Forest Products Industry

A new publication launched by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) warns that more needs to be done to protect, restore and sustainably manage the world’s forests in order to achieve global biodiversity goals. Source: Timberbiz Presented during Forest and Water Day at the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16), The Forest Factor: The role of protection, restoration, and sustainable management of forests for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework publication highlights the importance of the conservation of forest biodiversity and sustainable forest management in achieving the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). The CPF report, which has been led by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), also tackles global challenges such as climate change and sustainable development and presents solutions for reversing deforestation and degradation and enhancing the health of forest ecosystems. Practical policy recommendations and pathways are identified for stakeholders to help them align with KMGBF targets. “This report delivers a clear message: conservation, restoration and sustainable management and use is crucial for achieving the KMGBF targets,” said Zhimin Wu, Chairperson of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests and Director of the Forestry Division at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. “This is a pivotal moment to connect biodiversity, climate change, hunger, and poverty as we journey from the 2024 UN Biodiversity Conference to the 2025 UN Climate Conference.” Forests shelter up to 80% of the terrestrial biodiversity, including more species of birds, reptiles, and mammals than any other habitat. At the same time, the global rate of extinction of forest species is now 1,000 times higher than historical norms. The role of forests in climate regulation is also highlighted in the report, in addition to their significant economic value and the immense costs of biodiversity loss due to deforestation and degradation. You can download the publication here.

The world’s first wooden satellite, built by Japanese researchers, was launched into space on Tuesday, in an early test of using timber in lunar and Mars exploration. Source: Reuters LignoSat, developed by Kyoto University and homebuilder Sumitomo Forestry will be flown to the International Space Station on a SpaceX mission, and later released into orbit about 400 km (250 miles) above the Earth. Named after the Latin word for “wood”, the palm-sized LignoSat is tasked to demonstrate the cosmic potential of the renewable material as humans explore living in space. “With timber, a material we can produce by ourselves, we will be able to build houses, live and work in space forever,” said Takao Doi, an astronaut who has flown on the Space Shuttle and studies human space activities at Kyoto University. With a 50-year plan of planting trees and building timber houses on the moon and Mars, Doi’s team decided to develop a NASA-certified wooden satellite to prove wood is a space-grade material. “Early 1900s airplanes were made of wood,” said Kyoto University forest science professor Koji Murata. “A wooden satellite should be feasible, too.” Wood is more durable in space than on Earth because there’s no water or oxygen that would rot or inflame it, Murata added. A wooden satellite also minimises the environmental impact at the end of its life, the researchers say. Decommissioned satellites must re-enter the atmosphere to avoid becoming space debris. Conventional metal satellites create aluminium oxide particles during re-entry, but wooden ones would just burn up with less pollution, Doi said. “Metal satellites might be banned in the future,” Doi said. “If we can prove our first wooden satellite works, we want to pitch it to Elon Musk’s SpaceX.” The researchers found that honoki, a kind of magnolia tree native in Japan and traditionally used for sword sheaths, is most suited for spacecraft, after a 10-month experiment aboard the International Space Station. LignoSat is made of honoki, using a traditional Japanese crafts technique without screws or glue. Once deployed, LignoSat will stay in the orbit for six months, with the electronic components onboard measuring how wood endures the extreme environment of space, where temperatures fluctuate from -100 to 100 degrees Celsius every 45 minutes as it orbits from darkness to sunlight. LignoSat will also gauge wood’s ability to reduce the impact of space radiation on semiconductors, making it useful for applications such as data centre construction, said Kenji Kariya, a manager at Sumitomo Forestry Tsukuba Research Institute. “It may seem outdated, but wood is actually cutting-edge technology as civilisation heads to the moon and Mars,” he said. “Expansion to space could invigorate the timber industry.”

Forest operations, which include logging and other forestry activities (planting, thinning, fuels reduction, and wildland fire fighting), are a vital component of forest management. It is also one of the most dangerous places to work in the United States.  Source: CDC In 2022, there were 54 fatalities to logging workers. The work-related fatality rate for logging workers is 100.7 per 100,000 FTE, which is more than 27 times higher than the rate for all occupations at 3.7 per 100,000 FTE. There have been many improvements over time that have contributed to improved safety for logging workers. Improved safety regulations and enforcement in many states, combined with improvements in chainsaw technology and personal protective equipment, along with advancements in synthetic ropes and worker location technology have all helped in keeping logging workers safer. However, although progress has been made over time to reduce fatalities and injuries, the difficult conditions inherent to logging still present many dangers. One of the biggest contributors to safety has been the increased mechanization of forest operations. When workers are in the protective cabins of machinery, rather than exposed to chainsaws or timber and terrain hazards, the number of fatalities has declined. Other changes in operations have also reduced hazards. Until recently in the mountainous Western forests, the terrain made mechanized operations difficult. New technology uses machines working on steep slopes supported by a tether attached to a machine or anchor at the top of the slope (see photo). Computer assisted tension in the tether line allows sufficient traction and stability for machines to operate on slopes much steeper than was previously possible. While new technologies have been effective in reducing some risks, they can also present new hazards. New technologies have made it possible to conduct logging activities in a larger area of the forests, however, the areas that cannot be harvested using mechanization, often leave the most difficult and hazardous conditions for manual operations. Even though mechanization has changed the forest operation picture, reducing some hazards, many safety concerns remain. Prior to mechanization, common injuries included cuts from a chainsaw or being hit by stressed trees. Now, injuries from slips, trips, and falls are a more common occurrence. Slip, trip, and fall injuries often occur as operators are getting into and out of machines, working around the outside of machines, and performing maintenance activities. Training on preventing slips, trips and falls can help address these hazards. Additionally, workers may need additional training on operating and maintaining these large pieces of machinery safely.  

