Feed aggregator

The European Commission launched an open public consultation on the European Affordable Housing Plan, which addresses the housing crisis that continues to impact millions of Europeans. Source: Timberbiz The plan will support EU Member States, regions, and cities in tackling structural challenges, unlocking public and private investment and ultimately improving access to affordable housing.  It is envisaged for next year. “Tackling the housing crisis which is affecting millions of Europeans requires inclusive action. The voice of our citizens is extremely important to shape a European Affordable Housing Plan which can really impact people’s lives across the entire European Union. If we want to make sure all Europeans have an affordable, sustainable and decent home, we need to work together across all levels of governance and sectors,” Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen said. This consultation, which follows a call for evidence, marks the second phase of gathering stakeholders’ views on all areas relevant to affordable housing in the EU, such as financing, state aid, simplification, and short-term accommodation rentals, among others. Interested parties are invited to provide their views until 17 October 2025. This initiative builds on the ongoing efforts of the Commission to make housing more sustainable and affordable across the EU. This includes the recent establishment of the Housing Advisory Board, a group of independent experts that will advise the Commission in preparation of the plan, as well as the ongoing consultation on the revision of State aid rules.

The post Views on the European Affordable Housing Plan appeared first on Timberbiz.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations unveiled the first major redesign of its open-source forest monitoring platform, Open Foris, since its launch over 15 years ago. Source: Timberbiz Developed as FAO’s first open-source project, Open Foris has grown into a widely used suite of digital solutions for forest and land monitoring, with more than 250,000 users in 196 countries. Open Foris has been used by 91% of forest submissions from 65 countries in their forest reference level submissions to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), contributing to the reporting of over 14 billion tonnes of CO₂ in forest emission reductions or enhancements. “Technology can be a great equalizer, especially when it’s free, open and inclusive,” said FAO’s Forestry Director, Zhimin Wu. “Open Foris has been a game-changer for democratizing open-source forest monitoring solutions and shows that transparency and collaboration can unlock the potential of forests for climate action.” The redesigned Open Foris platform improves usability for a wide range of audiences, from technical experts to first-time users. The platform now offers clearer navigation, with structured pathways based on user needs and expertise. The platform is a central hub for a growing suite of ten open-source solutions designed to help countries and organizations collect, analyse, and manage forest data for more informed, data-driven decisions. Open Foris remains committed to free and open access, offering scalable, adaptable and innovative forest monitoring solutions. Developed in collaboration with partners including Google, NASA, and international research institutions, Open Foris aims to empower countries by providing free access to modern forest monitoring innovations, removing barriers to forest reporting, and country access to forest-based climate finance. Open Foris also supports forest-based actions such as conservation, restoration and sustainable use, delivering scalable digital solutions that meet real-world needs. The initiative has delivered nearly 500 training sessions in 100 countries, directly reaching around 15,000 participants who are now trained in using the platform. Fostering collaboration between FAO and the Government of Indonesia The new platform was officially launched at a high-level event in Bandung, Indonesia, alongside senior government officials, reflecting the strong collaboration between FAO and the Government of Indonesia on Open Foris over many years through solutions such as SEPAL, Arena, and now Open Foris WHISP. The launch is part of the workshop to integrate Indonesia’s National Forest Monitoring System – called Simontana – with Open Foris WHISP. This simple and intuitive solution helps small holders, farmers and vulnerable stakeholders continue to supply their commodities onto regulated markets, enabling compliance and reducing deforestation while leaving no one behind. The redesign of Open Foris, and the collaboration with the Government of Indonesia is supported through the Accelerating Innovative Monitoring for Forests Program – a partnership between FAO and the United Kingdom on forest monitoring.

The post Redesigned open-source forest monitoring platform Open Foris appeared first on Timberbiz.

Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have analyzed 96 years of forest census data to better understand ecological changes and inform management practices. Source: Timberbiz Their study, published in Forest Ecology and Management, reveals concerning homogenization trends. This means the forest has become less diverse over time, losing trees that played a critical role in its ecosystem. The researchers analyzed census data from Trelease Woods, which the university acquired in 1917. Homogenization was linked to the spread of the emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle, and Ophiostoma fungi, which causes Dutch elm disease. Many deciduous forests like Trelease Woods are losing diversity, co-author Jennifer Fraterrigo said. Fraterrigo is professor of natural resources and environmental sciences. She worked on the study with her former graduate student, Jennifer Álvarez, who is currently an environmental assessment researcher at the Illinois State Geological Survey, part of the Prairie Research Institute at Illinois. Integrative biology professor James Dalling and former NRES forest ecologist John Edgington were also co-authors on the study. Dutch elm disease and the emerald ash borer have significantly decreased the abundance of elm and ash trees in Trelease Woods and across North America, Fraterrigo said. However, diseases and pests failed to fully explain homogenization trends: suppression of forest fires, whitetail deer overpopulation, and the introduction of invasive plants can also drive homogenization, she said. “The study was focused on biotic disturbances — disease, pests, and invasives — because we have data from before they arrived, so that’s something we knew was affecting the forest,” Álvarez said. “But we can’t isolate any single factor.” While the study focused on changes caused by Dutch elm disease and the emerald ash borer, these were not the only factors affecting the forest, and elm and ash were not the only species whose relative abundances changed. When elm and ash die, they leave gaps in the forest, which other species compete to fill in. That’s when other factors come into play — fire suppression, for example. Wildfires also create space in the forest for new trees to grow. Without fire, forests become shadier and wetter, a process known as mesophication. So instead of a wide variety of species replacing declining ones, only a handful of plants spread — mostly sugar maple and Ohio buckeye, which are well adapted to the new conditions. Oak trees, which don’t do well in the shade, have declined. “This can make the forest less resilient to future disturbances,” Fraterrigo said. “If one species makes up 70% of a forest, and then a pest or disease targeting that species is introduced, then 70% of the forest trees would be gone, likely leading to functional collapse.” The study is unusual in that it follows a single forest, Trelease Woods, over a long period of time. Most forests in the Midwest have been clearcut at least once or have sustained other significant forms of damage and degradation. But Trelease has survived with relatively little human interference and related physical damage, and scientists have been collecting data from the site for over a century. It’s a massive group effort, Fraterrigo said. Hundreds of NRES and integrative biology students have surveyed the site for class credit over the years. “Most studies use space-for-time substitution to understand how ecosystems respond to disturbance over time. Researchers might not have long-term data for a specific site, so they’ll compare many sites that have been exposed to the same kind of disturbance but at different times. We’ll assume that any observed differences reflect how an ecosystem responds over time,” Fraterrigo said. “But that approach has its problems. Having the Trelease Woods data allowed us to directly investigate how the forest responded to ecological changes.” Research at Trelease might help inform forest management globally, as the exceptional site was added to the Forest Global Earth Observatory Network in 2018. ForestGEO, as it’s called, helps researchers standardize forest data and collect it in one place. The network monitors roughly seven million trees compromising nearly 13,000 species, connecting insights from individual scientists to reveal broader trends. “Trelease is a relatively undisturbed forest, yet we see this mesophication trend,” Fraterrigo said. “More active management might be necessary to conserve certain species, even in places with little human activity.” The study, “Homogenization of a temperate old-growth forest remnant in central Illinois following the introduction of Dutch elm disease (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi) and emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis),” is published in Forest Ecology and Management [DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2025.122707]. Authors include Jennifer Álvarez, James Dalling, John Edgington, and Jennifer Fraterrigo. The research was supported by the Student Sustainability Committee at UIUC, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch Program (ILLU-875-925), and the Graduate College at UIUC.

The post Analysis of 96 years of forest census data appeared first on Timberbiz.

