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Timbeter, an AI-powered digital timber measurement solution provider, has started collaboration with Polish State Forest (PGL LP) to support the forestry operations. A project that is transforming the whole timber industry in Poland is being carried out in Regional Directorates in Piła and Poznań. Source: Timberbiz The initiative aims to integrate Timbeter’s digital measurement solutions into everyday forestry operations. The project’s goals include reducing the workload of foresters, simplifying timber measurement processes, and enhancing objectivity of results. This transition will also provide additional insights for stakeholders, from contractors to timber purchasers, enabling better decision-making and operational efficiency. The first stage of the project, which was until the end of December 2024, focused on the integration and use of Timbeter’s technology across approximately 100 forestry units within 14 districts of Piła and Poznań. This phase involved comprehensive organizational, technical, and formal preparations, ensuring readiness for the full-scale rollout scheduled for 2025. Timbeter licenses were distributed to foresters, technical support teams, and educators, facilitating the measurement of up to 700,000 cubic meters of timber during the pilot phase. Timbeter’s innovative solution utilizes AI and photo-optical technology to measure timber stacks accurately. By seamlessly integrating with the State Forests’ Leśnik+ system, the software ensures data synchronization and minimizes errors. The adoption of this technology is expected to increase measurement efficiency by 10–30% and reduce manual workload, freeing foresters to focus on higher-value tasks. The State Forests have tested photo-optical measurement methods since 2012. Timbeter was selected for its proven compatibility with existing systems and rigorous testing compliance. As a result, Timbeter was selected as a solution that meets the requirements of the Polish State Forest. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Poland’s State Forests on this transformative journey,” said Anna-Greta Tsahkna, CEO at Timbeter. “This partnership highlights our commitment to advancing sustainable and efficient forestry practices.” Timbeter is a provider of digital timber measurement solutions, leveraging innovative technologies to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and sustainability in forestry operations worldwide. The company’s software uses AI, photo-optical analysis and machine learning to measure timber quickly and precisely, offering seamless integration with existing forestry management systems. Timbeter serves a diverse global client base, including state forestry organizations, private timber companies, and NGOs in more than 30 countries.

On 7 January, the new Construction Products Regulation entered into force in Europe. The new Regulation modernises the rules from 2011, makes it easier to sell construction products across the EU Single Market, supports innovative construction techniques and enhances the sector’s competitiveness and sustainability. Source: Timberbiz In particular, the new rules mark an important step in digitalising the construction sector. Digital Product Passports will provide all information on construction products, including the declaration of performance and conformity, safety information and instructions for use. This will also enable to calculate an entire building’s carbon footprint reliably. The new Construction Products Regulation is a gamechanger for the construction sector. It helps builders, architects, engineers, consumers and public authorities to make the right choices based on the performance and sustainability of construction products. The new Regulation will strengthen competitiveness and productivity of the construction sector. It will allow the EU to champion innovative and sustainable techniques including prefabricated or modular elements such as façade systems. Increasing the use of offsite construction methods will reduce costs and accelerate the delivery of much-needed housing, both newly built and renovated. Such technologies can lead to a 10-15% reduction in construction waste during the production and manufacturing phases. Additionally, prefabricated units can be disassembled and reconfigured for repurposing at the end of their life cycle, further enhancing sustainability benefits.

The tragic wildfires in Los Angeles have reignited national discussions about forest management, wildland firefighting, smoke pollution, and water. Although these urban fires are not traditional forest fires, they underscore the critical need for effective vegetation management and robust water infrastructure and availability. Source: Timberbiz Wildfires require three elements: fuel, oxygen, and heat. While weather conditions and oxygen levels are beyond human control, managing the available fuel such as overgrown vegetation is within our capabilities. Proactively reducing excess vegetation through methods like forest thinning and creating fuel breaks can significantly mitigate wildfire risks. These measures not only slow the spread of fires but also provide firefighters with safer and more effective opportunities to protect lives, homes, wildlife habitats, and water resources. President-elect Donald Trump has criticized California’s forest management practices and water policies, suggesting decades of mismanagement have contributed to the severity of the fires. California Governor Newsom has defended his administration, emphasizing the state’s investments in firefighting and vegetation management. Critics, however, point to onerous environmental regulations and bureaucracy that have stymied efforts to increase the pace and scale of fuels reduction. They also say recent budget cuts have affected fire prevention programs, potentially exacerbating wildfire risks. The Los Angeles fires highlighted challenges in water supply during emergencies. In Pacific Palisades, for instance, fire hydrants ran dry as the local water system was overwhelmed by the demands of firefighting efforts. Beyond fire prevention, active forest management plays a significant role in water conservation. Overgrown forests consume substantial amounts of water, reducing availability for aquifers and downstream flows. The resulting wildfires can devastate watersheds and aquatic resources. Researchers have found that over the period 1990 to 2008, fire-thinned forests saved 3.7 billion gallons of water annually in California’s Kings River Basin and a whopping 17 billion gallons of water annually in the American River Basin — water that would otherwise have been lost through evapotranspiration. These results illustrate that restoring forests through mechanical thinning or wildfire can also save California billions of gallons of water each year. Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive policy reforms. The bipartisan “Fix Our Forests Act,” passed by the US House of Representatives last year, aims to enhance forest health and resilience by expediting environmental analyses, reducing frivolous anti-forestry lawsuits, and increasing the pace and scale of forest restoration projects. This legislation reflects a growing consensus on the need for active forest management to mitigate wildfire risks and protect vital water resources. The Los Angeles wildfires serve as a stark reminder of the inter-connectedness of wildfire management, vegetation control, and water policy. Proactive measures in forest and vegetation management are solutions not only for reducing wildfire risks but also for ensuring adequate water supply. This is why the federal government should continue its intense national discussions on these issues, and act quickly to mitigate future disasters.

