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Ten of the UK’s “toughest” trees, from an oak that survived a plane crash to a yew hit by a cannonball, have been shortlisted for this year’s Tree of the Year award. The Woodland Trust said its annual competition aimed to celebrate and raise awareness for rare, ancient or at-risk trees across the country. Source: BBC An oak tree in Rutland that was hit by a World War Two bomber and a yew in Surrey which could be 4,000 years old and was struck by a cannonball in the English Civil War are among the final 10 contenders for the title. Actor and nature podcaster David Oakes, a Woodland Trust ambassador, said the nominees had “defied the odds in extraordinary ways”. Of the 10 shortlisted, a panel of experts selected eight trees of differing ages and species, while the public chose two as wildcard entries. The public can vote for their favourite tree until late September via the Woodland Trust website, and the winner will be announced in early October – before progressing to represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year finals. The aptly named “Bomber Oak” in Rutland features a slight dip in the top of the canopy as well as twisted misshapen branches after it was hit by a Lancaster Bomber during World War Two. The tree was also nearly lost some decades later when a water company sought to install pipes in a field. The Bollihope Burn Birch in County Durham has also been nominated. It is perched “precariously off a cliff” in an area once dominated by industry, including quarries, lime kilns, mines and a goods railway. Another shortlisted tree – the Crowhurst Yew in Surrey – survived a direct hit from a Civil War cannonball that villagers later discovered in 1820. A different plucky yew in Devon is up for contention because of its location at the top of a church tower overlooking Culmstock Village, where it has been for some 200 years. Another nominee, the “Preston Twin” in Brighton – is said to be the world’s oldest English elm and has lived four centuries despite the threat of Dutch elm disease, which killed another specimen of the same age that stood nearby. A wildcard selection for the list is the Donnington Oak, in West Berkshire, which stands between a small patch of forest and the ruined walls of Donnington Castle. The Woodland Trust said it was a young established tree during the English Civil War and survived unscathed during the castle’s gruelling siege and bombardment. Another wildcard selected by the public is the Balloch Castle ash, which stands on the lawn of the semi-derelict castle by Loch Lomond and is more than 150 years old. The trust said it had experienced a lightning strike, multiple storms, ash dieback, footfall from millions of visitors and an Oasis concert. The “Bendy Tree” in Newcastle, Northern Ireland – a much-loved wych elm along the town’s seaside promenade that grows almost horizontally after withstanding more than a century of the harsh coastal conditions – has also been nominated. Another nominee includes an oak, which stands alone in the Ynys-hir nature reserve in mid-Wales overlooking the Dyfi estuary, the Cambrian Mountains. The “Earlstoun Lightning Oak” in Dumfries and Galloway made the list, not only for its stature but for surviving a lightning strike. Oakes added: “Most things survive by fleeing … a tree, rooted for life to a single patch of ground, doesn’t get that option. “So, trees have perfected the opposite: the art of weathering whatever arrives. But a few are frankly show-offs. “The 10 nominees for Tree of the Year have all defied the odds in extraordinary ways, from clinging to cliffs and church towers, to enduring collisions and cannonballs.” May Chemais, who runs the Ancient Tree Inventory at the Woodland Trust, said: “Trees can be both tough and flexible, as the shortlist proves. “We hope people will enjoy discovering all the incredible stories of resilience behind our nominees this year.”

