Australian timber industry news

More than 150 giant Tingle and Karri trees have collapsed after a prescribed burn next door to the famed Valley of the Giants Treetop Walk. The ‘Giants East’ forest block was ignited in late December by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA). Source: Timberbiz A statement released a month later reported that just one giant Tingle tree had collapsed and 300 other Tingle and Karri trees on the burn perimeter had been protected and described the burn as a success. Local researchers are disputing these claims, having spent the last month documenting recently fallen trees that are more than one meter in diameter. “I surveyed the area for fire-felled trees after the Giants prescribed burn and estimated 180 mature red tingle, yellow tingle, karri and marri trees were felled by the burn in an area less than 100 hectares,” Local resident and ANU environmental science student, Uralla Luscombe-Pedro said. “Fallen branches and entire tree canopies that were burned off their trunks are scattered across the forest floor. In some places, trees have collapsed in groups. From any standpoint in the forest, it’s clear this was a severe and damaging fire.” Features of the Tingle tree; its shallow roots, fibrous bark, burls and gnarls, make them susceptible to frequent and severe fire. Each burn sets up more trees to fall in the next fire event because of the cumulative damage that burning does to their structure and stability. Recent studies show that Tingle forests have naturally low flammability when they are left unburnt for long periods. “The WNNPA was incredibly shocked and disappointed on seeing the outcomes from the recent prescribed burn in Giants East block,” The Walpole-Nornalup National Park Association (WNNPA)’s Dr David Edmonds said. “The WNNPA first raised concerns about the burning of the Tingle forest over 30 years ago. In 1997 a trial burn was conducted in the very same forest leading to the collapse of at least 30 trees. This was viewed by both the WNNPA and the government department of the time as an unacceptable result and recommendations were made to avoid this level of collapse in the future.” The WNNPA is calling for a halt to another burn planned in nearby Tingle forest later this season and they support a call for an increase in pre and post-fire monitoring programs, robust and meaningful ecological outcomes to be built into burn prescriptions and an independent review into prescribed burning. “Western Australians overwhelmingly support the protection of SW Forests. The government has recognised that in the ban on native forest logging, now they need to take the next step and overhaul the prescribed burning program to prevent this unnecessary destruction. Urgent changes are required to ensure fire-sensitive species and communities like tingles are not burnt in this manner,” WA Forest Alliance (WAFA) Senior Campaigner Jason Fowler, said. Scientists, Conservation groups and South coast residents are seeking answers from the government on the failures of this burn and how they will ensure this does not happen again.

Norske Skog is selling its Boyer mill in Tasmania for approximately $27 million to Boyer Capital, a company led by developer David Marriner. The mill produces 150,000 tonnes of newsprint and 135,000 tonnes of LWC magazine paper annually. It employs around 300 people. Source: Timberbiz Norske Skog CEO Geir Drangsland said the sale will allow the company to focus on its four European mills, including Golbey in France and Saugbrugs in Norway. “We are very pleased to conclude our orderly exit from Australasia with the divestment of the Boyer mill,” he said. “The discussions with David Marriner and Boyer Capital have been ongoing for some time and we believe they represent the ideal owner to both continue the production of publication paper and develop the industrial site for future activities. “Norske Skog will now focus fully on the successful ramp-up of containerboard production at the Golbey mill and completing the BCTMP study at the Saugbrugs mill.” Patrick Dooley, Managing Director of Norske Skog Boyer said the Boyer mill had been part of the Norske Skog group for 25 years. “We wish to thank everyone for their support and contribution to the mill during this time. We now look forward to continuing our operations under new ownership, and to work closely with our new owners to explore future opportunities at the mill site,” he said. The Norske Skog Boyer mill is situated in Tasmania’s Derwent Valley and has a production capacity of 150 000 tonnes of newsprint and 135 000 tonnes of LWC magazine paper. The site has a total area of 565 hectares, offering significant opportunities for future developments, and good access to raw materials and logistics infrastructure. The mill has approximately 300 skilled and experienced employees. “We see significant potential to expand and diversify the industrial activities at the Boyer mill for the benefit of its employees and the local community,” David Marriner, Director of Boyer Capital Pty Ltd, said. “In dialogue with mill management and representatives of the Boyer workforce we have been very impressed with their knowledge and commitment to the business. We are therefore excited to start a new chapter for the mill.” The sale follows a broad and structured process over a period of more than two years. The sale strengthens Norske Skog’s balance sheet and liquidity position towards ongoing strategic projects. Resources Minister Eric Abetz said the sale secures its long-term future as Australia’s only paper manufacturing plant. “This is a massive vote of confidence in Tasmania’s manufacturing sector and the broader economy,” he said. “We look forward to seeing Boyer Capital Pty Ltd build on the mill’s strong foundations, exploring opportunities for diversification and expansion that will bring even more jobs and investment to Tasmania.” The transaction is a sale of 100% of the share capital in Norske Skog Industries Australia Limited which is the holding company for all of Norske Skog’s Australasian activities. Norske Skog will discontinue the reporting segment publication paper Australasia in its results for the fourth quarter of 2024. The purchase price is based on an enterprise value of approximately NOK 190 million and is subject to customary adjustments for cash, debt and working capital. Completion of the sale is expected to occur during the first quarter of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions, and no gain or loss is expected to be recognised in the first quarter of 2025 as a result of the transaction. Following the sale, Norske Skog will have four mills, all situated in Europe, with a total combined capacity of 760 000 tonnes of containerboard, 840 000 tonnes of newsprint, 200 000 tonnes of SC magazine paper, and 265 000 tonnes of LWC magazine paper.

