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On average, Swedes are prepared to pay SEK 360 (approx $50) per person per year to protect more biological diversity in Swedish forests, according to a new report from the Norwegian Forestry Agency. Source: Timberbiz This corresponds to an annual value of SEK 2.6–3.7 billion this is of course very difficult to value and many believe that biological diversity is priceless. But in order for society to be able to make well-founded decisions in a situation with increasingly fierce competition for land use, we need to have values for all the benefits of the forest, says Tina Nilsson, investigator at the Swedish Forest Agency. With a demand and price for biodiversity, there are also opportunities to develop new business models for forest owners. A proposal that the Norwegian Forestry Agency has previously submitted in the latest in-depth evaluation of the environmental quality objective Living forests. Biodiversity is nature’s wealth of variation, and a certain level is a prerequisite for all life. The wealth of nature is a foundation for our economy and for our physical and mental health. More than half of the world’s GDP depends on nature and its ecosystem services. In the long term, our prosperity is threatened if we do not have enough biodiversity. A national economic explanation for the negative development of biodiversity is that its contribution to the economy is often underestimated by decision makers because it does not have an economic value that makes the benefit sufficiently visible. Therefore, the Swedish Forestry Agency has now tried to dial in the value based on previously published valuation studies of forest biological diversity in Sweden, Finland and Norway. The reviewed studies show, among other things, that: the annual willingness to pay of citizens to preserve biological diversity in Swedish forests through additional forest protection is an average of SEK 360 per year. the total annual willingness to pay to preserve biological diversity in Swedish forests through more forest protection amounts to SEK 2.6–3.7 billion per year. “We must be able to use all the values of the forest and at the same time preserve biological diversity. That conflict of goals will be easier to describe in decision-making documents if we also know the value of biological diversity. Now we have an indication of that and thus an important knowledge base,” Ms Nilsson said.  

Soon, music and sports enthusiasts in Switzerland will be drinking beer from renewable, compostable wooden cups and their beer will come packaged in fibre bottles if it’s Carlsberg. Source: Timberbiz In Switzerland, Feldschlösschen – maker of Carlsberg beer –  has teamed up with Swiss start-up Arboloom to trial innovative wooden cups as a potential alternative to the millions of single-use plastic cups vendors use to serve beers at festivals, concerts and sports events. The cups are made out of thin veneer, which requires very little processing as it is cut directly from the trunks of trees – a renewable resource. After use, the cups can be returned to the environment through composting, recycled into other products or incinerated as a renewable fuel source. Across their lifecycle, these wooden cups have a carbon footprint three times smaller than single-use plastic cups. “As the leader in the Swiss beer market, it is great to see that Feldschlösschen is partnering up with sustainable start-ups to get rid of one-way plastic by using locally produced, sustainable beer cups,” said Natalia Arboloom, CEO, Arboloom Cup AG. Carlsberg has gone a step further partnering to rethink its beer packaging. After starting the Fibre Bottle project in 2015 with several partners, in 2019 it matured into a formal partnership with Paboco. In 2022 it made bio-based and fully recyclable bottles available to consumers in the largest ever trial. A significant milestone for the new generation fibre bottle is its plant-based PEF polymer lining, which has been developed by partner Avantium, a leading expert in renewable chemistry. PEF is made entirely from natural raw materials, is compatible with plastic recycling systems, and can degrade into nature should it end up outside national recycling systems. Beyond its sustainable packaging benefits, PEF functions as a highly effective barrier between the beer and the fibre outer shell, protecting the taste and fizziness of the beer better than conventional fossil-fuel-based PET plastic.

