected gains from structural reform have been fully realised. “Reviewing whether FENZ is delivering for levy payers is not a criticism of frontline firefighters or volunteers, who continue to do outstanding work,” Dr Heeg said. “ It’s about giving landowners and rural communities assurances that the organisation supporting them is efficient, accountable and aligned to the risks it is designed to manage. “As FENZ enters its second decade, it is appropriate to ensure those expectations are being met.”

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WorkSafe New Zealand has provided practical safety guidance to hundreds of wood manufacturing businesses, as part of a significant proactive focus on one of the country’s most dangerous sectors. Source: Timberbiz WorkSafe’s health and safety inspectors visited 657 businesses between January and March, from toy makers to joiners and wood processors, sharing education and guidance material with 83% of them. “Many businesses were committed to improving safety and welcomed the chance to talk through their health and safety practices,” said WorkSafe’s project lead Savio Valladares. “These visits are about helping businesses get it right, not catching them out.” However, the assessments also revealed persistent safety gaps. About half the businesses visited were required to make prompt changes to help prevent harm. The most common issues were inadequate machine guarding, missing or out-of-date hazardous substances inventories, and workers exposed to wood dust without effective controls such as ventilation and protective equipment. “Manufacturing workers deserve to go home healthy and safe at the end of every day. These visits are about helping businesses and workers understand what good looks like – and most were receptive to that. While we can see progress is being made, too many are still missing safety essentials,” said Savio Valladares. The findings reinforce why the sector is a priority focus for WorkSafe. Manufacturing has the highest rate and number of injuries resulting in more than a week off work of any sector – around 200 machinery-related injuries occur each year. An average of four to five manufacturing workers are killed at work each year, roughly two thirds of fatalities occur in food, wood, and metal product manufacturing. WorkSafe will continue proactive visits to manufacturing businesses. From July to September, the focus shifts to food manufacturing. WorkSafe’s role is to influence businesses and workers to meet their responsibilities and keep people healthy and safe.  

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AFPA has made a submission on the Federal Government’s proposed amendments to the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Collection Act 2024, broadly supporting the objective of improving the effectiveness and flexibility of the levy system. Source: Timberbiz The submission relates to the public consultation on the policy changes the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is considering in relation to the Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Act 2024. AFPA says the Australian forestry industry welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed amendments to the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Collection Act 2024. It broadly supports the department’s intent to enhance the effectiveness of the levies system through improved data use and administrative flexibility. According to the submission the reforms have the potential to strengthen evidence-based policy, improve research quality, and support system integrity. However, inclusion of robust safeguards, clear limits on scope, and strong transparency and accountability mechanisms are needed to ensure ongoing effective implementation. AFPA supports, in principle, the ability of DAFF to share information with trusted third-party providers for intended uses and supports the proposed powers for the Secretary to make rules under the Act that enable the collection of levy/charge payer and collection agent personal information for the establishment and maintenance of levy payer registers. AFPA also supports the proposal to enable the use and disclosure of levy payer and collection agent personal information for research, policy development and data analysis purposes, including by ABARES. Improved data quality and survey capability represent important public benefits. However, for industry to properly understand the scope and implications of these changes, and to ensure adequate data privacy and there are no unintended consequences, the exact legislative wording outlining the circumstances under which information sharing may occur must be clearly, transparently, and explicitly articulated in the primary legislation or accompanying rules. AFPA’s recommendations: Define data sharing purpose limitation Explicit data access provisions for Industry Representative Bodies Legislative clarity Third-party data controls De-identification by default Transparency measures Opt-out mechanisms where feasible Independent oversight and audit Data breach protocols   The submission can be downloaded at https://ausfpa.com.au/publications/submission-on-proposed-levy-collection-reforms/

