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Peruvian Indigenous leader Francisco Hernández Cayetano travelled hundreds of miles along the Amazon River basin this month to tell communities working for a decade on a project to protect the forest there was no money left. Source: Context News The initiative is one of hundreds of conservation projects put in limbo by a January 20 executive order signed by US President Donald Trump that froze billions of dollars in foreign aid for 90 days. “There is a tremendous question mark in every community. We are giving free rein to illegal loggers, to coca plant growers,” said Cayetano, president of the Federation of Ticuna and Yagua Communities of the Lower Amazon river. Peru and Colombia are the world’s biggest producers of coca, the raw ingredient for cocaine. Clearing trees to make way for coca fields is a key driver of Amazon forest destruction. Indigenous groups fear their nature and sustainable business projects will end for good as the US Agency for International Development (USAID) is gutted, raising concerns for hard-fought conservation gains and Indigenous governance. The USAID-funded project enabled the Ticuna and Yagua communities to respond to satellite-generated deforestation alerts through an app and so helped the longstanding US goal of fighting cocaine production and trafficking in Latin America. Research published in 2021 in the PNAS journal suggested the initiative had succeeded in stemming deforestation, leading to an estimated 37% reduction in tree cover loss in two years compared to areas not covered by the project. A US judge on February 13 ordered the government to restore payments to foreign aid partners, but it is still not clear whether the Trump administration will comply and for how long. Tasked with the mission of slimming down the government, Trump’s billionaire ally Elon Musk, has criticised USAID and said it was “time for it to die”. Even if funds and jobs are restored and protected by courts, damage has already been done, said an USAID employee who did not wish to have their name disclosed for fear of reprisals. “People are returning to the USA from missions, data and archives have been deleted, so much aid has been lost already,” they said. As Ticuna and Yagua forest protectors returned the smartphones used to track deforestation in Peru’s Amazon, Cayetano told them the local USAID-funded projects should be on hold for at least two or three months. Near Peru’s border with Colombia and Brazil, the agency had also been funding initiatives to substitute coca crops with cacao trees. Earlier this month, gold prices reached a record high, adding to pressure facing the Amazon from illegal gold mining, deeply connected with drug trafficking in the region. Colombia and Peru are the world’s largest cocaine producers, data from the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) shows, and US government data shows they are also South America’s top recipients of USAID funds, largely linked to Washington’s efforts to tackle drugs trafficking. Conservation and humanitarian activities supported by USAID in the region were aligned with U.S. interests to stem the flow of cocaine to its citizens, said Ricardo Soberón, former head of Peru’s DEVIDA drug policy agency. Soberón said that on their own, efforts to investigate drug cartels and destroy coca crops, also supported by the United States, had not succeeded as planters “immediately get new seeds and move deeper into the forests”. The problem with such measures, he said, is that alone they do not “attack the socio-economic causes that give origin to deforestation” for coca leaf production. In 2024, Brazil, home to about 60% of the Amazon forest, was assigned $15 million from USAID funds for environmental initiatives such as training fire brigades, promoting sustainable businesses and strengthening Amazon organisations. The Roraima Indigenous Council, for example, supports about 65,000 Indigenous people in the northern Amazon, and was planning to use USAID funds to structure 18 sustainable business projects, such as fish farming and production of folk crafts. Its coordinator Edinho Macuxi said the institution was now looking for ways to pay its personnel, and that without strengthening communities to protect their lands the cli-mate crisis would accelerate. “With all that’s been happening these days – climate change, floods, hot sun, diseases – it isn’t only Indigenous people that are going to die,” he said. Brent Sohngen, environmental and resource economics professor at Ohio State University, said one example of a successful USAID-funded partnership had been establishing a sustainable timber business in Guatemala’s Maya forest. According to Sohngen, who co-authored two papers on the initiative, it helped protect both nature and the pre-Columbian ruins under the forest. He said fostering sustainable businesses enabled communities to thrive where they live, and so helped stem the flow of migrants to the United States, one of USAID’s goals and a priority of the Trump administration.