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Ho Chi Minh City is building a transparent wood supply chain, and traceability of forest products to meet the new regulations of the EU. Source: DanViet Ho Chi Minh City has approved the Forestry Management Program in the period of 2026-2030, aiming to digitize the entire area of production forests, traceability of forest products according to the supply chain and strengthen the control of wood processing and trading activities to meet the increasingly strict regulations of the international market. The People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has issued a decision approving the Forestry Products Management Program in the City in the period of 2026-2030 to improve the effectiveness of state management, strengthen the control of forest products supply chain, conserve biodiversity and support enterprises to adapt to the new requirements of the export market. According to the program, Ho Chi Minh City currently has more than 1,000 wood processing enterprises operating in industrial parks, export processing zones and industrial clusters. The woodworking industry has contributed positively to economic growth, job creation, increased export turnover and promoted many supporting industries. However, the wood processing industry still faces many difficulties when it is heavily dependent on imported raw materials, the cost of production is high, lack of high-quality plantation materials, while export activities are affected by the decline in the demand of the world market and the increasingly strict requirements on legal timber traceability, forest certificates and carbon credits. In particular, the European Union’s Anti-Forest Loss Regulation (EUDR) requires agricultural, and forest products imported into this market to ensure that there is no origin from deforestation or forest degradation. This is considered an urgent requirement that enterprises and management agencies must build a transparent supply chain, strictly controlling forest products. The program aims to support the construction of sustainable production planting databases, improving the effectiveness of state management for importing, exporting, manufacturing, processing and trading forest products; at the same time, inspecting and classifying timber enterprises, minimizing violations and strengthening the management of wildlife farming activities. One of the outstanding objectives is the construction and deployment of supply chain traceability systems to each planting area, associated with geographic coordinates and planting area codes for EUDR-implemented industries. The city also aims to be 100% digitized production forest area, granting planting area codes and forest certificates; setting up applications for forestry forces and forest owners to declare forest products online. In addition, 100% of organizations, enterprises, production, processing, trading and import and export of timber and forest products will be fully disseminating the regulations on management, inspection and traceability of forest products; at the same time, it is managed and supported legally on the basis of information technology application. The city also aims to detect, strictly handle and gradually eliminate the points of sale, transportation, storage, processing, trading in forest products and illegal wildlife. To accomplish the above objectives, Ho Chi Minh City will build an information system and database for the classification of wood processing enterprises; deploy traceability according to the supply chain; apply information technology and geographic information systems (GIS) in the management of production, processing, trading and forest products, integrating into the shared database of the city. The city also strengthens inspection and control of production, processing and trading of forest products; regularly review establishments with signs of violations, identifying key areas, hot spots for illegal wildlife to organize inspection and processing according to regulations. Every year, it will organize an inspection plan for enterprises producing, processing, trading in forest products and establishments for wildlife. According to the decision of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the Department of Agriculture and Environment shall lead the implementation of the program, coordinate with the departments, branches, People’s Committees of communes, wards and special zones of Con Dao to organize; At the same time, periodically inspect and synthesize the results, advise the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City to handle the difficulties and obstacles arising in the implementation process.

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A new study led by Japanese researchers from Tohoku University and National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) reveals that some of the minerals most essential for green technologies may have a significantly negative impact on biodiversity. Using remote sensing and machine learning, the scientists produced an unprecedented global map of mined commodities. Source: Timberbiz Combining this map with public datasets on forest loss and species extinction risk, they then quantified how the extraction of these commodities is reshaping forests and biodiversity worldwide. Analyzing approximately 70,000 mining sites across 20 commodities, the study found that mining activities caused the loss of 16,268 km² of forest between 2001 and 2022, an area roughly comparable to the size of Beijing, with the majority of that loss occurring in rainforests in the Amazon, Southeast Asia, and the Congo Basin. “Advances in remote sensing and machine learning offer new opportunities for automated analysis of mining at a global scale. The transition to green technologies is driving demand for a different set of minerals, but there is insufficient data to fully understand the environmental implications,” explained Keiichiro Kanemoto, an associate professor at Tohoku University and author of the study. While the study shows that commodities such as gold and coal remain the largest drivers of deforestation, it reveals a different pattern when biodiversity is considered. Green energy minerals such as lithium show some of the highest biodiversity risks despite being associated with lower levels of forest loss. This contrast highlights a critical shift: while traditional mining has been defined by large-scale deforestation, the extraction of minerals central to the energy transition may exert subtle – but equally serious – pressures on ecologically sensitive habitats. For example, lithium extraction in salt-flat and wetland environments can disrupt fragile ecosystems and endanger species despite minimal visible deforestation. Minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel are indispensable for technologies like electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage, yet their extraction can impose substantial environmental costs. The findings highlight the need to balance decarbonization goals with biodiversity protection, particularly as demand for these materials is expected to rise in the coming decades. The resulting dataset offers valuable insights for policymakers and industry leaders. Governments can use the data to design targeted, commodity-specific environmental regulations, while companies can better anticipate policy shifts and assess risks within their supply chains. By identifying which commodities and regions carry the greatest environmental costs, the research supports more informed decision-making toward sustainable resource use. “This study represents a major step forward in understanding the true global footprint of mining and demonstrates that the path to a greener future must also account for the hidden environmental costs of the materials that make it possible,” Kanemoto said.