New polling has revealed an under-the-radar issue which could swing voters in vital key seats that both sides must either retain or are looking to win. Source: News.com.au Support to end native forest logging could emerge as a key issue in five battleground seats, as Labor’s Nature Positive laws remain stuck in the Senate. Pyxis polling commissioned by the Australian Conservation and Biodiversity Foundation found support to end the logging of native forests, which means logging would be limited to plantations, was widely supported in the three seats Labor must hold onto to maintain majority government. This included bellwether seat Eden Monaro (60% of voters) in southeastern NSW and Richmond (72%), which takes in Tweed Heads, Byron Bay and Murwillumbah in the state’s north. The issue is particularly pertinent in Tasmania, where Labor and the Coalition will fight to win Lyons, which is currently held by Labor of a wafer-thin 0.9% margin. While Tasmania accounts for 40% of native forest log volume, polling said 58% of voters in Lyons supported an end to the practice. New polling revealed the majority of voters in five key electorates supported ending logging in native forests. ACBF executive director Lyndon Schneiders urged the major political parties to take note of the polling and said policies on native forest logging could “shape the outcome of a knife-edge election”. “There’s a clear message to all candidates and parties here: Voters want the Australian government to invest in our plantation timber industry to help build the homes we need to end the housing crisis while also funding more jobs in forest management, including protection against catastrophic bushfires,” he said. While the practice is already banned in Victoria and Western Australia, Mr Schneiders said native forest logging was not only an “economic and environmental failure,” but also restricted Australia’s ability to reduce carbon emissions. “Logging our native forests places further pressure on endangered species including the Koala, the Swift Parrot and the Greater Glider,” he said. “Logging releases greenhouse gas emissions and overwhelmingly (by 76%) ends up in low value products including woodchips.” Despite backing down on demands for a climate trigger, the Greens have demanded the removal of Regional Forest Agreement exemptions in order to guarantee passage of Labor’s three Nature Positive bills. The exemptions bypass national laws and allow logging to continue despite national environmental laws and apply to 10 specific commercial native forestry regions. Although Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has said she is in favour of more regulations on native forest logging, given its impact on endangered wildlife, she does not support ending the industry. While the Greens claim they had reached a deal through negotiations with Ms Plibersek, the Bills remain stalled following an 11th hour intervention from Anthony Albanese, which the Prime Minister denies. However, it’s understood the reported deal also did not include changes to the exemptions. The stalled legislation designed to create a national environmental protection authority, implement tougher penalties and enforcement measures. Ms Plibersek said she remained committed to passing the Nature Positive Bills, which she noted have languished in the Senate since August. “As part of our Nature Positive Plan, native forest logging with be regulated by national environment laws for the first time ever, through National Environmental Standards,” she said. “We are committed to reforming Australia’s broken environmental laws. They don’t protect our environment, and they don’t work for business.” Greens environment spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young said it was evident an “overwhelming majority of voters want to close the loopholes that allow our native forests to be logged and bulldozed”. “When Parliament returns in February the Prime Minister will have a choice: work with the Greens to protect our forests, or ram through his government’s laws that allow the logging of critical habitat to continue with Peter Dutton,” she said. “We can end these logging loopholes before the election if the PM is constructive and willing to protect the environment. I urge the PM to respect public opinion and protect the environment instead of selling out to the logging and mining lobby.” The Coalition’s environment spokesman Jono Duniam said calls to transition native forestry to plantations were “impractical and unrealistic,” and would not supply the amount of hardwood required. He added ending native forestry in Australia could have unintended consequences which would result in the industry increasing in countries with “far weaker environmental laws, standards and regulations than ours”. “Ending native forestry in Australia would be completely self-defeating and counter-productive, even for the most ardent environmentalist,” he said.