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Seeds from two trees that survived the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima at the end of World War Two are being grown at Keele University, in Newcastle UK, as part of an international project to promote peace and hope. Source: Timberbiz The seeds were collected from an oriental plane tree (Platanus orientalis) in the grounds of the Tenma Elementary School, which was destroyed by the bombing and a 200-year-old ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba) growing in Shukkeien Garden. Both trees were situated less than a mile from the bomb site on 6 August 1945 and miraculously survived the bombing. They will now be cared for by experts at the university until they become tall and sturdy enough to be planted in the ground. The seeds were sent to Keele through the Green Legacy Hiroshima initiative, which aims to distribute seeds and saplings from ‘survivor trees’ worldwide. “It is a great honour to have the opportunity to nurture seeds from trees that survived the Hiroshima bombing,” Dr Sarah Taylor, a lecturer in ecology at Keele, said. “Now that we have the seeds, we can begin quite a long painstaking process of propagation and nurturing. The seeds will be sown onto compost and kept in heated plant propagators until signs of germination appear. “The seedlings will need to be nurtured for several years before they are large enough to plant on the university campus, where we hope they will be a source of reflection and inspiration for a long time. “Although they are tiny right now, they are still very powerful symbols of peace and hope and have so much history connected to them. It’s going to be exciting to see the first green shoots rise from the earth.” Keele is the 19th UK partner of the Green Legacy Hiroshima initiative. The project was brought to the attention of the University’s arboretum committee by Franco Castro Escobar following his postgraduate research trip to Hiroshima in the summer of 2024. “Keele has a special connection with Japan through the collection of cherry trees that we have on our campus, and this project will build on that relationship,” Mr Escobar said.

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Stora Enso is initiating a strategic review of its Swedish forest assets. The review includes assessing a potential separation and public listing of the forest assets through a partial demerger. Source: Timberbiz The initiative aims to further increase business focus, streamline operations, and fully unlock the value of both the forest assets and Stora Enso’s core packaging business. As part of this review, Stora Enso will explore various options, including a potential separation and listing of the forest business through a partial demerger into a new company that would be wholly owned by all Stora Enso shareholders. This move aims to establish two robust and independent entities, each with heightened focus and strategic agility. Stora Enso would continue to lead in renewable packaging, with strong market positions and more flexible, integrated, and cost-competitive production. Meanwhile, the Swedish forest business would emerge as Europe’s largest listed pure forest company, owning a unique class of assets with anticipated long-term value appreciation and potential for significant new revenue streams. Following the recent agreement to divest approximately 175,000 hectares of Swedish forestland for an enterprise value of EUR 900 million, in line with book value, Stora Enso retains ownership of over 1.2 million hectares (1.0 million hectares of productive forestland) in Sweden, with a fair value of approximately EUR 5.8 billion as of 31 March 2025. While these assets are integral to Stora Enso’s wood supply chain, they possess a distinct operational, financial, and strategic profile. “Our Swedish forest assets exemplify excellence in sustainable forestry operations and environmental stewardship,” said Hans Sohlström, President and CEO of Stora Enso. “Initiating this strategic review underscores our commitment to maximising shareholder value while ensuring alignment with our long-term strategic objectives. By evaluating various strategic options, we aim to enhance business focus, reduce complexity, and unlock the full potential of both our forest and industrial assets.” Stora Enso plans to provide an update on the strategic review by the end of 2025. All changes are subject to co-determination negotiations and other potential legal procedures in all impacted countries.

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