Forest Products Industry

Construction of OneFortyOne’s $88 million Co-Generation Boiler project facility has reached another significant milestone, with the project’s boiler now in place at the Jubilee Sawmill. Source: Timberbiz With crews on site before sunrise on 16 September, months of planning culminated in the successful lift of the project’s 162-tonne boiler. The operation used a 480-tonne crawler crane and a 450-tonne mobile hydraulic crane, taking just 75 minutes from lift to final placement, with the boiler now the heart of the new facility. Project manager Mick Geraghty said the successful lift followed months of detailed preparation. “Planning started back in June 2025, with multiple site visits, engineering reviews and detailed lift plans developed alongside the crane contractors to make sure every aspect of the operation was meticulously assessed,” Mr Geraghty said. “On the day, everything went exactly as planned. The lift was completed safely, seamlessly, and ahead of schedule, which is a terrific outcome for everyone involved.” The boiler is a key component of the renewable energy system that will enable OneFortyOne to generate electricity using wood fibre residues from its own operations to power the entire sawmill. “This was one of the most visible and technically challenging stages of the project to date,” Mr Geraghty said. “Having the boiler in place opens up a number of new work fronts across the project. We can now progress with plant and equipment installation, earthworks and civil construction in the emissions area. “It’s a real credit to the project team, contractors, and everyone who has contributed to getting us to this point. To see something that has been years in the planning now standing on site is very rewarding.” Alongside the new office facilities taking shape nearby, the changing sawmill skyline reflects OneFortyOne’s investment in a more sustainable future for manufacturing in the Green Triangle. Once operational, the co-generation facility will convert wood fibre residues into renewable energy, moving Jubilee Sawmill off the grid and towards eliminating Scope 2 emissions across OneFortyOne’s Australian operations.

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New Zealand’s supply of sustainable wood fuel is ramping up with work underway to capture previously unused forestry material and investigate new wood energy manufacturing plants. Source: Timberbiz “When businesses are looking at energy options, woody biomass could provide an economic alternative to help keep manufacturer’s processes running and jobs in regions across New Zealand,” said Richard Briggs, EECA Group Manager, Delivery & Partnerships “We know from regional analysis by EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) that there’s a significant, untapped supply of wood fibre from the forest that could be fuelling our industries.” Woody biomass provides lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions than fossil fuels when sustainably sourced and managed. “New Zealand has eight million tonnes of wood out of commercial forests per year that could sustainably be used as fuel,” said Mr Briggs. “While the opportunity is there, the upfront costs of establishing collection points has been a barrier. “This is the next step in helping open up opportunities for New Zealand to make better use of our resources and power industry.” EECA is investing in five new wood energy aggregation facilities to secure low-grade wood from commercial forestry alongside the private sector. Spread between Southland and Waikato. The sites will provide a central repository for nearby forestry operations to collect, store, and prepare wood that would otherwise go unused or left in the forest. “We know there’s plenty of wood available, it’s just not being collected or stored in a considered way,” said Mr Briggs. “By capturing this material there’s an opportunity for nearby businesses, and even mature bio-mass operations, to ramp up their use of it as a fuel. Plus, it’s a win for the forestry industry and adds a potential additional revenue source.” Once operational, the sites will have a combined capacity to process 200,000 tonnes per year of wood chip fuel – enough to supply around two petajoules (PJ) of energy annually or meet the annual fuel demand of around 10–20 industrial businesses like dairy and meat processors, food manufacturers, or laundries. In total EECA is contributing NZ$3.7M in funding, helping to unlock an estimated NZ$11.6 million in private investment across the five projects. Following a request for proposal, an additional four projects looking to establish wood energy manufacturing facilities have received repayable grants to develop their investment case for getting up and running. “Developing robust investment cases has been a critical barrier to building New Zealand’s wood energy supply. By supporting businesses to make this detailed step, we’re helping un-lock low carbon, future fuels and build out a much-needed supply chain,” said Mr Briggs. Wood energy manufacturing plants being explored around the country could significantly expand New Zealand’s energy supply, giving businesses using coal and gas greater choice in how they power their operations. If brought to market, the four projects could produce over half a million tonnes of wood fuel annually, spread across torrefied biomass and white wood pellets. That’s the energy equivalent of around 10PJs, or close to a quarter of industrial gas demand. “With gas prices rising, and challenges in securing long-term supply, more wood energy coming to market will offer businesses more choice and therefore improve energy security. Importantly, it will give certainty to large energy users that there’s fuel available if they convert their gas or coal fired systems to biomass.” If found to be feasible the four proposed projects collectively represent NZ$450 million in potential private capital investment in new biomass supply. The initiatives are part of the Government’s Wood Energy Strategy and Action Plan announced late last year which aims to accelerate wood energy as a reliable, affordable and sustainable energy resource for domestic and export markets. “We know demand already exceeds supply and is set to grow, so building the supply chain will deliver for Kiwi businesses and potentially export markets too,” said Mr Briggs.

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The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed the release of BuildSkills Australia’s new report examining the workforce and skills implications of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), saying the findings confirm that innovation in home building can be supported through evolution of existing skills and training pathways rather than wholesale workforce disruption. Source: Timberbiz MMC encompasses a range of innovative approaches to designing, manufacturing and delivering buildings, including prefabrication, modular construction, advanced manufacturing techniques and other offsite production methods. While these approaches represent a shift in how homes are built, the report highlights that the industry’s existing workforce and training systems are well placed to accommodate growing adoption of these methods. “HIA has long argued that MMC is not about replacing workers, but about changing where and how work is undertaken across the building and construction supply chain,” said HIA Executive Director Future Workforce, Mike Hermon. “The report makes it clear that as the industry adopts new construction methods, the need for skilled workers does not disappear. Instead, tasks may shift between construction sites, manufacturing facilities, design functions and supply chain operations.” The report finds that existing vocational and professional training frameworks can largely support MMC adoption through targeted upskilling, skills deepening and adaptation of current qualifications, rather than the creation of entirely new occupational pathways. “This is an important finding because it recognises Australia’s building workforce al-ready possesses many of the foundational skills required to support MMC,” Mr Hermon said. “The challenge is less about creating a whole new workforce and more about ensuring workers, supervisors, designers and manufacturers can build on their existing skills and apply them in new ways.” HIA welcomed the report’s four priority reform areas, which focus on practical workforce development measures that can be implemented alongside industry adoption. These priorities include: Upskilling professional and paraprofessional occupations involved in design, engineering, project management and construction delivery. Supporting structured learning and training arrangements for proprietary MMC systems and products. Improving labour market signalling to help industry and training providers re-spond to emerging demand, rather than creating entirely new training pathways prema-turely. Monitoring MMC adoption rates and workforce impacts before considering broader reforms to qualifications and training structures.   “The report adopts a sensible and evidence-based approach,” Mr Hermon said. “It recognises that MMC adoption remains at varying stages across different construction sectors and regions. Future workforce reforms should be informed by actual uptake and demonstrated skills needs rather than assumptions about how quickly these methods may be adopted.” HIA said the report also reinforces the importance of maintaining flexible training arrangements allowing industry to respond to innovation without creating unnecessary complexity within the vocational education and training system. “As Australia seeks to lift productivity and increase housing supply, MMC will play an important role alongside traditional construction methods,” Mr Hermon said. “The key message from this report is that innovation and workforce development can progress together. The industry’s workforce remains central to delivering the homes Australia needs, regardless of whether construction occurs entirely onsite, offsite, or through a combination of both.”