The European Woodworking Industries and the Timber Trade has issued a statement regarding the Red Sea crisis escalation that jeopardizes trade with Asia and Africa. Source: Timberbiz The Red Sea route is a pivotal maritime route for global trade, including for the European woodworking industries and the timber importers. The escalating crisis in the Red Sea has profoundly negative implications for the European economy, not least for the European wood sector. At a time of subdued demand for wood products across Europe, swift and unimpeded access to Asian and African countries is vital to keep our businesses afloat the statement said. As a result of the crisis, our companies are confronted with many issues that are making extremely challenging the sourcing and supplying of our products from and to Asian and African markets. Some of our challenges are listed below: Higher costs for insuring vessels transiting the Red Sea Partly as a consequence, shipping companies are introducing extremely high surcharges Very high uncertainty and price volatility Cargo delays and cancellations Extended transit time, lack of information about delivery time. The European Wood industries and the trading sector demand that urgent action be undertaken by the European institutions and relevant partners to ensure that safety and stability in the Red Sea is restored. Targeting cargo ships is unacceptable and should be suppressed not least to ensure that firing rockets at cargo vessels is not an inspiration for other terrorist groups. For both imports and exports, the overseas markets especially in Asia are crucially important and, together with trade routes to east-African ports, the Red Sea route is by far the most important connection and needs to be safeguarded.

Timber Unlimited, TDS, SESOC and CLT Toolbox (Australia) have teamed up to develop NZ-specific design software that will make it easier to carry out structural designs in accordance with the new Standard NZS AS 1720.1:2022 and international best practice for mass timber, engineered wood products and connections. Source: Timberbiz The announcement comes hot on the heels of CLT Toolbox announcing in October that the first tranche of their software offering relevant to designers within the Australian market was launched. One of the long-standing obstacles to making it easier to choose and use more timber in the built environment has been the steep learning curve required to understand the required design methods and material-specific properties of timber to carry out robust member and connection design confidently and on time. The new, New Zealand specific part of the software is presently under development through this collaboration will provide a new suite of design tools and local supplier grades and sizes, facilitating efficient design to the latest Standards. A very important additional feature will be the inclusion of the CLT Toolbox core principle of “embedded learning” – the calculators are not presented in the all too familiar “black-box” format, meaning that you get outputs without knowing what formulas or Standards were used; rather, the calculators and routines identify the expressions, factors and Standards being applied so it’s easy to identify the basis and relevance of the calculated outputs. Timber Unlimited has also teamed up with the NZ Timber Design Society (TDS) and the Structural Engineering Society NZ (SESOC), who will assist with the review and validation parts of the programme. It’s the power of this four-way collaboration that will help unlock the benefits of timber to the New Zealand design and specification community and make it easier to use more timber in the built environment. The target is to have NZ-relevant part of the software available to NZ designers by the end of April 2024.  

Public comment has been invited on the proposal by Borg Manufacturing to expand its timber mill in Mount Gambier. Source: SE Voice According to the documents lodged with Plan SA, the company is seeking multi-million-dollar alterations and additions to its existing timber processing facility on Commercial Street West. It includes a warehouse expansion, an automated panel picking and packing line, a MDF moulding processing and painting equipment, a Joinery product shelving line, additional laminating, cut to size and paper treatment equipment and an automated strapping and particleboard flooring processing line. Borg Manufacturing is looking to install an extra eight weighbridges and create an office and amenities within the main building and associated infrastructure.

