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Local organisations will benefit from the latest awards distributed through the Forestry Corporation as it works with its partners and stakeholders on a key safety program that is engaging the timber industry in the Snowy Valleys. Source: Timberbiz The safety space is so important and something the Forestry Corporation take prides in facilitating with quarterly safety share events with partners in the Snowy Region timber industry. These safety sessions involve organisations, which help Forestry Corporation implement annual site preparation works, planting, spraying, road construction and maintenance as well as harvest and haulage programs. Forestry Corporation’s Linda Cotterill said given the interaction between Forestry and its partners in the field, it is important to the industry support initiatives that are collaborative, far-reaching and consistent with best industry practice. “To facilitate this we meet every quarter, to talk all things safety and reflect on conversations, innovations and employee recognitions, put forward by industry attendees,” Ms Cotterill said. To highlight the value, attendees vote on which nominations and companies displayed excellence. Recipients of the awards nominated donate their $1000 in prizemoney to their choice of local charities with Asthma Australia, Riding for the Disabled – Tumut and LifeChanger – Tumut, the worthy recipients. “As has been done previously, donations have been made to charities known to positively impact the lives of people closest to those working in our region’s forest industry,” Ms Cotrell said. In addition to the donations to charity groups, without these meetings there would not have been opportunity for; 17 conversation starting safety shares from 7 businesses 12 innovation shares from 6 businesses; and 17 nominations for recognition from 6 businesses “With so many people undertaking such a variety of tasks it is hard to find a way to show everyone working with us just how much we appreciate them being with us, hopefully spreading the good words about that helps as we achieve so much together,” said Ms Cotterill. Winners were announced this year in three categories as follows: Best Conversation Starting Safety Share: High Country Logging, Bondo phone tower (Asthma Australia) Most Impactful Innovation: G&J Groves, Partnerships to overcome communication blackspots (Riding for the Disabled) Most Worthy Recognition: High Country Logging, working with authorities to address ongoing fuel theft and equipment vandalism (LifeChanger) Emily Rosin, Director of Rosin Developments (Logging), said these quarterly sessions are “a great opportunity to get together with other contractors and get their view on things. It’s a chance for us to get out of our bubble and get a sense of the bigger picture”. Tylah Dwyer, of S&T Dwyer Logging and Haulage, said: “The safety meetings provide a platform to share new ideas and solutions to safety challenges encountered in the field. “They also serve as an important space to openly discuss any safety concerns, facilitating the exchange of insights and strategies. “It’s been highly valuable to hear from other local contractors and Forestry Corp about the safety challenges they’ve faced and the approaches they’ve taken to address them. “Safety is crucial to our business because, like a family, we care deeply about the well-being of each person, ensuring everyone returns home healthy and safe to their loved ones at the end of the day.”

A project that employed and trained 16 workers in everything from cutting collection and propagation, to plant identification and navigation is coming to an end. A strong partnership approach alongside efforts in breeding and conservation are poised to stand as the project’s enduring legacy. Source: Timberbiz Te Rātā Whakamaru Jobs for Resistance was a three-year research program funded by the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai through the Jobs for Nature Mahi ō te Taiao programme – an NZ$1.185 billion program for projects benefiting the environment, people and regions. Rotoiti 15 partnered with Scion to deliver the project which aimed to map and monitor taonga species vulnerable to myrtle rust and explore whether it was possible to breed for resistance. Myrtle rust, caused by the fungus Austropuccinia psidii, poses a significant threat to New Zealand’s native flora. It is feared the already small population of vulnerable Lophomyrtus trees in the Lakes District could be lost without intervention. The collaboration between Scion and Rotoiti 15 Trust has been at the heart of the project’s success. Rotoiti 15 hired 10 kaimahi (workers) for Te Tira Rātā (the field team) with a total of 16 people trained during the project. Scion’s project lead Darryl Herron says a key goal of the project was to create jobs, and he feels it achieved that. “We’ve provided kaimahi the tools, we’ve given them the training, we’ve given the experience. The team’s had three years of on the ground training … but we’ve also had them in our laboratories. “We have a team of 10 highly trained, specialised, field workers, who can do everything from identifying myrtle rust and forest health to pest management,” he says. “It enables mana whenua to take those learnings and do it for themselves.” Kaimahi regularly monitored transects for the presence and severity of myrtle rust across several Bay of Plenty locations including Ngongotahā, Dansey Road Reserve (Okohiriki), Whakarewarewa Village, Lake Rotorua, Lake Rotoiti, Lake Rotomā and Mauao. The field team walked at least 3578.4km, twice the length of Aotearoa, managing to paint a detailed species of myrtle in the area. Rotoiti 15 Trust chair Arapeta Tahana says the growth of people has been one of the project’s main successes. He says the iwi now not only understands the threat of myrtle rust, but is equipped with solutions and hope, including knowledge of taking cuttings, propagation and raising seedlings to repatriate the ngahere. “All of these skills are really important to us as an iwi and the long-term protection and enhancement of our environment.”

Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA) has received a strong response to its January 2025 call for proposals under the Forestry Research Program, with 36 concept note submissions received from a diverse range of research providers. Source: Timberbiz As part of its two-stage application process, FWPA invited submissions across eight investment plan areas, attracting both researchers who have previously worked with FWPA and new to FWPA research providers. These concept notes have been circulated to the broader Grower Research Advisory Committee (GRAC) to identify and connect interested growers with the research providers, to facilitate industry engagement in proposal development. In conjunction with our GRAC Executive Committee, FWPA has since reviewed all submissions, and applicants will be notified of the review outcomes this week. Successful applicants will also be informed of grower interest in proposal development. “We are very pleased with the quality of submissions and thank all involved for the time and effort in developing the concepts. I encourage all applicants and industry partners to prioritise this next phase of project development, and engage early, to ensure research is appropriately targeted for industry benefit. FWPA is here to support this process,” Jodie Mason, FWPA’s Head of Forest Research, said. The due date for submission of full proposals is Monday, 7 April 2025.

More than 9000 jobs will go in the hardwood industry if the ‘Great Koala National Park’ is imposed on north coast communities, say forestry workers. Source: Timberbiz They gathered at NSW Parliament House this week to plead with MPs not to create the park given the latest research shows healthy koala numbers. The latest CSIRO research from 2024 shows koala populations are stable and thriving with 748,000 of the animals in NSW. That’s double the number from an outdated 2016 study by Adams-Hosking which estimated populations at 331,000 and led to calls for the establishment of the park. Hardwood is used for power poles, wharfs, walkways and flooring. Hardwoods are used for these mostly outdoor applications as they are stronger and harder wearing than softwoods. Softwoods are generally sourced from pine plantations and used for internal ceilings and furniture. Hardwood sourced from native forest is already heavily restricted. By law no harvesting occurs in old growth forest, and clear felling is also outlawed. Only a small proportion of trees are harvested and are immediately replanted. Now 88% of NSW Public Forests are already protected, and of the remaining 12% only 0.2% are subject to selective timber harvesting. There are five competing models for the ‘Great Koala National Park’, with Forestry workers supportive of models which don’t endanger forestry communities. Any radical changes to forestry practice in the north will cripple south coast processing facilities where most of NSW’s forestry products are made. Macleay Valley hardwood worker John Gunst, 65, told the Daily Telegraph the current proposal would kill nearby communities such as Kempsey, Kundabung and Nambucca Heads which have lived off the timber industry for generations. “All the timber towns rely on the same thing, if you close the timber industry down, you’re virtually closing the town down,” Mr Gunst said. “This scares local people because this is the only job they have and if you take away the timber from these regional towns you’re taking away the main source of jobs and income. “And that’s not including associated industries such as those who make mill machinery and saws, builders and carpenters, they are all going to be out of jobs because the timber is not going to be there.” Australian Workers’ Union NSW Secretary Tony Callinan says the latest 2024 CSIRO study shows koala populations are thriving and stable. “The latest CSIRO research shows koala numbers in NSW are stable and thriving and that’s great news,” Mr Callinan said. “The key here is balancing the need to protect native species while providing future generations the raw materials for housing and infrastructure. “Nine thousand north coast locals have jobs in the timber supply chain with their healthy pay cheques going directly into their small communities, it’s imperative we get the balance right or we’ll endanger this $3 billion industry. “The worst possible scenario would be to get timber from parts of the world with no environmental standards, or to use more climate change intensive products for our power poles, wharves and flooring. “Timber is quite literally nature’s carbon capture and storage; we should be harnessing it as much as possible while ensuring healthy populations of native species. “Forestry workers from the north coast are here in NSW Parliament House today to make sure decision makers know we have to get this balancing act right to ensure their communities’ survival. “They’ve been meeting with Labor Party MPs and telling them not to abandon their core constituency of hard-working Australian families on this issue or they might find themselves an endangered species.” NSW Nationals Leader Dugald Saunders told the Daily Telegraph the fact workers had “come all the way to Macquarie Street to voice their concerns” was telling. “In the lead up to the state election Labor promised to deliver the Great Koala National Park while also protecting timber jobs, but so far we’ve seen it used as a vehicle to shut down the industry,” he said. However, a NSW government spokesperson did not rule out the park would go ahead as planned. “The Great Koala National Park is the NSW Government’s biggest environmental commitment, it will be delivered,” they said.

