Forest Products Industry

The Taiwan Forestry Research Institute said it is promoting full utilization of Taiwan’s incense cedar to develop a high-value circular economy for forest resources. Source: Taipei Times Incense cedar is an endemic species of Taiwan and is one of Taiwan’s five major coniferous tree species, the institute said. It is distributed in mountainous areas of northern and central Taiwan at elevations of 300m to 1,900m, it said. Taiwan incense cedar is the primary tree species used for reforestation in warm forests between 500m and 1,800m above sea level, the institute said. While Taiwan incense cedar wood is popular with consumers thanks to its distinctive aroma, surplus materials generated during the process of forest tending, pruning and wood processing are usually used as fuel or disposed of, it said. The institute’s Chiayi Research Centre promoted research on the reutilization of Taiwan incense cedar surplus materials at the Yunshui Experiment Station from last year to this year, the institute said. Water distillation was applied to extract Taiwan incense cedar oil from surplus materials, while the remaining materials would be ground into scented powder or made into incense cones, it said. The institute said that water distillation is a well-established extraction technique. It uses high-temperature steam to release volatile aromatic compounds from plants, which would then be condensed and separated to obtain natural essential oils, the institute said. Water distillation can preserve the plant’s aroma and active compounds without adding organic solvents, it said. That helps meet modern consumers’ demand for natural, safe and environmentally friendly products, the institute said. Taiwan incense cedar essential oil is rich in compounds such as ferruginol, alpha-pinene and limonene, it said. Ferruginol is highly antibacterial and antioxidant, the institute said, adding that it can inhibit skin disease-associated pathogens and tyrosinase, a key enzyme involved in skin pigmentation, it added.

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With extreme wildfire activity exhausting all available federal firefighting resources and the national wildfire system operating at its highest level of readiness, the US Department of the Interior has finalized two categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act to expedite Bureau of Land Management timber salvage and forest thinning projects. Source: Timberbiz These new administrative authorities are designed to bypass bureaucratic delays and immediately expedite critical timber salvage and forest thinning projects. “The Trump administration is committed to giving our land managers the tools they need to reduce wildfire risk before the next fire starts,” said Department of the Interior Deputy Secretary Kate MacGregor. “These categorical exclusions remove unnecessary delays so we can accelerate common-sense forest management projects that reduce hazardous fuels, strengthen forest health and resilience, and better protect firefighters, communities and our public lands from catastrophic wildfire.” Categorical exclusions are categories of actions that have been determined to not typically have significant environmental impacts, eliminating the need to do a full environmental review. Streamlining National Environmental Policy Act compliance through categorical exclusions removes regulatory burdens and speeds up the process, saving time and resources. The new exclusions allow the Bureau of Land Management to remove dead, dying and excess trees more quickly and reduce wildfire risk, improve forest health, support landscape rehabilitation post-fire, while strengthening rural economies. They apply to routine salvage and thinning projects of up to 5,000 acres. Forests across the West have been heavily impacted by years of mismanagement that has led to more destructive wildfires, exacerbated by drought, insects, and disease, leaving millions of acres vulnerable to future wildfires. The previous administration inexplicably stripped timber harvest authorities from the BLM late in 2024. Since 2000, wildfires have burned an average of 7.3 million acres annually, with BLM lands seeing an average of 236,530 acres affected each year. This year alone, wildfires have devastated over 2.7 million acres of BLM-managed lands, and more than 7.4 million acres of all jurisdictions nationwide, underscoring the urgent need for effective forest management and fuels reduction strategies.

