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New Zealand Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced the establishment of a Forestry Sector Reference Group to drive better outcomes from the Forestry Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Registry. Source: Timberbiz “We are committed to working with the forestry sector to provide greater transparency and engagement on the forestry ETS registry as we work to reduce costs. “This group will help the Government to restore confidence and certainty for Forestry”, Mr McClay said. The establishment of the Reference Group follows an independent review of the operational costs of the forestry ETS Register announced earlier this year. “Forest owners have raised concerns about the excessive costs that had been imposed upon them by the previous Labour government who put a NZ$30.25 per hectare annual levy for participation in the Registry. “I agree with the sector that this cost is unreasonable – the Reference Group is part of our response to reduce costs and drive greater efficiency. “In response, the Government has cancelled the 2023/24 annual charge that forest owners were required to pay to participate in the ETS Registry. “Today I am releasing the independent report that outlines where the current system fell short of the Coalition Government and sector’s expectations. “The 4,000 plus forestry participants deserve to have confidence in the system designed to manage their ETS obligations. There is a cost to the register, but they shouldn’t have to pay for the last government’s mistakes,” Mr McClay said. “Any of the issues identified in the report have now been addressed, and the Reference Group will help prioritise work that can reduce the cost and unnecessary regulatory duplication in the ETS Registry. The Government will shortly consult on a new Forestry ETS Registry Levy for the 2024/2025 financial year. “Forestry plays an important role in helping New Zealand meet its emissions reductions obligations and grow our economy.”  

Tigercat’s long standing 234 series knuckleboom loader has been upgraded. The new 234C has a new boom system, a new cab, an improved hydraulic system and more swing torque. Source: Timberbiz The new 234C boom system provides increased lift capacity, and quicker boom speeds. The boom cylinders are cushioned at the end of stroke for smoother boom operation. Through-tip hose routing is another new feature. Hydraulic hoses to the grapple are now routed through the boom tip for increased hose protection. The Tigercat loader engineering team had the operator in mind when designing the 234C. The new operator’s station is more comfortable with 16% greater internal volume, increased width, and more leg room. Joysticks and switches are mounted on the armrests within comfortable reach. Improved A/C and heater controls allows the operator to set the desired temperature for a more comfortable working environment. Climate controlled cupholders keep drinks hot or cold for longer. Dedicated in-cabin storage areas include a space for a full size Tigercat insulated lunch box. Operator visibility has been improved with larger front and side windows. The wiper motor, radio and touchscreen display control system have all been relocated for improved sightlines. In addition, a redesigned swing motor cover further improves the operator’s line of sight to the work area. Hydraulic system improvements include a new, larger main pump, and a new boom valve providing smoother boom control and improved flow sharing. Finally, swing torque has been increased by 13% over the 234B for improved pull-through delimbing performance.  

In early October, EOS attended the 9th FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference which was held to make decisions to strengthen future cooperation on forests in Europe and share the latest findings and developments in Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) across the pan-European region. Source: Timberbiz The event was organised in the framework of FOREST EUROPE and more than 150 participants from 33 signatory countries, two observer countries and 23 observer organisations were registered for this meeting. This 9th Ministerial Conference concluded with the signature of the Bonn Ministerial Decision and Declaration. With the signature of 35 countries and the full support of more than 20 observer organizations, FOREST EUROPE announced that the Bonn Ministerial Decision and the Bonn Ministerial Declaration are officially signed and submitted. These ministerial documents represent the continuation of the policy process to strengthen Sustainable Forest Management across pan-Europe. The Bonn Ministerial Declaration emphasizes the central role of FOREST EUROPE in defining and promoting this form of management, the relevance of its principles in a changing social and environmental context, and the need to cooperate and adapt to emerging issues form part of this document. The comprehensive documents will be available after the conference. The Bonn Ministerial Decision lays the foundation for establishing a coordinated pan-European Forest Risk Facility. After the event EOS (jointly with CEI-Bois) said that woodworking industries play a significant role in contributing to sustainable forest management through various practices that promote the responsible use of forest resources while ensuring the health and productivity of forests for future generations. By providing jobs and supporting