Premier Forest Products has launched the world’s first fire-retardant and water-resistant plywood, DryGuard FR. Source: Timberbiz Following feedback from its customers, the unique plywood has been developed using groundbreaking technology pioneered by leading European manufacturer, Paged. DryGuard FR is the world’s only plywood that combines advanced water and fire protection, and it’s exclusive to Premier Forest. Building on the success of Premier Forest’s first DryGuard water resistant plywood product launch in 2021, this fire-retardant upgrade is durable and safe, with low formaldehyde and VOC emissions; it has a Type III Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). For use in roofs, floors and walls, the plywood is treated with a REACH compliant hydrophobic coating to reduce rainwater absorption, while still allowing the building to breathe, preventing damp and mould and creating safer health conditions. By repelling water, DryGuard FR retains its structural integrity, so the risk of remedial work is reduced, saving contractors time, money and effort. In addition, there is no need to cover the plywood during build, again increasing efficiency on site. Robust and versatile, the applications for DryGuard FR in the built environment are broad and varied, including commercial, residential, education, leisure and public sector buildings, airports, train stations and even server rooms. DryGuard FR has been rigorously tested and is compliant with the relevant EN standards, is CE2+ certified and FSC certified (FSC-C020012). “We are incredibly proud to launch this world-exclusive product that I am confident will be revolutionary in the timber industry. DryGuard FR will provide customers with the peace of mind of fire retardancy for their building, while increasing productivity and efficiency on site with an all-weather product,” James Pickford, Commercial Director (Panel Products) at Premier Forest Products, said. “We’ve listened to our customers and together with Paged, we’ve been able to create something one-of-a-kind to address their needs.”

LIGNA in Hanover, Germany, which is on from 26 to 30 May 2025, will be one of the most important milestones for the woodworking and wood processing industry on the way to the hoped-for industry turnaround. Source: Timberbiz Three months before the trade show opens its gates in its 50th anniversary year, more than 1,200 exhibitors from all over the world occupy around 112,000 square metres of exhibition space, sending a strong signal in a challenging industry situation. “LIGNA is currently almost at the same level as the previous event,” says Dr Jochen Köckler, Chairman of the Executive Board, Deutsche Messe AG. “In view of the economic conditions, we are very grateful to everyone involved for their confidence in LIGNA. We are convinced that the world’s leading trade fair for the industry will ensure greater productivity and sustainability through fantastic innovations and thus provide the much-needed motivation and confidence for investments.” The significance of LIGNA as the world’s leading trade fair remains strong, and constructive dialogue at LIGNA 2025 is more crucial than ever. Rudolf Eickhoff, Technical Managing Director of Venjakob, underscores the importance of LIGNA 2025. “We are currently facing intense competition in the industry, with declining sales in some areas. This makes it all the more important to discuss the latest sustainable production methods to ensure our customers can remain competitive in the long run. We firmly believe that direct contact at the trade fair not only fosters trust but also lays the foundation for successful projects,” he said. Industry experts and market observers believe that the woodworking and wood processing industry under pressure in recent months, particularly in Europe could see a recovery in the second half of the year. However, ongoing economic challenges are fuelling uncertainty and eroding business confidence. Unclear political developments and their economic impact have also led to delays in crucial investment decisions. The three key themes of LIGNA 2025 are Connectivity, Sustainabe Production, and Engineered Wood. TruckStop in the open-air-site, with two new formats will make a debut at LIGNA’s anniversary edition in May. LIGNA. TruckStop is the ultimate destination for joiners and carpenters eager to experience the latest advancements in power tools, fittings, and fastening technology. Show trucks, transporters, and vans packed with practical solutions from brands like Festool, Hettich, SawStop and Swiss Krono will be on-site in the open-air site near the wooden Expo roof. In addition, a stage tailored to the trade will host live presentations, expert interviews, and hands-on demonstrations throughout the event. FutureSquare – located in Hall 12 alongside the Stage and Circular, will showcase innovative products and services. LIGNA will once again host prestigious awards and competitions, including: The Forwarder Championships, Die Gute Form, The Hans-Jürgen Narjes Prize and the German Timber Construction Prize, which has even garnered attention from the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Construction. For more information visit https://www.ligna.de/en/

