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Timbeter, an AI-powered digital timber measurement solution provider, has started collaboration with Polish State Forest (PGL LP) to support the forestry operations. A project that is transforming the whole timber industry in Poland is being carried out in Regional Directorates in Piła and Poznań. Source: Timberbiz The initiative aims to integrate Timbeter’s digital measurement solutions into everyday forestry operations. The project’s goals include reducing the workload of foresters, simplifying timber measurement processes, and enhancing objectivity of results. This transition will also provide additional insights for stakeholders, from contractors to timber purchasers, enabling better decision-making and operational efficiency. The first stage of the project, which was until the end of December 2024, focused on the integration and use of Timbeter’s technology across approximately 100 forestry units within 14 districts of Piła and Poznań. This phase involved comprehensive organizational, technical, and formal preparations, ensuring readiness for the full-scale rollout scheduled for 2025. Timbeter licenses were distributed to foresters, technical support teams, and educators, facilitating the measurement of up to 700,000 cubic meters of timber during the pilot phase. Timbeter’s innovative solution utilizes AI and photo-optical technology to measure timber stacks accurately. By seamlessly integrating with the State Forests’ Leśnik+ system, the software ensures data synchronization and minimizes errors. The adoption of this technology is expected to increase measurement efficiency by 10–30% and reduce manual workload, freeing foresters to focus on higher-value tasks. The State Forests have tested photo-optical measurement methods since 2012. Timbeter was selected for its proven compatibility with existing systems and rigorous testing compliance. As a result, Timbeter was selected as a solution that meets the requirements of the Polish State Forest. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Poland’s State Forests on this transformative journey,” said Anna-Greta Tsahkna, CEO at Timbeter. “This partnership highlights our commitment to advancing sustainable and efficient forestry practices.” Timbeter is a provider of digital timber measurement solutions, leveraging innovative technologies to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and sustainability in forestry operations worldwide. The company’s software uses AI, photo-optical analysis and machine learning to measure timber quickly and precisely, offering seamless integration with existing forestry management systems. Timbeter serves a diverse global client base, including state forestry organizations, private timber companies, and NGOs in more than 30 countries.

On 7 January, the new Construction Products Regulation entered into force in Europe. The new Regulation modernises the rules from 2011, makes it easier to sell construction products across the EU Single Market, supports innovative construction techniques and enhances the sector’s competitiveness and sustainability. Source: Timberbiz In particular, the new rules mark an important step in digitalising the construction sector. Digital Product Passports will provide all information on construction products, including the declaration of performance and conformity, safety information and instructions for use. This will also enable to calculate an entire building’s carbon footprint reliably. The new Construction Products Regulation is a gamechanger for the construction sector. It helps builders, architects, engineers, consumers and public authorities to make the right choices based on the performance and sustainability of construction products. The new Regulation will strengthen competitiveness and productivity of the construction sector. It will allow the EU to champion innovative and sustainable techniques including prefabricated or modular elements such as façade systems. Increasing the use of offsite construction methods will reduce costs and accelerate the delivery of much-needed housing, both newly built and renovated. Such technologies can lead to a 10-15% reduction in construction waste during the production and manufacturing phases. Additionally, prefabricated units can be disassembled and reconfigured for repurposing at the end of their life cycle, further enhancing sustainability benefits.

