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For more than 25 years, the IKEA-launched Sow a Seed project has contributed to the restoration of rainforests in Malaysian Borneo. Now a new phase, the Living Rainforest Restoration Lab, has been launched shifting focus toward research and knowledge sharing on these vital ecosystems. Source: Timberbiz The journey started in 1998, when IKEA’s founder Ingvar Kamprad initiated what would become Sow a Seed; a long standing and large-scale restoration project in the rainforests of Borneo. Jointly headed by SLU and the Malaysian Sabah Foundation, Sow a Seed is one of the world’s longest standing restorations of its kind. “This program is exceptional in its commitment to long-term impact. By combining a rare 25-year legacy of restoration work with a funding model spanning two consecutive decades, it creates a unique platform for generating knowledge that simply cannot emerge from short-term research,” said Petter Axelsson, researcher at SLU within the Sow a Seed-program. Large areas of rainforest in Borneo have been destroyed through irresponsible logging and wildfires in the 1980s and ’90s. But through the Sow a Seed-program they have come alive again. More than five million trees of more than 90 different indigenous tree species have repopulated the 18 500-ha area of rainforest. Wildlife has now returned. Borneo elephants, clouded leopards and orangutans have been spotted in the regrown forests, and today the area has been granted the highest level of forest protection in Malaysia. “There is growing awareness of the urgent need to halt biodiversity loss, and Sow a Seed is an important example of what’s possible. Over the past 28 years, it has not only helped restore rainforest and biodiversity but also built valuable knowledge along the way. “These insights demonstrate that regeneration is achievable and that what is learned here can help guide the recovery of other degraded rainforests in the future,” said Lena Julle, Chief Sustainability Officer, Inter IKEA Group. These achievements are evidence that regeneration and biodiversity restoration of even badly damaged rainforest is possible. The launch of the Living Rainforest Restoration Lab then marks a new chapter where focus shifts from restoration to deepened research and to sharing the newfound knowledge. “We aim to empower policymakers and the growing number of restoration practitioners with better knowledge, so that more rainforests can be restored more efficiently,” said Ulrik Ilstedt, program leader at SLU. IKEA will fund the research program for 10 years. It comprises 24 projects jointly led by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and Malaysian universities and is one of SLU’s largest ongoing research initiatives. As a real-world research platform, the Lab will generate knowledge on how degraded tropical rainforests recover over time and which methods deliver the strongest long-term results. By combining long-term field data, restored landscapes, and scientific expertise, it provides insights into biodiversity recovery, ecosystem functions, and climate benefits, including carbon storage, water regulation, and soil health. “A substantial part of the program is dedicated to spreading the knowledge of best practices. The 24 research projects in this program will therefore make a significant contribution to our global targets to conserve biodiversity and mitigate climate change on a substantially larger scale than the initial project,” said Ulrik Ilstedt.

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The forestry sector in Fiji will receive FJ$25.7 million in the 2026–2027 National Budget to support growth, create opportunities, and increase benefits for resource owners. Source: FBC Fiji This includes FJ$2.5 million for the Commercial Maritime Pine Subsidy Program, which will, in turn, help pine growers in Kadavu, Lomaiviti, and Lau with transport costs to markets and improve their income. Minister for Finance Esrom Immanuel announced that at least FJ$3.7 million has been allocated to the Fiji Pine Trust Extension Program to support harvesting, replanting, nursery work, and maritime activities. He adds that a total of FJ$2 million has been allocated to build the Wainiyabia Jetty in Lakeba, a further FJ$1.5 million allocated to the Maritime Pine Development Program to support pine activities in Kadavu, Moce, Moala, Levuka, and Lakeba to cater for harvesting, timber processing, facilities, and training. Immanuel says the REDD+ Program will commence in this financial year, with FJ$500,000 allocated to promote sustainable forest management, reduce deforestation, and help Fiji access international climate funding. He further announced that Fiji Mahogany Development has been allocated FJ$196,000 to support the growth and sustainable management of the mahogany industry. To encourage investment, he says the government will introduce a five-year tax holiday for businesses investing at least FJ$5 million in new mahogany processing facilities. Immanuel adds that the incentive aims to boost local processing, create jobs and increase the value of Fiji’s forestry products and add value to Fiji’s forestry products.

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A proposed change to England’s fire-safety guidance could make it much harder to use timber in load-bearing structures above 11 metres. Source: Fordaq The consultation on changes to Approved Document B, the fire-safety guidance used under the Building Regulations in England, closes on 1 July 2026. Under the draft text, load-bearing elements of structure in buildings with a storey more than 11 metres above ground level should be made from materials or products achieving at least class A2-s3, d2. Most structural timber and mass timber products do not normally meet this reaction-to-fire classification. The proposal would move the debate beyond external walls and cladding. It could affect the structural frame itself in a much wider group of mid-rise residential, commercial and mixed-use buildings. This matters because mass timber and CLT are increasingly used in projects where developers want faster construction and lower embodied carbon compared with concrete or steel. The draft guidance still allows an alternative fire-engineered route. However, industry critics argue that this can add cost, delay and uncertainty, especially for standard mid-rise schemes where clients and insurers prefer a clearer approval path. For the timber industry, the main risk is not an immediate ban, but a practical one: if the guidance makes approvals more difficult, designers may choose concrete or steel earlier in the project. That would reduce the role of mass timber in one of its most important growth segments.

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New Forests has acquired 44,200 acres of forestry assets in Washington State. The property, which was acquired from Campbell Global, is a plantation forest consisting primarily of Douglas-fir and western hemlock. Source: Timberbiz It is located near domestic processing infrastructure and key log export facilities, supporting strong market access for timber products. Additionally, the forest supports a diverse ecological landscape including the marbled murrelet, northern spotted owl, North American black bear, black-tailed deer, and Roosevelt elk. Extensive natural vegetation, river and creek systems, and wildlife presence create opportunities to deliver meaningful conservation and biodiversity enhancement outcomes. New Forests intends to maintain an active harvest program while exploring opportunities for carbon project development, with potential other revenues from conservation easements and renewable energy. The acquisition represents a significant placement milestone and expands New Forests’ footprint across the US which includes assets in Northern California, Southwestern Oregon and the US South, the largest forestry region in the world. “This quality asset provides us with scaled entry into the Pacific Northwest forestry market, which is the second largest forestry market in the US,” Jeff Briggs, Managing Director, New Forests North America, said. “It aligns with our overall thesis that sustainable forest management in North America has the potential to deliver attractive investment returns while positively contributing to the local economy and environment.”

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The National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life – Annual Showcase 2026 will be held at UniSC Moreton Bay on 9 July 2026 from 8:30am. Source: Timberbiz This in-person event will highlight the latest research, innovation and industry engagement across the Centre’s work in timber durability, design life, circularity and sustainable construction. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from Centre researchers/students/partners and connect with industry professionals and take part in discussions on current challenges and future directions. Hosted at UniSC Moreton Bay, this year’s showcase will also give guests the chance to experience the campus and learn more about its notable mass timber buildings. More information at: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/national-centre-for-timber-durability-and-design-life-annual-showcase-2026-tickets-1987465010347

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