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This Sunday morning, in parks, paddocks and backyards across the country, thousands of Australians will kneel in the winter soil and plant a tree. Planet Ark’s National Tree Day turns 30 this year, and Australians have planted almost 28 million trees through the event since 1996. Source: Timberbiz Schools get their turn a little earlier, with Schools Tree Day from Friday 24 July 2026. The scientists, professionals and growers who manage Australia’s forests would like those trees to still be standing for generations to come, and that is why Forestry Australia has released its top nine tips for planting a tree that thrives. Whether a seedling grows into a healthy, mature tree is determined largely by what happens before planting and in the months and years that follow. Careful preparation, selecting the right tree for the right place and consistent follow-up care are as important as the enthusiasm of planting day. “Planting a tree is something anyone can do to make a positive and enduring difference for your community and environment. Our handy tips for tree planting ahead of National Tree Day will help to make sure your efforts continue to have an impact for many years to come,” Forestry Australia Director and tree grower Leon Holt said. Here are the top nine tips from the experts. Get to know your area. Before choosing a tree, take time to understand the conditions. Consider annual rainfall, seasonal temperatures, exposure to frost, heat or drought, and the kind of soil you are working with. Check before you plant. Make sure you have permission to plant, especially on public, rented or shared land. Keep well clear of buildings, boundaries, powerlines, roads and underground services. Choose the right species. The right tree in the right place has the best chance of thriving. Select a species suited to your local climate, soil, available space and intended purpose, whether that is shade, habitat, shelter, food production or visual appeal. Your local nursery can offer valuable advice. Decide between seedlings and advanced trees. Small seedlings are often easier to establish and can adapt quickly to their new environment. Larger, more advanced trees provide immediate impact but generally require more careful planting, watering and maintenance. Pick the right spot. Look closely at the conditions within your planting site. Sunlight, shade, wind, moisture and competition from nearby vegetation can vary considerably across a small area. Avoid planting too close to established trees, where your seedling will compete for water, nutrients and light. Prepare the site. Preparation makes a significant difference to survival and growth. Loosen compacted soil so air and water can move through the profile, remove competing weeds and consider whether protection from grazing animals, wildlife or other pests will be needed. Plant with care. Follow the planting and care instructions from your local nursery or tree supplier. Handle roots gently, plant at the correct depth, firm the soil carefully and avoid burying the trunk. Most importantly, enjoy the experience and involve family, friends or your local community. Water and protect. Newly planted trees need reliable moisture while their roots establish. Water deeply during dry periods and use mulch to suppress weeds and slow evaporation, keeping it clear of the trunk. A tree guard can also protect against animals, wind and accidental damage. Keep caring for it. Planting day is only the beginning. Regular watering, weed control, inspection and protection during the first few years can greatly improve a tree’s chance of reaching maturity, and a little attention early on can deliver joy and benefits for decades.   A tree planted this weekend will still need care next summer, and for many summers to come. The trees that thrive are generally those that someone continues to watch, protect and nurture. The same is true of Australia’s forests, which need ongoing, active and adaptive management to stay healthy and resilient. That is the everyday work of Forestry Australia’s members, who draw on science, practical experience and local knowledge to care for our forests now and into the future.

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nxzen has announced that it has been awarded the LiDAR Acquisition – North Coast Native Forest, Plantation and Habitat Monitoring Areas contract by Forestry Corporation of NSW. Source: Timberbiz The project will see nxzen deliver high-resolution airborne LiDAR and four-band aerial imagery across significant areas of Forestry Corporation’s plantation estate throughout northern New South Wales. The captured data, together with a range of derived datasets, will be delivered through Cognitive Earth, nxzen’s Digital Reality Platform, providing secure access to critical geospatial intelligence that supports informed operational and strategic decision-making. Cognitive Earth is nxzen’s operational infrastructure intelligence platform, bringing together engineering-grade LiDAR, imagery, IoT, SCADA, digital network models and other critical datasets into a single, integrated operational view. nxzen says the platform underpins its Virtual Communities initiative, enabling organisations to unlock greater value from shared intelligence to address complex challenges including bushfire risk mitigation, vegetation management, canopy analysis, flood modelling and long-term infrastructure resilience. Through this partnership, Forestry Corporation of NSW will leverage high-quality spatial data to support forest inventory, yield estimation, operational planning and future analytical applications, creating a valuable digital asset for ongoing forestry management. “We are delighted to welcome Forestry Corporation of NSW to the nxzen Virtual Communities network and look forward to working together to deliver innovative, data- driven solutions that support sustainable forestry operations and improved environmental outcomes,” Dileep Viswanath, CEO nxzen Australia said.