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While Senator Pauline Hanson was telling the National Press Club that, “From its chairman down, the ABC has proven itself to be completely in denial about its profoundly transparent political bias and the activists in its ranks.” The ABC was doing its best to prove her correct according to Timber NSW chief executive Maree McCaskill. Source: Timberbiz “Any pretence that the ABC Four Corners ‘journalists’ are anything more than activists disappears when they describe one of their interviewees, in an email, as a ‘formidable opponent’,” said Ms McCaskill. “This latest stitch-up of the sustainable forestry industry which has harvested trees for generations, and re-grown forests for generations is based entirely on a fiction being spread by the national broadcaster. “Forestry policy needs to be based on science not opinion and yet, sadly, ABC Four Corners prioritises uneducated opinion over evidence-based science when it comes to the timber industry. “Activists at the national broadcaster are working tirelessly to shut down the forestry industry in NSW and the rest of Australia as quickly as they can based on conjecture and opinion expressed by unnamed environmental groups from “down south” to quote the Four Corners journalist during a lengthy interview with Andrew Hurford, the head of a multi-generational timber industry group. “Four Corners is attempting to portray the forest products industry as immoral by making false allegations that parts of the industry have been paid compensation when they haven’t suffered loss of contracted timber supply. “In addition, the ABC activists essentially debunk scientific evidence used by the CSIRO by giving equal weighting to opinion and conjecture from unnamed environmental groups. “Four Corners interviewed Andrew Hurford in a part of a forest that had been harvested only two years earlier, yet they refused to acknowledge that fact because it didn’t show the devastation that they were looking for. “In audio recordings of the interview the birdsong is almost too intrusive to conduct an interview, reflective of a very healthy ecosystem. “Their attempt to sway public opinion against the forestry industry even goes as far as showing footage of a timber haulage truck arriving at a mill complete with feigned gasps of horror without acknowledging that the timber was from private land, not a public forest and that it was the only delivery of large logs in a nearly a year. “There must be a limit to the lengths that ABC activists will go to in order to destroy a viable, sustainable forestry industry in NSW,” Ms McCaskill said. Timber NSW was established in 1906 as the representative organisation of the timber and forest products industry in NSW. Its mission is to work with members, stakeholders and the broader industry to build an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable timber industry in New South Wales. Tonight, on the ABC’s Four Corners program, the station is broadcasting an investigation titled “Timber Turmoil“.  The episode, reported by Jessica Longbottom, investigates the current state of Australia’s native forest logging industry.

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US Representatives Glenn “GT” Thompson and Andrea Salinas introduced the Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act. This bipartisan legislation provides incentives for the use of mass timber building materials in federal contracting, giving timber and other forest products companies the ability to compete for construction, renovation, or acquisition of public buildings, and for military construction. Source: Timberbiz The bill creates a two-tier contracting preference for mass timber and other innovative wood projects. The first-tier preference applies to mass timber that is made within the US and responsibly sourced from state, federal, private, and Tribal forestlands. The optional second tier applies to mass timber products that are sourced from restoration practices, fire mitigation projects, and forest owners. Additionally, this bill contains a reporting requirement for a whole building lifecycle assessment. The results of this assessment will help provide additional evidence of the environmental benefits of the use of timber and forest products in buildings. “Timber and forest products have long been an important economic engine for the hardworking families and rural communities of Pennsylvania,” Mr Thompson said. “American forests, such as the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania, are tremendous natural resources, and when managed responsibly, they serve as a long-term source of high-quality timber. We aim to expand markets for timber and innovative wood products that Pennsylvania’s foresters and mills are ready to support.” Ms Salinas said that Oregon has always been a leader in the US mass timber industry, which has supported economic growth across the Pacific Northwest. “Our wood products are sustainable and cost-effective building materials,” she said. “Incentivizing the use of mass timber in federal buildings will expand our state’s industry, support good jobs, and drive down the cost of construction, which will help address the housing crisis. By supporting Oregon timber, we reduce wildfire risk, increase forest resiliency, and shrink the carbon footprint of federal buildings.” Amy Shields, Executive Director of the Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group (AHUG) applauded Congressman Thompson for introducing the Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act of 2026. “Federal leadership in mass timber construction sends exactly the right signal to spur the research, innovation, and private sector investment needed to grow this market,” said Ms Shields. “The legislation strengthens forest health, expands opportunities for Pennsylvania’s emerging hardwood CLT and mass timber sector, and delivers meaningful economic and workforce benefits for the forest reliant communities of the Allegheny region and across the Commonwealth. We’re grateful for Congressman Thompson’s steadfast support of America’s forest products industry, both softwood and hardwood, as we work together to build a stronger, more sustainable future.”