Construction of Gothenburg Grand Central in Sweden has started, a new station building in a completely new district. Together with Hybridge, Sodra is delivering 9,100 square meters of cross-laminated timber (CLT) for the building’s frame. Source: Timberbiz Gothenburg’s new station building is a project with a clear focus on sustainability and a minimized climate footprint. The majority of the building’s structure is made of wood, which is combined with recycled bricks, climate-improved concrete, and recycled steel. The building will be nearly 120 meters long and extend more than 20 meters in height. The interior is characterized by visible wood in various forms that promote sustainable construction. Hybridge (former Prefabsystem Syd) is responsible for the frame contract in the project and is a long-standing and well-established partner of Södra. “We have collaborated with Södra already in the early bidding phase. Our good cooperation in the early phase combined with Södra’s capacity and the product’s low climate impact in terms of carbon dioxide emissions is what made the choice fall on Södra when it comes to deliveries of CLT in the project,” Mårten Holmberg, CEO and business manager at Hybridge said. The assembly is carried out by KL projekt. Södra’s delivery of CLT starts in the first quarter of 2025. The station building is expected to be completed in December 2026, with the upper floors in early 2027. The architect behind the project is Oslo-based Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter.  PEAB is the general contractor for the project. The building is owned and will be managed by Jernhusen.

A mass firing of probationary federal government employees has been ordered by the Trump administration, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of workers including 3,400 with the US Forest Service — nearly 10% of its workforce — who are being terminated, according to official statements and published reports. Source: Juneau Empire The firings ordered Thursday and Friday at multiple agencies are part of an effort by President Donald Trump at the onset of his second term to drastically downsize government. Probationary employees are typically those hired within the past year or two, meaning they don’t have full civil service protections of permanent federal workers, according to Government Executive. Reuters reported there are about 280,000 civilian government workers hired within the past two years ago, most of whom are still on probation. “The US Forest Service will fire roughly 3,400 federal employees across every level of the agency beginning Thursday,” Politico reported Thursday, noting the agency currently has about 35,000 employees. Public safety employees — including firefighters with the Forest Service — are being exempted from the probationary downsizing process. A 50% reduction in staff is planned at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, with HUD Secretary Scott Turner stating a task force will also study ways to make large spending cuts. “We will be very detailed and deliberate about every dollar spent in serving tribal, rural and urban communities across America,” Turner said in a video posted on X. “With President Trump’s leadership business as usual, the status quo, is no longer the posture that we will take, and with the help of DOGE we will identify and eliminate all waste fraud and abuse.” About 10% of the workforce at the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, totalling about 1,300 employees, also are being fired, the Associated Press reported. Among the other targeted agencies are the Department of Education, Small Business Administration, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and General Services Administration, according to Reuters. The Department of Veterans Affairs announced it had terminated more than 1,000 employees effective immediately. “The dismissals announced today are part of a government-wide Trump Administration effort to make agencies more efficient, effective and responsive to the American People,” the department stated in a press release. More than 1,100 probationary employees at the Environmental Protection Agency were advised last week they could be fired at any time. Trump administration officials have been open about their intent for a wholesale downsizing of government employees, calling it an effort to find and eliminate wasteful and improper spending. Newly confirmed Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought has stated “we want to put them in trauma.” Elon Musk, head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, said his goal is to “delete entire agencies.” Accusations the announced firings are illegal were made by union leaders and organizations representing federal employees. “This administration has abused the probationary period to conduct a politically driven mass firing spree, targeting employees not because of performance, but because they were hired before Trump took office,” Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, said in a prepared statement. “These firings are not about poor performance – there is no evidence these employees were anything but dedicated public servants. They are about power. They are about gutting the federal government, silencing workers, and forcing agencies into submission to a radical agenda that prioritizes cronyism over competence.” At least 14 states are plaintiffs in a lawsuit alleging Trump illegally appointed Musk to a position with powers not authorized in the US Constitution, including withholding funds for programs approved by Congress. Musk also presided over a buyout offer to federal employees that would pay them through the end of September, which a judge on Wednesday allowed to proceed following a legal challenge. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters about 77,000 workers representing nearly 4% of federal employees who received the offer accepted it by a Wednesday evening deadline. “Cutting government personnel by one-fourth would reduce federal spending by about 1%,” the Washington Post reported Thursday evening.

