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Next generation Cat medium wheel loaders are infused with the latest technologies to advance safety and help customers work faster and with greater accuracy. Fully integrated for optimal performance, the wheel loaders can be easily upgraded with optional technologies as work demands it. Source: Timberbiz New technology options available for next generation Cat 950, 962, 966, 966 XE, 972,  972 XE, 980, 980 XE, 982 and 982 XE wheel loaders now include an optional Collision Warning system with Motion Inhibit includes Object Detection, People Detection and Motion Inhibit as a package to improve safe operation by alerting operators and inhibiting loader motion in the instant a machine transitions from an inactive to an active state. Starting with a foundation of the standard HD rear camera with an integrated touchscreen, Cat medium wheel loaders offer a progressive building block of optional technologies, including the Multiview (360°) Vision System, Rear Object Detection and now Collision Warning System with Motion Inhibit. The new system uses radar and vision sensors to detect hazard potential, alert operators and inhibit motion when initiating reverse motion from a stationary position. Targeting collision potentials that emerge from behind the loader, the Collision Warning System leverages both smart camera and radar technology to give audible and visual alerts to help operators see, mitigate and manage hazards that might otherwise go unnoticed. The system’s three color zones – yellow for awareness, amber for caution and red for critical – approximate the distance of the object to the anticipated path of the loader. The embedded Motion Inhibit feature prevents direct reverse gear engagement when shifting from neutral and automatically applies the brake when the system detects an object or worker in the critical alarm zone behind the loader. When this occurs, the operator is alerted by an on-screen notification. If the loader is stationary for at least 15 seconds and the operator shifts from park to reverse, Motion Inhibit prevents the machine from engaging reverse when the rear detection system identifies something in the critical alarm zone. The loader will reverse once the operator shifts back into neutral and steers to clear the detection. People Detection utilizes the smart camera to alert the operator when a person is detected behind the loader. Three levels of alerts dynamically adjust based on the person’s proximity to the machine, and the system highlights people in red bounding boxes on the in-cab monitor to distinguish and manage the potential risk. The new Cat Payload for Trade option builds on the Cat Advanced Payload Scale system that electronically captures weight and other data from the loader, now in a certified way, and can send it to the office or directly via email. Standard Cat Payload delivers precise bucket load information with on-the-go weighing to help prevent overloading or underloading. Upgrading to the Advanced Payload system expands automation features and capabilities, including automatic tip-off assist for the final bucket process to help precisely meet target payloads. A new multitask mode within Advanced Payload tracks two loading processes simultaneously, while split mode allows for loading multiple bodies, tracking individual targets and tabulating grand totals of each load. Optional Cat Advanced Payload is a system upgrade that offers expanded features and capabilities. Tip-off assist adds automation to the final bucket process. Multitask mode tracks two loading processes simultaneously. Split mode allows for loading multiple bodies while tracking individual targets and grand totals. Add Dispatch for Loading** to integrate the loader into the scale house process. The Cat Payload for Trade option for Cat Advanced Payload allows you to integrate scale data directly into your business processes. It is type approved by the International Organization of Legal Metrology and retains all the features of the standard version of Cat Advanced Payload.