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PEFC has launched its new Project Sourcing standard, a major step forward in helping the built environment sector demonstrate responsible sourcing and traceability, while increasing demand for certified wood across the construction sector globally. Source: Timberbiz The new standard provides an independent, third-party system that enables organisations to demonstrate that the forest and tree-based materials used within a project are responsibly sourced, traceable, and supported by evidence. As demand grows for timber and forest and tree-based materials, including mass engineered timber elements such as cross laminated timber (CLT), laminated veneer lumber (LVL), and glulam, the need for credible and verifiable sourcing claims has never been greater. The standard provides a practical system for developers, architects, contractors, designers, and specifiers to demonstrate their commitment to responsible sourcing and strengthen the link between sustainable forest management and the construction sector. Downland the Project Sourcing standard here.

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A tree, thought to be up to 1,200 years old, at the heart of Sherwood Forest and linked to the legend of Robin Hood is believed by experts to have died. Source: Timberbiz The gigantic Oak tree, known as the Major Oak, has been in visible decline for several years, despite tireless efforts to improve its health and prolong its life. This spring, the Major Oak failed to come into leaf and is now believed to have died. Although this marks the end of the Major Oak as a living tree, it does not mark the end of its story. The iconic oak tree remains a powerful presence in the landscape and an enduring part of our cultural heritage. The tree and soil beneath it will continue to be a vital refuge for wildlife and the knowledge we have gained by looking after the Major Oak will help preserve other ancient oaks across the country. Its legacy will live on through its saplings and the legends associated with it, with plans being drawn up with our partners, and the tree will continue to be a vital refuge for wildlife. For centuries, the Major Oak has been woven into the story of Sherwood Forest and the legend of Robin Hood. With a trunk circumference of around 11 metres and a crown of 28 metres, it captivated imaginations and sparked an affection that saw it win the Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year title in 2014. The Major Oak was also the very first tree recorded on the Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Inventory. Ancient oaks, the name given to oaks when they reach 400 years old, are biodiversity powerhouses, providing food and shelter for hundreds of species of insects, fungi, birds and mammals. Sherwood Forest holds one of the largest concentrations of ancient and veteran oaks in Western Europe. Protecting the remaining trees and nurturing the next generation of ancient and veteran trees is essential for the future health of the forest and the survival of many rare and threatened species. It is impossible to determine one exact cause of the oak’s demise, as it is the result of a complex combination of issues. For more than a century, well intentioned efforts to preserve the tree’s impressive shape – including metal bracing, props, concrete and coverings – prevented it from ageing naturally and in fact created added challenges to its survival. Millions of visitors also compacted the sandy soil around its roots, making it difficult for water, nutrients and oxygen to reach the tree. Recent investigations carried out by the site team with the UK’s leading soil scientists and arboricultural experts, revealed that the soil was extremely hard and lacking in life, and the root system was far smaller and weaker than earlier scans suggested. This combination of poor soil, human interventions and a weakened root system has been a major factor in the decline of the Major Oak. Additionally, climate change and the associated recent heat waves and droughts have compounded the challenges faced by the tree. Read the entire story at https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/the-major-oak  