International Paper announced the permanent closure of the company’s Red River containerboard mill in Campti, Los Angeles., recycling plant in Phoenix, Arizona., box plant in Hazleton, Pennsylvania., and sheet feeder facility in St. Louis, Mossouri. Source: Timberbiz All facilities will cease operations by the end of April 2025. The Red River containerboard mill closure is expected to reduce the company’s containerboard capacity by approximately 800,000 tons on an annualized basis. In total, 495 hourly employees and 179 salaried employees will be affected. The company will work to minimize the impact on employees by using attrition, retirements and current vacancies at other International Paper locations. Team members at these locations will receive outplacement assistance, access to mental health support resources and where possible, severance benefits. “The decision to close any facility is difficult because of the impact on our team members, their families and the surrounding communities,” said Tom Hamic, executive vice president and president, North American Packaging Solutions, International Paper. “We greatly appreciate the contributions from our departing team members and will do all we can to support them.” International Paper is undergoing a transformational journey to become a stronger sustainable packaging solutions company. A critical step in this journey is to streamline IP’s footprint to focus investments on facilities that will best serve customers and accelerate strategic initiatives to improve quality, reliability and service delivery.

The Trimble Forestry User Conference 2025 (TFUC) in New Zealand will start with a reception on Tuesday evening, followed by one and a half days of interesting sessions on September 10 and 11. Source: Timberbiz After the Conference, thereis an option for one-on-one meetings in the afternoon of Thursday, September 11. The theme of TFUC 2025 is Empowering Users and the planned program includes first-hand demos, workshops, roundtable discussions, a tech lab, and product announcements. The event will be held at the Novotel Auckland Airport, 35 Tom Pearce Drive, Mangere, New Zealand and will feature: Exclusive Product Insights: Discover the latest updates in Trimble’s Forestry product roadmap, including live demonstrations and new product announcements. Hands-On Workshops: Experience the company’s newest products firsthand and learn how to integrate them into your workflows. Targeted Breakout Sessions: Dive into CFLogistics: WSX, LIMS, LRM, and CFXMobile-specific use cases and workflows to improve efficiency and effectiveness in your daily tasks. Collaborative Roundtables: Contribute to shaping the product roadmap and priorities in interactive discussions. User Group Sessions: Engage with peers in your field to share best practices, challenges, and success stories in a collaborative environment. In-Depth Deep Dive Sessions: Take a closer look at advanced topics and complex workflows to gain a comprehensive understanding and practical expertise. One-on-One Networking: Connect directly with the Trimble forestry team to discuss your needs and goals. TechLab Experience: Meet the developers and explore tailored solutions for your specific applications. More information here.  

Australia should keep its technical design rules for trucks and heavy trailers but completely harmonise its light vehicle rules with international standards, Australian Trucking Association Chair Mark Parry said today. Source: Timberbiz Mr Parry was releasing the ATA submission to the Government’s review of Australian Design Rule (ADR) harmonisation. The ADRs are technical standards that apply to new and used vehicles being provided to the Australian market for the first time. Mr Parry said that Australia must retain its own design rules for heavy vehicles. “Australia is the world leader in allowing long and heavy vehicles onto the road network. We have specific ADRs for issues relating to mass and the design of vehicles used in B-doubles and road trains. Other ADRs include technical requirements based on the needs of multi-combination vehicle users,” he said. “In addition, Australia has a domestic truck and trailer manufacturing industry that provides an individual and customised product to the Australian market. “Businesses that choose to purchase Australian built trucks and trailers for the long haul market, hostile environments or heavy haulage applications chose those vehicles because they suit their business needs. “While the heavy vehicle ADRs should be harmonised with the United Nations regulations wherever possible, their development needs to evolve at a pace that can be met by Australia’s local manufacturers and international suppliers who develop specific Australian models,” he said. Mr Parry said that Australia’s light vehicle ADRs should completely harmonised with the UN regulations, to enable global vehicle manufacturers to release new vehicles into our market with the latest technologies in a shorter time frame at lower cost. “Light vehicles approved for release into the market would meet the latest global safety and emission standards. Australia would continue to have input into these global standards through the international standards development process,” he said.  

Three foresters have started in specialist roles within Forestry Corporation after completing a two-year graduate training program. Source: Timberbiz Staff members Lydia Kearns, based at Wauchope, Jack Power at Batemans Bay and Justin Yip at Tumut started with Forestry under the 2022/23 graduate intake. Over the course of the past two years, they have completed ‘on-the-job training’ undertaking a series of work rotations across different Forestry divisions. Graduating as foresters, they have now started in roles within their chosen fields of forest science. “It’s a position where I deal with many sides of the business, assisting teams who work across Tourism Partnerships, Roading and Production, Cultural Heritage and Ecology in a role that combines a good mix of time in the office with trips out into the field,” Ms Kearns said. Originally from the Blue Mountains, Ms Kearns started with Forestry Corporation after graduating from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Advanced Studies Majoring in Environmental Science, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. “I really appreciated the opportunity to join Forestry as a graduate here in Wauchope. It was a great starting point where I got to learn the whole perspective of Forestry both as a science and as an industry,” she said. “The program is a good gateway for anyone wanting to get involved in this style of work, particularly university students who might not necessarily know what silviculture involves. “Highlights in the job for me have been helping to provide ecology plans and working in the field with ecologists on their wildlife monitoring and trapping programs. “I have also enjoyed the experience of becoming an accredited firefighter working on wildfires and hazard reduction burns to protect state forests and native wildlife from bushfires.” Justin Yip is now working with the Softwood Division’s Forest Resources Team on plantation and tree improvement programs. Originally from Sydney, Mr Yip started with Forestry Corporation after graduating from Charles Sturt University with a Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management degree, specialising in Parks, Recreation and Heritage. “During the two-year program in Tumut, I rotated through Silviculture, Harvest and Roading, Forestry Resources and Fire and Stewardship. During this time, I was given the opportunity to gain an insight into the inner workings of each division,” he said. “What I appreciated most about this program was the opportunity to work with a range of talented people in different areas of the business.” Mr Yip said he gained a wealth of professional satisfaction working on significant State Forest projects. “During my rotation with Fire and Stewardship, I was privileged to be involved with the Bago State Forest Nature-Based Tourism Enhancement project, which is important because it represents the community’s ongoing recovery following the 2019-20 Black Summer Bushfires,” he said. “I played a part helping with the installation of infrastructure at the new iteration of the Sugar Pines and upgrade to the Lochinvar Rest Area. “I particularly enjoyed my involvement with these projects as open space management was one of the subjects I enjoyed most during my studies. “Throughout the program I was completely supported by each team. I felt my work was meaningful and contributed positively to the business with opportunities to develop professionally. I also formed positive working relationships with colleagues and contractors.” For decades, Forestry Corporation has offered pathways to university graduates, who have completed studies in the fields of forestry, agriculture, environmental science and natural resources. All Forestry Corporation staff train and serve as forest firefighters providing fire protection and land management across two million hectares of state forests in NSW.