Matilda Veneer is a name synonymous with innovation and quality in the timber industry. As a leading manufacturer of decorative timber veneers, the company has built a strong reputation for sourcing beautiful woods and transforming them into distinctive products used in architectural projects worldwide. Source: Timberbiz On a recent visit to Matilda Veneer’s headquarters on the Gold Coast, Matt de Jongh, caught up with Anthony Wardrop, General Manager and Meg Berry, Architectural & Technical Representative, to explore the company’s commitment to responsible sourcing and how their Responsible Wood certification helps their business demonstrate their sustainability credentials. Matilda Veneer is a leading producer of native timber veneers and sources high quality veneer from around the world. who have more recently added a selection of specialty plywoods to their product range. The company works with designers, panel manufacturers, joiners and craftspeople across Australia, offering high-quality products that adorn iconic structures like the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Phillip Island Visitor Centre and the Australian Embassy in Washington DC. “Our ethos is simple,” Mr Wardrop said. “We source exceptionally high-quality wood fibre, producing veneers that are not only functional but also stunning. It’s this quality that sets our products apart. We pride ourselves on giving our customers access to something truly natural, unique and beautiful.” This approach has earned Matilda Veneer a place in award-winning architectural projects, “Sustainability is embedded in everything we do,” Mr Wardrop said. “From the way we source our timber to how we manufacture our products, we’re focused on ensuring that future generations will enjoy the same access to natural resources.” Mr de Jongh said he was really impressed with Matilda Veneer’s approach to sustainability. “They are very conscious of the perceived environmental impacts of the timber they use, and they actively seek ways to demonstrate their environmental responsibility and reduce their footprint.” When it comes to optimal use of a forest and wood product, timber veneer is one of the most efficient ways to use wood, with one cubic metre of log producing approximately 1,000 square metres of veneer. This efficiency, combined with the renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable nature of the material, makes timber veneer a highly sustainable choice. Matilda Veneer’s commitment to sustainability is underpinned by its chain of custody certification under the Responsible Wood Certification Scheme. This certification guarantees that the timber used in their products comes from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources, ensuring environmental, social, and economic benefits for all stakeholders involved. “Having the Responsible Wood certification means a great deal to us,” Mr Wardrop said. “It’s a validation of our efforts to source timber responsibly and manage our supply chain in a way that minimises harm to the environment.” At the heart of Matilda Veneer’s operations is their drive to innovate while maintaining the highest levels of quality. They work with Australian hardwood species that are quite difficult to process, but their commitment to excellence in veneer manufacturing means they can offer products that are both beautiful and functional, giving designers the option to select from an extensive range of timber species to compliment other project material selections, many of which tell a story of the client or location of that project. “Whether it’s for a commercial build or a residential project, architects and interior designers want something natural, unique and beautiful, and we deliver that,” Mr Wardrop said. “But it’s not just about aesthetics, our products meet rigorous quality standards. Our customers know they’re getting veneers that not only look great but are built to last.” For companies like Matilda Veneer, certification is essential, not only from reputational perspective but also from a business one. Certified products are increasingly specified as both consumers and industries alike look for ways to reduce their environmental impact. One of the key takeaways from Mr de Jongh’s visit was the importance of understanding the market’s needs. By working closely with suppliers, distributors, and Responsible Wood, Matilda Veneer ensures they maintain high standards across the board. “Matilda Veneer is a great example of how the whole forest products sector can work together to achieve shared goals around sustainability. By fostering strong relationships with all stakeholders, they ensure that their products meet the highest standards from forest to final product,” Mr de Jongh said. Responsible Wood plays an important role in ensuring that companies like Matilda Veneer can confidently offer certified products that are traceable to an original well managed forest. The certification provides a framework that promotes sustainable forestry practices, ensuring that wood products are sourced responsibly. “Without Responsible Wood, it would be much harder for businesses like ours to verify the sustainability claims of our supply chains,” Mr Wardrop said. “The certification gives us and our customers confidence in the products we bring to market.” For businesses exploring chain of custody certification, Matilda Veneers offers valuable insight. Certification can provide not only a right to play, but a competitive edge in today’s eco-conscious market, ensuring that products meet the increasing demand for sustainability.