A document has been developed to ensure Responsible Wood communicates and engages with Indigenous Peoples in a culturally appropriate manner, and that its communication with the general public on Indigenous matters is both culturally appropriate and, where appropriate, consistent with the principles of prior and informed consent. Source: Timberbiz “This is not a tokenistic effort to be put on a shelf and forgotten about”, said Responsible Wood Sustainability Manager, Matt de Jongh. “As an organisation we want to look at ways we can better communicate with indigenous communities and peoples. “The Protocol is already playing a key role in guiding our work in supporting indigenous communities who are benefiting from certification in their region”. The Protocol lists Guiding Principles and guidelines for activities with Indigenous Peoples and related public communication for use by Responsible Wood and its certified entities. Aimed at increasing the effectiveness of Indigenous engagement in the forest sector across the country, it also details regional frameworks that are utilised by staff to facilitate Indigenous engagement and communication. The Protocol is intended to support more respectful and effective engagement between Responsible Wood and Indigenous Peoples. By providing clear guidance and fostering culturally appropriate practices, it can help strengthen collaboration in forest management and certified forest product supply chains. It also aims to build broader awareness of Indigenous knowledge systems and cultural perspectives within the forest sector and wider community. View the Indigenous Communication and Engagement Protocol https://www.responsiblewood.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Responsible-Wood-Indigenous-Communication-Protocol_June-2025_Final.pdf  

The post Responsible Wood’s Indigenous Communication and Engagement Protocol appeared first on Timberbiz.

PNG has lost one of its leading plantation silviculturists with the passing of Alan Cameron. Mr Cameron was the co-author with Kevin White of the silviculture “bible” titled “Silvicultural techniques in Papua New Guinea forest plantations”, Bulletin No. 1, Division of Silviculture, Department of Forests, Port Moresby, 2nd Printing, Pp. 1-99 (1966). This publication is still used today in the management of PNG’s tree plantations. Source: Timberbiz Mr Cameron commenced his tertiary studies in forestry after he was interviewed by Jim McAdam MM Director of Forests TPNG and awarded a TPNG Forestry cadetship in 1956.  He graduated B SC Forestry (Hons) University of Queensland (1962) and Diploma of Forestry (with distinction) Australian Forestry School (1960). He was dux of his final year at the Australian Forestry School Canberra being awarded the Sir William Schlich Memorial Gold Medal (1960). As part of his cadetship, after two years at the University of Queensland, at the end of 1957, Mr Cameron spent 13 months of field work in Bulolo, Wau and Kerevat plantations in PNG. He then went to Canberra (Australian Forestry School) to do the last two years of the 5-year course. In January 1961, Mr Cameron returned to PNG and was based at the Brown River Forest Station. In 1962 he commenced investigations into the characteristics of both Teak and Kamarere and the tree breeding program for both species was commenced. This was extended to Hoop and Klinkii pine later with Bulolo as the area of focus. Several teak plantations were inspected, including the original Teak area near Madang, where the Germans had introduced the species to PNG in the 1880’s. The purpose was to assess the more desirable trees that could be used to establish “Seed Orchards.” This program commenced in 1963 at the Brown River and Kerevat with a couple of Forest Officers and a few local staff involved. In February 1964 Mr Cameron received training in computer use and program writing. He wrote the program for treatment of tree measurement data and started processing plantation growth data with the computer that year and extended it to written reports soon after. Mr Cameron’s scientific writings included “Genetic improvement of teak in New Guinea.” Australian Forester, 30: 76-87 (1966), and “Forest tree improvement in New Guinea. 1 Teak.”  Paper prepared for 9th Commonwealth Forestry Conference, New Delhi 1968). In 1965 Mr Cameron was awarded the WN Hedges Prize, also known as the WN Hedges Prize Essay, an award associated with the journal Australian Forestry. It recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of forestry, specifically through a written essay. The prize is named after W.N. Hedges, and the award is given in conjunction with the journal’s publication. In 1966 Mr Cameron was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to investigate the Teak improvement programs in Malaya, Thailand, Burma, India, and Ceylon in 1966. Because of the military takeover of Burma in 1962 Alan was unable to visit any of their Teak forests. The most progressive operations were in India. He fortunately found some remarkable trees in the southwest and collected some cuttings and sent them to PNG for grafting. Mr Cameron spent time monitoring applications of plantation management practices in all locations. Later, Mr Cameron conducted studies in the Bulolo plantations on hoop pine and klinki pine and supervised silvicultural research. In 1969 he was sent to serve in a UNFAO program assessing tree species, particularly Eucalyptus species not present, in Australia. He visited Malaya, Philippines, and Indonesia.  Plantations of Kamarere were being established in the Philippines by a company for export to Japan for pulping. In Indonesia (Sulawesi Is) Mr Cameron visited several locations.  As they started their return to the capital of the Island the Indonesian Forest Officer insisted that he replace the official driver of the incredibly old canvas topped Jeep. He did not drive well and got too close to the edge and went over the edge and rolled about 200 yards down a steep slope. There were three in the front seat. Mr Cameron was in the middle and had no backrest. He dived into the back of the jeep and hung onto the frame, and that saved his life. The other two, one an Australian, were killed. The vehicle was upside down and he was trapped. Fortunately, the official driver had been standing on the back bumper bar and jumped off. He went back to a village some miles down the road and brought a team of men up to see what could be done. Mr Cameron spent about three hours trapped under the vehicle, had a smashed wrist, and injured shoulder. He had a lot of vehicle weight on his body. The team got him out and he was taken back up to the road. Fortunately, a vehicle came up and took Mr Cameron to a medical facility where he was treated for pain. The driver of the vehicle worked for an Australian mining company and by radio he advised his company what was happening, and they approved that he take Alan to the Capital where he could enter a hospital. Mr Cameron left the PNG Forest Department in early 1970 for family reasons. Mr Cameron then worked as a Project Director for Savoy Corporation Ltd (1970-1973), (1975) based in Melbourne, of which Kel McGrath was the Chairman of the Board of Directors. I supervised several forest operations in Victoria and Queensland and went to Indonesia to assess the potential for investment in timber harvesting and processing. He was involved in establishing a wood chipping operation near Launceston in Tasmania including selection of the processing equipment and purchase of land for use as plantations. The proposal was that a pulping process be set up in the longer term. The company in Melbourne was taken over by Alan Bond and the focus was seriously changed. In 1975 Mr Cameron joined CSIRO as a Senior Research Officer, Division of Forest Research (1975-1979) with the function in the forestry sector, particularly harvesting. The major focus of my work improved […]

