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After a sharp decrease in 2023, felling in Swedish forests continued to decrease in 2024, according to preliminary statistics from the Swedish Forest Agency. Not since 2013 has annual felling been lower. Source: Timberbiz The trend of higher harvesting levels was broken in 2023, and preliminary statistics now show that the decrease continued in 2024. The decrease has meant that the Swedish forest industry’s imports of roundwood have increased, according to Jonas Paulsson, statistician at the Swedish Forest Agency. Record fellings were recorded in 2021 and 2022, excluding 2005 and 2007 when fellings were very high due to storms Gudrun and Per. The trend of high felling levels was broken in 2023 with reduced felling. The reduction continued in 2024. According to the Swedish Forest Agency’s preliminary statistics, gross felling in 2024 amounted to 87.1 million cubic meters of forest. This is a decrease of 2% compared with 2023, when felling amounted to 88.9 million cubic meters of forest. Net felling, which constitutes the harvested volume of all tree trunks that are fully or partially recovered, amounted to 70.3 million cubic meters in 2024. Just under half of the net felling consisted of softwood sawn timber, 43% of pulpwood and 8% of firewood. Compared with 2023, the harvesting of softwood sawlogs is estimated to have been relatively unchanged, while the harvesting of pulpwood has decreased by 4%. The harvesting of firewood was 3% lower compared with 2023. In Svealand, felling decreased by 6% in 2024 and in Götaland by 3%. In Northern Norrland, felling was unchanged while it increased by 4% in Southern Norrland. Västra Götaland was the county with the most felling in 2024, with 8.1 million cubic meters of forest. This corresponded to 9% of the total felling in the country. Felling was also high in Värmland County, where 7.8 million cubic meters of forest were felled. Just over 1% of Swedish logging was exported in 2024. Exports decreased in 2024, from 1.3 million cubic meters in 2023 to a preliminary 0.9 million cubic meters in 2024. In 2024, imports of roundwood were provisionally 9.2 million cubic meters, which is around 1.9 million cubic meters more than the previous year. Imports increased from the Baltic countries, Norway and Poland, while they decreased from Finland.  

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A comprehensive new review published in the Journal of Stored Products Research warns that although phosphine (PH₃) continues to be registered as a generic phytosanitary treatment for timber, including by major importers such as China and India, global research data overwhelmingly concludes that it is not effective and should not be used for wood products. This is alarming as, despite the clear evidence that phosphine is not appropriate for use as a broad-spectrum treatment for wood, it has been successfully approved as a treatment for exported logs as recently as 2018. Source: Timberbiz In the first fully comprehensive study on phosphine’s efficacy, the review analysed a total of 41 studies from the late 1980s through to 2023. Among other aspects, the paper summarises the history of phosphine use, describes its mode of action, application conditions and treatment limitations, and provides an exhaustive biography of all relevant scientific literature on the subject. One of the authors of the study, Dr Matthew Hall, is an academic at Charles Darwin University in Australia and also Head of Phytosanitary and Market Access Affairs for the International Treatment Solutions (INTRESO) Group. “Despite phosphine’s successful track record as a grain fumigant, there is a conclusive absence of data to support a sufficient degree of its effectiveness against a full range of pests including insects, nematodes, and fungi, when it comes to wood products,” he said. “While the urgent need to phase out methyl bromide from use on wood products has meant regulators are looking for ready alternatives, there is a clear scientific consensus that phosphine is not an appropriate option. “This study not only shows that there is ample evidence available that phosphine does not work on wood, but that even limited use creates real-world risks to biosecurity and has already led to irreversible invasive species migration. With alternative solutions backed up by comprehensive efficacy data, regulators must reject complacency in assessing legacy products and instead follow the evidence.” The study conducts an in-depth analysis of research and evidence of phosphine’s efficacy as a phytosanitary treatment for wood products. Its conclusions are unequivocal, and the implications are deeply troubling given that phosphine is still registered as a fumigant for wood products in several countries and is accepted by a number of countries as a phytosanitary measure, potentially threatening their own biodiversity and ecosystems. Historically, phosphine has been seen interchangeably with methyl bromide, a fumigant widely used in the agricultural industry. It is particularly effective in treating grains, where