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TasFarmers believes the $142 million sale of Rushy Lagoon, one of Tasmania’s largest farms, is now mired in so many unanswered governance questions that only one conclusion is available to the ordinary observer: the financial, funding and approval processes do not add up. Source: Timberbiz The organisation claims that months before the Treasurer Dr Chalmers approved the foreign purchase of Rushy Lagoon, the Commonwealth had already backed the buyer twice over. TasFarmers says that more than $8.8 million in grant funding was awarded under the Support Plantation Establishment program (SPEP), a program run by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and announced by the Agriculture Minister, Tasmania’s own Julie Collins, in May 2026. Dr Chalmers announced the approval of the sale of Tasmania’s largest farm, Rushy Lagoon, to UK-based forestry investor Gresham House. The 22,000-hectare property will be converted from an agricultural estate into a $142 million pine plantation and carbon project. The Australian Forest Products Association has welcomed the sale, saying the plantation project will expand Australia’s sovereign capability in sustainable timber production. The project will combine commercial softwood plantations on low productive land with large-scale conservation and ecological restoration and sustainable grazing. This is expected to provide a major boost to Tasmania’s forestry industry. The Radiata Pine trees produced by the project are expected to be processed locally by Tasmanian-based sawmills and supplied into the Australian market. TasFarmers President Nathan Cox said the growing number of serious financial questions could no longer be ignored. “It’s now obvious the project was inappropriately supported financially and guaranteed before FIRB and the Treasurer approved the sale of Rushy Lagoon,” he said. “TasFarmers first revealed approximately $69 million in taxpayer-backed finance was lined up through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, which is itself a partner in the buying consortium. “Now there is more to this deal, and the Federal Agriculture Minister has signed off on another $8.8 million, taking the total taxpayer bill to $77.8 million swiped on the taxpayers’ credit card. “All of this happened while the Foreign Investment Review Board process was still underway, and while the buyer had no approval to purchase the land, no formalised contract and no settlement. It still has none of those things today,” Mr Cox said. “There was a smell already surrounding the deal, and it’s now rotting. We know the deal was bad and the process was crooked. Tasmanian farmers’ concerns were right. “Multiple Commonwealth arms appear to have supported the same transaction before the statutory approval process had run its course. “It appears that the Government ceased to act solely as an independent regulator and instead became financially invested in the outcome it was later required to judge. “The Federal Government’s ideology on this is driving the displacement of agriculture with trees. “Running hand in hand with that is the poor information coming from proponents of these schemes, which politicians and bureaucrats blindly believe against the national interest. The misinformation is not being checked because no consultation is being done,” Mr Cox said. Mr Cox said the proper checks and balances had failed, the Treasurer was committing to the wrong outcome, and it was all being done in the wrong way for Australia. “The clock is now ticking for the Treasurer to do the right thing by Australian voters and taxpayers. It’s time to put an immediate stop to the sale before the property settlement date passes,” Mr Cox said, TasFarmers listed the governance failures as: Grant money awarded against the program’s own rules. The SPEP requires applicants to demonstrate long-term access to the land. The recipient did not own Rushy Lagoon, had no approval to buy it and still has not settled. How was that criterion satisfied? The Government funded the buyer before deciding whether the buyer should be allowed to buy. Two arms of the Commonwealth financially committed to the sale before the arm responsible for approving it had decided. The approval process was compromised in appearance, if not in fact, before it concluded. A conflict of interest at the heart of the deal. The chair of the CEFC, financier and partner of the buyer, also sits on the board of FIRB, which advised the Treasurer to approve the purchase. No public account has been given of how that conflict was managed. Secrecy until it was too late. The identities of the parties behind the Tasmanian Natural Asset Trust were hidden until the day of approval, and officials refused to answer basic Senate questions, citing “commercial sensitivity” about a deal soaked in public money. Nobody in charge. The Agriculture Minister, a Tasmanian, has confirmed she delegated her review of the project to her department. No elected representative has answered for the whole of this transaction. $69 million dollars was approved without what we believe to be sufficient oversight. The Clean Energy Finance Corporation has confirmed the $69 million investment was approved under delegated authority by its Investment Committee rather than its Board. Was the Treasurer misled?The most serious question of all is what the Treasurer was told. Did the FIRB application disclose that the buyer’s side had already applied for, and been awarded, Commonwealth grant money for planting on land it had no approved right to acquire? Did the grant application claim secure long-term access to land that the FIRB application acknowledged was uncertain?   TasFarmers says that if those two documents do not match, then a Commonwealth decision-maker was misled. If the Treasurer was misled in a material way, the law gives him express power to revoke this approval. He should use the next three weeks, before contracts are formalised and settlement occurs, to find out. TasFarmers wants: The Treasurer to immediately verify whether the FIRB application was complete and accurate, and to use his revocation power if it was not, before settlement. The Department of Agriculture to suspend all payments under the $8.8 million grant pending an eligibility review. The Auditor-General to audit the administration of the Support Plantation Establishment program. The Senate to order the production […]

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