Australian timber industry news

Forestry technology company Kesla is renewing its operating model and management team as part of the systematic implementation of its growth strategy. The changes took effect on 17 March 2025 but will not impact the structure of Kesla’s financial reporting. Source: Timberbiz To achieve the goals set for the 2024–2028 strategic period, Kesla has identified three key themes: bold renewal, profitable growth, and succeeding together. The renewal of the operating model and management team ties these themes together. In the new organization, the previous business unit structure will be changed, and tractor equipment, logging equipment, truck and stationary cranes, and defence products will be referred to as product groups. Front line functions – sales, product management, marketing, and after sales services will be combined into a new Sales and Customer Care organization. A Sales and Customer Care Director will be appointed to lead this new organization, and the recruitment process is underway. Until the position is filled, CEO Pasi Nieminen will take on the role alongside his existing duties. The Kesla Defence product group, established in January 2025, will retain separate sales and product management functions due to the specific characteristics of the defense industry market. Tapio Pirinen will continue to lead sales for the product group and, as part of the organizational reform, will also take on responsibility for the company’s PMO (Project Management Office) functions. “At the core of our strategy is enhancing the customer experience. By reorganizing our frontline functions, we improve our customer processes and can offer better service and faster responses to market needs,” CEO Pasi Nieminen said. “Merging sales and after sales organizations allows us to allocate resources more evenly, flexibly, and efficiently across selected market areas to support growth. Strong product management, in turn, plays a key role in building a product strategy that aligns with our strategic objectives in key markets. All these actions support the most important goal of our strategy: profitable growth.” This transformation is a significant step in Kesla’s organizational development, following the earlier dismantling of business unit specific product development and production responsibilities. Product development, product management, digitalization, Kesla Defence, and PMO will now be included in the management team, as they are critical functions in achieving Kesla’s strategic goals. Jukka Sadinmäki will continue as Head of Product Development. Mika Tahvanainen, previously Business Line Director of Logging Equipment, has been appointed Director of Product Management and Digitalization. Ari Pirho-nen, formerly Business Line Director of Truck and Stationary Cranes, has been appointed Sales Director of Cranes for the Finnish market, which is a significant market for Kesla. The reorganization was carried out as a change negotiation process, but no staff reductions resulted from it.    

The Decorative Hardwoods Association (DHA) in the US says it appreciates the opportunity to provide public comment on the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) request for comments regarding unfair trade practices that are present throughout the world and are detrimental to United States wood product manufacturers. Source: Timberbiz DHA says its members have been the victims of unfair trade practices engaged in by countries throughout the world but particularly in Asia. These practices are ripe for review by USTR, the Department of Commerce, and President Trump’s American Manufacturing and Trade team. DHA members, particularly hardwood plywood manufacturers and engineered wood floor manufacturers, have in recent years successfully pursued antidumping and countervailing duty trade cases against Chinese manufacturers. While helpful, these cases are time-consuming and expensive and do not solve the problem. DHA says that too often, Chinese companies are quick to trans-ship through other Asian countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, or Malaysia. “Our Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood successfully pursued a circumvention case against Vietnamese shipments of hardwood plywood made with Chinese inputs with a ruling in 2023,” Keith A. Christman President Decorative Hardwoods Association said in a statement. “This slowed high levels of imports from Vietnam for a bit over a year but imports are again surging, rising 52% in 2024 to nearly 615 million square feet. For comparison, US manufacturers have reduced production to only 676 million square feet in 2023 after years of competing with unfair imports from Asia. “US capacity utilization has been reduced to around 50%, and many good jobs in rural communities have been lost when mills have been closed. US trade laws have not been able to keep up and should be updated to better reflect the reality of the import competition faced by domestic manufacturers. To help solve this problem, we would encourage support for the Leveling the Playing Field 2.0 Act.” A fundamental problem the DHA sees is that US manufacturers of hardwood plywood, hardwood veneer, and engineered wood floors are forced to compete against imports with prices below the cost of production. This wood raw material represents a major portion of total cost in the Us. Yet imports are often sold at prices that are at or below US manufacturer raw material cost as result of using unsustainably and illegally harvested wood. Wood from Russia is an excellent example of the problem. In 2024, the United States imported over US$62 million of birch plywood from Russia. However, these direct imports from Russia pale in comparison to the nearly US$200 million of birch plywood imported from Vietnam and the nearly US$160 million imported from Indonesia. Birch does not grow in Vietnam or Indonesia. These imports come in at low or no tariff rates despite-the-fact that they are made with Russian-origin birch. Russia is the source for nearly all the birch used in manufacturing birch plywood from China, Vietnam and Indonesia. For example, more than 90% of hardwood plywood imported from Vietnam is birch. Vietnam both directly imports logs from Russia and imports birch veneers from China produced from Russian logs. These Russian logs are harvested from state owned forests in unsustainable methods and at dumped prices according to DHA. All plywood made with Russian-origin wood and wood inputs, whether imported directly from Russia or from a third country after further processing, harms US manufacturers and supports the Russian war effort. Accordingly, DHA recommends that the administration consider banning Russian wood products and products from third countries made with Russian wood. In addition to banning all wood products made from Russian wood, USTR should consider increasing the tariff on wood products made with birch that often comes in at no tariff. For example, birch plywood imports from any country to the US are not subject to normal 8% duty applied to other wood species. This results in a loophole where, for example, an importer will claim a product is birch plywood when it has a birch back and a white oak face and it comes in duty free. Then it will be sold in the final market as much higher value white oak plywood that would normally face an 8% duty. This duty-free tariff on birch further encourages the use of Russian fibre in products coming into the US through third countries.