it remains the primary fumigant. Following the international ban on most uses of the ozone-depleting methyl bromide two decades ago, including for treatment of wood, phosphine emerged as one of the chemical alternatives helped by its ready approvals for generic fumigation. As part of this legacy, many countries readily accept phosphine-treated wood products, including major markets such as China, Malaysia, Mongolia, Paraguay and India. Tellingly, although they are happy to treat their wood exports with phosphine, none of the USA, Australia, Canada, nor New Zealand accept any wood products treated with phosphine themselves, calling into question their own trust in phosphine as an effective treatment option. The authors suggest that despite regulatory permissiveness, the professional industry remains doubtful and that, in most cases, phosphine is not used as an industry default for large-scale wood product treatment. Nevertheless, even this limited use has already had disastrous consequences. The study highlights a well-documented case where the ineffective phosphine treatment has resulted in the permanent establishment of the Golden-Haired Bark Beetle, a critical forestry pest that has been transmitted from infested New Zealand wood to China. After reviewing the existing research, it became clear that there is an absence of scientific data to prove phosphine has a high degree of effectiveness against a full range of pests, including insects, nematodes, and fungi. Despite this absence of evidence, phosphine has been successfully approved for logs exported from Uruguay to China as recently as 2018. The research additionally notes there is no accepted phosphine treatment standard under ISPM 28, the international standard for controlling pests in international trade. The paper details an attempt to register phosphine as a treatment for wood under this internationally agreed standard that failed due to a lack of evidence showing its effectiveness against a broader range of pests.

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Australia and New Zealand’s changing climate patterns are leading to more volatile fire behaviour, spurring continued focus on bushfire preparedness to combat hotter, drier conditions. Source: Timberbiz In late 2024, the Australian Government committed $35 million over two years to the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) to respond to a wider range of emergencies, enhance the National Emergency Management Stockpile, and deliver a national preparedness program to reduce potential harm to the community.(1) Government support continued with the Australian Government committing $28.8 million to disaster preparedness in the 2025-2026 Federal Budget, including $17.7 million for the Bushfire Community Recovery and Resilience Program.(2) In New Zealand, the government has committed $70 million over seven years (2024–2031) to the Natural Hazards and Resilience Platform, an initiative designed to strengthen national resilience to natural disasters by supporting science across the four Rs: reduction, readiness, response, and recovery.(3) The platform underpins New Zealand’s Disaster Resilience Strategy and focuses on building a more resilient future through collaborative research and innovation. Australia and New Zealand’s bushfire detection has historically relied heavily on human observation, aerial surveillance, and satellite imagery. These traditional methods depend on visible smoke or flame and are no longer sufficient to meet the growing threat. Delays in identification are common, particularly in remote or heavily forested areas. Both countries face similar challenges, with increasing fire risk and difficult terrain adding complexity to early detection and intervention. Bushfires have become more intense and unpredictable, making early detection and rapid response critical to protecting communities, ecosystems, and critical infrastructure. A national push towards artificial intelligence (AI)-powered solutions is now underway to deliver faster, more accurate detection and outpace catastrophic fires, according to Dryad Networks. “AI is reshaping Australia and New Zealand’s bushfire response by interpreting chemical markers, minor heat shifts, and environmental anomalies that would otherwise evade traditional monitoring,” Sohan Domingo, VP of Sales, Technology, and Operations, Dryad Networks, said “AI systems process data from a wide range of sources, including sensors, satellites, and atmospheric trackers to detect ignition risks before visible fires develop, helping emergency services deploy earlier and more precisely.” This AI-led evolution represents a fundamental shift from reactive firefighting to proactive risk identification. AI-powered sensor networks installed across bushlands and national parks can detect smoke and heat signatures at the smouldering stage, well before flames are visible. Their alerts are linked to predictive modelling tools that map potential fire spread, giving authorities critical lead time to coordinate ground response, aerial support, and evacuation measures. The ability to