Achieving New Zealand’s net carbon zero goals by 2050 requires looking at every aspect of life – even the roads. And work that Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency is doing with support from Scion and other industry partners could help bridge the gap between now and 2050. Source: Timberbiz For the first time in 50 years, Waka Kotahi is piloting the construction of timber bridges, representing an exciting step in its transition to a low-carbon transport system. Waka Kotahi chief engineer Sulo Shanmuganathan says the organisation’s vision is for a low carbon, safe and healthy land transport system and Scion’s knowledge about the durability and longevity of Glulam has been key to informing the timber bridge pilot and helping achieve its wider vision. “Through the government’s Carbon Neutral Government Programme, we are focused on playing our part to accelerate emissions reductions in the public sector by lowering our embodied carbon materials and using more sustainable construction options than what we conventionally used,” she said. “The mahi we’re doing with Scion is very important because the far-reaching positive impacts of using more sustainable materials will benefit both the community here and now and will carry forward for future generations. “We want the right people involved and of course Scion is very important for the development of timber bridges because they already have the depth of expertise and research developed over more than 70 years.” Scion’s Tripti Singh and Dave Page advised Waka Kotahi on the durability of preservative-treated Glulam in New Zealand. Preservative-treated, radiata pine, glue laminated bridge beams have been in service for 60 years in New Zealand and show few problems with durability associated with decay. Shanmuganathan says these findings gave Waka Kotahi confidence in Glulam and the ability to press ahead with its wooden bridge pilot. Any bridge would likely take a hybrid approach combining other materials for fixing. “Long term we want to see Glulam readily available and designers capable of using the product and timber like they use other conventional materials. Raising awareness in the sector for designers and construction is crucial for us as we transition to a low carbon, climate resilient transport system that will create a better tomorrow for us all,” Ms Shanmuganathan said. Timber is also lightweight and more sustainable as it can be sourced locally. A timber bridges focus group has been formed with Scion, the Scion-managed Timber Unlimited brand, Timber Design Society, and government ministries. The group meets quarterly and earlier in the year members visited Norway to learn more about timber bridges at the World Conference on Timber Engineering. Waka Kotahi was also invited to a meeting of government agencies about barriers, opportunities, activities and possibilities for collaboration regarding using timber in the built environment. Singh, who leads timber durability research at Scion part-time, says interacting with industry professionals in the timber focus group with Waka Kotahi has been “incredibly rewarding and enriching”. “It has allowed the exchange of valuable knowledge and insights.” Ms Shanmuganathan says there has already been plenty of interest in timber bridges with designs for Onetai Bridge between Paeroa and Kōpū due to go out for tender for construction. It will be the first bridge built using timber in New Zealand in 50 years. Councils are also interested. Waitaki District Council has a 120-year-old timber bridge due for renewal and would prefer replacing it using materials, such as timber, that have a resilient history and may perform for another 120 years. Council major transport projects project manager Mike Harrison says the council included the bridge renewal in its 2024-2027 National Land Transport Plan funding application and is engaging a design consultant to explore options that deliver a whole of life best value and cost-effective structure. “While the build funding is not locked in yet, council and Waka Kotahi are investing in the design and consenting phase to become a deliverable project, as shovel ready as possible,” Mr Harrison said. “This project is of a scale where all the industry partners can gain experience and knowledge for the future. Learning from the past where materials and workmanship has stood the test of time will inform future decision making.” Scion Forest to Timber Products general manager Henri Bailleres says timber bridges have the potential to be “one of the most impactful showrooms for timber in the country. “The engineering requirement is extreme. Materials have to survive for 100 years; they have to bear dynamic load and they are exposed to many hazards. If we can make timber bridges, we build proof of the high value of timber as a construction material.” Scion principal researcher Doug Gaunt says timber bridges provide an opportunity for creative and statement architecture. “Everything we do to trap a bit of carbon from the atmosphere into permanent structures is a good thing.” Timber Unlimited technical manager Bjorn Stankowitz was in the group that travelled to Norway. He says the group toured bridges in Europe looking at structures and durability and spoke with overseas practitioners to inform Waka Kotahi. If proper maintenance plans and protective detailing are used, wooden bridges are extremely durable. They also pulled together a “bridge CV” containing statistics and specifications of multiple bridges for comparison purposes. “That gives a good idea of the difference in approach to certain structural systems and ways to approach durability.”

Forestry Australia has poured water on the latest bushfire research that suggested prescribed burning could make Australian forests more flammable. Source: Timberbiz “Scientific consensus amongst bushfire scientists confirms that prescribed burning is a key tool in managing bushfires,” Forestry Australia Science Policy Adviser Dr Tony Bartlett (AFSM) said. “While there is no panacea for reducing the impacts of catastrophic bushfires, prescribed burning is a scientifically proven part of the solution. Simply, reduced fuel levels in forests will reduce the severity of bushfires on all bar the most catastrophic fire weather conditions. “Any criticism that prescribed burning can make Australian forests more flammable is misguided. Criticising prescribed burning is like dismissing the value of seat belts in cars because people still die in car accidents. Both seat belts and prescribed burns are highly beneficial most of the time. “Forestry Australia’s view is that using cool burning to reduce fuel hazards is critical to good forest fire management and very consistent with the way Aboriginal people managed these forests for thousands of years. “Reducing the risks from bushfires in forest areas should include well-planned, risk-based strategic programs of prescribed burning, silvicultural management, fuel breaks and track maintenance, with appropriate public consultation. “Importantly, Australia’s bushfire management is based on decades of on ground research and lived experience. While new ideas on how to improve bushfire management are always welcome, it is essential that untested theoretical concepts are carefully considered in light of the existing knowledge on how wildfires behave in Australian forests.” “Increased investment in prevention and preparedness is essential to achieving enhanced management of fire and to address the increased risk of more frequent and severe bushfires.”  Dr Bartlett added that “the claim that further investment in drone technologies can contain bushfires has not been proven.”  