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One Nation has pledged to end former Premier Daniel Andrews’s ban on native logging if it wins the November state election. Source: The Weekly Times In a timber policy set to be announced this week, the party will also pledge to invest more money in forest management and national parks, force the state government to preference locally sourced wood for procurement, and label timber products with their country of origin. It comes after Mr Andrews banned native logging in 2024, six years earlier than originally planned. The decision was slammed at the time by unions and industry leaders, with an Auditor-General’s report finding more than 1000 jobs and 200 local businesses were impacted, despite a $200 million industry support package designed to cushion the impacts of the ban. But the same report found 87% of affected workers successfully transitioned into new employment. One Nation’s Victorian leader Warren Pickering said native forestry will return under a new model with strong environmental safeguards, like in Tasmania. “We’ll provide the access that’s needed, implementing detailed forest practice plans based on sustainable selective harvesting models successfully used interstate and overseas, with detailed monitoring and oversight,” he said. “Environmentally sensitive old-growth forest and native habitats will be strictly protect-ed, and the model will be self-sustaining by funding management operations through harvest revenue.” Mr Pickering added that the ban had failed because Victorians were just importing unethically sourced timber from other economies instead. “Australia now has a $2 billion trade deficit in wood products … our homegrown industry is struggling against cheap imports from countries with lower environmental stewardship standards.” Labor slammed the policy on Tuesday afternoon, with Agriculture Minister Michaela Settle telling the Herald Sun there are valid reasons behind Victoria’s native logging ban. “One Nation needs to explain how the litigation, timber shortages and bushfire risks that forced the transition have suddenly vanished – because they haven’t,” she said. “Labor is backing forestry workers into new jobs, growing local plantation timber and keeping forestry skills and experience in our forests to reduce bushfire risk and support better forest management.” But the policies were welcomed by industry leaders on Tuesday. Victorian Forestry Products Association CEO Andrew White said the state’s timber mills were struggling to stay afloat amid a “flood of cheap imports”. Mr White said country of origin labelling and a commitment to “local wood first” was long overdue. “We also desperately need a new government-backed Timber Strategy that sets out a vision and action plan for the entire industry for the next 10 years and beyond. “We are keen to work with One Nation on a new strategy for the industry.”

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Precinct Australia’s housing construction market is changing with the shift toward engineered wood products creating new opportunities to deliver more value locally, in our regional communities. The strongest housing growth is no longer concentrated in detached homes. In 2025, townhouse approvals increased by 20.5%, while approvals for four-to-eight-storey buildings increased by 70.5%. By comparison, house approvals increased by just 1.9%. These figures point to a construction market that is becoming more reliant on multi-residential, mid-rise and higher-density formats. That matters because these buildings require construction systems that can deliver greater consistency, precision and productivity. They create an opportunity for products that can be engineered, standardised and manufactured off site before being assembled efficiently on site. Engineered wood products are increasingly part of that opportunity. But the market data shows that Australia is currently meeting much of its growing EWP demand through imports. The latest analysis by IndustryEdge shows, in 2025–26, Australia imported $1.941 billion of major wood products, an increase of 10.8%, or $189 million, on the previous year. Engineered wood products accounted for $676.9 million of that total, up 6.2%. This occurred despite a relatively modest increase in housing approvals and otherwise unremarkable demand conditions. In other words, the increase cannot be explained simply by a construction boom. It points to a deeper shift in the products being specified, purchased and used in Australian construction. The clearest example is the growing consumption of Laminated Veneer Lumber – LVL. Formally reported imports reached 254,065 cubic metres in 2025–26, growing from 167,229 cubic metres in 2024–25 compared with 95,919 cubic metres in 2022–23 – a three-year increase of more than 160%. It’s estimated total LVL imports will exceed 300,000 cubic metres annually in the near term. The value of those imports reached $159.9 million in 2025–26. Yet the average import price fell to $629 per cubic metre, down from $821 the previous year and $1,294 in 2022–23. That combination: rapidly increasing volumes and falling prices, is significant. It suggests that overseas manufacturers are not simply supplying a temporary shortfall, they are establishing a stronger position in the Australian market. LVL is not the only engineered or manufactured wood product experiencing this pressure. Plywood imports increased to 656,014 cubic metres in 2025–26, up from 525,599 cubic metres the previous year. MDF imports reached 183,547 cubic metres, compared with 122,921 cubic metres in 2024–25. In both cases, import volumes rose sharply while average import prices fell. Taken together, the figures show an important change in Australia’s timber market. The rise of engineered wood products is not a distant prospect: they are already being consumed at significant and growing volumes. The market is rapidly forming now, but the majority of the manufacturing capacity supplying the demand is being delivered offshore. That is the central issue Australia needs to confront. At a time when housing delivery is under pressure from system and labour shortages, construction costs, productivity constraints and limited capacity, more must be done with less. Engineered timber, pre-fabrication, standardised components, advanced manufacturing and latest technologies all have a role to play in making construction more predictable, cost effective and efficient. The growth in prefabricated building imports provides further evidence of this transition. Imports of prefabricated building products increased by 52.6% in 2025. Prefabricated buildings and modular building products were worth $333 million in imports during the year, while imports in the first four months of 2026 had already reached al-most $226 million. If that pace were maintained, it would equate to an annual value of around $678 million. Not all these products are made from timber, but the trend is clear – Australia is increasingly importing complete or partially completed dwellings. The significance of this shift extends beyond the import bill. Every engineered timber product manufactured overseas represents value that has been created outside Australia. The engineering, capital investment, manufacturing expertise, production jobs and associated supply-chain activity are captured in another country before the product arrives on Australian-shores. Australia already possesses one of the foundations required to participate in this market more effectively – the raw material, and it comes at scale. The country has a substantial plantation estate, an established industry and decades of expertise in growing, harvesting, transporting and processing timber. The Green Triangle, spanning south-west Victoria and south-east South Australia, is one of the strongest examples of this capability. The region has world recognised plantations, the forestry businesses and expertise, the transport infrastructure, the ports and the international supply chains. It does not need to create a resource base from scratch. It has the opportunity to connect that existing capacity and existing wood processing facilities, to the next stage of market development for manufacturing underpinned by engineered wood products. This is the opportunity behind The Precinct. It is not simply a proposal to manufacture another timber product. The central proposition is to establish a more complete region-al value chain, one that connects plantation-grown fibre with engineered wood products, building component manufacturing and, ultimately, the construction systems increasingly demanded by the Australian market. This approach does not replace Australia’s export role. Exports will remain an important part of the forest industry’s contribution. The Green Triangle will continue to participate in international commodity markets. The opportunity is to complement those exports by developing higher-value, domestic manufacturing capability delivering solutions for Australia’s dwellings. That distinction and the diversified value chain matters for regional economies. Manufacturing engineered wood products locally helps retain more value within the domestic economy, creates more skilled jobs and supports businesses in engineering, technology, maintenance, transport, logistics and construction – additional service industries. New, higher-value markets for plantation-grown fibre, providing Australian builders and developers greater access to genuinely sustainable and locally manufactured products is driving decision making for The Precinct. Importantly, this is positioning the Green Triangle to respond to a market that is already changing. The growth in townhouse and mid-rise dwelling demand shows Australia’s housing mix is moving beyond the detached house. The rapid increase in LVL imports shows that engineered wood products are becoming a more important […]

