Feed aggregator

Myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) is a serious plant disease that impacts New Zealand native species like pōhutukawa, rātā, maire tawake and ramarama. In New Zealand, there is only biotype – pandemic – present but there are several different biotypes of the myrtle rust fungus that infect different host species overseas. Source: Timberbiz A biotype is a group of organisms having the same or nearly the same genotype. These biotypes found overseas pose a significant biosecurity threat. In a paper published in January, Scion researchers collected seed from North Island populations of kānuka, mānuka and pōhutukawa and plants were grown overseas to investigate their susceptibility. There was only a Iimited amount of Lophomyrtus (ramarama, rōhutu) seed available, so it wasn’t tested. Seedlings were screened against Eucalyptus and other biotypes to check for susceptibility and resistance. All of the myrtle species screened developed symptoms following exposure to each of the biotypes tested. A similar pattern of relative susceptibility was found among the myrtle species tested. Pōhutukawa was the most susceptible species tested, followed by mānuka, then kānuka. Some seedlings showed evidence of full resistance (more so in kānuka and mānuka). The myrtle rust fungus produced its sexual spore stage on all the NZ myrtles tested, indicating that sexual reproduction between different biotypes of the pathogen might be possible. These findings highlight the need for development of tools to differentiate between strains and biotypes of myrtle rust for rapid diagnostics to monitor for and respond to incursions. Identifying host ranges for different biotypes could be used to investigate the connection between host associations and virulence and improve our understanding of the evolution of virulence towards or away from multiple hosts. This program exemplifies Scion’s connections with national and international researchers, including Plant and Food Research and Manaaki Whenua (both groups in the Bioeconomy Science Institute), and researchers in Australia, South Africa, Uruguay and USA. Scion’s expertise in forest pathology and biosecurity research enables it to protect not only commercial forest species but extends to native species. For more information visit https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10530-024-03465-5

The post NZ myrtles susceptible to myrtle rust biotypes appeared first on Timberbiz.

Forico’s Sustainability Manager Simon Cook has always been passionate about sustainable forest management. In the early 1990s, during his undergraduate studies in Forestry Management at Aberdeen University, he distinctly recalls a lecturer introducing the concept of global certification standards. In 1994, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) was founded as a voluntary certification for sustainable forestry. Source: Timberbiz Thirty years later, Mr Cook was elected to the Board of the Forest Stewardship Council Australian and New Zealand (FSC ANZ), where he now represents the Economic Chamber. Over the decades, Mr Cook has built a distinguished career promoting sustainability and robust certification in forest management across both hemispheres. In his current position at Forico, he has played a key role in ensuring Forico’s plantation estate and natural forest areas are managed with a focus on sustainable stewardship. He has been instrumental in driving the development of the company’s award-winning Natural Capital Reports and its Reconciliation Action Plan. More recently, Mr Cook served as a member of the FSC ANZ’s Standards Development Group, helping to ensure the Standard meets contemporary requirements and remains relevant and accurate in response to global developments in climate, forest and supply chain management. “Simon brings extensive forestry experience and a strong commitment to responsible practice,” said Melanie Robertson, CEO of FSC ANZ. “He played a leading role in Forico’s delivery of Australia’s first Natural Capital Report and in Forico becoming the first FSC-certified organisation in Australia to implement the FSC Ecosystem Services Procedure, demonstrating positive outcomes in biodiversity conservation. “He also contributed significantly to our Standards Development Group, helping shape the first draft of the revised Forest Stewardship Standard for Australia. We’ve greatly valued his insights and are excited to welcome his leadership and perspective on the Board.” On his recent appointment to the FSC ANZ Board, Mr Cook reflected that “Certification is critical for businesses pursuing the gold standard for sustainable forestry in Australia and New Zealand. With challenges like climate change and nature loss, which are offset by emerging opportunities in carbon markets and biodiversity credits, it’s more important than ever to ensure that our certification systems remain robust, credible and evolve with time. I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to governance and best practice for our industry at FSC ANZ during such an exciting time.”  

The post Forico sustainability manager joins FSC board appeared first on Timberbiz.

Planet Ark is calling on individuals, schools, community groups, and businesses across Australia to take part in the nation’s biggest community tree-planting event on Sunday 27 July. Source: Timberbiz Since its inception in 1996, more than 28 million native trees, shrubs, and grasses have been planted by millions of volunteers, contributing to the restoration and preservation of Australia’s ecosystems. Planet Ark’s research has consistently highlighted the positive impacts of spending time in nature and participating in activities like tree planting on human health and wellbeing. Reports published as part of the National Tree Day program show that time spent in green spaces is linked to reduced stress, improved mental health, increased physical activity, and a lower risk of chronic diseases. Tree planting events have also been shown to foster social cohesion and enhance feelings of purpose and satisfaction within communities, providing an important opportunity to strengthen community bonds while supporting the local environment. Rebecca Gilling, Planet Ark CEO, emphasised that National Tree Day shows the potential collective impact of many individual actions taken together. “National Tree Day brings together people of all ages – from young children to grandparents – with the shared purpose of nurturing the environment and each other. It’s a meaningful reminder that when we take collective action, even small acts like planting a single tree can grow into something truly transformative,” Ms Gilling said. Planet Ark encourages all Australians to get involved by : Hosting an event: Gather friends, family, or colleagues to plan and register a planting event, contributing directly to your local environment. Joining a local planting event: Connect with community groups or local councils hosting tree-planting activities in your area. Supporting The Seedling Bank: Consider donating to The Seedling Bank, which provides financial support to schools and community groups for their plantings. For more information visit www.treeday.planetark.org

The post National Tree Day appeared first on Timberbiz.