Interpine’s TreeTools Near Realtime Drone Inventory tool has been developed for foresters to assess stocking in post thin stands. This is an early test version release for Windows operating systems, and the project is ongoing. Source: Timberbiz The purpose of the release is to give stakeholders an opportunity to test and provide feedback, while encouraging them to submit more data. The accuracy of the stocking assessment given depends on multiple factors, including effectiveness of canopy recognition and the precision of drone altitude maintenance. The goal is to keep the stocking error below 10% under normal conditions, and user corrections can easily be made to the stocking assessment. This project has been developed with funding assistance from the Precision Silviculture Program, A Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFFF) partnership between MPI and the forest industry led by Forest Growers Research. This freely available during the development funding to provide for industry feedback. Download the beta version here.  

The harvest of Kaikōura’s South Bay Forest Reserve will finally get under way after a four-month delay. Source: The Press/Te Matatika It was originally planned for July, but Kaikōura District Council staff decided to bring in an archaeologist after completing a site inspection with Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura. An archaeological authority has now been obtained from Heritage New Zealand. A cultural induction was to be completed on Tuesday along with site preparations, before the felling of trees begins on Monday, 11 November. ‘‘The important thing is the whole area is within a cultural landscape so there is the potential to find sites of interest,’’ council chief executive Will Doughty said. ‘‘So, we have taken measures to minimise the impact of ground disturbance. ‘‘It is not the first time the site has been planted and harvested, but it is good to make sure we have the necessary protocols in place.’’ A radiata pine forest was first planted at South Bay in 1978, with some areas replanted in 1993. A large part of the 12.6 hectares under forestry is a popular recreation area. Mr Doughty said the cycle trails would still be open over the Christmas period. The work is being carried out by Tasman Forest Management. The council approved a draft South Bay Forest Reserve management plan for consultation at last week’s council meeting. It is the second of five reserve management plans being developed by the council. An Esplanade Reserve management plan is out for consultation until 27 November, with hearings due in December. Mr Doughty said council staff were working on draft Top 10 Holiday Park and South Bay Domain reserve management plans, which were expected to be presented to the council on 27 November. The South Bay Forest Reserve, Top 10 Holiday Park and South Bay Domain Reserve management plans would be consulted on together. ‘‘We have provided multiple opportunities with early engagement and drop-in sessions before we developed the draft management plans, so hopefully we will get some good community input,’’ Doughty said. A Takahanga Domain reserve management plan was also in the pipeline.

Timber Queensland, representing the forest and timber industry has congratulated David Crisafulli and the incoming LNP Government on their election victory and recent announcement of the new Ministry. Source: Timberbiz “We have previously briefed LNP Shadow Ministers on the issues and opportunities in the State’s $4 billion forest and timber industry which contributes essential timber building materials for the housing and construction sector,” Timber Queensland CEO Mick Stephens said. “We particularly congratulate Tony Perrett as the Minister for Primary Industries with portfolio responsibility for forestry. As the member for Gympie, Tony has a sound grasp of the sector. “We also thank and acknowledge the contribution of former ALP member for Maryborough, Bruce Saunders, who championed the timber industry as a local member and as co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of the Queensland Forest and Timber Industry,” he said. As part of its ‘breaking down the barriers to building’ policy, the LNP committed to delivering a landmark Queensland Timber Action Plan to ensure the State has access to the timber required to build one million homes over the next 20 years. “We are therefore keen to work with the Government on boosting timber supply chains to better meet these building needs.”

The Victorian Government’s so-called transition of native forest harvesting to plantation hardwood timber has again been shown to be a disingenuous fabrication, according to East Gippsland Nationals’ MP, Tim Bull. Source: Timberbiz Mr Bull said Labor had spruiked in a media release it had planted one million seedlings in Gippsland, providing no detailed information regarding the species of seedlings used. “I then lodged questions which were recently responded to and confirmed all one million plantings were pine (softwood), not one was hardwood,” Mr Bull said. “The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has clearly stated building with wood is the biggest climate change mitigation measure we can take and goes on to say we should be using a balance of plantation and sustainably harvested native forest. “Not only has Labor removed native timber harvesting in contradiction to this, it is not looking to replace the resource,” he said. “It again begs the question Labor has never been able to answer – where is our hardwood supply going to come from both in the short term and long term? “The height of hypocrisy is, that this government ended the native hardwood industry, yet is ironically putting out media releases spruiking that it is building Victorian infrastructure with hardwood sourced from the Top End of Australia. “The Allan Labor Government has committed to building a series of new piers around Port Phillip, using Darwin Stringybark. “Labor never planned a transition to hardwood plantation, it was simply more weasel words from the government and yet another case of their dishonesty coming back to haunt them,” said Mr Bull.