The post Obituary: Alan Cameron a leading plantation silviculturist appeared first on Timberbiz.

The Timber Framing Campaign has announced its FY26 funding partners and another year of the campaign, which originated in 2018. Campaign manager Chris Briggs said that despite tough market conditions the funding partners were showing their industry leadership and commercial astuteness in the investment of this campaign collaboration. Source: Timberbiz The campaign will continue to work with four other past contributing companies and would also welcome new funding partners to discuss their involvement in the campaign, to grow and defend the timber framing category in Australia. The Timber Framing Campaign funding partners for FY26 are AKD, OneFortyOne, Timberlink, Wespine, Storaenso, Vida, FTMA, Koppers, arxada, MiTek, pryda, Multinail, Responsible Wood, NTHA and Timber Queensland. Ms Briggs said that with demand still soft, the question of “supporting local” continues to surface. She said many of the funding partners were Australian-owned and actively promoted their Australian-made credentials. The Australian Made Campaign’s research showed 73% of consumers preferred Australian-made, but this preference faded if it delayed a build or increased cost. When it came to building materials, consumers trusted the builder to make the right call. Australian-made is a feature, not a benefit in classic marketing terms. If local supply means faster turnaround, reliable delivery, and agility to meet demand, then it’s a benefit builders will value and promote themselves. But a strong timber framing category depends on both domestic and imported supply. With 20–25% of framing imported, the focus must remain on quality and reliability, regardless of source. Certified imported timber supports the same sustainability narrative and often outperforms steel on environmental credentials like embodied carbon. While some builders may prefer Australian-made materials, it’s not the ultimate differentiator. In B2B markets, environmental performance is far more compelling. Timber’s renewability, carbon storage, and low embodied emissions remain our greatest category strengths, whether the product is local or imported. Perceived quality also matters. Fortunately, our global partners invest heavily in certified forestry, quality control, and long-term reputation. Ongoing improvements, like Country-of-Origin labelling and audited QA systems, enhance trust and transparency. The collective message is this: timber framing offers builders reliable, ethical, and sustainable options, from a range of trusted suppliers. This choice and flexibility stand in stark contrast to the monopoly-like positioning of steel. While individual companies on the manufacturing end, will continue to promote their own value propositions, it’s the unified voice of the Renewable Timber Framing campaign that ensures the whole category remains relevant, resonant, and ready to meet the market, now and into the future.