Japan Airlines (JAL), Airbus, Nippon Paper Industries, Sumitomo Corporation, and Green Earth Institute (GEI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the realization of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using bioethanol derived from domestic wood. Source: Timberbiz In February 2023 Nippon Paper, Sumitomo Corporation, and GEI launched the “MORISORA Project.” In February 2025 an agreement was signed to establish a joint venture to manufacture and sell bioethanol made from wood biomass. JAL and Airbus have now joined the project and will promote the use and expansion of domestic SAF by collaborating with businesses involved in the supply and demand of SAF. The five companies will work to enable a low-carbon society by reducing greenhouse gas emissions during raw material procurement and production, and by producing and selling domestic wood-based bioethanol that has a low LCA and is compliant with CORSIA. This will be achieved through the developing society’s circular economy of “cutting, using, planting, and growing” trees, regional revitalization including job creation, and the utilization of domestic SAF. JAL aims to promote domestically produced SAF and has set a goal of replacing 10% of all onboard fuel with SAF by 2030. By connecting the SAF suppliers with stakeholders involved in production, JAL will advance the construction of a supply chain. Airbus will support the work to obtain the CORSIA certification for the domestic woody biomass of this project and contribute to the industry target to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The five companies will mutually leverage their strengths to produce and pro-mote domestic SAF made from bioethanol using domestic wood, aiming to create a decarbonized society and revitalize local communities through re-source circulation and work towards a sustainable future.

A newly published ABARES Insights report has emphasised concerns around non-tariff barriers (NTBs) and their sharp increase in recent years. Source: Timberbiz The report, Non-tariff barriers: a multi-billion dollar burden, sheds light on the costs created for Australian agricultural exporters from non-tariff measures across the world. Executive Director of ABARES, Dr Jared Greenville, said the report’s findings highlight the need for strong and sustained effort by government to combat the growth of NTBs to minimise their impact on trade. “The Insights report shows the rising burden associated with NTBs” Dr Greenville said. “We are seeing the use of NTBs rise as tariffs fall, causing concern that one form of trade distortion is being replaced by another. “NTBs impose higher costs for Australian agricultural exporters as they can restrict products entering a country due to licensing requirements and product labelling re-quirements, amongst others. “While the average tariff on agricultural goods has dropped globally from 26% to 12% since 1995, we have seen a consistent and steep increase in NTBs growth across the world since 2014.” While some non-tariff measures may increase trade, findings from the report indicate that at a product level, NTBs cause the equivalent reduction in trade as a 19% tariff on average. New modelling in the report shows that the removal of NTBs could result in $4 billion in annual benefits for the Australian agricultural industry, but efforts to address NTBs must be specific and targeted. “The rise in NTBs unfortunately reduces opportunities for businesses looking to participate in international markets,” Mr Greenville said. “Better market access is important to Australian agriculture and the jobs its supports. It also supports efforts to diversify our export markets for our agricultural products.”  

Sumitomo Forestry is pleased to announce that two of its facilities/products have received iF Design Awards in 2025. The joint mass-timber office development, “T3 Collingwood” in Melbourne, Australia received the top honour, the Gold Award. Source: Timberbiz The interior design idea, “Kids’ Base (around the centre of the house),” conceptualized by Sumitomo Forestry received the Design Award. This is the first time that Sumitomo Forestry Group has received this award. The Gold Award for T3 Collingwood was won by recipients Hines (a US developer), Sumitomo Forestry, NTT Urban Development Corporation and Jackson Clements Burrows Architects (Australian architecture firm). T3 is a mass-timber office building in Collingwood, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Comprising 15 floors above ground and two basement floors, it is designed as a hybrid structure with the basement to sixth floors made of reinforced concrete, and the seventh to 15th floors made of timber. It is the tallest mass-timber office building to be completed in Australia. Cross-laminated timber made from Australian Radiata Pine is used for the floor slab, and GLT (glued laminated timber) from Victoria, is used for beams and pillars with an exposed finish. The building received the highest Gold rating for its exceptional office design, openness that draws in an abundance of natural lighting, quality and longevity of the building. The German “iF International Forum Design” has been presenting awards to outstanding industrial designs from around the world since 1954. There are nine award disciplines: Product, Packaging, Communication, Service Design, Architecture, Interior Architecture, Professional Concept, User Experience (UX), and User Interface (UI). This year, there were 10,651 entries from 66 countries and regions, which were evaluated by 131 design experts from around the world with 75 entries (0.7% of all entries) selected for the highest award. Along with the Red Dot Design Award (Germany) and the iDEA Award (US), the iF Design Award is said to be one of the world’s three most prestigious design awards.  