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Australia’s annualised softwood log exports peaked year-ended September 2017 at 4.071 million m3, only ever breaching the 4.0 million m3 mark that month and the following month. By contrast to the current export volumes, 2017 seems a long distant memory. Source: Industry Edge As the chart below shows, annualised export volumes may have slipped away since then, but annual weighted average export prices peaked roughly one year ago, in April 2025, reaching AUDFob180.92/m3. Most recently, annualised export volumes have been stable, but export prices have been crumbling away rapidly but remain well above historic average prices.   Annual exports of softwood logs boost to 1.391million m3 Exports of softwood logs over the year-ended February 2026 totalled 1.391 million m3. In February, exports totalled 116,320 m3, at a weighted average price of AUDFob129.09/m3. Formal reporting shows India received 76% of the total, while shipments to China accounted for 21%. Tiny volumes continue to make their way to Vietnam and South Korea. Softwood Log Exports Over the year-ended February 2026, Australia’s total exports of softwood logs were 14.6% higher than the prior year, totaling 1.450 million m3. Reported monthly exports totaled 175,332 m3 in February 2026. For exports, softwood logs are differentiated as smaller or larger than 15 cm diameter. The distinction between log sizes was previously more noteworthy, but analysis becomes challenging as monthly export volumes are increasingly erratic, as seen in the chart. If the chart retains validity in current markets, it is in part to show the contrast over time. Larger logs (diameter >15cm) are dominating Australia’s exports. As the chart shows, trom 2021, the trend shifted away from favouring exports of the smaller diameter (<15 cm) logs. That appears to have changed again in recent years, with larger dimension logs again dominating export data reports and growing strongly from some regions of Australia. Although these logs are >15cm diameter at the small-end, industry reports demonstrate they are rarely sawlogs, with most <22cm SED. Over the year ending February 2026, exports of the smaller logs totalled 0.183 million m3 or 13.2% of the total, while shipments of larger logs totalled 1.207 million m3 (86.8%). Differentiation of exports based on diameter also allows for some price analysis. Export prices for the smaller logs have remained relatively stable in recent months, moving through a narrow range, while the average price of the larger diameter logs has fluctuated moderately more. Both are however trending down. In February, exports of the smaller logs tallied an average AUDFob131.81/m3 while the larger diameter logs saw prices at AUDFob128.21/m3. Originally published in Wood Market Edge online