The post The Timber Framing Campaign 2026 funding partners appeared first on Timberbiz.

On National Tree Day Sunday 27 July, Australians across the country had the opportunity to connect with their community and nature by planting a tree. Source: Timberbiz An annual event since 1996, National Tree Day has grown into Australia’s largest community tree planting and nature care event. During this time, about five million Australians have planted 28 million trees and volunteered 10 million hours of their time to give back to their community. “National Tree Day is a great reminder for people that you can do something very simple like plant a native tree to help protect and enhance the environment,” Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt said. “Getting involved in National Tree Day helps raise awareness about the importance of trees and the role they play in our environment, from cooling our urban areas to providing shelter and food for native species. This includes homes for threatened animals like koalas, spectacled flying-foxes, and swift parrots. “All of us can make a difference in our local communities.” While many communities around Australia were able to plant trees on the day, Shepparton had to take a rain check. The event was moved to 31 August due to the heavy rainfall expected in the area. “We were looking forward to this year’s celebration, but the significant rainfall predicted in the days leading into the event will create unsafe conditions for participants, leading to the decision to postpone,” Greater Shepparton city Mayor Shane Sali said. “The good news is we’ve locked in a new date on Sunday, August 31, 2025, and we are excited to welcome residents and volunteers for a fantastic day of planting and community spirit in Mooroopna.”

The post National Tree Day celebrated in most areas appeared first on Timberbiz.

Earlier this month, FWPA approved seven research proposals worth $8.75 million selected from the January 2025 open call. Chosen from 36 total expressions of interest, the successful proposals represent some of the most forward-thinking ideas in the sector. Source: Timberbiz Proposals were reviewed by scientific experts, grower representatives, and an independent economist to ensure a strong return on investment and direct benefit to the forestry industry. The approved projects focus on remote sensing for forest health surveillance and resource modelling, robotics and automation, phytosanitary treatments for log exports, and invasive species management. All major commercial forest-growing regions are represented, with proposals led by research teams in collaboration with growers. FWPA will publish further details of the projects in coming weeks, once contracting is complete. “In evaluating the proposals, there was a strong focus on scientific merit and benefit to industry, and I thank the many industry members and independent scientists who contributed to the robust process,” said Jodie Mason, FWPA’s Head of Forest Research. These new research investments align with FWPA’s Research, Development, and Extension (RD&E) Investment Plans. These plans were created in close consultation with Australia’s commercial forest growers in 2019 and have been progressively updated to ensure all research is targeted, timely, and focused on sector priorities. By investing in high-impact research, FWPA continues to support sustainable growth, improved forest management, and long-term resilience across the industry. The total $8.75 million investment includes a $4.45 million contribution from FWPA. This is made up of industry levies, voluntary cash contributions from growers, and matching funding from the Australian Government. In addition, industry members and research partners are providing further financial and in-kind support. This collaborative funding model ensures long-term, stable investment in research that delivers real value to growers and the wider sector. FWPA’s recent funding announcement and the upcoming Grower CEO Research Roundtable reflect the organisation’s focus on practical solutions through partnership. These efforts reinforce the importance of industry-wide collaboration to solve challenges, identify opportunities, and lead the sector forward. With FWPA at the helm, Australia’s forestry industry is well-positioned to continue transforming challenges into opportunities — fostering innovation, promoting sustainability, and supporting long-term growth.

The post FWPA research proposals update appeared first on Timberbiz.