intervene at the first indication of ignition is essential to achieve the speed and precision needed to protect lives and assets as bushfire seasons lengthen and intensify. “AI technologies identify ignition points and simulate the likely movement of fires using advanced forecasting models,” Mr Domingo said. “This considers terrain, fuel loads, live weather conditions, and historical fire behaviour patterns for faster decision-making about asset protection, community warnings, and firefighting strategies.” Autonomous drones equipped with AI technology further strengthen Australia and New Zealand’s bushfire response. Drones can be dispatched instantly to verify alerts, map fire perimeters, and assess real-time conditions from above without placing human crews in danger. The integration of machine learning (ML) lets drones interpret their findings autonomously, minimising critical delays. Drones in future deployments could also be equipped with suppression tools such as foam dispensers or acoustic fire suppression technology, extending their role from surveillance to direct fire mitigation. “The environmental dividends of AI-powered early detection are clear. Stopping fires before they escalate lets ecosystems recover faster, minimises biodiversity loss, and avoids major carbon release events, supporting Australia and New Zealand’s emissions reduction and adaptation goals,” Mr Domingo said. “AI platforms feed sensor alerts, satellite data, and drone observations into shared dashboards for real-time situational awareness in emergency coordination centres. This connected approach supports faster multi-agency mobilisation and resource prioritisation during critical incidents.” Adapting AI for bushfire prevention requires local expertise and community involvement. Tailoring AI models to reflect Australia and New Zealand’s diverse terrains and leveraging Indigenous knowledge of traditional land and fire management practices can make detection technologies even more effective. Local participation creates AI deployments that are technologically advanced, culturally sensitive, and environmentally appropriate. Embedding AI into every stage of bushfire prevention redefines the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of Australasia’s emergency management capabilities from ignition detection to response coordination. “Continued investment in AI-powered detection, autonomous response, and post-fire ecosystem monitoring is critical to strengthening Australia and New Zealand’s disaster resilience. Expanding collaboration between government, research bodies, and traditional land managers will further enhance the relevance and effectiveness of these emerging technologies,” Mr Domingo said. References: (1) https://www.nema.gov.au/about-us/media-centre/media-release-summer-bushfire-outlook-reminder-plan-all-hazards (2) https://budget.gov.au/ (3) https://www.mbie.govt.nz/science-and-technology/science-and-innovation/funding-information-and-opportunities/investment-funds/strategic-science-investment-fund/ssif-funded-programmes/natural-hazards-and-resilience-platform  

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New Zealand exporters sending wood or beef and leather products to the European Union (EU) will soon have to comply with new rules that aim to reduce deforestation in the supply chain. Source: RNZ New Zealand government officials and industry opposed the approach to anti-deforestation taken by the incoming European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), due to increased compliance costs exporters will face in proving their products have not contributed to the loss of trees. However, the European Commission was standing firm that imports of certain commodities had their part to play in addressing challenges related to deforestation, climate change and biodiversity loss. A European Commission spokesperson said the EUDR covered seven key commodities, namely cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya and wood. “These commodities have been chosen on the basis of a thorough impact assessment identifying them as the main driver of deforestation due to agricultural expansion,” they said. Deforestation was defined as converting forests to land for agricultural use. For New Zealand, this will affect the $213 million export trade of beef and leather exports into the EU, with new rules coming into force this December. Exporters of wood products – a trade to Europe valued at around $100m – would be required to provide traceability processes to show that their products did not contribute to deforestation too. Products that do not meet the new import requirements will be rejected at the border. In recent months, the European Commission released further clarifications about the rules for operators and traders. A spokesperson said it found New Zealand to be a country with “low risk of deforestation”. “Sourcing from low-risk countries entails simplified due diligence obligations for operators and traders,” the spokesperson said. “Concretely, this means that they need to collect information but not assess and mitigate