To bring the Forestry Australia Professional Development Program to life, Forestry Australia is seeking a part-time, work-from-home Professional Development Manager (12-month contract). Source: Timberbiz This new role will lead Forestry Australia’s professional development initiatives and will be pivotal in establishing strategic learning frameworks and driving professional development initiatives A key focus will be developing and delivering the mentoring program for women in the industry, supporting diversity, career and leadership development. The position has been placed on Seek, more information can be found here.

Forestry Australia is gearing up to launch the Forestry Australia Professional Development Program, a strategic initiative designed to deliver high-quality learning opportunities for its members and the broader forest management profession. Source: Timberbiz This program builds on the success of our webinar series, mentoring program, and the Forestry Australia Symposium, creating even more opportunities for individuals to enhance their skills, knowledge, and career pathways. By investing in professional development, this empowers individuals and also strengthens the forestry sector as a whole ensuring our profession continues to lead in innovation, best practice and forest management leadership. The launch of this program has been made possible through a partnership with ForestWorks to develop and deliver a pilot mentoring program for women in the industry, an initiative supported by the Australian Government’s Forestry Workforce Training Program. Combined with Forestry Australia’s own resources and expertise, this represents a once-in-a-decade opportunity to establish a professional development offering that delivers significant value to members and the forest management profession. To help shape and guide this initiative, Forestry Australia is inviting expressions of interest from members to join the Forestry Australia Professional Development Committee. Chaired by Professor Mark Brown, this committee will oversee the development of our professional development initiatives, ensuring they are relevant, impactful, and aligned with the forest sector’s needs. If you are passionate about professional learning and want to contribute to this exciting initiative please submit an expression of interest (max 200 words) outlining your experience in professional development and how you see this program benefiting Forestry Australia and the sector. Expressions of interest close: Midnight, Monday 17 March Submit to: Jacquie Martin ceo@forestry.org.au Terms of reference can be downloaded here.    

All imported timber sold in Australia would carry a label indicating where it was grown, under a proposal by the national forest industry aimed at boosting the local sector and cracking down on illegal imports. Source: The Australian The proposal is one of several put to both major parties ahead of the federal election by the timber industry’s peak body, which will roll out billboard and radio advertisements in marginal seats calling for industry-friendly policies. Country of origin labelling regulations, similar to those promised by Labor for seafood sales, would make it easier for consumers to choose where their timber comes from, the Australian Forest Products Association says. Under the proposal, the regulations would be backed by an ­enforcement regime that could use new technology to trace the provenance of timber. AFPA chief executive Diana Hallam said buying Australian timber could give consumers satisfaction that the products they used were sustainably sourced. “When consumers are presented with information and have a choice and prices are basically the same, they choose Australian because they want to support the jobs and industry behind it,” Ms Hallam said. “They want to support the towns and community and employees who have contributed to that over generations. “Country of origin labelling is a cost-effective measure that parties can support. Ensuring that consumers have visibility of the origin of products at their hardware stores is important and is good for the entire supply chain.” A verification trial conducted by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry last year found about a quarter of timber tested had “inconsistent” species or origin claims. The Albanese government last year introduced new legislation requiring importers and processors of regulated timber products to conduct “due diligence” to determine the provenance of their stock. Aimed at cracking down on illegal logging imports, the laws, which come into effect next month, also enable the department to use new timber testing technologies to verify species and origin claims. “All of our forestry activities in Australia on public land are certified,” Ms Hallam said. “If you’re harvesting here, you are adhering to the strongest environmental regulation. That is not evident on timber from everywhere else.” Of particular concern is so-called “conflict timber” from war zones or from countries subject to sanctions, such as Russia. Australian timber suppliers suspect timber harvested in Russia and Belarus is being sold in Australia under false country-of-origin labels to circumvent tariffs imposed after the invasion of Ukraine. AFPA’s federal election platform also called for better integration of Australian timber products into solutions to meet the housing crisis, as well as the adoption of a new carbon credit method incentivising the use of timber in construction. Ms Hallam said Australia was already a net importer of timber and urged the government to implement policies to encourage establishment of more plantations.  

