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How some high-tech entrepreneurs are trying to use new forms of technology to solve the problem of mega-wildfires in the age of climate change.

Vietnam is aiming to increase the export value of wood and wood products to US$20 billion by 2025 and US$25 billion by 2030 under the national forestry planning for 2021-20230 period, with a vision to 2050. Sources: VnEconomy, Timberbiz The planning was approved under a Prime Ministerial Decision and signed on 24 August by then Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang. Under the plan, Vietnam aims to have more than 15.8 million ha of forests and forestry land by 2030. This includes 15.5% allocated for special use forests, 33% for protective forests, and 51.5% for production forests. The goal is to maintain national forest coverage between 42-43% while significantly enhancing the quality of existing natural forests. Specific targets include an annual forestry production growth rate of 5-5.5%, planting an average of 238,000 ha of production forests each year, and restoring 22,500 ha of natural forests annually. More than one million hectares of forests are expected to be certified for sustainable management by 2030, according to the plan. Revenue from forest environmental services is anticipated to grow by 5% annually, with total annual earnings estimated at VND3.5 trillion (US$140 million) from 2021-2025, and VND4 trillion (US$160 million) from 2026-2030. It is estimated that these goals will require investment capital of over VND217.3 trillion (US$8.68 billion).

Remsoft has launched Carbon Management capabilities that extend its suite of intelligent forestry planning solutions powered by the company’s flagship Woodstock Optimization Studio. Source: Timberbiz These advanced capabilities seamlessly integrate with Remsoft’s Strategic Optimization solution, responding to the growing demand within the forest industry for intelligent technology that enhances global sustainability performance. The new Carbon Management solution improves how forestry companies manage carbon offsets, combining advanced algorithms and data-based calculations to produce faster, more accurate carbon estimations for forest carbon projects. Approved by the American Carbon Registry and adhering to leading carbon crediting standards, Remsoft’s Woodstock modelling technology ensures that clients can confidently meet their compliance requirements. Current carbon management practices are often manual, labour-intensive, and error-prone, leading to conservative estimations that undervalue the true potential of forest assets and revenue. This cautious approach is primarily driven by the risk of regulatory penalties and the potential need to repay miscalculated carbon credits. Remsoft’s solution streamlines and accelerates the carbon modelling process, enabling forest managers to produce carbon models with unprecedented accuracy. This efficiency reduces what used to take months into just days, thereby maximizing revenue, accelerating project timelines, and easing regulatory compliance all from one secure platform. “For those managing forests, our latest offering provides a way to simplify carbon modelling and more effectively balance sustainability, compliance, and profit,” said Doug Jones, Remsoft President. “Landowners, TIMOs, and forest managers can more precisely navigate the dual demands of environmental responsibility and financial performance to surpass their sustainability goals and unlock significant revenue opportunities.” Remsoft’s Carbon Management solution marks a significant advancement in improving the accuracy and efficiency of forest carbon management. Integrating these capabilities within Remsoft’s industry-standard Strategic Optimization solution empowers the industry’s continuing shift towards holistic forest management that effectively balances economic growth with forest health and sustainability.  

Using 3D printing technology and ultrasonic joining technique, researchers at TU Graz succeeded in attaining an extremely strong joining of the renewable raw material wood with metal and polymer composite. Source:  Timberbiz The renewable raw material wood is climate-neutral and at the same time light and strong, making it fundamentally attractive for use in vehicle manufacturing. One challenge to date has been joining the wood and the other materials in the vehicle, such as metals and polymer composites, in a robust way. The research team led by Sergio Amancio from the Institute of Materials Science, Joining and Forming of Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) – Gean Marcatto, Awais Awan, Willian Carvalho and Stefan Herbst – has now successfully tested two techniques by which extremely strong joints can be achieved without using adhesives or screws. The application of the techniques to wood is patent pending and could be used in the aircraft, automotive and furniture industries. The two novel manufacturing techniques are suitable for their own areas of application. Beech, oak, carbon fibre-reinforced polyamide and polyphenylene sulphide, stainless steel 316L, and Ti-64 alloys, were used as test materials. “Our motivation is clearly environmental protection,” Mr Amancio said. With new manufacturing processes, the renewable raw material wood could replace components made from energy-intensive or difficult-to-recycle materials. With the AddJoining technique, a component made of polymer composite is affixed to and printed directly onto a surface – in this case wood – using a 3D printing process. The printed material penetrates into the wood pores, where a chemical reaction occurs, similar to the reaction of glue with wood. The resulting connections were highly successful in mechanical load tests. “After the joint fractured, we were able to find polymer in the wood pores and broken wood fibres in the polymer, which suggests that the fracture occurred in the wood and polymer, but not at the joint,” Mr Marcatto said, who works on this process as a postdoc at the institute. These successful tests were carried out on the untreated wood surface. Even more durable joints could be achieved by introducing a micro- or nano-structure into the wood through laser texturing or etching, which increases the pores and enhances the bonding surfaces. “But we wanted to work with as few steps as possible and, above all, without chemicals,” Mr Amancio, explained. “We can use this technology particularly well with complicated 3D geometries because the components are printed directly onto the surface – in whatever geometry is required.” In Ultrasonic Joining, high-frequency vibration with low amplitude is applied to the wooden component using a sonotrode. In contact with the base component – in this case, polymer or a polymer composite material – the friction generates heat at the interface which melts the surface of the polymer part. Molten polymer infiltrates into the naturally porous surface of the wood. In this way, a very stable spot joint can be achieved, from a mixture of mechanical interlocking (because the melted plastic solidifies again in the wood) and adhesion forces. “This technique is particularly suitable for large components and 2D structures since we achieve a precisely localized spot joint,” Mr Awan said. He has dedicated his doctorate to joining technology using ultrasonic energy. These spot joints were also mechanically tested with great success. The joints could also be further strengthened by pre-treatment of the wood surface such as laser texturing. In future, the team would like to work with partners from the automotive, aircraft and furniture industries to further refine the technologies.