After an extensive interview and selection process the Governing Council of the Victorian Forest Products Association (VFPA) has appointed Richard Mulcahy as the inaugural Independent Chair of the association. Source: Timberbiz Mr Mulcahy has had a long involvement in politics and served as Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Treasurer, as well as Chair of the Public Accounts Committee in the ACT. He was also Principal Personal Assistant to a former Victorian Premier.  He has held CEO positions in a number of industry bodies. Mr Mulcahy will take up his role on 1 April 2025. This is an important step in strengthening VFPA’s strategic direction and the association looks forward to Mr Mulcahy’s leadership in advancing the industry’s interests. VFPA’s current Chair, Rob Hescock, will continue in his role on the VFPA Governing Council.

New Zealand Forest Managers (NZFM) has resumed its New Zealand pine log exports to India in the first half of 2025. This marks the first time NZFM has exported pine logs to India since the 2019/20 period. Source: Timberbiz “This is the beginning of a renewed focus on the Indian market,” Jonathan Cameron, NZFM Chairman said. Historically, NZFM has exported between 40,000 to 50,000 JAS m3 of logs per annum to India, with the last shipment occurring in January 2020. As part of its own diversification strategy, NZFM aims to expand its customer base beyond its current markets in South Korea, Japan, and China. “India represents a significant opportunity for growth, leveraging New Zealand’s reputation for high-quality timber” Mr Cameron said. Working with industry and partners, the company plans to introduce New Zealand pine logs to a variety of high-value applications in India, including interior products, structural timber, and building supplies, much beyond their traditional use in industrial packaging and construction products. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon highlighted NZFM’s efforts as a reflection of New Zealand’s broader export strategy. “It’s companies like NZFM that are driving growth in export value by promoting innovative, higher-value use cases for New Zealand’s high-quality logs. This aligns with our goal to double the value of exports and showcase the premium quality of what New Zealand offers,” Mr Luxon said. NZFM is highly supportive of the Letter of Intent on Forestry Cooperation signed by Ministers on the Prime Minister’s Trade Delegation to India and is keen to collaborate and cooperate with government officials, industry, and our counterparts in India on the areas outlined in the Letter. Mr Cameron indicated that “particular areas of interest are exchange of knowledge, processes and innovation as well as exploring the adaptation and application of cutting-edge technologies we have seen on the Prime Ministers Trade Mission to India into our New Zealand forestry industry”. NZFM is a 100% Māori-owned professional forestry management company based in Tūrangi and Taupō in New Zealand’s central North Island. Established in 1989, the company manages over 100,000 hectares of client land, including 80,000 hectares of productive forests. NZFM provides comprehensive forestry services, including land management, forest development, protection, environmental stewardship, investment, harvesting, and global sales and marketing throughout the Asia-Pacific region. NZFM’s clients include Māori trusts and incorporations, the New Zealand Government, local councils, Timber Investment Management Organisations, and private entities.

  Chief Fire Officer Chris Hardman of Forest Fire Management Victoria said in an open letter that as summer fades and autumn begins, we take a moment to reflect on the challenges of extreme heat, bushfires and storms over the past months have tested communities across the state, reinforcing the importance of preparedness, swift response and resilience. Source: Timberbiz Mr Hardman said: We feel for the communities affected by these events, and I thank our crews, contractors, incident management personnel and partner agencies for the work they do to keep Victoria safer. While the seasons may be changing, our focus remains the same, making sure resources are where they’re needed, learning from recent events and strengthening our strategies for the future. “The seasonal outlook shows a higher chance of warmer maximum temperatures into early autumn which may delay the start of planned burning in some parts of the state. It also raises opportunities for planned burning targeting areas that are not usually available under autumn conditions. We manage Victoria’s bushfire risk in a holistic way, including but not exclusively – through planned burning. Large intense bushfires are a significant threatening process to the natural environment. Victoria’s home to some of the world’s most spectacular natural places, fire risk management needs to be balanced alongside land management to be effective. Reducing the risk and impacts of bushfires requires a multi-facetted approach; there are no magic bullets. Victoria’s approach includes having the right road network for accessibility, strategic fuel breaks, fuel management through planned burning and mechanical fuel treatment and advanced approaches to suppression through well-trained people and highly specialised plant, equipment and aviation. Victorian firefighters and fire managers are world class. We rely on the latest, wide-ranging and global body of research and work with other jurisdictions, but we apply our experience and knowledge to Victorian conditions. Planned burning is part of our long-term strategy. It’s not just about a single burn, or single year, but an ongoing process aimed at creating a strategic network of fuel-reduced areas on public land. This network helps to slow the spread of fire and helps firefighters to reduce threats to communities, critical infrastructure and the environment. Autumn typically provides our crews more opportunities to conduct planned burns, as the weather is more stable, and fire behaviour tends to be manageable and predictable. As soon as favourable weather and forest conditions arrive, we’ll be making sure all available resources are delivering planned burning, with a strong focus on priority areas like Midlands, Yarra Ranges, Murrindindi, Ovens, Otways and Latrobe Valley. There may be some forest and road closures in place during and after planned burning. Visit the Planned Burns Victoria website before you travel to make sure your trip isn’t affected. If you live in or are visiting an area where planned burning is taking place, there’s a good chance you’ll see FFMVic firefighters preparing locations or delivering planned burns. They’ll be the ones in our distinctive green firefighting uniforms.