The tragic wildfires in Los Angeles have reignited national discussions about forest management, wildland firefighting, smoke pollution, and water. Although these urban fires are not traditional forest fires, they underscore the critical need for effective vegetation management and robust water infrastructure and availability. Source: Timberbiz Wildfires require three elements: fuel, oxygen, and heat. While weather conditions and oxygen levels are beyond human control, managing the available fuel such as overgrown vegetation is within our capabilities. Proactively reducing excess vegetation through methods like forest thinning and creating fuel breaks can significantly mitigate wildfire risks. These measures not only slow the spread of fires but also provide firefighters with safer and more effective opportunities to protect lives, homes, wildlife habitats, and water resources. President-elect Donald Trump has criticized California’s forest management practices and water policies, suggesting decades of mismanagement have contributed to the severity of the fires. California Governor Newsom has defended his administration, emphasizing the state’s investments in firefighting and vegetation management. Critics, however, point to onerous environmental regulations and bureaucracy that have stymied efforts to increase the pace and scale of fuels reduction. They also say recent budget cuts have affected fire prevention programs, potentially exacerbating wildfire risks. The Los Angeles fires highlighted challenges in water supply during emergencies. In Pacific Palisades, for instance, fire hydrants ran dry as the local water system was overwhelmed by the demands of firefighting efforts. Beyond fire prevention, active forest management plays a significant role in water conservation. Overgrown forests consume substantial amounts of water, reducing availability for aquifers and downstream flows. The resulting wildfires can devastate watersheds and aquatic resources. Researchers have found that over the period 1990 to 2008, fire-thinned forests saved 3.7 billion gallons of water annually in California’s Kings River Basin and a whopping 17 billion gallons of water annually in the American River Basin — water that would otherwise have been lost through evapotranspiration. These results illustrate that restoring forests through mechanical thinning or wildfire can also save California billions of gallons of water each year. Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive policy reforms. The bipartisan “Fix Our Forests Act,” passed by the US House of Representatives last year, aims to enhance forest health and resilience by expediting environmental analyses, reducing frivolous anti-forestry lawsuits, and increasing the pace and scale of forest restoration projects. This legislation reflects a growing consensus on the need for active forest management to mitigate wildfire risks and protect vital water resources. The Los Angeles wildfires serve as a stark reminder of the inter-connectedness of wildfire management, vegetation control, and water policy. Proactive measures in forest and vegetation management are solutions not only for reducing wildfire risks but also for ensuring adequate water supply. This is why the federal government should continue its intense national discussions on these issues, and act quickly to mitigate future disasters.

New polling has revealed an under-the-radar issue which could swing voters in vital key seats that both sides must either retain or are looking to win. Source: News.com.au Support to end native forest logging could emerge as a key issue in five battleground seats, as Labor’s Nature Positive laws remain stuck in the Senate. Pyxis polling commissioned by the Australian Conservation and Biodiversity Foundation found support to end the logging of native forests, which means logging would be limited to plantations, was widely supported in the three seats Labor must hold onto to maintain majority government. This included bellwether seat Eden Monaro (60% of voters) in southeastern NSW and Richmond (72%), which takes in Tweed Heads, Byron Bay and Murwillumbah in the state’s north. The issue is particularly pertinent in Tasmania, where Labor and the Coalition will fight to win Lyons, which is currently held by Labor of a wafer-thin 0.9% margin. While Tasmania accounts for 40% of native forest log volume, polling said 58% of voters in Lyons supported an end to the practice. New polling revealed the majority of voters in five key electorates supported ending logging in native forests. ACBF executive director Lyndon Schneiders urged the major political parties to take note of the polling and said policies on native forest logging could “shape the outcome of a knife-edge election”. “There’s a clear message to all candidates and parties here: Voters want the Australian government to invest in our plantation timber industry to help build the homes we need to end the housing crisis while also funding more jobs in forest management, including protection against catastrophic bushfires,” he said. While the practice is already banned in Victoria and Western Australia, Mr Schneiders said native forest logging was not only an “economic and environmental failure,” but also restricted Australia’s ability to reduce carbon emissions. “Logging our native forests places further pressure on endangered species including the Koala, the Swift Parrot and the Greater Glider,” he said. “Logging releases greenhouse gas emissions and overwhelmingly (by 76%) ends up in low value products including woodchips.” Despite backing down on demands for a climate trigger, the Greens have demanded the removal of Regional Forest Agreement exemptions in order to guarantee passage of Labor’s three Nature Positive bills. The exemptions bypass national laws and allow logging to continue despite national environmental laws and apply to 10 specific commercial native forestry regions. Although Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has said she is in favour of more regulations on native forest logging, given its impact on endangered wildlife, she does not support ending the industry. While the Greens claim they had reached a deal through negotiations with Ms Plibersek, the Bills remain stalled following an 11th hour intervention from Anthony Albanese, which the Prime Minister denies. However, it’s understood the reported deal also did not include changes to the exemptions. The stalled legislation designed to create a national environmental protection authority, implement tougher penalties and enforcement measures. Ms Plibersek said she remained committed to passing the Nature Positive Bills, which she noted have languished in the Senate since August. “As part of our Nature Positive Plan, native forest logging with be regulated by national environment laws for the first time ever, through National Environmental Standards,” she said. “We are committed to reforming Australia’s broken environmental laws. They don’t protect our environment, and they don’t work for business.” Greens environment spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young said it was evident an “overwhelming majority of voters want to close the loopholes that allow our native forests to be logged and bulldozed”. “When Parliament returns in February the Prime Minister will have a choice: work with the Greens to protect our forests, or ram through his government’s laws that allow the logging of critical habitat to continue with Peter Dutton,” she said. “We can end these logging loopholes before the election if the PM is constructive and willing to protect the environment. I urge the PM to respect public opinion and protect the environment instead of selling out to the logging and mining lobby.” The Coalition’s environment spokesman Jono Duniam said calls to transition native forestry to plantations were “impractical and unrealistic,” and would not supply the amount of hardwood required. He added ending native forestry in Australia could have unintended consequences which would result in the industry increasing in countries with “far weaker environmental laws, standards and regulations than ours”. “Ending native forestry in Australia would be completely self-defeating and counter-productive, even for the most ardent environmentalist,” he said.