risks.” It also announced a 12-month phase-in for the new regime in December 2024, a year’s delay after the original enforcement date to give operators time to prepare, they said. “Given the EUDR’s novel character, the swift calendar, and the variety of international stakeholders involved, a 12-month additional time to phase in the system is a balanced solution to support operators around the world in securing a smooth implementation from the start,” they said. “This is essential to guarantee certainty about the way forward and to ensure the success of the EUDR.” The Wood Processors and Manufacturers’ Association chief executive Mark Ross said a working group with forest growers, wood processors and the government had been set up to work through some issues relating to the new requirement, like geolocation requirements. He said, overall, companies were “reasonably confident” they would be in a good position to meet the requirements. “At first glance the EUDR appears complex, but the best way to overcome any risks associated with the legislation and to ensure that our wood product exporters remain compliant, is for the forestry and wood processing industries to continue to work closely together on fulfilling the EUDR requirements,” said Ross. “By taking the necessary steps to comply with EUDR, the New Zealand wood products industry can gain a market advantage in Europe and globally, which will further enhance our positive sustainable forestry and wood products reputation.” However, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Trade and Investment Todd McClay wrote to the European Commission early last year, urging it to exclude New Zealand and the pastoral farming system from the regulation, among other bilateral efforts. “Without changes, this regulation risks making it too costly for many of our exporters to continue supplying the EU market, affecting over $200 million in Kiwi exports at a time when we should be growing this trade through the benefits of the NZ-EU Trade Agreement, not facing additional barriers,” said McClay in October. “New Zealand does not have a deforestation issue, and while we share the EU’s goals of promoting deforestation-free products, we already have stringent domestic protections in place. Imposing these compliance costs on our exporters is not justified.” Industry group Beef and Lamb New Zealand helped successfully lobby for the exclusion of sheepmeat with its British counterparts, the UK National Sheep Association, but senior trade policy advisor Nicholas Jolly said in May last year, it should also extent to beef. He said diverting products from the EU to other markets would significantly “devalue New Zealand’s trade”. “The loss in beef exports would begin at approximately $98 million annually, while the impact on leather exports would also be substantial, considering 45 percent of New Zealand’s leather exports by value go directly to the EU and it would be extremely difficult to find alternative markets.” Beef and Lamb New Zealand declined to comment further at the time of publish. Sirma Karapeeva, chief executive of the Meat Industry Association (MIA), said the deforestation regulation was “unlikely” to tackle global deforestation, as it was “poorly designed and poorly drafted”. She said New Zealand already had strict environmental regulations with enforceable penalties for negatively impacting native vegetation. “New Zealand beef exports are backed by world-leading sustainability credentials and should be treated differently to products from countries where deforestation is a genuine concern,” she said. Karapeeva said it was working closely with officials to advocate for a “more pragmatic and sensible solution” that recognised New Zealand’s trend of afforestation. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the costs imposed on exporters were disproportionate to the risk that the product was actually linked to deforestation. “New Zealand shares the European Union’s objective of addressing global deforestation but has consistently raised concerns with the approach taken in the EU Deforestation Regulation.” It also encouraged the Commission to address these concerns through the relevant committees of the New Zealand/EU Free Trade Agreement. Large exporters had to comply with the new rules by 30 December, 2025 and June 2026 for smaller-sized exporters. Ministry for Primary Industries’ Bilateral Relations & Trade divisional manager Steve Ainsworth said it was continuing to liaise with beef and forestry sectors about the requirements. “MPI and MFAT have maintained an open […]

