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Irish philosopher George Berkely, best known for his theory of immaterialism, once famously mused, “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” What about AI-generated trees? They probably wouldn’t make a sound, but they will be critical nonetheless for applications such as adaptation of urban flora to climate change. Source: Timberbiz To that end, the novel “Tree-D Fusion” system developed by researchers at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), Google, and Purdue University merges AI and tree-growth models with Google’s Auto Arborist data to create accurate 3D models of existing urban trees. The project has produced the first-ever large-scale database of 600,000 environmentally aware, simulation-ready tree models across North America. “We’re bridging decades of forestry science with modern AI capabilities,” said Sara Beery, MIT electrical engineering and computer science (EECS) assistant professor, MIT CSAIL principal investigator, and a co-author on a new paper about Tree-D Fusion. “This allows us to not just identify trees in cities, but to predict how they’ll grow and impact their surroundings over time. We’re not ignoring the past 30 years of work in understanding how to build these 3D synthetic models; instead, we’re using AI to make this existing knowledge more useful across a broader set of individual trees in cities around North America, and eventually the globe.” Tree-D Fusion builds on previous urban forest monitoring efforts that used Google Street View data but branches it forward by generating complete 3D models from single images. While earlier attempts at tree modelling were limited to specific neighbourhoods, or struggled with accuracy at scale, Tree-D Fusion can create detailed models that include typically hidden features, such as the back side of trees that aren’t visible in street-view photos. The technology’s practical applications extend far beyond mere observation. City planners could use Tree-D Fusion to one day peer into the future, anticipating where growing branches might tangle with power lines, or identifying neighbourhoods where strategic tree placement could maximize cooling effects and air quality improvements. These predictive capabilities, the team says, could change urban forest management from reactive maintenance to proactive planning. The researchers took a hybrid approach to their method, using deep learning to create a 3D envelope of each tree’s shape, then using traditional procedural models to simulate realistic branch and leaf patterns based on the tree’s genus. This combo helped the model predict how trees would grow under different environmental conditions and climate scenarios, such as different possible local temperatures and varying access to groundwater. Now, as cities worldwide grapple with rising temperatures, this research offers a new window into the future of urban forests. In a collaboration with MIT’s Senseable City Lab, the Purdue University and Google team is embarking on a global study that re-imagines trees as living climate shields. Their digital modelling system captures the intricate dance of shade patterns throughout the seasons, revealing how strategic urban forestry could hopefully change sweltering city blocks into more naturally cooled neighbourhoods. “Every time a street mapping vehicle passes through a city now, we’re not just taking snapshots we’re watching these urban forests evolve in real-time,” said Ms Beery. “This continuous monitoring creates a living digital forest that mirrors its physical counterpart, offering cities a powerful lens to observe how environmental stresses shape tree health and growth patterns across their urban landscape.” AI-based tree modeling has emerged as an ally in the quest for environmental justice: By mapping urban tree canopy in unprecedented detail, a sister project from the Google AI for Nature team has helped uncover disparities in green space access across different socioeconomic areas. “We’re not just studying urban forests we’re trying to cultivate more equity,” said Ms Beery. The team is now working closely with ecologists and tree health experts to refine these models, ensuring that as cities expand their green canopies, the benefits branch out to all residents equally. While Tree-D fusion marks some major “growth” in the field, trees can be uniquely challenging for computer vision systems. Unlike the rigid structures of buildings or vehicles that current 3D modelling techniques handle well, trees are nature’s shape-shifters — swaying in the wind, interweaving branches with neighbours, and constantly changing their form as they grow. The Tree-D fusion models are “simulation-ready” in that they can estimate the shape of the trees in the future, depending on the environmental conditions. “What makes this work exciting is how it pushes us to rethink fundamental assumptions in computer vision,” said Ms Beery. “While 3D scene understanding techniques like photogrammetry or NeRF [neural radiance fields] excel at capturing static objects, trees demand new approaches that can account for their dynamic nature, where even a gentle breeze can dramatically alter their structure from moment to moment.” The team’s approach of creating rough structural envelopes that approximate each tree’s form has proven remarkably effective, but certain issues remain unsolved. Perhaps the most vexing is the “entangled tree problem;” when neighbouring trees grow into each other, their intertwined branches create a puzzle that no current AI system can fully unravel. The scientists see their dataset as a springboard for future innovations in computer vision, and they’re already exploring applications beyond street view imagery, looking to extend their approach to platforms like iNaturalist and wildlife camera traps. “This marks just the beginning for Tree-D Fusion,” said Jae Joong Lee, a Purdue University PhD student who developed, implemented and deployed the Tree-D-Fusion algorithm. “Together with my collaborators, I envision expanding the platform’s capabilities to a planetary scale. Our goal is to use AI-driven insights in service of natural ecosystems — supporting biodiversity, promoting global sustainability, and ultimately, benefiting the health of our entire planet.” You can download the paper at https://www.jaejoonglee.com/treedfusion/  