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A recent commentator suggested the current China market was like a stagnant pond lacking life and vibrancy.  The commentator may have a short memory, given two years ago the pond was more like the scene of a raging unpredictable storm resulting in severe waves of highs and lows.  I much prefer stagnant! Export log prices are just off the preferred pace making NZ forests greater than 100km to a port more challenging to yield good returns.   But prices are stable.  This remains an important feature of consistency and continuity which in turns creates efficiency and reduces costs. As reported last month, China continues to print good manufacturing numbers.  The PMI has continued to lift, as at early September sitting at 50.4, similar to June but up on July and August.  Despite the illustrious DT’s best tariffs impositions, China exports are up.  This is also despite massive storms and high temperatures internally. A weaker RMB against the Green Back is also helping exporters. Some eye watering numbers out of China include industrial profits up close to 18% year on year with RMB4.58 trillion in earnings for the first 7 months this year to date.  How is that working for you now Donald? A recent visit to Queensland found box stores and building sites full of China made high-quality LVL framing lumber, blowing Australia Sawmill owners out of the water with lumber prices well below what they can produce for.  Recent protestations to the Australia Government by the sawmill fraternity have apparently fallen on deaf ears.  One worries NZ’s turn could be just around the corner. September settlements in China have been around the US$130 per m3 mark, largely unchanged despite a couple of exporters pushing as high as US$134.  A lack of customer interest in those numbers quickly brought them to heel.  Domestic prices in China have been increasing but the trading margin remains at a US$4 -5/m3 gap which is very close to about right. Month to date usage numbers have been hovering around 55,000 to 60,000 m3 per day, again largely unchanged from August.  Inventory is sitting at 2.4million m3, down 90,000 m3 from July.  This is a low number compared to two years ago, but the market appears to remain comfortable at these levels. With the annual Golden 2-week holiday in China coming up 1st to 7th October, inventory is expected to build but not alarmingly so.  By the way, just in case the observant reader wanted to argue about seven days being two weeks, the reason is many factory workers take a few extra days off to enjoy the many festive autumn events throughout the nation. India remains in the BAU department, albeit manufacturing and trading conditions are heading toward the negative.  Selling prices are stable in Kandla and demand is just ok.  The biggest challenge right now for this market is shipping.  Unlike the two-way fixtures which dominate our China Trade, vessels for India have to ballast to NZ with a one-way cart only available.  Hire rates are much higher as a consequence, currently running US$25/m3 above China comparatives. The number of ships prepared to open for NZ/India cargo is limited.  Getting them to turn up on time in NZ is another challenge as they typically have to divert to take on bunker on their way to NZ. The current selling price in India is US$26 – 27/m3 above China meaning a better bottom-line NZ if you can find a vessel at the right money and right timing.  With the FTA just now around the corner and trade levels likely to increase, shipping should be less of an issue going forward. Canterbury Sawmills are continuing to experience strong sales levels and a nearly full forward order book.  The loss of the Nelson and Northland CHH sawmills is certainly helping the local demand profile.  Lumber prices remain stubbornly unmoving, but some are suggesting that desperately needs to change as the extra costs of doing anything continue to challenge the whole supply chain. And just in case there are readers out there who blame timber prices for the extra cost of building a house, I pointed out to one of our very important sawmill customers recently, log prices have not moved since 2018!  Perhaps this also needs to change. As always, please remember the thoroughly important message: ‘It remains fundamentally important, the only way forward for climate, country and the planet, is to get out there and plant more trees!” Allan Laurie, Managing Director, Laurie Forestry