A major study after the devastating 2019-20 wildfires in Victoria and New South Wales found that prescribed burning dramatically reduced the intensity of the fires, according to a bushfire expert. Source: Phillip Hopkins, Latrobe Valley Express Dr Tony Bartlett, a winner of the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM), said after 2019-20, a major study was undertaken to test the effectiveness of prescribed (fuel reduction) burning at a landscape scale in terms of reducing the severity of the wildfire in a wide range of forest ecosystems. Dr Bartlett was part of a three-person panel that investigated the impact of the wildfires on Victoria’s Regional Forest Agreements, The major study examined 307 prescribed burns greater than 200 hectares that had been conducted in the previous five years, and which were within the footprint of the 2019-20 wildfires. “It found that about half (48%) of these prescribed burns resulted in significantly reduced wildfire severity,” said Dr Bartlett, writing in the Commonwealth Forest Association newsletter. “It also found that the more recent prescribed burns had a more positive impact on reducing fire severity, with 66% of one-year-old burns having a positive impact compared to 42% of five-year-old burns.” Dr Bartlett said Australian academics Professor David Lindenmayer and Associate Professor Philip Zylstra had made claims about the impact of prescribed burning on forest flammability. “None of the claims … are supported by evidence from long-term monitoring of replicated trials where prescribed burning has been conducted,” he said. The academics in articles reproduced in the CFA newsletter argued that prescribed burning and logging made Australian native forests more flammable. They said prescribed burning should be confined to areas close to high-value assets and that when fire is excluded for more than 40 years, the native forests do not burn at high intensity because the vertical connectivity of the forest structure is reduced through natural ecological processes In contrast, Dr Bartlett said the late Associate Professor Kevin Tolhurst studied the effects of repeated low-intensity prescribed fire in mixed species eucalypt forest in south-east Australia using repeated trials (including no-burning sites) for almost 40 years. “He found there was no loss of species but the impact on understorey plant species varied according to the nature of different species,” Dr Bartlett said. “My own observations at these research sites in October 2024 indicated there was significantly less understorey vegetation in the repeatedly burnt sites than in the unburnt control sites – which contradicts the Lindenmayer-Zylstra view that prescribed burning in eucalypt forests promotes dense flammable understorey vegetation.” Dr Bartlett said the academics’ propositions ignored the evidence of comprehensive fire research done by the CSIRO and state government land management agencies, as well as the lessons from numerous inquiries after major wild-fires over the past 80 years. “Moreover, the notion that fire can be excluded from most Australian forests for more than 40 years is fanciful, given the increased frequency and extent of wildfires over the past 20 years under challenging climate conditions,” he said. “Importantly, there are numerous journal articles that either challenge their re-search findings or present evidence that indicates their findings are incorrect.” Dr Bartlett said the academics’ claim that timber harvesting causes the native forest to be more flammable was undermined by evidence. Wildfire, including the rate of spread and fire intensity, depended on three main factors: the quantity and structure of fuel in the vegetation; the prevailing weather – wind and humidity; and the topography of the location of the fire. Thus the severity of the wildfire was the result of interacting factors, “not a single factor such as whether or not timber harvesting has been undertaken in that location”. Dr Bartlett cited several wildfire examples: In NSW, the 2019-20 burnt about 4.1million hectares of forest, including 2.23m ha of national park and 0.76m ha of State forest. Timber harvesting had made up about 0.21m ha of State forest over the previous 35 years. Official NSW data showed about 53% and 50% burnt at high and extreme severity in both tenures. At the landscape level, they concluded that fire severity was much the same regardless of tenure. Fire in 2019-20 burnt over 855,00 ha (79%), 37% extreme severity, of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, but timber harvesting had no impact in the wilderness area. Areas of prescribed burning five years before had 26% burnt at high or extreme severity. In Eastern Victoria, 2019-20 wildfires burnt 1.5m ha – 89% public forest that included 486,000ha of national park and 403,000ha of State forest. Victorian data showed that 48% of national park and 49% of timber harvest areas burnt at high severity. “It is clear that the presence or absence of timber harvesting made little difference to the extent of high severity bushfire. Dr Bartlett said the academics last year published a review of selected global literature on the role that disturbance (fire, timber harvesting or clearing) can play in forest flammability. Much of this relied on their previously published articles. “They did not quote any of the extensive literature that showed a re-duction in fire severity in areas where prescribed burning had been conducted,” he said. Concluding, Dr Bartlett said clearly the greatest risk to Australian native forests is the increased frequency of landscape-scale wildfires burning at high intensity. This would “ultimately change the composition and structure of our forest systems”. “The lived experience evidence clearly shows that timber harvesting is not in-creasing the risk of native forests being burnt at high severity,” he said. “Far from being a cause of increased high severity fire, prescribed burning reduces fire severity in many forest areas where it has been undertaken.”