Sumitomo Forestry was named in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World), a globally renowned ESG investment equity index. In this index, Sumitomo Forestry secured the top score in the home building industry (among 22 eligible companies) for the fourth consecutive year. Source: Timberbiz Sumitomo Forestry is also included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Index (DJSI Asia Pacific Index), an index comprised of Asia Pacific companies. This is the 17th time Sumitomo Forestry has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI)*1 series since it was first selected in 2005. Launched in 1999, the DJSI series are sustainability-related equity indices announced yearly by the US company S&P Dow Jones Indices. Companies are evaluated and analysed on their sustainability practices in economic, environmental, and social criteria and those that demonstrate superior performance are selected for inclusion. S&P Global tracks the performance of the world’s top 3,500 companies in terms of market capitalization, and selects the top 10% (321 companies, of which 37 companies are Japanese) in each industry for the inclusion in the DJSI World using their Corporate Sustainability Assessment. In addition to the DJSI series, Sumitomo Forestry has been selected for ESG indices adopted by Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund, the world’s largest pension fund. Sumitomo Forestry has also been selected for a number of other indices like FTSE Russell’s FTSE4 Good Index Series5.

UPM has been listed as the only forest and paper industry company in the Dow Jones Global and European Sustainability Indices (DJSI) for the years 2024-2025. The indices cover environmental, social and governance aspects of responsibility. Source: Timberbiz “We are committed to creating value for our customers by using sustainable, renewable resources, reducing our environmental footprint, and increasing our positive societal impact. Sustainability is a core strategic value for UPM,” Sami Lundgren, Vice President, Responsibility at UPM said. This commitment is strongly visible in the company’s updated strategy published in September. UPM’s business portfolio is based on sustainable feedstocks and fossil-free energy, positioning the company for growth in renewable fibres, advanced materials, and decarbonisation solutions, while graphic papers continue to generate strong cash flows. UPM has also successfully issued a new EUR 600 million Green Bond in 2024 under its Green Finance Framework. With the fourth issuance, UPM has further strengthened its position as one of the largest corporate Green Bond issuers in the Nordics, with a total of EUR 2,350 million issued. “These Green Bonds link our financing to our sustainability goals and support our overall strategy,” Mr Lundgren said.

It all began on a cray fishing boat with Linsay Beare’s uncle, but severe sea sickness quickly ended Mr Beare’s maritime aspirations. Source: Timberbiz “Two weeks I lasted on the boat,” Mr Beare recalls, “and still to this day I can’t go out on one.” In 1971, Mr Beare joined Woods & Forests, following in the footsteps of his father, who was a crane driver at Jubilee Sawmill for 26 years. After a brief stint with Brian Smith Transport, Linsay returned to Jubilee in 1974, working in Drymill A on moulders. He soon moved to despatch, loading and tarping rail trucks. When Ash Wednesday struck in 1983, it was all hands on deck to manage the influx of salvaged timber. Three continuous shifts were needed to process the burnt logs and cart the timber out of the forest to the Air Dry Yard. Mr Beare then joined the kilns team for several years before the shift structure changed to a 4-shift rotating roster. “Back then I felt too old to be doing nightshifts,” he said. He moved to the Air Dry Yard for 10 years until a position opened up in despatch. “I was supposed to be winding down towards retirement, and this position was day/arvo shift. I already had some experience in despatching, so I went for it.” Mr Beare has been part of the despatch crew for four years now. “I enjoy my job. I load trucks, dig out loads from the yard, walk around and scan packs. There’s plenty to do.” Known for his humour, Mr Beare makes coming to work enjoyable for those around him. He also has a passion for racing, which he shares with his son and daughter-in-law. “That is why I am still working, to pay for my habit,” he jokes. Mr Beare proudly speaks of his son, a 7-time Australian titled speedway driver with 30 state titles. “We have been lucky enough to travel all over Australia for my son’s racing.” Mr Beare, his son and daughter-in-law also race together in enduro. “I get to enjoy racing with my son and his wife, in a poor old commodore, driving it flat all day for as long as it will go, while my wife and 3 granddaughters watch, cheering us on,” he said. Reflecting on his career, he notes the significant changes he has witnessed, particularly the reduction in manual handling and the increase in automation. “I have seen the mill fitted out three times with upgrades over time.” Mr Beare values the reliability of his work at the mill, which has provided him with a stable career and the opportunity to travel the world. “At the end of the day, not a lot of people have that, you know, a reliable and stable job where you can travel the world a couple of times and still live comfortably,” he said.  