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As autumn officially arrives, Forestry England is asking people across England to become “autumn spotters” and help track how the season unfolds across the nation’s forests. Source: Timberbiz The new autumn leaf watch citizen science project invites people to record the changing colours they see using Forestry England’s new autumn colour tracker. By collecting observations over the coming weeks and in future years, Forestry England hopes to build a valuable long-term picture of when and how autumn colour develops across different regions, habitats and tree species. People taking part can record the overall colour they’re seeing or get more involved by looking out for five easily recognisable tree species: beech, horse chestnut, oak, rowan and silver birch. The project will allow people to follow the progress of autumn across England, while contributing observations that could help Forestry England better under-stand how the timing and development of autumn colour varies from year to year. Early observations submitted to Forestry England’s autumn colour tracker suggest autumn is still in its early stages across the nation’s forests, with the vast majority of reports showing woodland canopies remain green. However, early submissions to the tracker are already recording the first signs of seasonal change, with yellow and orange leaves being recorded at sites including Forestry England’s Wyre Forest and Haughmond Hill in West England, and Delamere Forest in Central England. Silver birch and beech are among the species showing some of the earliest colour change, while oak remains predominantly green across much of the country. With autumn now officially beginning, visitors to the nation’s forests may already be starting to see the first signs of seasonal change. The timing of autumn colour varies depending on factors including daylight, temperature, rainfall, soil moisture and the health of individual trees. This year’s unusually hot and dry summer has already caused some trees to shed their leaves earlier than usual. While it is too early to predict exactly what autumn will look like, conditions in the coming weeks will influence how the season develops. “Autumn is one of the most spectacular changes we see in our forests, but it is also a fasci-nating time to observe how trees respond to the conditions around them,” Chris Sorenson, Forest Management Advisor at Forestry England, said. “By asking people to record what they see, we’re hoping to build a much better picture of how autumn colour develops across England, both this year and in the years to come. “The more observations we collect over time, the more we can learn about the timing and progression of autumn across different parts of the country and different tree species. “This year’s hot and dry summer makes it particularly interesting to see how the season unfolds. Some trees have already shed leaves early, but there’s still plenty of autumn to come, and we want people to get outside, look closely at the trees around them and help us track it.” Autumn colour develops as trees prepare for winter. As daylight hours shorten and temperatures change, trees gradually stop producing chlorophyll, revealing yellow and orange pigments already present in their leaves. Some species also produce red pigments during autumn. The timing and intensity of the change can vary considerably between species and locations, making observations from across the country particularly valuable.

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Södra’s Research Foundation is inviting applications for research projects that can contribute new knowledge on diverse forestry. The focus is on how different forest management practices affect forest development, biodiversity and other values, and how forest management can be adapted to a changing climate. Source: Timberbiz Diverse forestry creates forests with a variety of structures, characteristics and values, which is important for family forestry and forest industry operations in southern Sweden. Increased variation can contribute to biodiversity, recreational and aesthetic values, and strengthen forests’ resilience to a changing climate. At the same time, it can contribute to a stable and diversified raw material base for the forest industry of the future. “We need more knowledge about how different ways of managing forests affect both forest development and the values forests create. With this call, we want to contribute to research that provides a better basis for the continued development of diverse forestry,” said Henric Brage, Head of Innovation at Södra. The call highlights research on biodiversity, nature conservation, aesthetic and recreational values, and climate adaptation, among other areas. Methods for measuring and monitoring biodiversity and other effects of diverse forestry are of particular interest. In the coming year, Södra’s Research Foundation will also open a call for proposals on the theme The value-creating forest industry of the future.

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Forest and landscape restoration is a cost-effective response to food security, biodiversity, climate, and other development challenges, according to a new report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which warns that scaling up action will require greater investment, inclusive governance and sustained political commitment. Source: Timberbiz The flagship State of the World’s Forests (SOFO) 2026 report was published as part of FAO’s 28th Session of the Committee on Forestry (COFO 28) and its 10th World Forest Week. The 2026 edition examines how forest and landscape restoration can be expanded to deliver lasting benefits for people and the environment. Drawing on evidence and experiences from around the world, it identifies four pathways for accelerating progress: empowering people and strengthening rights; implementing restoration at the landscape scale; mobilizing finance and business models that support restoration; and creating coherent policies, institutions and laws. “The State of the World’s Forests 2026 makes clear that forest and landscape restoration is more than an environmental priority – it is a strategic investment in resilient agrifood systems and rural development,” FAO Director-General QU Dongyu wrote in the report’s Foreword. “The window for action is narrowing and delayed, or poorly designed restoration will increase long-term costs, exacerbate inequalities and risk locking landscapes into unsustainable trajectories,” he added. Forests cover 4.14 billion hectares (about 32% of the Earth’s land surface), store 714 gigatonnes of carbon and host up to 80% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity. They also underpin resilient agrifood systems, with nearly one-third of the global population depending on forests and trees for food security and livelihoods. However, an estimated 489 million hectares of forest were lost between 1990 and 2025 through deforestation, while more than 460 million hectares are degraded worldwide. In total, 1.56 billion hectares of land are degraded, driven by population growth, land-use change and rising demand for natural resources. At the same time, threats are intensifying. Every year, around 127 million hectares of forest are affected by fires, with further damage caused by insects, diseases and severe weather events. As demand for forest products rises and competing land uses increases pressure on natural resources, SOFO argues for the need to restore degraded forest and landscapes at scale, emphasizing that inaction carries a far greater economic burden than restoration. Worldwide, the annual impact of failing to restore degraded ecosystems is estimated at US$878 billion to $6.3 trillion, equivalent to 2% to 8.3% of annual GDP, depending on the scope of valuation. Restoring more than 1 billion hectares of degraded land, on the other hand, could generate $1.8 trillion per year in benefits, including enhanced biodiversity, improved water regulation and healthier soils. The report notes that investing US$2.6 trillion over 15 years in land degradation and drought mitigation could yield an eight-to-one social return. Under favourable conditions, restoration can generate returns of up to US$30 for every US$1 invested. Restoration also creates jobs, revitalizes production systems and supports resilient growth. Benefits extend beyond income to improved well-being, stronger social cohesion and the preservation of cultural identity and knowledge systems. Scaling up solutions Progress is underway, with large-scale restoration increasingly recognized as crucial for achieving global targets on land degradation neutrality, climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity conservation and ending hunger. According to the report, governments across 91 countries and areas have pledged more than 190 million hectares for forest restoration. Examples of notable restoration projects among the 18 case studies analysed in the report include the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative, the Three North Programme of China, and the Trinational Atlantic Forest Pact across Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. However, progress remains insufficient, with only 206.5 million hectares of forests currently under restoration. The report points to four mutually reinforcing pathways to scale up high-quality restoration: People must be at the centre, ensuring that their rights, knowledge and priorities shape restoration outcomes; Restoration must be planned and implemented at the landscape scale, balancing conservation, production and livelihoods through context-specific approaches; Financing must be aligned with the realities of restoration; public and private resources need to be mobilized to support long-term, high-quality outcomes; Coherent policy, law and institutional frameworks are crucial for enabling restoration at scale and ensuring its sustainability over time. “The remaining years to 2030 must be defined by high-quality implementation – scaling up forest and landscape restoration that is people-centred, science-based and supported by coherent policies. I am confident that through collective action and shared commitment we can restore degraded lands at scale and build a better future for all,” the FAO Director-General wrote. You can download the report at https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/3758005c-1267-40be-a267-75d442633f62