The Tasmanian Forest Products Association (TFPA) has welcomed a commitment from the Federal Coalition that, if elected, they will oversee a review of the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme (TFES) and support Tasmanian businesses to the tune of $62 million while that review takes place. Source: Timberbiz Following the announcement, TFPA Chief Executive Officer, Nick Steel, said the review into the TFES is a much-needed boost for Tasmanian forestry businesses. “The TFES model, as it stands, is no longer fit for purpose. This scheme was set up almost 50 years ago and it’s clear it’s no longer working for Tasmanian businesses,” Mr Steel said. “The TFPA has long argued that the current indexation model in the scheme is out of date – no longer keeping up with the exponentially increasing costs to move freight to the mainland that we have seen in recent decades.” “Australia is currently in a cost-of-living crisis. It’s being particularly felt here in Tasmania, not only by consumers but also by businesses trying to sell to the other states. “Being an island, Tasmania is at a distinct disadvantage compared to other states when shipping goods to their markets. The Whitlam Government introduced the TFES in the 1970s to go some way to level the playing field between mainland and Tasmanian businesses. “However, to work properly it’s essential to regularly review the scheme to ensure Its original purpose remains relevant.” Mr Steel said it was clear the Coalition was listening to the concerns of businesses across the country, and he called on the Federal Labor to do the same. “This announcement by the Federal Coalition offers certainty to Tasmanian businesses looking to mainland markets during these tough economic times,” Mr Steel said. “To ensure Tasmanian businesses can continue to support our local economy, and employ thousands of Tasmanians, the Prime Minister should immediately match this announcement and give our industry the certainty it needs to continue to build a stronger Tasmania.”

The forestry sector is ripe for a tech revolution. Here are five technologies to watch out for in the near future. Source: Timberbiz First, keeping an eye on hundreds of thousands of trees is a herculean task, traditionally carried out on foot in all weathers. Imagery, whether it be taken by a drone or satellite, is a more efficient way to see the landscape. Using satellite images can help keep track of the forest’s condition and check the health of trees. Drones can fly among the trees and gather similar information, like tree density and health status. This way, areas needing attention can be quickly identified and necessary actions taken. However, it’s challenging to detect smaller trees, which can be overlooked in the images. Secondly, connect with your senses with a sensor for the air, monitoring temperature, humidity and quality. A sensor for the soil, monitoring moisture content. A sensor for the tree, monitoring growth. Combine all of these through an Internet-of-Things network, and an expansive, real-time and accurate picture of the forest can be created. While this can be used to optimise conditions, it can provide early warnings of wildfire or disease ensuring damage is minimised. Third, the advent of AI. Images and sensors provide vast quantities of potentially useful data. Without analysis, that data remains useless but analysing it is a complex and time-consuming process. The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) can expedite the process while also providing far higher quality insights. By rapidly identifying patterns and anomalies in vast quantities of data, AI promises to enhance forest management. Fourth, controlled environment technologies involve controlling the environment to optimise growth. This is most obviously known in the form of vertical farming where light, temperature, nutrients and water levels are controlled to optimise the growth of crops, all on a smaller footprint of land due to the stacking of growing surfaces. The same can be applied to trees, by growing seedlings through vertical farming, ensuring optimal conditions, before being planted out-doors. This has the added benefit of growing saplings faster and in a bio-secure environment, reducing the risk of disease. Last is the rise of robotics. Forestry has been a human-centred activity for a long time but robotics and automation have made their way into the sector to increase productivity. Robotic harvesters are already available commercially, operating tasks such as pruning, harvesting, inventorying and planting. Teaming robotics with automation, as has been done in certain agricultural sectors, could further optimise the time and quality of these operations. Many of these technologies are already being explored within the forestry sector. For example, in Devon and Cornwall, drones have been used not for imaging, but to plant 75,000 seeds as a means of tripling rainforest cover in the area. As these technologies are adopted more widely, they will continue to be improved, and the value proposition will become more evident. Although early adopters may face initial challenges, they are also more likely to gain the greatest rewards rather than being left to play catchup.  

The Wood Pellet Association of Canada (WPAC) is making strides in international market engagement with the launch of a multi-lingual website and a targeted Japanese market awareness campaign. Source: Timberbiz Recognizing the importance of export markets, particularly in Asia, where Japan is Canada’s largest customer, WPAC’s website is now available in Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and Korean. This initiative ensures that key international stakeholders can easily access information about the sustainability, quality and reliability of Canadian wood pellets. Japan is the fastest-growing wood pellet import market in the world, driven by its aggressive push to phase out coal and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The country’s long-term feed-in tariff (FIT) for bio-mass energy supports this transition, creating significant opportunities for Canada’s pellet sector. Canadian wood pellets are a key part of Japan’s clean energy future, offering a low-carbon, renewable alternative to fossil fuels. To further engage with Japanese customers, policymakers and energy influencers, WPAC has launched a communications campaign in Japan. This effort includes: A series of media articles highlighting the sustainability of Canadian wood pellets, third-party forest certification, and the role of biomass in reducing emissions. Search engine advertising to enhance visibility among key industry decision-makers. A feature article in Smart Japan, a leading energy-sector publication.