A new booklet ‘Common Insect Pests and Diseases of New Zealand Native Plants’ is now available. New Zealand’s native species have a range of insect pests and diseases associated with them, many of which are native, common and not known to cause significant damage. Source: Timberbiz This booklet can be used to help educate people about plant diseases allowing them to broadly identify what insect pests and diseases they may come across in their whenua. It can also help readers separate those common diseases from potentially new diseases that could become damaging to native trees such as myrtle rust or kauri dieback. Each insect pest and pathogen is described in detail with large photographs to make identification easy. A full glossary, including Māori and scientific names of the insect pests, diseases, and host plants is included. The booklet came about from Te Rātā Whakamaru, a Jobs for Nature funded program. This project was a collaboration between Scion, Rotoiti 15 trust and the Department of Conservation. The program was tasked with creating jobs that supported nature. Te Rātā Whakamaru established roles for surveying and monitoring myrtle rust in the Bay of Plenty area. Additionally, the project sought to identify possible disease-resistant ramarama and rōhutu plants for the propagation of resistant planting material. While the Te Rātā Whakamaru team learned how to identify myrtle rust and the host plants it is associated with, they encountered other pests and diseases on native trees. This prompted the development of this field-orientated booklet to educate not only the Te Rātā Whakamaru team, but others interested in the health of native plants, including forest owners, managers, regional councils, botanic gardens, restoration planting contractors and kura. Unlike myrtle rust, which is an invasive pathogen that is devastating many of our native Myrtaceae, most of our common insect pests and diseases are endemic and rarely cause widespread damage on our native plants. The booklet is available to download or contact Scion’s Kiryn Dobbie to enquire about a hardcopy. With the aid of this new booklet, if you suspect a new disease or pest, report it to the Ministry of Primary Industries immediately on 0800 80 99 66 or at https://report.mpi.govt.nz/pest

A King Island man has been fined $90,000 for bulldozing native vegetation, including threatened native forest and a wetland, without any approvals. Source: Pulse Tasmania Alan Robert Smith faced nine charges in the King Island Magistrates Court under the Forest Practices Act earlier this month. They included unauthorised clearing of trees, including the King Island Scrub complex, clearance and conversion of threatened native vegetation communities and failing to comply with a notice to cease forest practices. The Forest Practices Authority (FPA) launched an “extensive and complex” investigation into the property after discovering the alleged illegal clearing. Acting Chief Forest Practices Officer Willem Mulder said Smith continued clearing activities despite the FPA issuing a formal request to stop the operations. “The forest practices system provides a process for identifying and considering environmental and other sensitive values through a certified forest practices plan,” he said. “Clearance and conversion of threatened native vegetation communities is not normally permitted under the system. “This unlawful land clearing would have been avoided if the forest practices process had been followed.”