New Zealand’s Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA) says it is hugely concerned about the viability of forestry contracting businesses in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle. Source: Rural News The organisation says pressure has been exacerbated by the cyclone which hit New Zealand in February 2023, but that pressure comes on the back of a tough three years characterised by Covid-19, fuel hikes, high inflation, and continuous wet weather. Compounding those issues are additional problems that are impacting the primary sector overall, including increased operational costs, staffing issues, market instability, and contractual issues. FICA spokesperson Ross Davis says the already low log price, which is expected to drop once again next month, will mean a reduction in harvest targets and cancelled contracts, something many cannot afford to endure. “A recent survey of our members showed a widespread reduction in production over the past year,” Davis says. He says 57% of respondents suggested their production had been reduced by 20% or more and 16% said their production was down by more than 30%. “When asked if they could survive at an 80% production level for a year, only 26% of respondents indicated that they could,” Davis says. He adds that currently, 21% of respondents do not have a current contract and a further 40% only have a one-year contract. Recently, two larger Gisborne-based contractors have ceased operations after operating in the region for 15-20 years, he says. “Each day we are getting phone calls that confirm more and more contractors are falling over. Our role at FICA does not stop at the forestry gate – we want to support our members.” Davis says that working with the wider industry and the Ministry of Social Development on subsidy schemes is imperative. He adds that FICA is working with the Ministry for Primary Industries, particularly Te Uru Rakau Forestry New Zealand to get better recognition at the Government level. Davis says the forestry sector is the third biggest contributor to NZ export earnings alongside dairy and meat, and there is concern for contractors, workers, families, and communities that rely on it for income. “We’re still seen as a turn-on, turn-off industry,” he says. “It’s not a blame game at all, but if we want logging contractors to be around in another 12-24 months then something needs to change now. “We employ thousands of people, and we cannot keep operating at a loss. Jobs will be lost. Homes will be lost. Communities will be lost,” he says. “Without enough contractors, the industry will really slow down and that is not something any of the sector groups want. It is a matter of becoming more business savvy and having a good partnership between contractor and principal with any negotiation being fair and demonstrating the sharing of the risk.”

Firewood, fence post and specialty timber cutters will be banned from harvesting standing and fallen timber from 5 February – five months ahead of the planned mid-year cut-off. Source: Weekly Times Fifty licensees, who operate under Victoria’s community forestry program, were told last May they had until June 30 this year to wrap up their operations, with some likely to gain exemptions to continue beyond that date. But VicForests chief executive Monique Dawson wrote to all forest product licensees this month warning all harvesting would have to stop in less than a fortnight, due to Supreme Court action by the Wombat Forestcare group. “We are disappointed to let you know that VicForests will not defend the current court proceedings brought against it by Wombat Forestcare, in which injunctions are being sought to prevent operations collecting windthrown timber following the 2021 storms in the Wombat State Forest, as well as other small community forestry operations throughout the Midlands and Bendigo forest management areas. “Unfortunately, what that means is that we can no longer continue the community forestry program because of the risk of litigation to VicForests and to licensees and the associated direct legal cost. “The court is also requiring what in VicForests view is a disproportionate survey effort for the type of operations encompassed by community forestry. “As such, this means all community forestry operations will cease by February 5, 2024.” The Weekly Times understands VicForests was put under legal pressure to survey harvesting sites for up to 50 threatened species, which it regarded as unviable given the staff time and cost. Firewood cutters Dale Tiley and Gary Kirby, who were salvaging fallen trees from the 20ha Wombat Forest site that was subject to the legal action, said the government could have acted to protect the industry. “(But) the government has done nothing,” Mr Tiley said. “We’ve been thrown to the wolves.” The government has set up a community forestry compensation program, which includes training assistance to find other work. But Mr Tiley said a lot of wood cutters were “battlers”, aged in their 50s or 60s who had only ever worked in the bush. The early phase out means about 500,000 tonnes of windblown trees will be left lying on the Wombat forest floor, despite warnings it is a ticking fire bomb set to engulf nearby towns. It also means Victoria’s firewood shortage will worsen this winter, forcing yards to source timber from interstate, forcing up prices for rural and regional families who cannot afford soaring electricity.