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New Forests has announced its Tropical Asia Forest Fund 2 (TAFF2) has made its first investment in timber processing infrastructure in Vietnam by investing in the Tavico Group (Tavico), one of the country’s leading suppliers of solid wood lumber and logs. Source: Timberbiz Tavico was founded in 2005 as a log trader and sawn timber mill with annual production capacity of 12,000m3 of lumber per annum, which is equivalent to approximately 800 medium sized houses. Since then, Tavico has increased its annual production capacity to approximately 250,000m3, equivalent to supplying wood for 16,500 medium sized houses. Tavico has also expanded its operations to include a distribution centre, home furniture wholesale market, warehousing and modular wooden home construction. TAFF2’s investment in Tavico will seek to establish a platform for an integrated timber processing and plantation business across Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, using Vietnam as a focal point. Tavico will look to expand into higher-value segments including finger-joint panels, flooring, furniture, glue laminated timber, and FSC-certified wood pellets. Tavico has established a 3,200-hectare FSC certified community forestry program with small holder farmers which provides employment and revenue sharing opportunities for local communities. The investment from TAFF2 will look to expand this program for smallholder farmers in Vietnam. Tavico’s ambitions for supporting and growing the availability and supply of high-quality, certified wood resources from community-based farms at scale aligns with New Forests’ and TAFF2’s vision to deliver sustainable, long-term livelihood impact through scaled, commercial activities. “We are excited to be announcing our first investment in Vietnam, partnering with Tavico, a company with significant scale and network for timber processing across the country. This collaboration reflects a shared vision for creating long-term value through innovation, sustainability, and positive impact on local communities,” Geoffrey Seeto, Senior Managing Director, Emerging Markets, New Forests said, “Vietnam remains a key player in the global wood industry, recording close to USD 4 billion in wood product exports in the first quarter of 2025 with key exports including wooden furniture, pellets, woodchips, plywood, and engineered wood products.” Vo Quang Ha, CEO, Tavico Group said that the partnership with New Forests marked an exciting new chapter in Tavico’s journey. “With their support and global expertise in sustainable forestry, we’re well-positioned to expand our impact, strengthen our value-added capabilities, and continue leading the way in responsible wood sourcing in Vietnam. Together, we aim to help elevate the entire Vietnamese wood industry by promoting higher sustainability standards, encouraging the use of certified wood, and supporting the development of a traceable, high-value supply chain that benefits both local communities and the environment.” The investment marks the fourth acquisition for New Forests’ TAFF2 strategy, which is continuing to deploy capital after announcing in April that it has acquired a majority stake in Burapha Agro-Forestry, a Laos-based timber plantation forestry company.

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South Australia’s Treasurer Stephen Mullighan delivered a State Budget this week that could best be described as “back-to-basics” that responds to the challenges of today while setting the State on a path to a more prosperous future, according to South Australian Forest Products Association CEO Nathan Paine. Source: Timberbiz “From law and order, cost-of-living support, health, road infrastructure, to targeted drought support for primary industries and the Whyalla Steelworks rescue package, the Treasurer has delivered a modest yet focused Budget that recognises the pressures faced by South Australian families, businesses and industries,” Mr Paine said. “For our state’s forest industries, SAFPA looks forward to working with the Government and Minister Clare Scriven to finalise delivery of the previously announced $20 million in forestry projects, including the Forestry Centre of Excellence – a state-of-the-art facility being developed in partnership with UniSA that will enhance forest research, education and new product development.” Mr Paine said that over the past 18 months, the Malinauskas Government had announced major investments in the forestry industry from the completed $2.34 million rollout of Australia’s largest AI-powered fire detection camera and upgraded fire tower network that has protected our estate and the community during the most recent bushfire season, to the jointly funded, purpose-built Tree Breeding Australia Research and Development facility. “We have also seen the release of the Wood Fibre and Timber Industries Master Plan and secured nearly $30 million in combined Telstra, Federal, State, Local Government and industry funding to make the Limestone Coast the most connected regional area in the nation,” Mr Paine said. “As our industry celebrates 150 years of growing the foundational fibre that underpins our communities and economy, SAFPA will continue working alongside the State Government and community leaders to deliver critical initiatives that ensure we meet the growing demand for sustainable wood and fibre products. From framing timber for homes and pallets for supply chains, to pulp, paper, and the emerging opportunities in biofuels, biochemicals and biochar – forest industries are central to South Australia’s future prosperity.”