On Tuesday China suspended the soybean import licences of three US firms and halted imports of US logs, stepping up its retaliation for additional tariffs on Chinese goods. Source: Reuters China also imposed import levies covering US$21 billion worth of US agricultural and food products including soybeans, wheat, meat and cotton. The three US companies affected by the licence suspensions are farmer-owned cooperative CHS Inc (CHSCP.O), opens new tab, global grains exporter Louis Dreyfus Company Grains Merchandising LLC and export grain terminal operator EGT, China’s customs department said in a statement. Customs said it detected ergot and seed coating agent in imported US soybeans, while the suspension of US log imports was due to the detection of worms, aspergillus and other pests. Beijing is retaliating against US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose an extra 10% duty on China, effective Tuesday, resulting in a cumulative 20% tariff in response to what the White House considers Chinese inaction over drug flows. The suspension of US logs was a direct response to Trump’s move on 1 March to order a trade investigation on imported lumber. Trump had earlier told reporters that he was thinking about imposing a 25% tariff rate on lumber and forest products. “The announcement of import restrictions on US lumber and soybeans linked with phytosanitary issues follows a long history of similar measures by Beijing,” said Even Pay, agriculture analyst at Trivium China. The bulk import volumes and natural origin of soybeans and lumber make them susceptible to issues with plant health and pests, creating a convenient target for trade retaliation, Mr Pay said. China is one of the world’s largest importers of wood products and the third-largest destination for US forest products. It imported around US$850 million worth of logs and other rough wood products from the US in 2024, according to Chinese customs data.

Applications for Young Plant Producer 2025 in New Zealand are now open.  This year’s competition takes place at Lincoln University on 24-25 June. Source: Timberbiz Young people who are 30 years or under by December 31, 2025 and working in the plant production industry are eligible to enter. The event provides: Hands-on industry experience Expert mentorship Networking opportunities A NZ$3,000 career development fund A shot at the Young Horticulturist of the Year with a prize pool worth $20,000+ The 2024 Young Plant Producer Anna England went on to win Young Horticulturist of the Year. She is using some of her winnings to visit overseas plant production operations this year and learn more about the latest tech. To find out more and apply, visit the Young Plant Producer website. https://www.youngplantproducer.co.nz/enter-now  

Forest & Wood Products Australia has launched FWPA Standard G02 – Recycled Timber: Visually Graded Decorative Products, the first national standard of its kind. Source: Timberbiz This new standard provides guidelines for visually grading recycled hardwood timber used in decorative applications, setting a critical framework for assessing and grading these materials. The result of industry funded research, and developed in collaboration with industry as-sociations, recycled timber stakeholders, and user representatives, G02 has undergone public comment, review and refinement based on practical application as part of the formal consultation process. “The industry has long sought greater clarity around recycled timber grading to further support the use of recycled timber products in the built environment, and G02 delivers just that,” FWPA’s National Codes & Standards Manager Boris Iskra said. “We are excited to see this standard adopted and look forward to launching further industry-led standards that positively impact our industry.” Industry Benefits of FWPA Standard G02 include: Quality Assurance – Establishes clear grading requirements for recycled hardwood timber. Compliance Verification – Helps manufacturers demonstrate adherence to industry guidelines. Guidance for Specifiers – Assists purchasers in making informed decisions. Encourages Sustainability – Promotes responsible recycling and resource conservation. Industry Standardisation – Creates a unified approach to recycled timber grading. Flexibility in Sourcing – Acknowledges the diverse origins of recycled timber. Facilitates Communication – Encourages better commercial transactions. Future Development – Lays the groundwork for formalisation as an Australian Standard. And in response to industry demand for clearer, more practical guidelines, FWPA has established a dedicated Standards Development Program. Again led by FWPA’s National Codes & Standards Manager Boris Iskra, this initiative ensures that industry-owned standards are developed with direct input from those who use them, improving efficiency, alignment with industry needs, and responsiveness to emerging challenges. At the heart of this collaborative effort is the Industry Standards Reference Panel (SRP), a diverse group of experts representing key industry voices. The SRP provides essential guidance and oversight, ensuring that FWPA’s standards are robust, practical, and beneficial across the supply chain. Through strategic collaboration and sustained efforts, FWPA has laid a strong foundation and built important momentum for this critical work to advance industry standards. In line with FWPA’s Strategic Plan 2023-2028, this initiative aims to develop enhanced building standards and codes that support the increased use of wood products. FWPA is committed to publishing at least two industry-owned standards per year while continuing to contribute to existing Australian Standards and collaborating with national timber and built environment committees. To learn more and download the FWPA G02 Recycled Timber – Visually Graded for Decorative Purposes click here.  

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has launched the FSC Brand Hub, a user-centric platform designed to streamline trademark management, marketing resources, and brand assets for all FSC stakeholders. Source: Timberbiz Developed with input from users around the world, the FSC Brand Hub is tailored to the needs of certificate holders, promotional licence holders, certification bodies, and other FSC partners. This new platform replaces the legacy system, offering an improved, modernised experience that is: Simple and intuitive: easy navigation and streamlined journeys for all users. Comprehensive: access to trademark designs, customisable assets, campaigns, and guidelines all in one place. Personalised: features like bookmarks and notifications create a personalised experience. Whether you’re managing trademark designs, building marketing campaigns, or creating custom assets, the FSC Brand Hub is a one-stop solution. To ensure a smooth transition, the new platform will run alongside the legacy system for a limited time, giving users the opportunity to explore and familiarise themselves with its features. FSC will also host a webinar to introduce the Brand Hub, including how to navigate the platform, customise assets, and make the most of this exciting new resource. The webinar is on 3 April 2025 at 6.30pm AEDT register here. Access the Hub at https://brandhub.fsc.org/auth/login