The Housing Industry Association (HIA) is urging the government to hit pause on the proposed Free TAFE Bill 2024. While the initiative promises to address critical skills shortages, HIA believes the plan needs a comprehensive review before it’s locked into law. Source: Timberbiz “We absolutely support making vocational education more accessible but rushing this legislation risks turning a good idea into an ineffective policy,” said Geordan Murray, HIA Executive Director – Future Workforce. “It is vital that we base decisions on evidence, not just good intentions. The stakes for the building industry and the broader economy are simply too high.” HIA’s submission to the inquiry raises key questions about how the scheme will work in practice. “Among the many concerns is the need to evaluate the current Fee-free TAFE initiative before it’s formalised. Without clear data on what is working and what isn’t the program could fail to deliver its full potential,” Mr Murray said. “During the time that the Fee-free TAFE scheme has been operating the number of apprentices and trainees in the construction industry has declined. It doesn’t appear that the scheme is doing enough to boost participation. “Another critical issue is fairness, HIA has always argued that private and industry-based training providers must be given equal access to funding alongside public TAFEs.” Mr Murray said that Australia’s vocational education system was built on diversity, restricting private providers not only limited student choice but also risked leaving gaps in the training landscape. “Transparency is also a sticking point for HIA, we are calling for the legislation to include provisions for timely data collection and reporting, ensuring the program can be objectively assessed over time. This is essential for fine-tuning the scheme to meet the country’s evolving workforce needs,” he said. “While the government’s target of 100,000 Fee-free TAFE places is a positive start, we question whether it goes far enough. “This number might sound impressive, but in the context of our skills crisis, it is just not enough. We need to think bigger, the demand for skilled workers in construction and other industries is overwhelming. “The government should also consider the broader financial challenges that students face, course fees are just one part of the equation. Travel costs, tools, and equipment are all barriers that need to be addressed if we are serious about boosting participation in training,” he said. “HIA remains committed to working constructively with the government to ensure the vocational education and training system meets the needs of Australia’s workforce. But this legislation needs to be done right. “Our industry is at a critical juncture, we need bold, well-thought-out holistic solutions. Fee-free TAFE has the potential to make a real difference, but only if it is backed by careful planning and robust support,” Mr Murray said.  

The peak state body for the forest and timber industry in Queensland has raised major concerns with the announcement by the Australian Government of a proposed new carbon method known as the Improved Native Forest Management in Multiple-use Public Forests. Source: Timberbiz “This proposed method raises far more questions than answers for addressing long term climate mitigation and the integrity of the carbon credits intended to be generated,” Timber Queensland CEO Mick Stephens said. The method is at odds with the high-level principle identified in the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 4th assessment report that states: In the long term, a sustainable forest management strategy aimed at maintaining or increasing forest carbon stocks, while producing an annual sustained yield of timber, fibre or energy from the forest, will generate the largest sustained mitigation benefit. “The proposed method suggests that by simply ceasing sustainable timber harvesting in public multiple-use forests you can generate additional long-term abatement compared to the counterfactual of continued harvesting and storage of carbon in regrowing forests and harvested wood products,” Mr Stephens said. “This is in direct contrast to many life cycle analyses of managed forests with sustainable timber harvesting, which show long-term sustained carbon benefits when the substitution of steel and concrete in the built environment is included along with carbon stored in forests and harvested wood products,” he said. “The method fails on multiple accounts to meet the very principles Minister Bowen set out following the recent Chubb review into the land-based carbon sequestration market.” These failures include: a high likelihood of perverse carbon mitigation outcomes; a risk of wasting millions of taxpayer dollars on dodgy credits; adverse economic and social outcomes for the native forestry industry if implemented; disregard for a growing body of Australian and international research supporting the longer-term carbon benefits from actively managing native forests with the inclusion of sustainable timber harvesting; and a lack of transparency and public disclosure on the proposed method and assessment process used by the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee (ERAC).