A concerning trend observed in Labor-led state governments in Australia – the locking up of productive state forests – raises questions about the relationships between bureaucrats, inner-city Labor MPs and the activist class and the poor understanding they have of rural communities, according to Forest & Wood Communities Australia executive officer Michael Harrington. Source: Timberbiz Mr Harrington said that these forests, which could be utilized for sustainable timber harvesting alongside healthy and productive past times such as hunting, fishing, prospecting and horse-riding etc were increasingly being placed off-limits to everyday Australians. “This policy shift raises questions about the relationships between bureaucrats, inner-city Labor MP’s and the activist class and the poor understanding they have of rural communities,” he said. “One of the key issues at hand is the impact on local economies that heavily rely on the sustainable native forestry and timber processing sectors. “These industries have long played a vital role in supporting employment and local businesses. “However, the tendencies for state Labor governments to convert productive state forests into National Parks has been disastrous.” Mr Harrington said that whether it was the attempt to lock-up many of the most productive parts of the New South Wales public land estate with the “Great Koala National Park” or the signalled move of Victorian Labor to lock up a further 335,000 hectares in poorly managed National Park – the potential immense harm to regional, rural and remote communities was deeply concerning. “These poorly managed parks also contribute significantly to out-of-control wildfires across the landscape and terrible outcomes for biodiversity as well as posing significant threats to small at risk rural and remote communities that often are surrounded or nearby parks with almost unmanaged fuel loads,” he said. “The argument here is not against real environmental conservation. It’s about finding a sustainable middle-ground that does not include the biased voices of a few elitist activist academics that currently pervade the national public land management conversation alongside the willingness to actively manage the public land estate.” Sustainable forest management practices had been developed to ensure the long-term health of ecosystems while supporting the economic needs of communities. “By locking up productive state forests, we risk neglecting the potential for a harmonious coexistence between conservation and industry,” Mr Harrington said. “Moreover, it is disheartening to observe that some environmental ‘charities’, through public donations, are supporting actions not necessarily focused on saving endangered species or rehabilitating environments. Instead, these actions are engaging in green lawfare cases against honest, hardworking Australians with the end aim to destroy their sustainable industries, families and communities. While environmental protection is crucial, it’s essential to distinguish between legitimate concerns and cases that are driven more by extremist ideological agendas rather than actual ecological preservation.” He said a call for transparency and accountability was necessary, urging governments to ensure that public funds and donations directed towards environmental causes genuinely contribute to the betterment of our ecosystems. This included supporting initiatives that focus on real practical environmental outcomes and community education rather than solely fuelling legal battles that do not align with reality. “As we navigate the complexities of environmental conservation and economic sustainability, it’s important to foster open dialogue and inclusive decision-making processes,” Mr Harrington said. “Stakeholders from all sides – scientists, industry representatives, and community leaders should be invited to participate in constructive discussions that lead to policies reflecting the diverse needs of our society. “Unfortunately, this is often not the case with the NSW Labor Government refusing to allow Forest and Wood Communities Australia a seat at the table on the Great Koala National Park Industry Advisory Panel.” Mr Harrington said that while striking a balance between environmental outcomes and economic prosperity was a delicate task, locking up productive state forests without considering sustainable management practices would harm both local economies and the environment. “By promoting transparency, accountability, and inclusive dialogue, we can work towards policies that address the concerns of all stakeholders, ensuring a more sustainable and harmonious existence for all Australians alongside a future that does not rely on foreign imports from countries with much poorer environmental records than our own,” he said.