The Australian Forest Products Association has launched its Federal Election policy platform aimed at illustrating the role Australian timber can play addressing the current housing crisis and supplying our nation’s future housing needs, the importance of securing the future of Australian grown and recycled timber and wood-fibre to enhance our sovereign capability, and promoting healthy and sustainable native and plantation forestry to provide Australians with the timber they need and fight climate change. Source: Timberbiz “I’m proud to launch Australian Timber. Australia’s Future. This document lays the groundwork for what the full supply chain of Australia’s forestry sector needs to thrive, and I encourage all political parties to commit to the platform’s requests in full,” AFPA Chief Executive Officer, Diana Hallam said. A summary of the policy requests under our three themes includes: Meeting Australia’s future housing needs and solving the current housing crisis Delivery of a Prefabricated and Innovative Housing Summit and Wood First Policy, as well as policies to boost land supply, encourage greater take-up of modular and prefabricated timber dwellings and incentivise more timber in construction A commitment for an Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme to incentivise timber used in the built environment and greater uptake of modern methods of construction   Strengthening our sovereign capability by promoting Australian grown and recycled product Introducing Country of Origin Labelling for timber $200 million to fund a Wood and Fibre Innovation, Recycling and Energy Efficiency Program Developing a National Fire Response Plan and National Timber Security Agreement $200 million to extend the Plantation Establishment Grants Program   Ensuring healthy and sustainable forests to address climate change Continued Federal Government support for native forestry consistent with IPCC advice $40 million to help crack-down on illegally logged timber Establishment of a market demand mechanism for the National Nature Repair Compliance Market that enhances sustainable timber “Australia’s forestry sector has enormous potential to contribute more to the national economy, provide new, skilled employment as we innovate our use of wood and fibre, help address national housing shortages and meet national emissions reduction targets through fighting climate change,” Ms Hallam said. “We strongly welcome and acknowledge the industry support provided by recent Federal Governments, Oppositions, other political parties and independents over recent years. We need a continued partnership with government and policy makers, to make the most out of our world leading forest industry here in Australia. “AFPA will advocate strongly for our platform ahead of the Federal Election and we look forward to positive conversations with all sides of politics,” she said.

For those of us in the commercial forestry sector, there is an air of expectation that 2025 cannot be worse than 2024. The early 2025 signs look promising, albeit there could be some small speed humps just in front of us. International factors would suggest we might be in for a rough ride as a nation. The new US president appears hell bent on destroying his. Claiming to be focussed on cracking down on crime whilst releasing 1,000 criminals into out of order chaos and beating his chest openly, taunting world leaders already at war does not bode well for calmness and serenity. The immediate impact of the emerging insanities has been positive for NZ exporters now enjoying a low US$ exchange rate and shipping rates also under downward pressure across break bulk and containers. Indeed, my FOREX managers have cautioned the illustrious Mr Trump was good for the NZ last time with similar strength in the Green Back built around protectionism measures. I have reminded them at the tender age of close to 80 sane people normally act their age and remove themselves from key decision-making roles. I have seen many times before the international softwood log trade behaves abnormally to worldly pressures. Indeed, for NZ it is as much about what other nations are attempting to play in our supply sandpit. The scale of NZ operations is ensuring we enjoy lower shipping rates even compared to some like Australia who are much closer to China and India than we are. Another competitive advantage NZ enjoys is the smallness of our Islands ensuring wood fibre is relatively handy to ports. We think we are hard done by when we get over 100km from a port. Uruguay forests are typically 1,000 – 2,000km to their ports and Australia 300 – 500km from theirs. Our stevedoring business are also key players. Whilst port costs are way too high, we are still very competitive on load rates compared to other supply nations. A long and sustained history in log exports has ensured we have skilled staff, good load rates and safe, continuous improvement practices. China celebrated their New Year at the end of January meaning the market was effectively closed for three weeks. Erstwhile NZ loggers are enjoying better log prices, production levels have increased, and we expect China inventory to move quickly from 3mil to 4mil cubic metres. This is the direct consequence of arrivals from NZ. Prior to New Year, China consumption levels were good and the market steady albeit since November, CFR prices for the indicator A grade have dropped from US$125 to US$118 per cubic metre. Most commentators are suggesting there is another US$2 off hanging in the balance. The good news is no one is predicting massive change in our near future. NZ Forest owners have not felt the impact of price drops with lower shipping rates and a favourable FOREX rate ensuring for most, small increases at port NZ have been the order of the day. The market is effectively hanging on grimly waiting for the orange tariff light to come on (sorry about the pun…not). Thus, the illustrious DT has the wood fibre market nervously waiting his next move. But as has happened in the past, I predict the market will find sneaky ways around the very blunt instrument called tariff, so whilst DT is pushing his forward, the market will find entry point answers that effectively dodge him and them, and supply and demand takes care of the rest. Silly sausage DT. For India, the market is also under downward pressure as extra arrivals from NZ ensure supply well exceeds demand. This market has also been interrupted by one disreputable India agent who accepted cargo without LC’s and that cargo is now sitting in bond in Kandla awaiting the lowest price. Most commentary is suggesting that volume will quickly move out of the supply chain as seasonal demand picks up and there will be a quick recovery to normality. For the moment China destination sales are netting back to NZ very slightly ahead of India but that will flick very much the other way in February March if the crystal balls readers have picked it correctly. As always, please remember the thoroughly important message, “despite the challenges, it remains, as always, fundamentally important, the only way forward for climate, country and the planet, is to get out there and plant more trees”! Allan Laurie is the managing director of Laurie Forestry a leading Australasian forestry company that provides consultancy, management and marketing services to forest owners, farmers, sawmills and manufacturers.