Australia’s forest products sector celebrates its amazing contribution to fighting climate change, providing skilled and regional employment, creating essential products and an enormous economic contribution – this International Day of Forests, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA), Diana Hallam said. Source: Timberbiz The 2025 theme is “Forests and Food” which highlights the important role our sector has for global food security. Forests are critical for climate regulation, soil enrichment, as an energy source and for water not to mention the critical and sustainable resource they provide for humankind. As global population grows, protecting forests all over the world from threats like deforestation and fire risks is only becoming more important. “This International Day of Forests Australia’s forest products sector is calling on all policy and political decision makers to better recognise the potential of Australian forestry to provide for the nation to meet our emission reduction targets and fight climate change – as well as contribute to our sovereign capability and provide essential products,” Ms Hallam said. “Australia leads the way in global forest management whether they be native forests or plantations. It’s something we must continue, not only to secure our own access to this sustainable resource, but because it sets a quality example for the rest of the world in how production forests should be managed. “In Australia – every tree harvested in our native forests for wood and timber is replaced by law for future generations. We value what forests can provide, and we need to ensure they’re harvested sustainably. Our plantations also play a critical role in providing resource for housing, while also helping reduce national emissions through carbon sequestration. “AFPA’s Federal Election Platform Australian Timber. Australia’s Future outlines what our sector needs to reach its potential in the future, and we encourage all sides of politics to commit to the Platform in full ahead of the Election. “International Day of Forests is a time to celebrate the power of forests and in Australia they certainly are a powerhouse for our nation.”  

The Green Triangle Fire Alliance (GTFA) has commended the outstanding efforts of industry brigades, state agencies, and community volunteers as they contend with ongoing heightened fire danger across South Australia and Victoria. Source: Timberbiz Extreme temperatures, gusty winds, and persistent dry conditions have driven severe fire danger ratings, with firefighting crews responding to more than 100 fires in the past week alone. These incidents resulted in the loss of key plantation estates, farming land, and areas of native forest. The GTFA’s network of 15 AI-enabled fire detection cameras have been instrumental as a first point of detection for many of these fires, supporting rapid response times and guiding the strategic deployment of firefighting resources. GTFA General Manager Anthony Walsh highlighted the crucial role of industry-funded assets, including a dedicated helicopter that was dispatched to 11 fires, providing fast and efficient aerial suppression, often in rugged and difficult-to-access terrain. “Our highly trained industry firefighting crews have been on high alert, working alongside CFA and CFS volunteers and state agencies to protect our communities and landscapes,” Mr. Walsh said. “These recent conditions have underscored the value of our AI-driven detection network, which is delivering real-time alerts ahead of traditional human surveillance. Early detection combined with rapid deployment, strengthened by our industry helicopter, is critical in preventing fires from escalating.” The GTFA’s Forest Industry Brigade, derived from staff across nine plantation companies, comprises 300 trained firefighting personnel, 150 appliances, and an industry-funded helicopter, supported by strategically placed floating collar tanks for rapid aerial refuelling. The Alliance has also invested in the development of key firefighting dams in priority areas, enhancing water availability near vital plantation assets. “From boots on the ground to cutting-edge technology, every action taken strengthens our ability to safeguard the region,” Mr Walsh added.

Dryad Networks, a leader in ultra-early wildfire detection, is setting up its first office in Australia and New Zealand to help tackle the region’s growing bushfire crisis. Source: Timberbiz Based in Macquarie Park, New South Wales, the new hub strengthens Dryad’s ability to work directly with governments, emergency services, and industry partners to prevent fires before they spread. Sohan Domingo, who is serving as the Vice President of Sales, Technology, and Operations, is leading the expansion into Australia and New Zealand. Dryad is starting with a dedicated local team and will scale up as demand grows. Having a local base means working closely with emergency responders, forestry services, and national parks to roll out fire detection solutions tailored to Australia and New Zealand’s unique landscapes. “Australia and New Zealand are on the frontlines of climate adaptation, and early fire detection is critical,” Mr Domingo said. “With a local team, Dryad can work directly with authorities and land managers to stop fires before they spread.” Building on success in North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia, the company is bringing its technology to ANZ to detect fires before flames appear and prevent devastating losses. Each sensor runs maintenance-free for up to 15 years, powered by a small, integrated solar cell. Designed for rugged conditions, the sensors form a wireless mesh network that provides reliable coverage even in remote areas. Detecting fires at the smouldering stage gives emergency services a crucial head start. The system provides real-time fire maps and outperforms spotting towers, infrared cameras, and satellites, which only detect fires once they’ve spread. “Bushfires don’t just destroy landscapes and communities, they also fuel climate change,” Mr Domingo said. “Early detection is the key to stopping them before they spread. Dryad’s expansion isn’t just about growth; it’s about protecting lives, infrastructure, and forests. By reducing fire risk, we’re also cutting carbon emissions and building a more resilient future.” Dryad is also advancing wildfire suppression with Silvaguard, an autonomous artificial intelligence (AI)-powered drone that uses acoustic waves to extinguish fires. This innovation will provide a rapid, automated response to fire outbreaks detected by Dryad’s sensors, reinforcing early intervention efforts. Plans are underway to explore deployment opportunities in Australia and New Zealand, where fast-moving fires pose a critical challenge. Dryad is partnering with Indigenous Industries Australia (IIAust), Thinxtra, Indicium Dynamics, and New Zealand’s Direct Safety to accelerate deployment. These alliances tap into local expertise to scale bushfire detection across ANZ. Dryad also works with research institutions, government agencies, and emergency responders to refine its system and strengthen bushfire resilience in diverse landscapes.