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Darryl Heron’s journey into science started at the movies. As a teenager growing up in South Africa, he was captivated by the 1995 film Outbreak, which tells the tale of scientists racing to contain a deadly virus. Source: Timberbiz Picturing a future studying viruses such as HIV and Ebola, he started a microbiology degree at the University of Pretoria. But partway through his studies he discovered the hidden world of fungi that cause plant diseases, and his focus shifted. Now, as New Zealand’s Bioeconomy Science Institute’s team lead for pathogen diagnostics and collections, he spends his days looking at what’s going wrong inside plants and trees and how to stop small problems becoming big ones. His work sits at the frontline of forest and plant health, helping land managers and biosecurity teams respond quickly when something doesn’t look right. Mr Heron is particularly interested in diseases affecting trees such as pine and eucalyptus that can undermine entire industries and landscapes. “Plants get sick too,” he says. “When they do, the consequences can ripple through ecosystems, industries and communities. Protecting plant health is essential for food, fibre and the environment.” Based in the Bioeconomy Science Institute’s Rotorua campus, Mr Heron also researches issues linked to fungal pathogens and insects such as bark and ambrosia beetles, which can act as carriers for disease. Sometimes that means examining dying plants or fungal cultures under a microscope, while on other days it involves analysing DNA to identify what organisms are present or translating complex science into clear advice for people on the ground. “I enjoy talking to growers, landowners, managers and colleagues about their issues with plant diseases, and then working with my team in the Forest Health Reference Laboratory to identify or rule out pathogenic causes,” he said. Mr Heron completed his BSc with honours and went on to do a master’s and PhD in microbiology, also at the University of Pretoria. His postgraduate research focused on Fusarium – a group of fungi responsible for serious plant diseases worldwide – and the plant pathogenic species that affect forestry crops. This PhD, he said, is a career highlight. “My PhD journey began more than a decade ago, and I managed to complete it despite doing almost everything they advise against – studying part-time, moving to another country away from my advisors and taking on a job outside university. Mr Heron started with Scion, which has now merged into the Bioeconomy Science Institute – six years ago, working remotely from South Africa for his first year. He is now exploring the prospect of growing and consolidating the plant diagnostic services the Bioeconomy Science Organisation provides to the primary sector and those managing the native estate. “Some sectors have lost access to specialist diagnostic expertise, and there is significant potential within our organisation to bring together the right people, partners and infrastructure to build and maintain critical diagnostic capability for New Zealand.” he said. He’s also involved in projects using molecular tools to better understand microbial communities associated with nurseries, forests, orchards and the fungi carrying beetles found within these systems. “Upskilling in this area has been challenging, but it has also been rewarding and is an important step toward strengthening our diagnostic and research capacity. Every new method we learn strengthens our ability to respond to future threats,” Mr Heron said.

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  A new benchmark in hybrid civic and sporting infrastructure, the revitalised Australian Grand Prix Precinct will redefine how elite events and community needs can co-exist. Source: Timberbiz, photos Woods Bagot Woods Bagot has been appointed to lead the architectural vision for the redevelopment of the Albert Park Pit Building (APPB), with ASPECT Studios leading the landscape architecture. The project is being delivered in collaboration with Icon, AECOM, Development Victoria, the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions, and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation. The transformation will secure Melbourne’s place on the global Formula One calendar through to 2037, while creating a lasting civic legacy for the Albert Park precinct and local community. Originally constructed in 1995, the existing pit building no longer meets contemporary standards for global motorsport. The new APPB will feature 14 state-of-the-art team garages, world-class race control, administration and media suites, premium hospitality and viewing areas for 5,000 Paddock Club guests, delivering the performance, precision and spectacle expected at the top tier of the sport. Designed for dual performance, the facility transforms beyond race mode into a community sporting hub with seven indoor courts and clubrooms for local clubs. The hybrid nature of the design makes the APPB a rare piece of infrastructure, supporting global events while actively serving local needs every day of the year. The bold use of mass timber throughout the structure isn’t just a sustainable design choice it’s a structural strategy. Timber enables faster delivery, smarter construction, and a civic-quality finish that elevates the building’s character and purpose. Its architectural language is informed by flexibility, lightness and longevity designed to adapt and evolve with the future of sport in Melbourne. Woods Bagot director and project design lead Bruno Mendes said the APPB demonstrates how civic thinking can transform elite event infrastructure. “What excites us most about this design is how it elevates both elite motorsport and grassroots community sport under one roof,” Mr Mendes said.  “We’ve engineered a facility that doesn’t just host one of the world’s premier racing events – it actively gives back to the local sporting community every day of the year.” Construction is planned to commence following the 2026 Formula One Australian Grand Prix, with completion scheduled ahead of the 2028 event. The redevelopment of the Albert Park Pit Building is part of the broader Albert Park Masterplan, which aims to enhance public amenity, ecological health, and long-term sustainability in one of Melbourne’s most iconic parks, reinforcing the city’s reputation as a global sporting capital.