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Sumitomo Forestry, SCA and The Navigator Company have joined the PEFC Alliance. Together, the three organisations represent millions of hectares of sustainably managed forests and bring extensive expertise from across the forest value chain. Source: Timberbiz Founded in Japan in 1691, Sumitomo Forestry has more than 300 years of experience in forest- and wood-based businesses. Today, the company owns and manages more than 370,000 hectares of forest in Japan, New Zealand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Canada and the United States. Its activities span sustainable forest management, timber processing, wood construction and renewable energy. “Because our businesses cover both upstream and downstream sectors of the forest value chain, we have the perspectives of both a producer and a consumer,” said Yuko Iizuka, Head of Sustainability at Sumitomo Forestry. “We believe these dual perspectives enable us to share practical insights and contribute to the PEFC community. We look forward to working with PEFC to promote sustainable forest management, responsible wood use and transparency across the value chain.” SCA manages 2.7 million hectares of forest in Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and operates sawmills, pulp and paper mills, renewable energy and logistics businesses, giving it broad expertise across the forest sector. “As one of the largest private forest owners, we have a great responsibility to conduct forest management in a sustainable manner,” said Jörgen Bendz, Forestry Director at SCA. “One of the strengths of PEFC is its ability to change and adapt to new conditions to remain relevant.” The Navigator Company is an integrated forest-based company headquartered in Portugal, with operations spanning sustainable forest management, pulp and paper production, tissue, renewable energy and sustainable packaging solutions. “It is very important to be part of the discussions,” said Sofia Castelão, Head of Management Systems. “We are at a time when we have a lot of European Union regulation, and credibility is very important for our systems. “We intend to work with PEFC International and, of course, the national PEFC members through the specific working groups to deal with special matters and improve and develop new solutions.” International stakeholder members play an important role in bringing knowledge, experience and market perspectives from across the global forest sector into the PEFC alliance. Membership is open to companies, organisations and associations with principles and objectives in line with PEFC. International stakeholder members are part of the PEFC General Assembly, the highest decision-making body of the organisation, which sets the strategic direction of PEFC. They can join PEFC working groups and committees on relevant topics including standards revision, marketing and regional promotions. They can partner with other PEFC members on projects around the world and nominate representatives for the PEFC Board of Directors.

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Melbourne Polytechnic is inviting industry, education and construction sector stakeholders to help shape a new Modern Methods of Construction Showcase Building being developed as part of the Future of Housing Construction Centre of Excellence at its Heidelberg campus. Source: Timberbiz A survey is now open to gather feedback that will help inform the functional brief for the new facility. The Showcase Building is being designed as a hands-on learning and demonstration environment where students, industry and researchers can explore modern methods of construction in practice, bringing together prefabrication, advanced manufacturing, digital construction and emerging building technologies. Set to become Victoria’s leading demonstration and education facility for modern methods of construction, it will also serve as a national destination for learning, innovation and collaboration. We are seeking industry expertise to help shape the Showcase Building through a survey. We want to understand feedback on the capabilities, infrastructure and learning experiences that will provide the greatest long-term value to industry and the wider sector. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and responses are anonymous. Complete the survey by 31 August 2026. You can access the survey here.