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Forestry Australia, in partnership with ForestWorks, has launched a mentoring program for women in the industry. CEO Jacquie Martin said the program is a transformative nine-month pilot initiative designed to empower women in the forest and forest products sectors. Source: Timberbiz “We are now calling for expressions of interest from both mentors and mentees to join this groundbreaking program, funded by ForestWorks through the Australian Government’s Forestry Workforce Training Program (FWTP),” Ms Martin said. “Mentoring fosters’ personal and professional growth by building trust-based relationships that support goal setting, confidence, and leadership readiness,” Ms Martin said. “For women in male-dominated industries like forestry, mentoring provides critical support to overcome systemic barriers, access career opportunities, and build a strong, inclusive community that champions growth and connection.” The program will connect 25 mentor–mentee pairs, carefully matched based on shared interests, goals, and communication styles. Participants will engage in monthly one-on-one sessions (virtual or in-person), quarterly webinars, and peer support groups, exploring key themes such as: Defining your career path Establishing goals Time management for life Confidence, self-advocacy, and self-belief Work-life integration and wellbeing Building networks and connections Strategic influence and leadership Mentors will receive training on effective, inclusive mentoring practices, while mentees are encouraged to invest approximately one hour per month for meetings, plus six hours for preparation, goal setting, and development activities. The program is designed to boost confidence, foster professional growth, and support women in navigating both career and personal commitments. “This initiative is about creating lasting change,” Ms Martin said. “Participants will connect with role models, strengthen their leadership and career pathways, and build peer networks that endure beyond the program. “We’re committed to fostering a supportive community that empowers women to thrive in the forest and forest products industries.” Following the pilot, Forestry Australia will provide ForestWorks with the program’s framework, resources, learnings, and webinars, ensuring long-term accessibility and impact for the broader industry. The program is open to women working in the forest and forest product industries who are seeking support to grow their careers, develop leadership skills, and build strong professional networks. Expressions of interest from women, men and non-binary individuals who are committed allies of women in the industry are welcomed. Mentors will be selected based on their experience, values, and willingness to support and uplift the next generation of women leaders in forestry. To apply visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TPSFDGM or contact PD@forestry.org.au before Friday 4 July.

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Federal environmental approval granted for expansion of the South 32 Worsley bauxite mine has given the green light to clearing of a further 3855 hectares of native forest around Boddington south-east of Perth. Mine clearing will predominantly impact public forest in a landscape where native vegetation is already heavily fragmented due to past agricultural clearing and mining. Source: Australian Rural & Regional News These forests are known to provide important habitat for eight threatened fauna species including woylie, numbat, chuditch, western ringtail possum and quokka, along with three species of forest-dwelling cockatoos. Other conservation dependent fauna and threatened plants occur within the area to be affected by mining. Cumulative impacts from the Worsley mine expansion are in direct conflict with the vision and goals for management of public forest land articulated in the Forest Management Plan 2024-2033. This plan is intended to prioritise forest health and biodiversity of public forests and to manage forests to maintain or enhance carbon storage and improve climate resilience. In September 2021 the Western Australian Labour government announced the end of commercial timber harvesting in native forest and has since spent $80 million of public funds on transition measures to support affected workers and communities. Mine expansion takes place against a background where the Western Australian Environment Protection Authority acknowledged that clearing of vegetation within the northern jarrah forest will accelerate over the next 20 years. Experience shows the rate of clearing for mining has increased at a rate greater than that of subsequent post-mining rehabilitation. In assessing the Worsley mine expansion, the Environment Protection Authority recommended a series of conditions be imposed including protection of private land as conservation offsets, limits to the number of cockatoo nesting trees cleared for mining, and measures to limit and offset emission of greenhouse gases from clearing, mining and ore processing. Following an appeals process the Western Australian Minister for Environment chose to relax a number of conditions placed on South 32 allowing increased clearing of public native forest and removing any conditions on greenhouse gas emissions. Federal approval under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act is subject to conditions substantively consistent with State requirements. Given this background the commitment of the Western Australian government to managing native forests to conserve biodiversity and improve climate resilience must be questioned. Bauxite mining requires complete clearing of all vegetation and the removal of a substantial part of the deeply weathered soil profile. Important habitat elements such as large decayed ground logs and old trees containing hollows suitable for cockatoo nesting are lost completely from mined landscapes and will take much longer than a century to re-establish. These impacts far exceed any temporary loss of habitat resulting from timber harvesting. Bauxite mining is an important industry for the Western Australian economy and provides a metal increasingly in demand for the transition to renewable energy. However, the community should question how much bauxite mining is enough, and whether closure of the native forest timber industry is simply a convenient smokescreen for increased mining in the jarrah forest. Dr Lachlan McCaw AFSM is a forest scientist with more than four decades experience studying and working in the forests of south-west Western Australia.

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