Oji Fibre Solutions (OjiFS) announced the outcome of a consultation process to simplify operations at Kinleith Mill, aimed at further action to stabilise and strengthen the company. This will result in about 230 workers losing their jobs. Source: Timberbiz “We are grateful to our people for their thoughtful feedback, and for their continued focus on safety and maintaining critical production at Kinleith Mill throughout this unsettling time,” Chief Executive Officer Dr Jon Ryder said. “After extensive work and considering a variety of options and feedback from Unions and our team, we see no feasible alternative to our proposal to simplify operations, which will keep Kinleith Mill operating, maintain jobs in the region and continue reliable supply of product to our customers. “Therefore, we will proceed with our proposal to transition the mill to a new operating model by focusing on pulp and ceasing loss-making paper production. We can confirm, we will permanently shut the PM6 paper machine at Kinleith Mill at the end of June 2025 and move to a paper import model for our packaging operations. “We expect this decision will result in the loss of around 230 jobs. We will now work with our people on a new mill structure and processes, and the outcome of that work will define role requirements moving forward. “We know for many of our people and the local and regional community, this is not the news anyone was hoping to hear. “We recognise the impact on our people and their loved ones and will be wrapping support around them. “This difficult decision is in no way a reflection of the experience, skills and dedication of all the team and leadership at Kinleith Mill. We will now be focused on a transition plan to close the paper machine safely, ensure the welfare of our affected people, and continue sustainable pulp operations at Kinleith Mill. We look forward to working closely with the Government as we move through this period and into the future. “We plan to continue producing paper at Kinleith Mill through to the end of June 2025. This provides a period in which options for affected staff can be explored; while ensuring we meet our customer obligations and provide a smooth transition to alternative paper supply arrangements for our packaging operations. The decision to discontinue production of paper at Kinleith Mill aims to: Keep the mill operating and reduce the complexity involved in running the mill Maintain continuous supply to our pulp customers Introduce a new supply model for our packaging operations Create projected profit rather than ongoing losses for the mill Reduce our energy footprint and exposure to the NZ energy market Avoid exposure to expensive saw log fibre supply Provide the opportunity for synergies with Tasman Mill through simplified product configuration. Last November the company said it was looking at simplifying the mill’s operations and discontinuing paper production which was running at a loss.

Last year was another year of high seedling deliveries from SCA. Nearly 100 million seedlings were delivered to private forest owners and SCA’s own forests. Source: Timberbiz, Photo: Michael Engman “It feels good to be able to contribute with seedlings of high quality that provide good growth in Sweden’s forests, and thus significant climate benefits,” Thomas Vestman, head of NorrPlant, SCA’s seedling operations said. “It was a good delivery year, despite the prolonged winter. But when summer arrived, it came early in May which put our nurseries in full speed. We see however, that more and more customers choose to plant in August, which has now become our largest delivery month. That’s good, because it’s perfectly fine to plant well into the autumn,” Mr Vestman said. Most of SCA’s seedlings are purchased by private forest owners throughout Sweden. The remaining share, about 40%, is used in SCA’s own forests in both Sweden and the Baltics. The primary tree species that SCA sells is pine, followed by spruce and lodgepole pine. The deliveries of larch seedlings slightly decreased last year. “On the other hand, our deliveries of high-refined seedlings increased, which come from what we call third-generation seed material. These are seedlings that grow even better, up to 25% better, than uncultivated forests. This means that the forest owners get forests that grow better throughout the cycle time,” Mr Vestman explained. “Also, our deliveries of frozen seedlings were high last year. Last year’s initiative to send them directly to customers via shipping companies was successful and continues this year. In fact, we have already sold almost all frozen seedlings for 2025. But if you haven’t bought your seedlings for this year’s plantations yet, we’ll arrange it.” Every fourth seedling comes from SCA Around 400 million seedlings are planted in Sweden every year. SCA’s extensive deliveries mean that almost every fourth seedling planted in Sweden comes from SCA. “I am proud that we have the power to make a difference and contribute to more forest in Sweden. Our seedlings are the engine in SCA’s climate benefits. First, they bind carbon dioxide while they grow, and when harvested eventually, they provide sustainable wood raw material for a variety of products,” Mr Vestman said. In 2024, SCA became part-owner in the SE-technology and the pilot facility developed and operated by SweTree Technologies in Umeå. “With SE-technology, somatic embryogenesis, you can quickly and efficiently produce more seedlings. Just one single seed can give rise to many embryos, which then are cultivated into new seedlings. Getting the best possible plant material is extremely important. It’s about creating forests that grow well and withstand the future climate without damage,” Niklas Borgh, a breeding specialist at NorrPlant said. Last year, SCA also invested in seed extraction. Using an in-house developed kiln and seed separator, SCA can now dry process cones to extract seeds from their own pine plantations. Seed extraction cones – means to make get the cones to open up and release the seeds. It may sound simple but requires a quality-assured working method to avoid damaging the valuable seeds. “We are learning more and more and are gradually increasing the proportion of seed extraction. In this way, we both increase our competence and create winter employment in our otherwise highly seasonal business,” Mr Vestman said. “I look forward to yet another exciting seedling year, where we continue to optimize our production and deliver quality seedlings to the country’s forest owners.”