local communities, especially in rural and forested regions, the woodworking industry also promotes sustainable livelihoods. Most of the woodworking industries participate in certification programs such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). These programs set high standards for responsible forest management, ensuring that timber is harvested in a way that preserves biodiversity, protects ecosystems, and maintains forest health, while aiming to ensure the long-term growth of forests. Contrary to many misperceptions, harvesting a renewable resource like wood is good for forests. It ensures they are well looked after, help them to adapt to the climate of the future, and increases their value to society. Growing trees sequester much more CO2 than mature trees, which provide the optimal climate benefits when those mature trees are harvested and that stored carbon locked away for many years in wood products, such as those used in construction. Such sustainable forest management is vital particularly at a time when climate change leaves unmanaged forests at the mercy of increasingly unpredictable and disruptive weather events. These are the reasons why the wood industry calls for a management of forests that balances the benefits forests offer by providing economic value, habitats for wildlife to thrive and recreational spaces for people to enjoy. Well-managed forests are resilient and can therefore last forever. In the face of increasing global warming, which requires urgent and realistic measures, the woodworking industries are adding to the climate change mitigation potential of forests by prolonging the storage of carbon in wooden products. This keeps CO2 out of the atmosphere at a time when this matters the most. Additionally, wood products replace fossil-intensive products, further benefiting the climate. Through their renewable wood-based products, the woodworking industries are also key players in the ever-growing circular bioeconomy, which is an economic approach covering multiple sectors and industries, and which will be essential for Europe’s decarbonisation and competitiveness necessities. Sustainable forest management cannot ignore local realities. It is of paramount importance that decisions on forest management are made at local level in coordination with forest owners, local timber industry representatives, as well as forest managers. Forest owners and woodworking industries share an interest in managing forests sustainably and providing wood to the woodworking industries. For forest owners, timber sales are the main source of income. At the same time, the woodworking industries cannot exist without wood. And those wood products are vital to enabling the EU’s green transition for both the carbon storage and emissions reduction reasons that I’ve mentioned. For these key reasons, a reliable, predictable, and appropriate wood supply is essential for the wood industries as it forms the foundational raw material upon which the entire sector depends. A stable wood supply allows industries to optimise production, ensure employment, and make smart investments e.g. in new machinery and techniques to optimize the use of available wood, increasing logs yield, reducing waste and improving overall efficiency. A reliable supply chain also helps businesses compete in a global market characterised by an increasingly distorted competition. Delays or interruptions in wood availability can cause companies to lose contracts or miss market opportunities. An unstable and inappropriate supply of wood makes prices volatile with negative effects across the value chain. The European wood industry urges the FOREST EUROPE signatories to include an impact assessment on wood availability prior to taking any decisions on forest management and to involve the local industries in the decision-making process.

California unveiled first-of-their-kind dashboards that will help Californians track the state’s wildfire prevention work. Along with these new tools, state officials announced that 700,000 acres of land were treated for wildfire resilience in 2023, and that prescribed fire more than doubled between 2021 and 2023. Source: Timberbiz For the first time, all fuels management projects are being tracked in one place, on one map, delivering valuable information for project planning and wildfire response. “Everything we do to protect California from wildfires is connected, and nowhere else has as many tools to show the full picture while improving land management and supporting firefighters. We’re embracing the technology and best practices that will help us fight wildfires, and making sure Californians see the tireless work in their communities,” California Governor Gavin Newsom said. The updated Interagency Treatment Dashboard, led by the Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force, now covers data from 2021 to 2023, showing the acres of completed wildfire resilience (or “treatments”) work. The dashboard combines data from federal, state, tribal, local, and private entities, creating a comprehensive hub for wildfire prevention information. CAL FIRE also launched the Fuel Treatment Effectiveness Dashboard, which tracks how wildfire prevention projects have helped shield communities and landscapes from wildfires. Utilizing real-time data, this tool allows officials to measure how fuel treatments have impacted fire behaviour, evacuation routes, and firefighting efforts during recent fires. In 