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Australia needed to build more than 250,000 homes last year just to keep pace with demand growth and begin reducing the housing shortage but commenced less than 200,000 homes, according to the HIA. Source: Timberbiz “This is why home prices and rents are rising,” Tim Reardon, HIA’s Chief Economist, said. The ABS yesterday released its national, state and territory population data for the 2025 calendar year, covering births, deaths and migration. This shows that population grew by 412,500 and Net Overseas Migration (NOM) by 301,000 in the calendar year. “Australia’s housing shortage should be viewed as trying to squeeze 11 million households into 10 million homes,” Mr Reardon said. “Rising home prices, rising rents, elevated investor activity and a shortage of rental accommodation are all symptoms of a shortage of housing stock, not the cause of the shortage. “On top of that existing shortage, additional demand for homes continues to exceed.” Mr Reardon said that the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council (NHSFC) had forecast that Australia would continue to under-supply housing each year through to at least 2030. He said HIA’s modelling indicated that Australia’s housing shortage was likely to worsen more rapidly than NHSAC forecasts as population growth was likely to remain elevated, occupancy rates were likely to continue declining over time and unemployment is expected to remain low. “For those attempting to forecast housing demand based on the population growth in 2025, a common mistake that is made is as simple as dividing the population growth by 2.5 to calculate the demand for housing. This is wrong and dangerous and is part of the reason states and local councils have undersupplied housing for decades,”  Mr Reardon said. This week HIA released Beyond Population ÷ 2.5: Understanding Housing Demand in Australia which claimed that there weren’t one million vacant homes in Australia and why housing demand wasn’t just derived from migration. “With unemployment around 4.5 per cent last year, Australia would need to build more than 100,000 homes per year, even without population growth,” Mr Reardon said. “Demand for housing rises when the economy is strong. Households seek more housing space, occupancy rates decline, household formation increases and demand for second homes rises. It shouldn’t be the role of housing policy to deny households the ability to go on holidays. “Migration contributes to housing demand directly through population growth and indirectly through stronger economic growth. This means the relationship between migration and housing demand is not linear. A growing economy generates additional housing demand from the existing population,” he said. “The industry has always sought stable and reliable migration and has observed the opposite for the past six years. “The solution is not to deny that migration creates demand for housing. The solution, consistent with the findings of the Parkinson Review, is to ensure housing supply can respond to that demand.” Mr Reardon said the Australian government was responsible for setting the rate of migration, the States were responsible for building infrastructure and local councils were responsible for building homes. The Parkinson Review had highlighted the need for these three tiers of government to coordinate their priorities to address the shortage of dwelling stock. “The consequence of failure is predictable: rents rise, prices rise and affordability deteriorates,” he said. “The $2 billion in investment in housing infrastructure, announced in the Budget is a significant step in the right direction to lowering the cost of new housing supply. To make homes more affordable, governments need to lower the cost of delivering new homes to market. “Australia did not build enough homes to meet last year’s demand growth, let alone reduce the housing shortage that already exists. “Achieving the Housing Accord target of 1.2 million homes is therefore not optional. It is essential if Australia is to restore affordability and give more Australians access to secure housing. “If we want investors to leave the housing market, the solution is to increase the supply of homes, relative to demand growth, and ensure prices stop rising, rents remain stable and to allow renters to regain some market power over landlords,” Mr Reardon said. “Then, with time, investors will leave the housing market for other industry sectors that provide better returns. Attempts to regulate or tax investors out of the housing market have failed in the past and lead to higher home price growth, as demonstrated in this year’s Budget papers.” Several states and territories are now above their pre-pandemic decade population trajectories, led by Western Australia (+166,000) and Queensland (+143,200), particularly impressive for Western Australia with just over half the total population of Queensland. This is followed by South Australia (+45,100), Tasmania (+11,500), the Northern Territory (+6,400) and the Australian Capital Territory (+800). New South Wales (-86,700) and Victoria (-228,900) are still below their pre-pandemic decade population trajectories.

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Applications for the first ballot to register exotic forestry on marginal land in the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) opens today. Source: Timberbiz The ballot is part of updated ETS forestry rules that took effect on 31 October last year. John Saunders, Director Forestry Operations at Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Services, says the changes establish a permit allocation system and clarify where exotic forestry can register in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). From Friday 19 June to Wednesday 22 July, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will run the first of two annual ballots to allocate permits covering up to 15,000 hectares of Land Use Capability (LUC) Class 6 land each year. This non-arable land is generally less suitable for productive uses than LUC Classes 1–5. Each ballot allocates 7,500 hectares, with 2,000 hectares reserved for small applications of up to 100 hectares. Successful permits enable registration of post-1989 forests on LUC Class 6 land in the ETS. Under 2025 reforms, landowners may also plant and register up to 25% of their LUC Class 1 – 6 land in exotic forestry within the ETS. Land entered via ballot permits sits outside this allowance. “The updated legislation establishes a structured allocation process and provides clearer eligibility criteria,” Mr Saunders says. “Permits are allocated through a ballot system based on a random draw, and a reserved category for smaller applications aims to enable participation across a range of project sizes.