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An innovative feasibility study has highlighted an exciting opportunity to produce renewable bioenergy at Opal Australian Paper’s Maryvale Mill in Gippsland, marking a step toward more sustainable manufacturing. Source: Timberbiz Partnering with Delorean Corporation ASX:DEL, an Australian bioenergy company, the feasibility study con-firmed the possibility of constructing a large-scale anaerobic digestion facility, which would use other organic residues and potentially bi-products from paper manufacturing and convert it into renewable biogas. The biogas would replace natural gas used by the rotary lime kiln at the Mill and is aligned with Opal’s net zero strategy. The next phase of the project involves the front end engineering and design to complete the project proposal, regulatory approvals and source the necessary organic feedstock and residue off-take agreements. These activities will enable a final investment decision to be evaluated. Subject to the engineering and design, the project is estimated to require a $35 million investment for construction and design and could create approximately eight FTEs in addition to flow on jobs. Joseph Oliver, Managing Director of Delorean, said the outcome of the study was very promising. “Delorean is committed to a pipeline of new, renewable energy projects across Australia and New Zealand. Subject to the outcome of the front-end engineering and design for the proposed project, the same model could be used to roll out more projects for Opal at a number of its other sites,” Mr Oliver said. David Jettner, General Manager Environment and Sustainability at Opal said the biogas project had the potential to bring another new energy industry to the Latrobe Valley. “Exploring the feasibility of replacing natural gas with biogas is aligned to Opal’s drive towards a new energy future. The outcome of the study is exciting because it has the potential to be replicated across other Opal sites that have traditionally been high consumers of natural gas,” he said. “We’re optimistic about the potential of biogas as a renewable alternative to gas.”

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Forest & Wood Products Australia has appointed Marina Milić to the role of Forest Research Project Manager. Source: Timberbiz Ms Milić holds a Bachelor of Arts in Wood Processing Engineering from the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Belgrade, Serbia, and is certified by Engineers Australia. Since moving to Australia 10 years ago, Ms Milić has built extensive experience across the sector, including the past eight years at AKD in national technical roles spanning research, process improvement, quality, compliance and technology adaptation. This background has given Ms Milić a practical understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing the industry, particularly in plantation softwoods, as well as experience across technical, industry and advisory settings. Ms Milić joins FWPA with a strong value chain perspective. Through work in timber treatment, structural performance, quality control and research and development at the mill end, she has seen how closely raw resource characteristics shape final product outcomes. In this role, Ms Milić will bring that downstream perspective to upstream forestry research, helping ensure projects remain grounded in commercial processing realities and aligned with end-market needs.

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Southern Limestone Coast Council will seek community consultation to sell a portion of Marte Siding Road to a major timber industry firm. Source: The Border Watch AAM Timber has made a formal proposal to council to extend its operations which would include obtaining a portion of the road. Originally wanting about 266 metres of the road, AAM Timber first introduced the expansion to council in May 2024. Elected members discussed its options during this week’s meeting, coming to the conclusion to gain community consultation on selling the entire North-South part of the road. Concerns for the complete closure include forestry access for plantations made by Green Triangle Forest Products as well as Timberlands Pacific Plantations. It was noted in a council document presented to elected members the entrance was important under potential emergency situations including fires. It was also an important access point for maintaining efficient access for heavy machinery and minimising travel distances. Southern Limestone Coast Council chief executive officer Gary Button said AAM Timber approached council which elected members had now considered. “It could have been one of three things, either council could just say no to their request, agrees to that portion but where council has landed is considering the road would then in the future be only access to one business location, the consideration is that the entire road north-south between Casadio Road and the rail reserve be sold,” Mr Button said. “That will go out to community consultation.” He said council would “certainly take everything” into consideration with community consultation lasting 28 days. “We will make sure we do targeted consultation so those in the immediate area are very much aware of this proposal and the general public as well,” he said. “Once we receive that consultation council will consider what comes back from that and we will then have to put in a proposal to the minister to consider what that looks like.” Mr Button said council would then form a position based on what consultation would come back to them with the overall decision up to Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Joe Szakacs. “Any costs are all paid for by the business, so all costs would be incurred by that, and an independent valuation would be obtained should there be the consideration for the sale of that road,” Mr Button said. “I think from an elected member point of view we want to see vibrant businesses doing well and creating employment opportunities in our council area and the support of looking at AAM’s proposal is a really important part of doing that work with them. “We value the feedback we get and from a safety perspective we will also be seeking feedback to ensure there is still emergency access to the site and into the precinct.”

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Dozens of jobs are set to be lost at the Arbex Millicent Mill according to multiple sources associated with the plant. Source: SE Voice The SE Voice has been told that 37 blue collar and white-collar jobs across all departments are set to be cut along with an unspecified number of local staff positions and employees at the Sydney headquarters. This newspaper understands the rationalisation is set to be completed by the upcoming Easter which falls in March in 2027. Management addressed a gathering of 100 rank and file workers on-site on Thursday afternoon. After senior management left, a senior union official took to the podium. She is based at the Melbourne HQ of the Timber, Furnishing and Textile Union which has 270 members at the Millicent mill. It is understood Arbex will now invite applications for voluntary separation packages. Established in 1960, the mill has a current workforce of 400 company employees and contractors. Numbers have steadily fallen since a high of 1000 in the 1980s. Arbex was formed on July 1 by the international creation of a joint venture involving the Kimberly-Clark Corporation of the USA (holding 49%) and Brazilian company Suzano (51%). Arbex spokesperson Lini Zulkiply said her company was not yet ready to provide detailed comment on the Millicent Mill. “‘We can confirm that consultation with employees and their representatives has commenced on proposed organisational changes aimed at improving productivity, operational effectiveness and the mill’s long-term sustainability,” she said. “As consultation is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further on potential impacts or outcomes at this stage, until that process has concluded.”  