In a move towards sustainable wind energy, Senvion, one of the key wind turbine OEMs in India, has joined forces with a German wooden wind turbine blade manufacturer, Voodin Blade Technology GmbH to develop and manufacture high-performance wooden wind turbine blades for Senvion’s 4.2 MW wind turbine platform. Source: Timberbiz “We have evaluated Voodin’s technology and see great potential in terms of sustainability and flexibility,” Amit Kansal, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Senvion India said. The partnership will begin with a comprehensive feasibility study to evaluate the technical, economic, and environmental potential of wooden turbine blades, followed by the installation and testing of prototype blades. “We are excited to collaborate with Senvion India on this groundbreaking initiative. This partnership allows us to bring our innovative wooden blade technology to a new scale and reinforces our mission to create a more sustainable and recyclable future for the wind energy industry. “Wooden wind turbine blades are not only an innovative technological advancement but also a significant leap toward a more sustainable wind energy ecosystem,” Tom Siekmann, CEO of Voodin Blade Technology GmbH said. Building on Voodin’s success in deploying prototype wooden blades in Germany in 2024, this collaboration sets the stage for a new era of sustainable, high-performance wind energy solutions. Voodin Blade Technology GmbH specializes in creating sustainable wood-based wind turbine blades using LVL to enhance performance and reduce environmental impact. This strategic collaboration represents a major step forward in tackling one of the wind industry’s biggest challenges, blade recyclability, by integrating engineered wood, a renewable and recyclable material, into turbine blade design. In addition to its sustainability benefits, Voodin’s innovative LVL production technology eliminates the need for moulds, significantly reduces manufacturing energy consumption, and ensures consistent quality through advanced automation. This flexible, mould-independent approach allows for seamless scalability and adaptability to meet diverse customer needs while reducing the significant CAPEX associated with traditional blade production. “The strategic alliance between Senvion India and Voodin Blades will transform the future of wind turbine blade production. These companies are innovative, creative and flexible, and will help our path towards achieving a sustainable world forever,” Dr PKC Bose, Co-Founder & Managing Director of ENREGO Energy GmbH, partners of Voodin Blade Technology GmbH said.  

A wearable camera typically used to record the daring feats of skydivers or other thrill-seekers could also be a practical tool down on the ground, University of Alberta research shows. Source: Timberbiz By capturing hundreds of images in a short time in a greenhouse experiment, a GoPro was able to monitor the growth of tree seedlings as reliably as humans, according to the study. “This shows that the GoPro may be a viable alternative to manual measurements, which could provide several benefits to low-tech greenhouses serving the forestry industry,” says Sarun Khadka, who conducted the work to earn a master of science in forest biology and management from the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences. Using the camera’s time-lapse mode, Khadka monitored germination, growth and survival of lodgepole pine seedlings in a commercial tree nursery. The images were captured over six months, then analyzed using software. The results showed that the germination count from the GoPro in week seven of the growing cycle closely matched the final seedling count recorded in week 24, “indicating the reliability of the image-based counts,” Ms Khadka said. Similarly, there was no significant difference recorded in height when 15-week-old seedlings were measured using the camera images, compared with manual measurements. The study demonstrates how such “high throughput” technology can help address challenges in low-tech, large-scale greenhouse operations faced with manual counting and measurements, Ms Khadka suggests. “Taking manual measurements is highly tedious and time-consuming, and as a result, nurseries often rely on a small sample size to estimate germination rates, which could fail to accurately represent the entire seedlot.” As well, manually measuring the height is invasive to the tender plants, and tight bench space also makes it physically difficult, she adds. While it would come with one-time costs to buy the equipment and train staff, using the technology would also likely be less expensive than installing a greenhouse-wide camera system. Using GoPro technology could give commercial greenhouses and the forest industry a jump on providing the best estimates of plant performance in the early stages of growth, says Khadka, noting that constant monitoring and tracking of the entire greenhouse is important for a nursery working to meet the total seedling order for a forest company. “Our results show that this technology can bring the value of big data, in terms of capturing a large volume of images that can be analyzed, to improve efficiency in low-tech nurseries,” Ms Khadka said. The research was funded through the Industrial Research Chair in Tree Improvement held by Barb R. Thomas, professor and associate dean (research) in ALES, and supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc., ANC Timber Ltd., West Fraser Mills Ltd. (Sundre Forest Products, Hinton Wood Products, Blue Ridge Lumber and Slave Lake Veneer), the Grande Prairie and Whitecourt divisions of Canfor Ltd., and Weyerhaeuser Company (Grande Prairie and Pembina Timberlands).