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Australia’s most significant overhaul of national environmental law in a generation is about to reshape federal oversight of forest management, and many of the operators it will affect are still working out what it means for them. Source: Timberbiz To help unpack that uncertainty, Forestry Australia and the Australian Forest and Wood Innovations Centre for Climate-Smart Forestry (AFWI CCSF), are co-hosting a free webinar on Monday 22 June, drawing together legal, certification and carbon expertise to map the compliance landscape taking shape under the reformed Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. Co-hosted with the Australian Forest and Wood Innovations Centre for Climate-Smart Forestry (AFWI CCSF), the one-hour session, Understanding Australia’s EPBC Act Changes: Implications for Forest Managers, runs from 1:00pm AEST. Forestry Australia CEO Jacquie Martin said the reforms would reshape obligations across the sector. “These reforms have significant implications for forest management, not just for native forest managers but also for private forest owners and plantation operators who are already navigating complex regulatory and certification environments,” Ms Martin said. The reforms reach well beyond the public native forest estate. Private forest owners and plantation operators will also face new obligations, and the webinar is pitched squarely at the practitioners who will have to apply them day to day. It works through the incoming requirements that forest operations must navigate and demonstrate. Much of the substance of the reforms is still taking shape. New national standards, which all operations will need to meet, remain in draft, and the reforms have triggered a structural shift for areas currently covered by Regional Forest Agreements in how harvesting operations are assessed and approved. The session canvases the questions still hanging over the sector, from the role of third-party certification to how new definitions and requirements might affect operations in practice. The panel has been chosen to speak to both the policy intent and the operational reality. Leading the session is Associate Professor Philippa McCormack, Policy, Economics and Society Theme Lead at AFWI CCSF and a research fellow at the Adelaide Law School. A vice president of the National Environmental Law Association from 2021 to 2024, she brings the regulatory and legislative view of where the reforms are heading. She is joined by two practitioners who deal with compliance on the ground. David Bennett, risk and compliance manager at PF Olsen and a forester with legal qualifications, oversees the company’s Australian risk and compliance systems, with expertise spanning sustainable forest certification, auditing and heavy vehicle regulation. Tom Schraenkler, carbon and forestry manager at Sumitomo Forestry, rounds out the panel, anchoring the discussion in operational realities facing private growers. The session carries 1.00 RFP CPD point for Registered Forestry Professionals and is free to members and non-members alike. Registering is essential to receive the joining link, and a recording will be circulated to those who cannot attend live. Participants will also be invited to contribute to a follow-up survey and workshop shaping the sector’s engagement with the reform process. Registrations close at 10:00am on Sunday 21 June, ahead of the session running from 1:00pm AEST on Monday 22 June. Go to https://www.forestry.org.au/webinar-understanding-australias-epbc-act-changes-implications-for-forest-managers/ to register for the Webinar.

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Forest & Wood Products Australia is evolving its strategic focus in response to member feedback, with an increased emphasis on broader stakeholder and community engagement. Source: Timberbiz FWPA says the shift is designed to strengthen understanding of the forest and wood products industry’s role and value across the communities in which our members operate. To support the new direction, FWPA will create a new Stakeholder and Community Engagement Manager role. FWPA says the position reflects an evolution of its engagement approach, aligning resources to deliver more integrated outreach across education, community engagement and stakeholder relations, while building greater awareness, understanding and support for the industry. As part of this transition, Beth Welden’s ForestLearning Program Manager position has been made redundant as FWPA moves to a broader, organisation-wide engagement model. Beth will finish with FWPA at the end of June, after nearly nine years leading the ForestLearning program. “We thank Beth for her dedication to forest and wood product education and her significant contribution to ForestLearning,” FWPA said in a statement. “Through her work, Beth has helped strengthen educational engagement with Australia’s forest and wood products sector and establish ForestLearning as a valued national resource for teachers, students and FWPA members, including through nationally award-winning education initiatives.” ForestLearning will continue as FWPA’s dedicated forest education brand and will be supported as an important component of the organisation’s engagement activities. FWPA says it remains committed to working closely with members, educators, communities and stakeholders to ensure its programs continue to deliver value and strengthen confidence in Australia’s forest and wood products industry.