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From eye-catching website banners and office herb gardens made from FSC-certified toilet rolls to videos highlighting businesses’ commitments to responsible sourcing and social media campaigns that sparked conversations across Australia and New Zealand, FSC Forest Week showcased the many creative ways people can take action for forests and champion responsible forest management. Source: Timberbiz Running from 21-27 September, the FSC Forest Week campaign brought together brands, manufacturers, forest managers, consumers, NGOs and industry groups to highlight the importance of responsible forest management and its vital role in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss. Here are just a few highlights from some incredible and creative ways our community put this year’s “Do One Thing for Forests” theme into action: FSC-certified forest management company Kaingaroa Tipu hosted a community native planting day along Waipa Stream in Whakarewarewa Forest, part of the Puarenga catchment. The event brought people together to support biodiversity, improve water quality and restore native habitat, while raising awareness of the role responsible forest management plays in supporting healthy forests and communities. Synergy Pacific, an FSC Chain of Custody certificate holder, turned empty toilet paper rolls into planters for herbs and other plants, creating the beginnings of a kitchen garden in their office. It was a simple way to put the “Do One Thing for Forests” message into practice while giving the team a daily reminder of their commitment to FSC and responsible sourcing. Promotional licence holder Merry People used social media to share highlights from the team’s recent FSC Forest Walk in Tasmania, held in partnership with FSC-certified forest manager Timberlands Pacific. The posts also helped educate customers about the importance of responsible forestry and why FSC-certified natural rubber is used in the brand’s iconic footwear. FSC-certified flooring company Havwoods celebrated Forest Week across its showrooms and online channels by creating inspiring mood boards featuring FSC-certified products and launching a dedicated FSC-certified timber collection on its website. Through these initiatives, Havwoods raised awareness of responsible for-est management and helped clients who specifically want to do one thing for forests by buying FSC-certified timber for interiors. To see a full list of companies involved internationally in Forest Week visit https://fsc.org/en/fsc-forest-week-social-wall

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Seppi has released its new F50 turbo, the evolution of the Starforst, developed for professional mulching applications with tractors from 200 to 350 HP. Source: Timberbiz The new model introduces a series of updates and technical solutions affecting the machine frame, cutting rotor, drive system, tractor connection, and wear components. With working widths from 210 to 260 cm, the F50 turbo is designed for tractors with power ratings from 200 to 350 HP. The rotor can be equipped with 63-77 V-LOCK tools, while machine weight is around 3,400 kg, depending on configuration. The F50 turbo features a frame made from S420 steel, designed to provide high strength and durability. Internal wear components are made from AR400 wear-resistant steel; the complete shell around the rotor is bolted on and can be replaced easily when worn. The machine is also equipped with five rows of replaceable counter cutters to ensure the best shredding quality. The casing has an attractive and functional design, well-sealed against the entrance of debris and dust during work, but in case of maintenance easily accessible to reach the interior. The F50 turbo rotor comes standard with Mini duo V-lock tools, designed to be used in the usual land clearing application. For big diameter material, such as stumps and large-diameter wood, the machine can be equipped with the high-density rotor Opt 5578 Mono Hit V-lock tools where it develops a higher productivity. Special lateral tools called Extreme V-lock, in combination with the Duo Defender, protect the rotor on the extremes, where the wear conditions are always severe. One of the key features of the F50 turbo is its hydrodynamic coupling, which provides a smooth and progressive rotor start-up and decouples engine and rotor in the event of excessive power demand. M-TURBO helps to protect the tractor from torque peaks, by absorbing impact loads caused by sudden stumps and hard material. The tractor will never stall. The guide skids have also been redesigned. They are individually adjustable to several positions and feature a new replaceable wear sole, to minimize the cost of the wear exposed components.

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Indonesia’s 2026 wildfires have raised concerns about the availability of wood fibre for its pulp mills. As Indonesia is a major pulp producer and ex-porter, the wildfires could have a broad impact. Source: Resource Wise Although there has been no confirmed widespread damage to commercial pulpwood plantations, the fires are raging amid high demand from the industry for more wood fibre. This raises a pressing question for buyers and producers across Asia: can a market already strained by limited fibre supply withstand a major disruption? Indonesia produces approximately 11 million metric tons of pulp a year, making it one of the world’s largest producers. As Indonesia’s pulp output has grown substantially over the past decade, the industry’s demand for pulpwood has increased. The availability of wood fibre has become an increasingly important issue for Indonesian mills. This year’s fires add to the uncertainty for producers securing pulpwood, and ultimately for customers who depend on their pulp. Since they began early this year, the fires have swept through several regions connected to pulpwood sourcing. Major Indonesian pulp producers have strengthened fire prevention and response efforts. As of mid-September, however, there was no confirmed widespread destruction of their commercial acacia and eucalyptus plantations. Whether that situation changes is central to the market outlook. Any significant loss of usable pulpwood could force some reduction in pulp production. Indonesia’s Forestry Minister has stated that the wildfires could go on until early November. The ministry has also cautioned that satellite hotspots are indications of heat, not confirmed individual fires. Peat fires can continue burning below the surface after visible hotspots decline, and conditions on the ground require verification. For pulp buyers, the key question is whether the fires are affecting timber plantations and the fibre flows that supply operating mills. Indonesia’s expanding pulp industry was already placing greater demands on domestic wood fibre supplies before this fire season. Mills need enough fibre to support current output while preparing for additional capacity. If domestic supply becomes harder to secure, producers may seek more imported woodchips. That could help sustain pulp production, but it would also increase their exposure to import availability, higher input costs, and competition for fibre from other buyers. The fires warrant attention even before a major plantation loss or mill curtailment is confirmed because they could compound an existing supply challenge. Buyers could seek replacement hardwood pulp from other suppliers, potentially changing trade flows and putting pressure on prices in markets that rely on Indonesian output. China, for example, is a major destination for Indonesian pulp. A price response is not inevitable or necessarily immediate. Buyers and producers will be watching whether fire exposure turns into measurable changes in fibre procurement, mill operations, and pulp shipments. Demand and available supply from other producing regions will also shape the outcome. The signals to monitor are confirmation of any significant wildfire damage to pulpwood sourcing areas, changes in woodchip imports, reported fibre constraints, and any adjustments to mill production. ResourceWise’s latest Market Insights report, Wildfires Heighten Wood Fiber Supply Risks in Indonesia, looks more closely at where Indonesia’s wildfire risk intersects with pulpwood supply. It examines the country’s growing fibre needs, the role of imported woodchips, and the conditions under which a domestic supply issue could reach the wider hardwood pulp market. The report can be downloaded here.  