The fight for residents to have a wood pellet mill development moved from a major highway has continued. In 2021, Altus Renewables put forward plans to build a $120m renewable energy plantation along Hutchinson Road, adjacent to the Mount Gambier and Regional Airport. Source: Charlotte Varcoe The Border Watch The initial plan would have attracted a large number of b-double trucks during both day and nighttime with near-by residents raising concerns. Now, Albioma, which purchased Altus Renewables upon its liquidation, has taken another chance at the mammoth project which would utilise wood products from forest floors to create the pellets and turn it into energy. According to the company’s website, the plant would produce 300,000 tonnes of prospective wood pellets per year on a 57-hectare site. Albioma has officially put forward an application for the development on PlanSA without plans being released, something which has marked concern from the District Council of Grant as well as local residents. Elected members opted to stick by its original stance with the pellet mill and requested a fresh CASA assessment against the development and any potential impact on the airport. Council also decided to request a community engagement and representation process as part of the development while continuing its position the development was planned to be in close proximity to the airport and was “not appropriate” for large scale industrial development. The motion – which was passed unanimously – also opted to support the land reverting back to rural zoning in line with council’s previous development plan should the development be unsuccessful. District Council of Grant mayor Kylie Boston said elected members wanted to have the same voice going back to the development yet again. “The development appears to be a bit different, there is no opportunity for representation from the community which is something we have asked our chief executive officer to include because for us sitting here when we are not part of the assessment, we would like to see it fairly done so everyone has a chance at representation,” Ms Boston said. “We are a council which is open for business and for development, we recognise the economic development and high-level investment and employment opportunities which the pellet mill develops, and we are largely in favour of being open for business while also listening to the needs and considerations in terms of the ongoing sustainable operation of the airport.” She said that was why council had requested a new assessment against the development which would include traffic to be managed in accordance with the council’s previous position. “Council is seeking the government to commit to a process of community engagement or representation to ensure local voices can be heard in this matter,” Ms Boston said. “Over everything this is part of what we do as a council, we ask for views from everybody and we should always be seeking that feedback from our community. “The last assessment had a number of representors who put in submissions and although it is closely aligned there may be some changes which the community are interested in or favour for or against and that type of feedback helps to inform the decision and the condition which may be required as part of the assessment.” Local resident and adjacent landowner Barney McCusker said the proposed mill was not in an adequate location, stating he believed it would be better positioned in a secluded forest area. “The process is just another process like burning coal and burning gas to produce heat, to produce steam and it will still produce carbon dioxide,” Mr McCusker said. “It is in the same category which is a green energy process to help save the planet, but it is still producing carbon dioxide and there are only three ways to actually produce electricity without producing carbon dioxide and that is solar, wind and nuclear.” He said should the process be portrayed to be green and reduce carbon footprint; it would be inaccurate. “The product and wood in general is a good way of sequestrating carbon, if we actually grow the trees and cut the timber down and make houses out of it, we are locking carbon into our houses,” Mr McCusker said. “If we took the product off the forest floor and instead of turning it into pellets, we turned it into a product and made a fiber board out of it and put that into our houses, we would also be sequestering carbon.” He said council advocating for community representation and engagement was a positive step in regard to the elected members duty of care to ratepayers. “It is a very clear process, we live in an open, pluralistic society and all these things should be a matter of openness,” he said.

The post Wood pellet mill for SA still under fire appeared first on Timberbiz.

The Benalla Ensign has stated that it was told by an employee of ForestOne that around 140 jobs would be made redundant at the company’s particleboard manufacturing plant in Benalla. Source: Timberbiz ForestOne is one of the area’s largest employers and the shutdown of the particleboard and dry sawmill would have a great impact on the region even if there were fewer job losses than the stated 140. The company will not confirm how many job losses there would be as they say they are still to determine that. There is also no date set for the closure. In a statement ForestOne managing director Ian Fankhanel said that costs were the main factor that had made it “unviable at the present time to continue making particleboard and drying timber”. The company also said that it was facing increasing governmental and compliance costs plus weak demand, and low market prices also contributed. Mr Fankhanel said that the prices sold in the market are some of the lowest in 20 years with no significant lift in demand on the horizon. High freight costs to interstate locations meant the company had been focused on selling within Victoria but Mr Fankhanel said it was the worst performing state in the country. ForestOne will continue to run its green sawmill manufacturing and lamination line and hoped that in the future if demand returned it could start up full production again.

The post ForestOne to slash jobs in Benalla appeared first on Timberbiz.