Global forest loss surged to record highs in 2024, driven by a catastrophic rise in fires, according to new data from the University of Maryland’s GLAD Lab, made available on World Resources Institute’s Global Forest Watch platform. Source: Timberbiz Loss of tropical primary forests alone reached 6.7 million hectares – nearly twice as much as in 2023 and an area nearly the size of Panama, at the rate of 18 soccer fields every minute. For the first time on our record, fires not agriculture, were the leading cause of tropical primary forest loss, accounting for nearly 50% of all destruction. This marks a dramatic shift from recent years, when fires averaged just 20%. Meanwhile, tropical primary forest loss driven by other causes also jumped by 14%, the sharpest increase since 2016. Despite some positive developments, particularly in Southeast Asia, the overall trend is heading in a troubling direction. Leaders of over 140 countries signed the Glasgow Leaders Declaration in 2021, promising to halt and reverse forest loss by 2030. But we are alarmingly off track to meet this commitment: of the 20 countries with the largest area of primary forest, 17 have higher primary forest loss today than when the agreement was signed. The consequences of forest loss in 2024 have been devastating for both people and the planet. Globally, the fires emitted 4.1 gigatons of greenhouse gas emissions releasing more than 4 times the emissions from all air travel in 2023. The fires worsened air quality, strained water supplies and threatened the lives and livelihoods of millions. “This level of forest loss is unlike anything we’ve seen in over 20 years of data. It’s a global red alert — a collective call to action for every country, every business and every person who cares about a livable planet. Our economies, our communities, our health — none of it can survive without forests,” Elizabeth Goldman, Co-Director, WRI’s Global Forest Watch said. While fires are natural in some ecosystems, those in tropical forests are mostly human-caused, often set on agricultural land or to prepare new areas for farming. In 2024, the hottest year on record, extreme conditions fuelled by climate change and El Niño made these fires more intense and harder to control. Although forests have the ability to recover from fire, the combined pressures of land conversion and a changing climate can hinder that recovery and raise the likelihood of future fires. Brazil, the country with the largest area of tropical forest, accounted for 42% of all tropical primary forest loss in 2024. Fires, fuelled by the worst drought on record, caused 66% of that loss, an over sixfold increase from 2023. Primary forest loss from other causes also rose by 13%, mostly due to large-scale farming for soy and cattle, though still lower than the peaks seen in the early 2000s and in the Bolsonaro era. The Amazon experienced its highest tree cover loss since 2016, while the Pantanal suffered the highest percentage of tree cover loss in the country. “Brazil has made progress under President Lula but the threat to forests remains. Without sustained investment in community fire prevention, stronger state-level enforcement and a focus on sustainable land use, hard-won gains risk being undone. As Brazil prepares to host COP30, it has a powerful opportunity to put forest protection front and center on the global stage,” Mariana Oliveira, Director Forests and Land Use Program, WRI Brasil said. Bolivia’s primary forest loss skyrocketed by 200% in 2024, totalling 1.5 million hectares. For the first time, it ranked second for tropical primary forest loss only to Brazil, overtaking the Democratic Republic of Congo despite having less than half its forest area. More than half the loss was due to fires, often set to clear land for soy, cattle, and sugarcane, which turned into megafires due to heavy drought. Government policies promoting agricultural expansion worsened the problem. “The fires that tore through Bolivia in 2024 left deep scars not only on the land, but on the people who depend on it. The damage could take centuries to undo. Across the tropics, we need stronger fire response systems and a shift away from policies that encourage dangerous land clearing, or this pattern of destruction will only get worse,” Stasiek Czaplicki Cabezas, Bolivian researcher and Data Journalist for Revista Nomadas, said. In Colombia, primary forest loss increased by nearly 50%. However, unlike elsewhere in Latin America, fires were not the primary cause. Instead, non-fire-related loss rose by 53%, owing to instability from the breakdown in peace talks, including illegal mining and coca production. “In 2023, Colombia saw the biggest drop in primary forest loss in 20 years, proving that when government and communities work together, real change is possible. The rise in primary forest loss in 2024 is a setback, but it shouldn’t discourage us as a country. We need to keep supporting local, nature-based economies especially in remote areas and invest in solutions that protect the environment, create jobs and foster peace,” Joaquin Carrizosa, Senior Advisor, WRI Colombia said. In 2024, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Congo (ROC) saw the highest levels of primary forest loss on record. In the ROC, primary forest loss surged by 150% compared to the previous year, with fires causing 45% of the damage, worsened by unusually hot and dry conditions. Like the Amazon, the Congo Basin plays a crucial role as a carbon sink, but the rising fires and forest loss now threaten its vital function. In the DRC, poverty, reliance on forests for food and energy and ongoing conflict driven by rebel groups have fuelled instability and led to increased land clearing, further driving forest loss. “The high rates of forest loss in the DRC reflect the tough realities our communities are facing — poverty, conflict and a deep reliance on forests for survival. There’s no silver bullet, but we won’t change the current trajectory until people across the Congo Basin are fully empowered to lead conservation efforts that also support […]

The International Sustainable Forestry Coalition (ISFC) has announced the opening of its first global office, located in Edinburgh, Scotland. Source: Timberbiz The ISFC was established a little over two years ago to provide an advocacy body for private sector forestry in global policy making fora such as the Climate, Biodiversity and Desertification Conferences of the Parties (COPs). The ISFC has grown quickly to now represent seventeen major forestry companies across the world. ISFC members steward some 18 million hectares in 37 different countries. “The ISFC Board chose the UK generally, and Scotland specifically, as our base as for two main reasons,” Chief Executive Officer of the ISFC, Mr Ross Hampton, said. “The UK has a vibrant and sophisticated forestry sector working within a well-regulated market. It is seeking to increase the vitally needed supply of materials for the circular bioeconomy, whilst doing this in a climate, nature and people friendly way. “This is exactly the broader mission of the ISFC. In addition, the UK positions itself at the leading edge of global policy which effects the forest and land sector. “It was a driving force behind the formation of the Forests and Climate Leaders Partnership (FCLP) at the Glasgow COP26 and the Glasgow Declaration on Forests and Land Use. “The UK is also one of 17 countries which signed up to a pledge at COP28 in Dubai, to increase the use of timber in construction by 2030 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The ISFC is pleased to align itself with such initiatives by locating our office in this jurisdiction.”

Demand for premium timber flooring in New Zealand homes continues to rise, with engineered and hardwood options leading the way across both new builds and high-end renovations. Source: Timberbiz According to independent flooring specialists, engineered timber has become the product of choice for homeowners wanting a balance of aesthetics, durability, and environmental responsibility. European oak, in particular, is seeing strong uptake in urban markets such as Wellington, Christchurch, and Auckland. One of the key advantages of engineered flooring is its stability across New Zealand’s range of indoor climates. Unlike traditional solid timber, engineered planks are less prone to cupping or movement and are suitable for use over underfloor heating or in apartments. Local suppliers have noted increased interest in timber products with sustainable sourcing and pre-finished options that reduce installation time. Vienna Woods, a long-standing importer and distributor, that supplies premium grade engineered timber flooring in NZ and has seen steady growth in both residential and architectural orders over the past 12 months. Hardwood flooring also remains in demand, particularly in central Auckland, where homeowners and developers are choosing oak, walnut, and reclaimed timbers for their long-term value and design flexibility. A growing number of renovation projects are prioritising timber over synthetic alternatives not only for its appearance but for acoustic and resale benefits. For those sourcing hardwood flooring in Auckland, the market now offers a broader range of natural finishes, wide plank formats, and FSC-certified options designed to meet local performance expectations without sacrificing style. As flooring continues to play a key role in open-plan architecture and interior cohesion, timber remains one of the most considered material investments in New Zealand homes.