As a rural research and development corporation, Forest & Wood Products Australia plays a key role in driving innovation and fostering collaboration across the forestry sector globally. Source: Timberbiz FWPA helps facilitate collaboration by promoting initiatives and making connections via its network of industry experts, research teams and academia. Exciting opportunities exist to enhance knowledge-sharing and address shared challenges with New Zealand forestry. With a view to facilitating greater collaboration on forestry research between Australia and New Zealand, these are two key opportunities: 1: Australasian Forest Health Working Group A new trans-Tasman working group has been formed to unite Australian and New Zealand forest health and biosecurity scientists. This voluntary group provides a platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and skill development, particularly for early career researchers. The initiative also aims to tackle emerging forest health and biosecurity challenges by integrating diverse expertise from fields such as social science, Indigenous knowledge, and government administration. The group plans quarterly online meetings, speed talks, and networking opportunities at conferences. Scientists and practitioners from various sectors are encouraged to join. For more information or to express interest, contact angus.carnegie@dpi.nsw.gov.au 2: IUFRO Conference: Forest Establishment and Early Growth Dynamics Scion, New Zealand’s Crown Research Institute for forestry and biomaterials, will host a global research conference in Rotorua, New Zealand from 17–21 March 2025. The event, titled “Achieving Forest Establishment Success at Scale to Address Climate, Environmental, Social, and Economic Challenges“ will feature more than 50 presentations from international experts. This conference offers a rare chance to engage with global leaders in forestry research without leaving the Australasian region. Registration options are available for the full week or individual days. To view the program or register, visit the conference website here. These initiatives underscore FWPA’s dedication to fostering regional collaboration and addressing critical forestry challenges. Please feel free to share these opportunities with colleagues and stakeholders to further strengthen the forestry sector and its collaboration across Australasia. For more information www.fwpa.com.au/contact-us/  

A Tasmanian carbon forestry initiative has marked a major milestone, with more than one million trees planted on almost 1,000 hectares of land across the state, estimated to sequester more than 300,000 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere. Source: Timberbiz The ActivAcre program, delivered by Tasmanian plantation and natural asset management company SFM, collaborates with farmers to identify opportunities for them to lease land for tree planting. SFM Managing Director Andrew Morgan said the local initiative allowed farmers to optimise their land and diversify their on-farm revenue, providing them with a reliable source of income. “But of course the benefits of ActivAcre flow well beyond the farmer – plantation forestry is recognised globally as a key tool to mitigate climate change, capturing carbon in soil and vegetation,” Mr Morgan said. “Further to this, Australia currently has a $4 billion trade deficit in wood products, yet we have a skilled workforce with world-class infrastructure and high-quality governance, so we have a real opportunity to turn the situation around.” Mr Morgan said across Australia, sourcing larger parcels of suitable land was becoming harder, making aggregation essential, where multiple smaller land holdings are classed together to make one asset. “With the successful completion of our first full year of planting and our 2025 program nearing capacity, we are now seeking expressions of interest from landowners for our 2026 planting” he said. “We held an open ‘field’ day on the Bloomfield property in Gretna for interested landowners and farmers to learn more, ask questions and see a plantation carbon project first-hand.” Bloomfield owners Susie and Michael Parsons signed up to the ActivAcre program earlier this year. Susie Parsons said the seven-generation farming family was already benefiting from the financial return of leasing their land and could see the future opportunities it presented, both for their own property and for the environment. “The additional value proposition of planting trees is the creation of shade and shelter belts, which can increase pasture production as well as improving water efficiency, soil quality and reducing salinity, waterlogging and erosion,” Mrs Parsons said. Mr Morgan said the future-focused land management program worked closely with farmers to create unique and flexible agreements to maximises their land’s potential and ensure an ongoing, reliable income every year from planting to harvesting. “ActivAcre is unique in that every aspect of the project, from initial enquiry to carbon project registration to final plantation harvesting, is managed by SFM’s local team of highly experienced foresters, land management professionals and carbon project experts, all of whom have a deep understanding of the Tasmanian agricultural landscape,” he said. Tasmanian farmers and landowners can find out more at www.activacre.com.au