Australia’s housing crisis is reaching a breaking point. This weekend (22-23 February) a group of 100 representative Australians will take charge of the longstanding housing crisis; putting 13 reforms from leading experts to the test in a radical push for action. Source: Timberbiz AMPLIFY, a non-partisan and independent community-led organisation, will see 100 Australians from all backgrounds come together to tackle the country’s biggest challenge with experts, demanding urgent action from leaders to reshape policy, rise above the politics, and make housing affordable for everyone. Georgina Harrisson, CEO of AMPLIFY, says the housing crisis is too important for political point scoring. “The housing crisis is creating serious fault lines in the community, deeply affecting mental wellbeing, livelihoods, and destroying the social contract for future generations. An issue this significant demands better, and this is why we’re putting the power back where it belongs in the hands of the people,” she said. “This weekend the Australian public will show our politicians that coming together to solve a problem is far more powerful than tearing the other side down. The public has a say, their voice needs to be heard, and we’ll be taking the results to parliament to demand urgent action.” Research shows 95% of Australians believe housing is the biggest issue facing Australians right now. With soaring prices and shrinking options, the dream of a secure home is slipping out of reach for far too many. What’s more, 75% trust each other more than the government to make the right decisions about the housing policy reform we need. In a bold, community-driven first for Australia, 100 randomly selected Australians from all backgrounds and states – homeowners, renters, young people, retirees, single parents, Liberal, Labor, Green and independent voters will come together to weigh up 13 expert-developed housing reforms and decide which should be prioritised. The reforms set to be debated have been curated by some of Australia’s most prolific housing and policy experts. This includes Brendan Coates from the Grattan Institute, Robert Pradolin from Housing All Australians, Liana Downey from the Blueprint Institute and Andrew Barker from the Committee for Economic Development Australia (Build to Rent), among others. Over two days, participants will examine evidence, debate solutions, and decide what needs to change. The 13-shortlisted reforms being deliberated by community include: Making Housing More Affordable Stamp Out Stamp Duty Housing Tax Boost Rent Assistance Homes for Everyday Heroes Expanding Housing Choice Commuter Communities More Bang for Your Block Fab Prefab Faster Visas for Faster Homes Increasing Housing Security Renters’ Rights ‘Build to Rent’ Booster Affordable Homes Guarantee Target 10%

The new Sydney Fish Market has reached a major milestone with the final roof panel installed on top of the 200-metre-long floating roof canopy, forming the iconic building’s crowning glory. Source: Timberbiz With the unique and spectacular roof now completed, Sydney’s skyline is set to change forever with this new architectural marvel, just as the Opera House did when it was built in 1973. This marks a pivotal moment in the project, as the focus shifts from structural work to internal finishes, bringing the building one step closer to construction completion. The roof’s supporting structure is comprised of 594 timber roof beams with the longest beams up to 32 metres in length and was completed in December 2024. Combined with over 400 roof panels, the roof weighs a staggering 2,500 tonnes. The roof requires some finishing touches including waterproofing, which will follow in the weeks ahead. Since construction began, the project has provided a major boost to the local economy with delivery partner Multiplex awarding more than $670 million in contracts to Australian suppliers for services including maritime piling, steel reinforcement and installation of the roof cassettes. “This milestone is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our construction team and partners. We can’t wait to see visitors enjoying this impressive building when it opens to the public,” NSW Regional Director Daniel Murphy at Multiplex said. The new Sydney Fish Market will offer a vibrant mix of retail, dining, and community spaces, including fresh seafood market, restaurants, and a seafood school. The new market will create a dynamic hub for both locals and tourists, celebrating Sydney’s reputation as a global seafood destination. The new Sydney Fish Market is key to the transformation of Blackwattle Bay, which will unlock a connected waterfront promenade from Rozelle Bay to Woolloomooloo, 1,100 homes on the old fish market site and more than 6,000 square metres of public space, improving pedestrian and cycling links. The project is also supporting over 700 jobs during construction, and a further 700 jobs once operational.