The Tasmanian Forest & Forest Products Network (TFFPN) has advised that its Annual General Meeting will take place on Friday 5 September at the Tailrace Centre, Launceston prior to the 2025 TFFPN Tasmanian Timber Awards. Source: Timberbiz The TFFPN in accordance with section 13.4 of its Constitution, is calling for nominations to serve as a director on the TFFPN board. Two director vacancies currently exist. The TFFPN welcomes nominations from individuals with experience in treasury, company secretary responsibilities, and governance. All nominees must complete and submit a Director Nomination Form by 5:00pm on 4 August 2025. For more information visit: https://www.tffpn.com.au/

The post Director vacancies on the Tasmanian Forest & Forest Products Network board appeared first on Timberbiz.

New Zealand company NILO has reached a significant technical milestone on its journey toward commercialisation. NILO has developed a sprayable adhesive made from plastic waste that significantly reduces the emission of formaldehyde and the carbon footprint of engineered wood products. Source: Timberbiz Rigorous internal validation testing over the last month has confirmed NILO’s formulation meets key performance standards for furniture-grade products, which make up approximately 60% of the global particle board market. NILO’s adhesive is derived from hard-to-recycle plastic waste streams, specifically polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), that would otherwise be incinerated or end up in landfill. These plastics are commonly used in products like agricultural and industrial shrink-wrap. Using a patented process, NILO transforms the plastic waste into an industrial adhesive that is clean, safe and cost-competitive. Developed by NILO’s Auckland-based team, led by Chief Technical Officer Simon Oakley, the adhesive can be used with a wide range of fibre sources to produce engineered wood products in a heated press. In keeping with NILO’s circular model, products made using its adhesive can be reground and reused as feedstock for new board production. Using NILO adhesive helps global manufacturers move away from hazardous traditional adhesives, particularly urea formaldehyde (UF), melamine urea formaldehyde (MUF) and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), while lowering the overall carbon footprint of the final product. NILO adhesive can be blended with existing adhesive formulations, increasing the speed to market and enabling a strong customer adoption pathway. “Our aim is to ultimately replace UF, MUF and MDI adhesives entirely,” NILO CEO Michael Maunsell said. “But right now, we’re offering a real, workable solution that integrates with existing manufacturing processes, which is critical for the sector to make meaningful progress on emissions.” Adhesives are one of the most emissions-intensive components in the manufacture of engineered wood products, which are used globally in furniture, cabinetry, interiors and construction. Reducing the use of UF, MUF and MDI, which are derived from fossil fuels and associated with health, safety and emissions concerns, is a growing priority for global manufacturers under pressure to meet environmental targets. NILO’s formulation is compatible with standard production lines and designed to be used as a drop-in component, supporting the transition to cleaner, lower-emission adhesive systems. Independent third-party testing will take place in the coming months, with full-scale production trials at international facilities scheduled for 2026. Backed by global investors such as IKEA that invested in NILO in May 2023 and has a seat on the board. NILO is one of a small number of companies globally working to decarbonise the adhesives that hold engineered wood products together.

The post Spray adhesive to reduce the carbon footprint of engineered wood appeared first on Timberbiz.

Murrindindi Shire Council in Victoria has welcomed the announcement of $130,000 in Victorian Government funding to support the work of the Farm Forestry Innovation Working Group, part of Council’s broader Shaping Murrindindi’s Future program. Source: Timberbiz The funding will enable delivery of the Murrindindi Farm Forestry Project, a strategic initiative to assess the current state of farm forestry across the Shire, identify opportunities for growth and innovation, and build on the region’s deep expertise in forestry and land management, the Council says. The project will explore the potential for small to medium-scale plantations on farming land, supporting income diversification through products such as sustainably harvested timber, firewood, carbon offset credits, eucalyptus oils and native food production. A proposed pilot Farm Forestry Interpretive Centre will also be developed to share knowledge, showcase innovation and support best practice across the industry. The investment builds on the foundations of Shaping Murrindindi’s Future, a community-led initiative supporting the region’s economic diversification in response to the Victorian Government’s phase-out of native timber harvesting. The Council says farm forestry is emerging as a key opportunity for innovation, aligning with Council’s environmental values and the community’s aspirations for a more resilient and sustainable future. “This investment will help our community explore the economic and environmental potential of farm forestry. It supports our vision for a stronger, more diversified local economy, and Council looks forward to working with the community and industry partners to explore how farm forestry can deliver long-term benefits for Murrindindi Shire,” said Council’s Economic Development Portfolio Councillor, Sandice McAulay. For more information on Council’s Farm Forestry project, visit www.shapingmurrindindisfuture.com.au/farm-forestry  

The post Forestry innovation boost for Murrindindi appeared first on Timberbiz.

The Forest Products Commission (the FPC) invites new, established and emerging businesses to purchase Western Australian plantation and native forest timbers. Source: Timberbiz The FPC is establishing a panel of buyers to purchase residues and industrial wood salvaged from native forest and plantation activities until 2033. These timbers are typically processed as fibre for pulp, paper, fibreboard, wood composites and energy markets. The FPC’s Request for Proposal calls for businesses to become panel members. At the same time, the FPC is seeking offers for the first plantation and native forest timber parcels: Request for Quote 1 – Plantation Timber Softwood – Up to 420,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of Industrial Wood and 100,000 tpa of Residues between WA’s South West, Albany and Esperance regions. Hardwood – up to 200,000 tonnes of various species Industrial Wood and Residue in the south west Wheatbelt  region.   Request for Quote 2 – Native Forest Timber Up to 100,000 tpa of Recovery Log from Ecological Thinning. Over the term of the panel, new panel members can be appointed and additional timber parcels released for the panel to consider. Please visit TendersWA to view the tender documents here.

The post WA plantation and native timber sales appeared first on Timberbiz.