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This year’s harvest is expected to be 2.4 million cubic metres lower than the harvest in 2025. This is shown by a new forecast from the Swedish Forest Agency. If the forecast is correct, it is the lowest level in almost 15 years. Source: Timberbiz Swedish logging has decreased for several years in a row, and this trend seems to continue. You need to go back to 2012 to find a logging level as low as the forecast shows for 2026, says Jonas Paulsson, statistician at the Swedish Forest Agency. The forecast shows that gross felling in 2026 is estimated to be approximately 84.6 million cubic metres of forest. This is a decrease of 3% compared with 2025, when felling was 87.0 million cubic metres. The estimated decrease is explained by changes in wood supply and industry’s need for wood raw material. The 2026 harvest has also been affected by changed wood flows as a result of the disposal of trees that fell in storms Johannes and Dave. The harvesting of softwood sawn timber is estimated to decrease by 1.3 million cubic metres, which corresponds to a decrease of 4% compared with 2025. This year’s production of sawn timber in the Swedish forest industry is expected to decrease by 4.5%, but as exports of sawn timber are expected to increase, the result is that domestic felling of sawn timber will not decrease to the same extent. This year’s pulpwood harvesting is expected to decrease by 0.8 million cubic metres, which corresponds to a decrease of 2% compared with 2025. Pulpwood harvesting is decreasing even though the forest industry’s pulp production is estimated to be relatively unchanged in 2025. The pulp industry’s need for wood raw material is expected to be maintained through inventory reductions and imports. The Swedish Forestry Agency’s forecast is based, among other things, on assessments of how production will develop in the Swedish sawmill industry and in the pulp and paper industry. “The current market situation, external factors and changed raw material flows as a result of storms Johannes and Dave have made this year’s forecast more uncertain than in previous years,” said Mr Paulsson. Gross felling refers to the total volume of trunks harvested, including what is left in the forest. It is measured in forest cubic metres (m3), which means the trunk volume above the stump cut, including the top and bark.

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Since 2020, OneFortyOne NZ Forests has supported kea conservation projects through its partnership with the Kea Conservation Trust. During that time, the focus of the work has evolved from understanding how kea use plantation forests to investigating the threats they face within those landscapes and exploring practical ways to improve their long-term survival. Source: Timberbiz Over six years, the work has covered: understanding interactions between kea and forestry operations, including developing guidelines for forestry operations in kea habitat and identifying opportunities to work with plantation forestry crews to reduce conflict and support coexistence, understanding how kea use plantation forests, building knowledge about their behaviour, movements, nesting and food sources, investigating the threats kea face within plantation landscapes, particularly introduced predators, and how forestry management can help improve outcomes for the species.   The result is a better understanding of how forestry crews can work alongside kea, a much clearer picture of how plantation forests fit within the wider landscape used by kea and the role forestry can play in supporting their conservation. Kea are one of New Zealand’s most recognisable native birds, known for their intelligence, curiosity and adaptability. However, they are also nationally endangered, with populations facing ongoing pressure from introduced predators, habitat change and interactions with people. While kea are often associated with alpine and native forest environments, relatively little was known about their use of plantation forests when OneFortyOne first partnered with the Kea Conservation Trust. Forestry workers regularly reported sightings, but there was limited scientific evidence showing how these landscapes fitted into the birds’ wider ecology. Research led by Lincoln University researcher Jodanne Aitken began in 2020 and sought to better understand how kea use plantation forests in the Nelson Tasman region. Using GPS tracking, field observations and diet analysis, the research showed that kea were regular users of plantation forests rather than occasional visitors. The study found that kea used plantation forests for feeding and movement throughout the forest landscape. Researchers observed birds feeding on pine seed, huhu grubs and other invertebrates, demonstrating that plantation forests provide resources that kea actively utilise. The research also showed how plantation and native forests function together as part of a wider habitat network used by kea. These findings challenged assumptions about kea habitat use and confirmed that plantation forests can play an important role within the landscapes occupied by kea. Alongside the ecological research, the program also helped improve understanding of how forestry operations and kea can coexist. Kea are notorious for investigating machinery, vehicles and equipment, which can sometimes create challenges on operational sites. Over the years, researchers worked alongside forestry staff and contractors, sharing information about kea behaviour and providing practical advice to help reduce interactions. While conflict management was never the focus of a dedicated research project, it remained an important part of the partnership. According to Aitken, one of the positive outcomes has been the willingness of forestry crews to support conservation efforts despite the challenges that can arise when kea are present on site. “The crews still see the joy in having kea at their sites, even though not all parts of them being there are ideal. The crews have been really good to work with.” The OneFortyOne partnership with the Kea Conservation Trust also supported the development of the Kea Guidelines for Plantation Forestry, helping other forestry companies manage kea habitat and interactions within plantation forests. The guidelines recognise that many kea encountered on forestry sites are juvenile birds, which often gather in groups and are more likely to investigate machinery, vehicles and other equipment. The partnership has also supported practical innovation in the field. In recent years, trial work has explored deterrent devices designed to discourage kea from approaching machinery and equipment, providing additional tools to help reduce conflict while protecting bird welfare. As knowledge of kea behaviour grew, so too did understanding of the opportunities plantation forests provide. Kea proved highly adaptable birds capable of finding food and moving through a range of habitats. Plantation forests are now recognised as part of the broader habitat mosaic used by kea in the top of the South Island. As researchers spent more time monitoring kea within plantation forests, they began observing signs that introduced predators may pose a greater threat to kea than previously understood. During her fieldwork, Aitken encountered evidence of possible cat predation on kea and began noticing signs that predator pressure may be influencing kea survival within plantation forests. These observations prompted a shift in focus. Rather than continuing to concentrate solely on where kea occur and how they use plantation forests, researchers began investigating the factors that may influence their survival. The presence of predators raised questions about what was happening to kea once they were there. “There’s no point in continuously counting these birds or recording their diet if they’re actually just getting nailed by predators. That’s the system we need to understand better if we want to do good by kea,” Aitken said. Work led by researcher Corey Mosen provided a bridge between Aitken’s earlier habitat-use research and the current predator programme. Monitoring undertaken in 2024 confirmed that cats and other predators were common within plantation forests, with feral cats recorded at five of the six sites monitored. The findings suggested that kea nesting within these areas would likely be vulnerable to predation and disturbance. In 2025/26, the research focus narrowed to a catchment within OneFortyOne’s estate where kea had been consistently observed. Trail cameras and traps were deployed throughout the catchment to better understand predator activity and explore what predator management could look like within an actively managed plantation forest. OneFortyOne supported feral cat and stoat control within the catchment, resulting in the removal of twelve feral cats from the study area. The project provided a clearer picture of predator activity while demonstrating what predator management could look like within a commercial forestry environment. Future recommendations include continuing predator control and monitoring, while exploring what a larger-scale predator management programme could look like within plantation […]

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