Young women in regional NSW are exploring future careers in forest firefighting at fire camps across the state. The ‘Fire Up Girls’ Fire and Resilience Program is run by not-for-profit organisation Girls On Fire delivering fire and disaster management training to women aged 15 to 19 years. Source: Timberbiz Fire camps have been staged in Tenterfield, Casino, Lismore and Moree with camps to follow in Dubbo, Eden, Cobargo, Jindabyne and Tumut. Forestry Corporation is proud to partner with Girls on Fire in building self-confidence and resilience in young women through fire training. Founded by Fire and Rescue NSW Fire Captain Bronnie Mackintosh, Girls on Fire aims to increase diversity and build resilience within emergency services. “By giving young women these real-world skills today, we are preparing them to be tomorrow’s emergency services personnel and community leaders,” Ms Mackintosh said. “With a new bushfire season ahead, it’s never been more important for us to be ready, and it’s vital we equip the next generation to lead their communities. “These camps help young women discover just how capable they are. By challenging themselves with fire and emergency scenarios, they walk away with the confidence to tackle anything.” Statistics show women make up 5% to 7% of Australia’s firefighting workforce. Forestry Corporation’s Amba Addinsall said the organisation, as one of the state’s four firefighting agencies, is proud of its gender diversity on the fire lines. “This summer Forestry Corporation will have 519 firefighters rostered on to respond to the state’s forest fires and proudly around 20% of our firefighting workforce are women,” Ms Addinsall said. Forestry Corporation’s Tamara Reinhard and Renee Lawlor said the day camps at Caino and Lismore were hugely successful. “Volunteering for the day camps was an incredibly rewarding experience. It was so inspiring to see the girls grow in confidence throughout the day, form social connections and experience the camaraderie of working together in simulated emergency situations,” Ms Reinhard said. “Feedback from the girls was that the activities were fun, informative and exhilarating. They enjoyed using the live reel on the Cat 9 and the hands-on approach to the day.  If you get the chance to participate in these day camps, as a volunteer or a student, we highly recommend you sign up – it’s a great day out.” Forestry Corporation’s Kristen Coady said preparations are underway for the Dubbo fire camp on 7 November. “This will be the second time we’ve participated in the Dubbo camp. It’s a great initiative, and we’re looking forward to sharing our firefighting experience with a new group of young women. We want to send them home with some valuable skills and hopefully some enthusiasm for forest protection,” Ms Coady said. The Fire-Up Girls Fire and Resilience Program is free to participants and has received funding through a NSW Government Investing in Women grant. All young women are welcome to attend, with special encouragement for young women and teens from First Nations and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Camps will be held in Dubbo on 7 November, Eden on 18 November, Cobargo on 19 November, Jindabyne on 21 November and Tumut on 27 November. For more information go to www.girlsonfire.com.au

The Victorian Forest Products Association (VFPA) has warned the outlook for the fire season in Victoria, particularly in western Victoria, is looking particularly dire, with record low rainfall and low soil moisture readings creating ideal conditions for bushfires. Source: Timberbiz “All the Bureau of Meteorology’s predictors in the western part of Victoria are showing a drier than usual lead up to the fire season, with soil moisture low, and a high fuel load ringing alarm bells for the next few months,” said Andrew White, CEO of the VFPA. “Record low rainfall in the western part of Victoria combined with dry conditions in winter, means we have a ‘green drought’ in some areas, where the risk to our plantations and Victoria’s vital timber assets used to build new homes and create export income for local communities is extremely high. “Our terrestrial AI-powered fire cameras in the western part of the state help with early detection, but there is still ‘blind spots’ where we don’t have funding to put cameras in place. “Our members are particularly worried about the potential impact on these vital community assets, as plantations are vital supply lines for timber going into Victorian homes and exported plantation products create employment for local staff and contractors. “The forestry industry has funded its own specialist brigades which have already been actively working with DEECA and the CFA to conduct prescribed burns and preparative activities that will help protect the local community, as well as these vital community assets.” VFPA is the peak industry body representing the forest products value chain in Victoria, from those producing our sustainable wood to those processing wood fibre into an extensive range of value-added products used by Victorians every day.  Victoria is the home of plantation forestry, with more timber plantations than any other state. “Last season, the AI-powered fire cameras operated by the Green Triangle Fire Alliance detected 40 unplanned fires- 21 on private land, 11 on public, and 8 in plantations.” “The cameras were the first point of detection in various scenarios, detecting fire in some cases up to six minutes before another source,” Mr White said.