Edith Cowan University’s (ECU) collaborative study with NASA, IGNIS Project, has just completed its first round of aerial data collection which has used infrared cameras to analyse the terrain in Western Australia’s south-east region to select areas for a lighting mapping network. Source: Timberbiz “The airborne part of this study has just completed 10 flying days, that’s more than 50 flying hours, covering 10,000 kilometres, which is the equivalent to one million hectares or 2.2 million acres,” IGNIS Project Lead, ECU Executive Dean, Professor Paulo de Souza said. “We now have the task of analysing 50,000 images to locate areas where lightning could strike and spark a potentially catastrophic fire. “Our team will be busy crunching all data giving our students an opportunity to learn advanced aerospace techniques.” The IGNIS Project is a multi-agency collaboration with the US Space agency, NASA, and The University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Canberra, The University of Adelaide, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), and The University of Newcastle. The airborne mission is being supported by 10 to 14 lightning ground stations deployed across eastern Australia. The ground network will be operated in collaboration with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Centre and the SWIRLL (Severe Weather Institute Radar and Lightning Laboratories) of the University of Alabama, in Huntsville. Later in the year this network will be complemented by a lightning sensor installed on an aircraft. These flight campaigns will also be supported by a thermal sensor developed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre. The next stage of IGNIS would involve the launch of a 12U satellite to map and track thermal and lightning patterns from Low Earth Orbit. “This project could take several years to complete but could change the way lightning is studied well into the future and could potentially change the way fires are fought not only in Australia, but around the world,” Professor de Souza said.

Local organisations will benefit from the latest awards distributed through the Forestry Corporation as it works with its partners and stakeholders on a key safety program that is engaging the timber industry in the Snowy Valleys. Source: Timberbiz The safety space is so important and something the Forestry Corporation take prides in facilitating with quarterly safety share events with partners in the Snowy Region timber industry. These safety sessions involve organisations, which help Forestry Corporation implement annual site preparation works, planting, spraying, road construction and maintenance as well as harvest and haulage programs. Forestry Corporation’s Linda Cotterill said given the interaction between Forestry and its partners in the field, it is important to the industry support initiatives that are collaborative, far-reaching and consistent with best industry practice. “To facilitate this we meet every quarter, to talk all things safety and reflect on conversations, innovations and employee recognitions, put forward by industry attendees,” Ms Cotterill said. To highlight the value, attendees vote on which nominations and companies displayed excellence. Recipients of the awards nominated donate their $1000 in prizemoney to their choice of local charities with Asthma Australia, Riding for the Disabled – Tumut and LifeChanger – Tumut, the worthy recipients. “As has been done previously, donations have been made to charities known to positively impact the lives of people closest to those working in our region’s forest industry,” Ms Cotrell said. In addition to the donations to charity groups, without these meetings there would not have been opportunity for; 17 conversation starting safety shares from 7 businesses 12 innovation shares from 6 businesses; and 17 nominations for recognition from 6 businesses “With so many people undertaking such a variety of tasks it is hard to find a way to show everyone working with us just how much we appreciate them being with us, hopefully spreading the good words about that helps as we achieve so much together,” said Ms Cotterill. Winners were announced this year in three categories as follows: Best Conversation Starting Safety Share: High Country Logging, Bondo phone tower (Asthma Australia) Most Impactful Innovation: G&J Groves, Partnerships to overcome communication blackspots (Riding for the Disabled) Most Worthy Recognition: High Country Logging, working with authorities to address ongoing fuel theft and equipment vandalism (LifeChanger) Emily Rosin, Director of Rosin Developments (Logging), said these quarterly sessions are “a great opportunity to get together with other contractors and get their view on things. It’s a chance for us to get out of our bubble and get a sense of the bigger picture”. Tylah Dwyer, of S&T Dwyer Logging and Haulage, said: “The safety meetings provide a platform to share new ideas and solutions to safety challenges encountered in the field. “They also serve as an important space to openly discuss any safety concerns, facilitating the exchange of insights and strategies. “It’s been highly valuable to hear from other local contractors and Forestry Corp about the safety challenges they’ve faced and the approaches they’ve taken to address them. “Safety is crucial to our business because, like a family, we care deeply about the well-being of each person, ensuring everyone returns home healthy and safe to their loved ones at the end of the day.”

A project that employed and trained 16 workers in everything from cutting collection and propagation, to plant identification and navigation is coming to an end. A strong partnership approach alongside efforts in breeding and conservation are poised to stand as the project’s enduring legacy. Source: Timberbiz Te Rātā Whakamaru Jobs for Resistance was a three-year research program funded by the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai through the Jobs for Nature Mahi ō te Taiao programme – an NZ$1.185 billion program for projects benefiting the environment, people and regions. Rotoiti 15 partnered with Scion to deliver the project which aimed to map and monitor taonga species vulnerable to myrtle rust and explore whether it was possible to breed for resistance. Myrtle rust, caused by the fungus Austropuccinia psidii, poses a significant threat to New Zealand’s native flora. It is feared the already small population of vulnerable Lophomyrtus trees in the Lakes District could be lost without intervention. The collaboration between Scion and Rotoiti 15 Trust has been at the heart of the project’s success. Rotoiti 15 hired 10 kaimahi (workers) for Te Tira Rātā (the field team) with a total of 16 people trained during the project. Scion’s project lead Darryl Herron says a key goal of the project was to create jobs, and he feels it achieved that. “We’ve provided kaimahi the tools, we’ve given them the training, we’ve given the experience. The team’s had three years of on the ground training … but we’ve also had them in our laboratories. “We have a team of 10 highly trained, specialised, field workers, who can do everything from identifying myrtle rust and forest health to pest management,” he says. “It enables mana whenua to take those learnings and do it for themselves.” Kaimahi regularly monitored transects for the presence and severity of myrtle rust across several Bay of Plenty locations including Ngongotahā, Dansey Road Reserve (Okohiriki), Whakarewarewa Village, Lake Rotorua, Lake Rotoiti, Lake Rotomā and Mauao. The field team walked at least 3578.4km, twice the length of Aotearoa, managing to paint a detailed species of myrtle in the area. Rotoiti 15 Trust chair Arapeta Tahana says the growth of people has been one of the project’s main successes. He says the iwi now not only understands the threat of myrtle rust, but is equipped with solutions and hope, including knowledge of taking cuttings, propagation and raising seedlings to repatriate the ngahere. “All of these skills are really important to us as an iwi and the long-term protection and enhancement of our environment.”

Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA) has received a strong response to its January 2025 call for proposals under the Forestry Research Program, with 36 concept note submissions received from a diverse range of research providers. Source: Timberbiz As part of its two-stage application process, FWPA invited submissions across eight investment plan areas, attracting both researchers who have previously worked with FWPA and new to FWPA research providers. These concept notes have been circulated to the broader Grower Research Advisory Committee (GRAC) to identify and connect interested growers with the research providers, to facilitate industry engagement in proposal development. In conjunction with our GRAC Executive Committee, FWPA has since reviewed all submissions, and applicants will be notified of the review outcomes this week. Successful applicants will also be informed of grower interest in proposal development. “We are very pleased with the quality of submissions and thank all involved for the time and effort in developing the concepts. I encourage all applicants and industry partners to prioritise this next phase of project development, and engage early, to ensure research is appropriately targeted for industry benefit. FWPA is here to support this process,” Jodie Mason, FWPA’s Head of Forest Research, said. The due date for submission of full proposals is Monday, 7 April 2025.

More than 9000 jobs will go in the hardwood industry if the ‘Great Koala National Park’ is imposed on north coast communities, say forestry workers. Source: Timberbiz They gathered at NSW Parliament House this week to plead with MPs not to create the park given the latest research shows healthy koala numbers. The latest CSIRO research from 2024 shows koala populations are stable and thriving with 748,000 of the animals in NSW. That’s double the number from an outdated 2016 study by Adams-Hosking which estimated populations at 331,000 and led to calls for the establishment of the park. Hardwood is used for power poles, wharfs, walkways and flooring. Hardwoods are used for these mostly outdoor applications as they are stronger and harder wearing than softwoods. Softwoods are generally sourced from pine plantations and used for internal ceilings and furniture. Hardwood sourced from native forest is already heavily restricted. By law no harvesting occurs in old growth forest, and clear felling is also outlawed. Only a small proportion of trees are harvested and are immediately replanted. Now 88% of NSW Public Forests are already protected, and of the remaining 12% only 0.2% are subject to selective timber harvesting. There are five competing models for the ‘Great Koala National Park’, with Forestry workers supportive of models which don’t endanger forestry communities. Any radical changes to forestry practice in the north will cripple south coast processing facilities where most of NSW’s forestry products are made. Macleay Valley hardwood worker John Gunst, 65, told the Daily Telegraph the current proposal would kill nearby communities such as Kempsey, Kundabung and Nambucca Heads which have lived off the timber industry for generations. “All the timber towns rely on the same thing, if you close the timber industry down, you’re virtually closing the town down,” Mr Gunst said. “This scares local people because this is the only job they have and if you take away the timber from these regional towns you’re taking away the main source of jobs and income. “And that’s not including associated industries such as those who make mill machinery and saws, builders and carpenters, they are all going to be out of jobs because the timber is not going to be there.” Australian Workers’ Union NSW Secretary Tony Callinan says the latest 2024 CSIRO study shows koala populations are thriving and stable. “The latest CSIRO research shows koala numbers in NSW are stable and thriving and that’s great news,” Mr Callinan said. “The key here is balancing the need to protect native species while providing future generations the raw materials for housing and infrastructure. “Nine thousand north coast locals have jobs in the timber supply chain with their healthy pay cheques going directly into their small communities, it’s imperative we get the balance right or we’ll endanger this $3 billion industry. “The worst possible scenario would be to get timber from parts of the world with no environmental standards, or to use more climate change intensive products for our power poles, wharves and flooring. “Timber is quite literally nature’s carbon capture and storage; we should be harnessing it as much as possible while ensuring healthy populations of native species. “Forestry workers from the north coast are here in NSW Parliament House today to make sure decision makers know we have to get this balancing act right to ensure their communities’ survival. “They’ve been meeting with Labor Party MPs and telling them not to abandon their core constituency of hard-working Australian families on this issue or they might find themselves an endangered species.” NSW Nationals Leader Dugald Saunders told the Daily Telegraph the fact workers had “come all the way to Macquarie Street to voice their concerns” was telling. “In the lead up to the state election Labor promised to deliver the Great Koala National Park while also protecting timber jobs, but so far we’ve seen it used as a vehicle to shut down the industry,” he said. However, a NSW government spokesperson did not rule out the park would go ahead as planned. “The Great Koala National Park is the NSW Government’s biggest environmental commitment, it will be delivered,” they said.