The New Zealand Government is seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value, excluding National Parks. Source: Timberbiz “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood for domestic processing and over time, boost the value of exports,” Forestry Minister Todd McClay said. “It will also provide nature-based solutions which are a key part to our climate strategy.” Through the RFI, the Government wants to understand what would make this an attractive and viable opportunity for potential partners. This includes: Interest in partnering with the government to plant trees for commercial, carbon and biodiversity purposes. What conditions and contractual arrangements the government might consider. What barriers to planting might exist and how the Government could help overcome these. “We’re open to partnering with a range of groups both domestic and international, and we will ensure commitments are upheld where land is subject to Treaty of Waitangi settlement obligations. “These partnerships represent a cost-effective approach to reducing net emissions while also delivering tangible benefits to local communities,” Mr McClay said. The RFI closes at 5pm on 28 February 2025.

New and improved agricultural levies legislation has replaced the former framework, making the levy system more user friendly for participants and making it easier for them to understand obligations. Source: Timberbiz More than 50 pieces of legislation governing over 110 levies and charges across 75 commodities and 18 bodies that receive levies are being streamlined into five Acts and subordinate legislation. Deputy Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Policy Matt Lowe said the new legislation would make life simpler for those interacting with it from 1 January. “From the start of 2025, the new legislation will make obligations clearer for levy payers, collection agents and bodies that receive levies, and better support industries seeking to pursue new or change existing levies,” Mr Lowe said. “More flexible and consistent, it will benefit current and future levy system participants and help industry to get the most out of the levy system. “The streamlined legislation will allow primary industries to continue to invest collectively in research and development, marketing, biosecurity activities and responses, and residue testing. “Our agricultural levy system is a long-standing, successful partnership between industry and government to facilitate industry investment in strategic activities, and the new framework will make it stronger and more effective.” Research and Development Corporations will also enjoy increased funding certainty under the new legislation. The new framework will reduce administrative costs and complexities and provide a solid foundation for continual improvement. The changes follow a review that found existing legislation was no longer fit for purpose after growing in an ad hoc fashion over the past 30 years. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has consulted extensively on the pro-posed legislation with industry groups, levy payers, collection agents and bodies that receive levies. Key features of the levy system will remain the same, such as rates and the purpose for which levies can be used, but participants may experience some administrative changes, like updated due dates and new forms. Levies are collected from farmers, producers, processors and exporters, with any proposal for new, or changes to existing, levies requiring majority agreement among levy payers. In 2023-24, the Research and Development Corporations, Animal Health Australia, Plant Health Australia and the National Residue Survey received just over $600 million in levy payments. The Australian Government contributed an additional $470 million in matching funding for research and development activities.  

Labor’s latest announcement to appear as though it is supporting timber industry communities will be seen as a waste of money that will amount to little, according to Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull. Source: Timberbiz The announcement made in late December 2024 said that Victorian forestry towns and communities were being supported to create local jobs, to take advantage of new business opportunities and plan their own future thanks to backing from the Allan Labor Government. “The government media release says it ‘will boost the local economy of forestry towns’, but when you read on, it is to ‘upskill community members to help identify future economic opportunities’ and to ‘identify initiatives by local Innovation Working Groups through the Local Development Strategies’. Mr Bull said he had never heard so much ‘mumbo jumbo’ in all his life and given this was round two of funding, challenged the government to show how many replacement timber industry jobs round one had produced. “Instead of facilitating replacement industries itself, the government throws money at these airy-fairy programs, so it can say it is supporting these communities. “Fancy saying they are going to ‘upskill community members to identify future economic opportunities’. This is something the government should have done itself before it closed down the native timber industry. “In relation to ‘identifying initiatives by local Innovation Working Groups through the Local Development Strategies’ – I hope the Minister comes back in 12 months’ time to tell us how many firm ongoing jobs this fund created to replace the hundreds they took away. “And while this is going on, we still have timber industry businesses not receiving the support they were promised. “This includes firewood contractors who received their supply from VicForests and have now had to shut down their business, without compensation. “Another wants to retain staff to transition into a new area of their business but has been told they can’t access the funds to retrain employees, unless they first make them redundant. “Fixing these issues would be real support for the timber industry community,” he said.