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Two of New Zealand’s leading forestry businesses are celebrating the completion of their successful merger with the launch of a new name and brand identity to support ambitious growth plans. Source: Timberbiz PF Olsen and Forest360 announced their merger late last year, backed by new investment from Adamantem Capital’s Environmental Opportunities Fund, and the support of PF Olsen cornerstone investor Quayside Holdings. Uniting under the Stand brand marks a new chapter for the business which combines 75 years’ experience, a workforce of more than 200 skilled professionals and 480,000ha of forestry under management on both sides of the Tasman. Stand Forestry Group CEO Dan Gaddum says the new name proudly reflects the business’ practice and principles. “While a stand is a unit of trees it also speaks of taking a position, standing for something. It reflects our commitment to managing each stand with care, skill, knowledge and discipline and encapsulates our commitment to forestry with purpose – growing natural capital for good,” he said. “The new name also symbolises how we’re bringing together the people capabilities and cultures of PF Olsen and Forest360 under a shared identity and common purpose. “By merging two leading New Zealand forestry businesses, Stand is now stronger than its parts. We’ve not only strengthened our core forest and harvest management expertise; we’re also well positioned to accelerate growth.” As an example, Stand sees opportunities to grow its carbon consulting business on both sides of the Tasman. It recently launched a new carbon joint venture model in New Zealand making it easier for farmers and landowners to partner with specialist Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) expertise for mutual benefit. “Stand’s ambition is to lead the sector in navigating emerging opportunities, be at the forefront of new technology and smart thinking and deliver responsible outcomes to secure financial and environmental resilience for generations to come,” Mr Gaddum said. “Standing together as one united team is an important part of that. Clients and industry participants can now expect to see the Stand brand roll out across all of our communications.”

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Timber buildings have long defined Brisbane. From the classic Queenslander home to the bones of the Teneriffe woolstores, wood has been at the heart of the city’s-built environment for over a century. With the eyes of the world turning to Brisbane for the 2032 Games, we have an opportunity to combine this heritage with cutting-edge construction technology to demonstrate mass timber construction to a global audience. Timber is a renewable resource, it stores carbon rather than releasing it, and when a timber building is designed and built properly, can be disassembled and reused for future projects. It is one of the few ways the built environment can actively reduce emissions. But the window to influence the design and procurement for Games construction is closing. The barriers to building infrastructure projects out of timber are no longer technical, they are commercial and procedural. Instead, the holdup is now in ensuring decision makers have the confidence across five key areas: program and delivery certainty, cost escalation and commercial risk, supply capacity and sequencing, procurement integrity and compliance, and risk allocation across design, manufacture and construction. These are problems the industry can solve but require a different approach than showcasing designs. The Australian Research Council Research Hub to Advance Timber for Australia’s Future Built Environment (ARC Advance Timber Hub) researchers are creating new and innovative ways of utilising timber to increase modularity, to be designed for better disassembly, as well as improving procurement frameworks and supply chains. The proof that timber works for major buildings already exists locally and globally. In Australia, the new Sydney Fish Market, University of the Sunshine Coast’s Moreton Bay Campus, and Boola Katitjin at Murdoch University (the southern hemisphere’s largest timber building) have been leading the way. On a smaller scale, projects like QFES North Coast Regional Headquarters – Maryborough Fire & Rescue Station and Inala Infill Apartments show modern timber construction is taking place in government infrastructure and social housing across South East Queensland. Globally, the Paris Games proved that timber was a viable product for Olympic infrastructure. The Paris Olympic Aquatics Centre is a timber-led hybrid structure that successfully hosted major sporting events in a high-humidity environment. We have already convinced designers. It is the decision makers, who tend to navigate back to the materials they are used to, that we still need to convince. We are moving from a period of education and advocacy to enabling decision making. Changing the conversation from ‘can timber do this?’ to ‘this is how you manage a timber build.’ To help change this conversation, The University of Queensland is hosting the Queensland Timber Trajectory forum in June. It will feature presentations and discussions from architects, engineers, designers and suppliers that answer the questions clients ask – why timber, and how to resolve any cost and procurement challenges. Brisbane has been building with timber for over a century. In 2032, it has the chance to show the world what that looks like at its best. We have the technology; we just need to make the decision. The Queensland Timber Trajectory forum will take place at the University of Queensland on 30 June 30 12:00pm – 5:00pm at the GHD Auditorium, University of Queensland, St Lucia. This article was originally written as a Thought Leadership piece for the Property Council Australia by Dr Paul Matthew, The University of Queensland, School of Architecture, Design and Planning.

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