Most Australians visiting Greece may be bewildered to find their iconic eucalyptus tree growing in this part of the world. With its aromatic leaves and outstretched branches, they provide a much-needed respite from the scorching Greek sun. Yet, true to its Greek name, these “blessed” trees have benefited Greece in significant ways. Source: Greek Reporter Theodoros G. Orphanides, a pioneering botanist committed to modernizing Greek botany, introduced the eucalyptus tree to Greece. Born in 1817, Orphanides was a respected academic who held a professorship at the University of Athens. He significantly contributed to the establishment of the university’s Botanical Museum. His goal was to align Greek botanical studies with those of leading European nations. He was particularly interested in how foreign plants could benefit Greece. Orphanides actively participated in the global exchange of botanical knowledge during the 19th century. This period was marked by European scientists and explorers collecting and introducing plant species from around the world to their native lands. Among these was the eucalyptus, a fast-growing tree known for its resilience and practical uses. The choice of the eucalyptus was deliberate. Native to Australia, this tree is renowned for its rapid growth and adaptability to different climates, making it ideal for introduction to other parts of the world. However, its true value in Greece lay in its ability to thrive in swampy areas and its reputed capacity to combat malaria—a major public health issue at the time. Malaria posed a serious threat in 19th-century Greece, especially in marshy regions where stagnant water provided the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. The eucalyptus tree, with its high rate of water absorption, helped drain these swamps. As a result, it reduced the mosquito population and the incidence of malaria. This health benefit, combined with the tree’s suitability for reforestation and timber production, made it an attractive option for Orphanides. Orphanides introduced eucalyptus to Greece as part of a broader strategy to enrich the country’s natural resources and tackle environmental challenges. He saw the potential of the eucalyptus as a solution to health issues and as a means to combat deforestation, which was a growing problem in several parts of the country. The first eucalyptus trees were planted in various regions of Greece, especially in areas where their water-draining properties could be most beneficial. Coastal regions, agricultural areas, and marshlands were among the primary locations for these initial plantings. The tree’s rapid growth and adaptability to different environments ensured its success across the country. The introduction of the eucalyptus to Greece had a profound impact on both the environment and public health. Over time, the tree became a common sight in many parts of the country. It contributed to reforestation efforts and provided valuable timber resources. Its presence in swampy areas also helped reduce malaria, improving public health in affected regions. Moreover, the eucalyptus tree symbolized the broader changes in Greek society during the 19th century. As Greece sought to modernize and align itself with European standards, its successful introduction of this foreign species reflected its openness to new ideas and willingness to adopt innovative solutions. The eucalyptus also added a new dimension to the Greek landscape’s beauty. Its tall, stately presence created picturesque groves and enhanced the diversity of local flora. The tree’s aromatic leaves and distinctive silhouette became familiar features of the Greek countryside, blending harmoniously with native species. With malaria at bay and thriving forests, this Australian tree continues to demonstrate the far-reaching impact of Orphanides’ vision. The eucalyptus tree exemplifies the extent of human ingenuity in harnessing nature for the benefit of humanity.  

With an official 30 years on the clock, and an extra eight pre-career break for kids, OneFortyOne Contractor Manager/EHSR Administrator Jenni Kain has dedicated almost four decades of her career to building relationships and helping people. Source: Timberbiz Ms Kain’s milestone is a celebration of her tenacity, an innovative spirit, and the pursuit of looking out for others. “As an administrator all-rounder, I began my career at Mt Gambier Pine Industries (MGPI) on Sturt Street progressing through the business ownership changes that is now OneFortyOne. “With a focus on customer service, this laid the groundwork for a decade in roundwood customer service and a further eight years as the account manager for roundwood, selling our treated posts. Our customers were from across South Australia, Victoria, and as far as Ceduna to the West & Griffith in NSW, to over 200 agricultural businesses, including the viticulture sector. “I had a great relationship with the sales team, and everyone in the office and sawmill at Jubilee always made me feel part of their team as well. “I developed wonderful relationships with the agricultural customers and community. Farming life is unpredictable with droughts, floods, and fires, so I made sure I was always accessible to my customer base. I used to listen to the farm reports on the radio while driving around the countryside to get a sense of what was going on in the local areas before arriving. It helped me relate to the customer when I was somewhat ‘in the know’.” During the 2020 Kangaroo Island fires, Ms Kain was waiting on a call from one of her customers, who was involved in the CFS, but she had not heard from them for some time. Eventually, their competitor called to say that they were safe, and to order some of the customer’s roundwood for them while they fought the fires. She said that it had always stuck with her – the camaraderie within the agricultural community. “After 18 years in sales, I decided I needed a change and  took on a Contractor Manager position at Jubilee, which I’ve been doing for almost three years now,” she said. “I love being part of the safety team and working with good people. The best way to describe this job is it’s like herding cats! (in a nice way). With so many contractors coming to our site, and so many projects on the go, making sure each one is compliant can be a challenge. “Over the years, the biggest change I have seen is safety and the way it is now at the forefront of people’s minds. It’s great working for a business where safety is hugely important. “Back in the old MGPI days it was one of my jobs to decorate for the mill Christmas party, it was a huge show. “Once the main kiln was turned off and emptied, we sent people up in a cherry picker to decorate the inside (this is where the party was held!). “If I could give any advice to anyone starting their career, it would be, “Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.”