The Greens’ reluctance to condemn deliberate damage caused to several Sustainable Timber Tasmania firefighting vehicles has been attacked by Tasmania’s Minister for Business, Industry and Resources Eric Abetz. Source: Timberbiz Several STT firefighting vehicle fleets had their tyres tampered with, police confirm, in a so-called “deplorable” attack. The incidents, described by STT as “malicious”, occurred at its Derwent Park and Hobart offices. “We have shared security footage with Tasmania Police and an investigation is currently underway,” SST said. “As a result, several critical vehicles – including fire trucks and utes with firefighting apparatus – were temporarily taken out of service. This disruption not only affects our operations but also impacts the broader community.” Mr Abetz described the attacks as disgraceful. “The deplorable attack on STT’s vehicle fleet must be condemned,” he said. “The Greens’ condemnation of these unacceptable actions is welcome however, the silence from the Bob Brown Foundation is deafening. “We are in peak fire season and these vehicles are vital to our response,” Mr Abetz said. “These actions have put lives at risk. “By remaining silent the Bob Brown Foundation is creating concern and doubt as to their attitude to this anti-social behaviour. “It needs to immediately condemn the behaviour and explain its tardiness in coming out if they do condemn the vandalism,” he said. STT said that regardless of opinions on forestry, trespassing and tampering with property is never acceptable. “The safety and security of our employees is our top priority, and these actions pose a direct threat to both,” STT said. “Our fleet is vital to Tasmania’s firefighting efforts and must always be ready to respond quickly during fire season. The availability of these vehicles is crucial for protecting our communities and forests.” Tasmania Police confirmed they were investigating the reports. The Bob Brown Foundation in a statement later said damage to property was condemned by the foundation. “The alleged letting down of tyres of Forestry Tasmania vehicles is a matter for the police and we know nothing about the incidents,” the foundation said. The foundation said if Mr Abetz has consideration for the safety of Tasmanians from bushfires, he should end native forest logging, as science proves that logging increases bushfire risk and severity. “If Minister Abetz is concerned with deplorable acts, he should condemn the consistent acts of violence and damage to property that have put lives at risk and that our foundation’s staff and volunteers have experienced,” the statement said.

Opal took the unprecedented step of locking out more than 300 CFMEU Manufacturing Division production members indefinitely from their Maryvale mill in the Latrobe Valley.  This action was in response to seven workers taking a 6-hour work stoppage as part of a protected industrial action – the first by production workers in more than two decades.  Source: Timberbiz Opal is currently engaged in Enterprise Agreement discussions with its Maryvale Mill production team members and the CFMEU. The current production agreement expired at the end of December 2024. Opal’s total lockout is completely disproportionate to the action taken by the employees, it displays a total disregard for the employees, their families and communities according to the CFMEU. In a statement Opal said it continued to negotiate in good faith with the CFMEU and its production team members. Industrial parties have been in bargaining since October 2024 and the CFMEU said Opal was aiming to strip ‘the hard-won wages and conditions of their employees’. “We are focused on reaching an Enterprise Agreement with our team members and the union that is fair and allows us to supply our customers with quality paper in an extremely competitive and evolving market,” Opal said in a statement. “Unfortunately, given the protected industrial action taken and upcoming notified action by the CFMEU, which includes planned rolling shutdowns of the Mill’s infrastructure, we cannot operate our paper production facilities. “We are disappointed to announce that we have been forced to make the decision under the Fair Work Act to undertake a legal lockout of our production team members covered by the CFMEU Agreement. “Given our commitment to good faith bargaining and the ultimate success of our Maryvale Mill, we remain confident that the Enterprise Agreement negotiations will be successfully resolved so that our team members can return to work. “As has been well documented, the Maryvale Mill’s operations have been severely impacted by the loss of wood supply from VicForests and the subsequent end to white paper manufacturing.” As a result, the site lost almost half of its production volumes and suffered significant and continued financial impacts and Opal says the new Enterprise Agreement needs to reflect these significant changes. Opal said that the terms and conditions that were appropriate many years ago in previous Enterprise Agreements were not relevant to the Mill’s operations today, nor did they reflect the way Australian paper mills operate in 2025. As a result of these challenges and changes to its operating conditions, Opal is seeking to make changes to its operations and embody these in a ‘simpler, fair and competitive Enterprise Agreement’. The CFMEU says that Opal wants a ‘fair outcome’ but this seems to mean workers must start by giving up their current conditions and Opal wants to increase employees ordinary working hours; reclassify their roles again; treat them like casual employees and remove checks and balances around rostering; crewing numbers and career progression. In 2016 production employees accepted a 5% pay cut and a resetting of wages to secure the future of the mill. This outcome was achieved with no industrial action. Management did not take a reduction in wages. The Maryvale Mill has been in operation since 1937. It is part of the fabric of the Latrobe Valley, employing generations of locals and driving economic activity for local industries and thousands of Victorians.