Tasmania has been burning for more than two weeks, with no end in sight. Almost 100,000 hectares of bushland in the northwest has burned to date. This includes the Tarkine rainforest and alpine ecosystems of Cradle Mountain that may never recover. The situation has taken emergency services and land management agencies by surprise. The seasonal bushfire outlook for summer 2024 suggested Tasmania’s fire risk was nothing out of the ordinary. The state was also well prepared for bushfire fighting, particularly with specialised aircraft. But this fire season has turned out to be anything but typical. Firefighting capacity has been stretched to the limit and interstate crews have been called in. It all began with a massive lightning storm in the evening of Monday 3 February. The incidence of such lightning fires has been increasing in Tasmania since the 1990s. An official inquiry into the bushfires will no doubt be held, given the substantial social, economic and environmental harm – as well as the sizeable costs associated with fighting the fires from the air in remote and rugged landscapes. Nonetheless, important lessons are emerging from these fires, which speak to the broader, worsening threat as the climate changes. Fortunately, direct economic losses from these fires have been limited so far, despite significant disruption associated with evacuation and road closures. Tourism operators and honey producers have been hardest hit. The fires caused brief but substantial smoke pollution across the state, placing a range of people with medical conditions at risk. The full environmental effects and the benefits of prescribed burning are yet to be evaluated. Nonetheless, there is grave concern about damage to unique rainforests and alpine ecosystems. If sufficiently dry the organic soils, or peats, that supports forests and treeless areas in western Tasmania are also vulnerable to combustion. We undertook a preliminary estimate of how much highly fire-sensitive vegetation – plant communities that will take more than 50 years to recover – may have burned. This involved comparing the current bushfire boundaries or footprint, based on satellite data and field reconnaissance, to vegetation mapping used for various purposes including fire management. We put the figure at 19,716 hectares of vegetation. However, it’s possible not all of this burned, and islands of unburned vegetation persist within the broad fire boundary. Our estimation includes 10,419 hectares of temperate rainforest (10% of the fire area) and 462 hectares of alpine vegetation (0.45% of the fire area). Neither of these vegetation types can readily tolerate fire. Our analysis suggests about half of fire-affected rainforest areas have been previously burned by fires since 1982 (48%) and some small areas have burned twice (5%). Recurrent fires in rainforest can result in permanent loss of this vegetation. Just how much damage has been done will require further assessment. The number of fires ignited by lightning have increased in Tasmania since the 1990s. When the lightning occurs in storms without much rain, or where the rain evaporates before it hits the ground, it’s known as dry lightning. Concerningly, in the last decade two other major dry lightning fire events have occurred, likely a signal of a change in fire activity. As a result, fires are burning into areas that historically are rarely affected by fire, damaging the natural values of the Tasmanian wilderness. Going into summer, experts were concerned that soils across western Tasmania were particularly dry. This increased the fire risk in the seasonal outlook. The recent rapid-fire growth in Tasmania was caused by the unusual combination of regional drying (including dry soils), an extreme lightning storm and subsequent strong winds. But the sequence of events that caused this fire to take off could not have been predicted more than a week ahead. That’s because it is impossible to predict lightning and windstorms outside the seven-day window of weather forecasts. What’s more, our research shows it is currently not possible to reliably predict which lightning strikes will start fire. Massive lightning storms that ignite multiple fires overwhelm the capacity of firefighters to locate and immediately extinguish all the flames. Unfavourable weather conditions caused the west coast fires to rapidly grow. Firefighting shifted from attempts to extinguish the fire to instead contain its spread. This involved techniques such as targeted waterbombing, back burning and building fire breaks. These approaches have been successful in some cases, notably the deployment of retardant drops to contain the Canning Peak fire, saving extensive stands of conifer rainforest. But suppression efforts were imperfect, as the loss of a private tourist facility hut on the Overland Track has demonstrated. Managing these massive fires demands triage – making difficult choices about where to direct firefighting effort. Effective triage requires a detailed understanding of the location of areas of high economic, cultural and environmental value. High-quality mapping of these sites and involvement of specialists in the broader decision-making process is essential. The Tasmanian government does have maps and expertise to guide triage, but there are calls for more investment to protect the region’s ecological values. This is particularly important for small, localised sites vulnerable to fire, such as groves of ancient Huon pine. Dry lightning storms are hard to predict, extraordinarily difficult to contain, and can cause substantial economic, social and environmental harms. Technology alone – such as that which combines satellites, artificial intelligence, drones and water bombers – is not enough to eliminate these fires. What’s needed is a diverse portfolio of approaches, involving a combination of: reducing fuel loads by prescribed burning firefighting that is carefully targeted using high quality data expertise embedded in firefighting teams. Researchers and fire managers must also identify the best strategies for prescribed burning to reduce bushfire risk while protecting areas of high economic, conservation and cultural value. Climate change will bring more frequent monster fires and fighting them demands a broad suite of investment. David Bowman, University of Tasmania and Grant Williamson, University of Tasmania. This article was first published in The Conversation