2023, 700,000 acres were treated to help protect against wildfires, with many protected acres receiving multiple treatments such as thinning, prescribed fire, or other practices to improve forest health and community resilience. The Task Force is tracking both “activity acres” (more than 1,000,000), which reflect the level of effort conducted through various state, federal, and private programs and “footprint acres” (nearly 700,000) which show the total geographic area treated in a calendar year. The 2023 data shows a significant increase in acres treated since 2021, largely due to a significant expansion of prescribed fire treatments, which more than doubled since 2021. The increase in pace and scale of wildfire resilience projects has been led by the Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force, and its work to implement the Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan. The Dashboard is part of the strategy to connect the various statewide entities committed to this monumental task. Investing in wildfire resilience. Governor Newsom and the legislature maintained US$2.6 billion in funding over seven years, in addition to new investments of US$200 million per year going forward, for healthy forest and fire prevention programs, including prescribed fire and other fuel reduction projects. More boots on the ground than ever before. The administration is implementing shorter workweeks for state firefighters to prioritize firefighter wellbeing, while  adding 2,400 additional state firefighters to CAL FIRE’s ranks over the next five years. Expanding the world’s largest aerial firefighting fleet. Governor Newsom has overseen the expansion of California’s aerial firefighting fleet, including the addition of more than 16 helicopters with several equipped for night operations, expanded five helitack bases, and assumed ownership of seven C-130 air tankers, making it the largest fleet of its kind globally. The state also adds to its world-leading air attack capacity through recent new funding to contract 24 additional non-state owned firefighting aircraft. Cutting-edge drone technology. CAL FIRE has doubled its use of drones for critical tasks like aerial ignition during prescribed burns, wildfire containment, and real-time assessments. Artificial intelligence and real-time data tools. The state is leveraging AI-powered tools to spot fires quicker and the Fire Integrated Real-Time Intelligence System (FIRIS) to provide real-time mapping of wildfires. Advanced mapping and satellite technology. California has partnered with the US Department of Defense to use satellites for wildfire detection and invested in LiDAR technology to create detailed 3D maps of high-risk areas, helping firefighters better understand and navigate complex terrains.  

Indufor would like to congratulate Bill Liley on being presented with the Kirk Horn Award at the recent New Zealand Institute of Forestry conference. The Kirk Horn Award is one of the most esteemed honours in New Zealand’s forestry sector and recognises exceptional contributions to forestry. Source: Timberbiz It is steeped in history, commemorating the legacies of Thomas Kirk, a prominent botanical explorer, and Captain Inches Campbell-Walker, New Zealand’s first Conservator of Forests. Kirk and Campbell-Walker travelled throughout New Zealand in 1876, and at the end of Campbell-Walker’s term as Conservator, he presented Kirk with a suitably engraved and mounted flask. The flask was offered to the Royal Society in 1967 in the hope the Society might institute a prize for research in New Zealand forest vegetation and forestry, with the flask as a trophy. In 1988, the Royal Society and the New Zealand Institute of Forestry agreed the Kirk Horn would be passed to the Institute for a two-yearly award recognising outstanding contributions in the field of forestry in New Zealand. Mr Liley’s journey in forestry began as a teenager, planting trees on family land in the central North Island. With a mind for engineering, he has designed and constructed a 24-metre bridge, flying foxes, and suspension bridges to improve access to forestry blocks. The family’s efforts, marked by some failures but many more successes, have had a lasting impact. This legacy continues with Mr Liley’s promotion of species like Chinese fir as a viable option for New Zealand’s forests. Mr Liley has been a steadfast supporter of the New Zealand Institute of Forestry, serving on the valuation committee for over a decade. His expertise in valuations is second to none, and his work has been sought after not just in New Zealand, but throughout the world. From consulting on numerous projects globally to providing unparalleled valuation services, he has made significant contributions to the international forestry community. His career has spanned roles at Groome and Associates, LIRO, and Jaakko Poyry, and he is currently Managing Director for as well as a Partner in Indufor Asia Pacific Ltd. Additionally, he has served as a director of the Lake Taupo Forest Management company for 15 years. Described as “down to earth, highly professional, and an extremely good boss,” Mr Liley is also known for a fierce intellect and a strong embrace of new technology. Even with such an impressive professional career, Bill continues to work on their own forest, which includes a small sawmill used to process timber from their land. He is a true embodiment of dedication, innovation and passion in New Zealand forestry.