The $53 million St Kilda Pier redevelopment has been labelled as “hypocrisy on the grandest scale” by the Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester. Source: Timberbiz “Melburnians don’t have to travel to the bush to see the consequences of the illogical decision to shut down the entire Victorian native hardwood timber industry,” Mr Chester said in a Facebook posting. “Just head down to the multi-million dollar redevelopment of the St Kilda Pier and check out the new timber decking which is a centrepiece of the project.” Mr Chester said that Parks Victoria proudly boasted on its website: “the timber decking being used throughout the project is emerging as a standout feature as the distinctive curved and tiered seating area nears completion”. “Sadly, the decking timber is Darwin Stringybark from Queensland,” Mr Chester said. “How can it be a better environmental outcome to transport timber 2000 kilometres for a Melbourne project rather than source the timber locally? “Terrified by the Greens in the suburbs, the Andrews-Allan Government has banned the harvesting of native timber on public land in Victoria at an enormous social, economic and environmental cost. We are now seeing more timber shipped to Victoria from interstate and overseas while Victorian taxpayers are providing compensation to people who would rather have just kept their jobs in a world-class and environmentally sustainable timber industry. The waste of public money is obscene.” Australia’s import of timber and timber products has increased from $4.12 billion to $6.87 billion over the decade to 2022­–23 and Victoria’s dependence on imported products is predicted to grow exponentially. “In the middle of a housing affordability and timber supply chain crisis, there’s two choices with timber products,” Mr Chester said. “You either grow and use your own in an environmentally sustainable way, or you buy it from somewhere else. “The ‘somewhere else’ is often a country with poorer environmental protocols and work practices which would be illegal in Australia.” He said that the Teals, Greens and some inner-city Labor MPs were now working to extend Victoria’s ban to cover all States by asking colleagues to sign a pledge in Federal Parliament. It was a pledge based in ignorance and conceit which might play well in their wealthy suburbs but will threaten lives, and livelihoods, in timber towns across the nation. “It’s a bit rich for some of the most privileged MPs who represent the electorates with the highest income households in Australia, calling for people to be sacked from their jobs in timber towns with the lowest incomes,” Mr Chester said. He said that the Australian Bureau of Statistics average income for Orbost, the town most directly impacted by the Victorian ban, was just $785 per week. “In the leafy suburb of Glen Iris, that data is $2491 per week, and the seat is held by the Teal’s first-term Member for Kooyong Monique Ryan, who is spearheading the campaign to ban the entire native hardwood industry in Australia. “Greens Leader Adam Bandt has Docklands in his seat where the average weekly income in $1957 and in Caulfield, held by Labor’s Josh Burns, the average is $2143.” Mr Chester said that all three MPs were openly hostile to the Australian native hardwood timber industry but had no plans on how to meet the national supply chain shortfall in timber products, or how to protect regional communities which will face bushfires without the support of skilled forest machinery operators in the future. “Forest contractors are irreplaceable in an emergency situation, but they will be forced to leave country towns as a result of the Victorian timber ban,” Mr Chester said. “And before you say ‘what about plantations’, there is simply not enough trees in the ground to meet Victoria’s needs from a plantations-only approach. “The obsession with creating plantation monocultures on productive farming land, rather than selectively harvesting timber from multi-species native forests, also guarantees poorer biodiversity outcomes for our native animals. “By law, harvested areas were required to be re-planted under the system which used to exist in Victoria, and we already had a highly developed system of reserves and national parks which could never be touched,” he said. “Trees are the ultimate renewable resource and a sustainable native hardwood timber industry is part of the answer to reducing Australia’s carbon emissions as timber products sequester carbon in our floorboards, furniture and other timber products. “The ideological madness of the Labor Party in Victoria driven by environmental extremists in its own ranks has made our state more dependent on the rest of the country and foreign nations, just to build the homes and community infrastructure we need. “But that’s ok, the St Kilda Pier will look terrific with Queensland timber,” Mr Chester said.