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A Facilitator has been appointed to advise the New Zealand Government on what further support or intervention may be needed around forestry in the Tairāwhiti Gisborne region. Source: Timberbiz Doug Leeder, former Chair of Bay of Plenty Regional Council and former Chair of Local Government New Zealand’s Regional Sector Group has been appointed. Mr Leeder will work with Council leadership, members of the Council’s Assurance Review panel and other stakeholders, on the complexity of consenting and land use change. He will provide advice directly to Forestry Minister Todd McClay, and to other Ministers as required. The New Zealand Forest Owners Association, Eastland Wood Council, Forest Industry Contractors Association and Ngāti Porou Forests have jointly backed the Government’s decision. Mr McClay said the Government was aware of growing sector-wide concern about the approach the Gisborne District Council is taking to land use change, including its use of draft enforcement orders on woody debris and sediment management. He said that stronger compliance measures may be necessary however, they must be workable and proportionate, and they must not undermine progress towards land transition. “Forestry and wood processing matter enormously to Tairāwhiti and to the people employed in them,” Mr McClay said. “Industry is telling me it faces decisions it considers unworkable and costly, and growing uncertainty about the future of the sector in the region. “I am advised this is affecting the willingness of investors to pursue processing ventures, both in Tairāwhiti and elsewhere in the country. “I want the relationship between the Council and stakeholders reset, with all parties working together in a constructive and structured way. That means supporting effective long-term forestry management, the environment, jobs and local businesses.” In 2024, Mr McClay established the Tairāwhiti Forestry Action Group (TFAG) to build confidence between all parties, and to allow the Government and Council to work closely with the sector to remove woody biomass from the district. The group has reduced risk across 173 kilometres of river network and removed almost 40,000 cubic metres of woody debris from high-risk locations. TFAG will now move to the next stage of the clean-up. That includes supporting landowners and operators to accelerate consenting on legacy biomass through pilot projects, monitoring progress, maintaining engagement with the community, and helping inform decisions about land use change. “TFAG has worked because central government, the Council and the sector all came together. I have invited the Council’s continued support and participation,” Mr McClay said. “I want to recognise the significant efforts of the Council, the forestry sector and the community in dealing with the compounding effects of weather events. The appointment of a Facilitator will help drive better outcomes for forestry, the environment and the wider community.” NZFOA Chief Executive Dr Elizabeth Heeg says the appointment of Mr Leeder provided an opportunity to make progress on difficult questions around land use, woody debris and forestry-related environmental issues. “Forestry wants a system that protects the environment while allowing businesses to keep investing and operating responsibly in the region,” Dr Heeg said. “Tairāwhiti needs to see decision-making that recognises where land use has to change, while allowing forestry to continue on land where it remains appropriate.” “Bringing Government, Gisborne District Council, iwi, communities and industry together with an independent facilitator gives us a practical way to work through those issues.” Eastland Wood Council Chairman Julian Kohn said decisions about forestry have consequences for everyone living in Tairāwhiti. “NZIER research has shown forestry accounts for 7.9% of Tairāwhiti’s GDP, the highest proportional contribution of any region in New Zealand. Around NZ$295 million per year is added to the regional economy through forestry and logging, support services and wood processing,” he said. “We want environmental issues addressed, but the decisions made through this process also have to recognise the scale of forestry’s contribution to Tairāwhiti and the communities that depend on it.” Ngāti Porou Forests Chairman Whaimutu Dewes said decisions about land use have long-term consequences for iwi landowners and communities. “For iwi landowners, there is a responsibility to look after the whenua for generations to come but also to create opportunities for our people today. Forestry supports whānau by generating employment and providing income from whenua to sustain our communities,” he said. “Bringing iwi, communities, Government, Council and industry together gives us a better chance of making decisions that achieve both.” Forest Industry Contractors Association Chief Executive Rowan Struthers said contractors and forestry workers will bring an important operational perspective to the process. “Decisions about forestry directly affect crews, trucking companies, machinery operators and local businesses,” Mr Struthers said. “Our members want high environmental standards and clear expectations, but those expectations also have to work on the ground. “The experience of the people carrying out harvesting and other forestry work will be important as practical solutions are developed.”

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Good information is one of the industry’s most valuable resources. Whether it’s helping a builder answer a customer’s question, supporting a merchant with technical information or giving fabricators practical tools to engage their networks, clear and consistent communication helps build confidence in timber framing. Source: Timberbiz That’s why WoodSolutions, with support from FWPA and in collaboration with the Frame and Truss Manufacturers Association (FTMA) and campaign funding partners, has launched a coordinated national campaign to help industry share the benefits of structural timber. The campaign brings together a suite of professionally developed resources that funding partners and industry stakeholders can use through their own communications. Rather than every business developing its own materials, the campaign provides a shared set of evidence-based assets that are practical, consistent and ready to use. Over 14 weeks, participants will receive weekly campaign packs featuring social media, graphics, newsletter content and simple discussion notes designed to support conversations across the timber framing supply chain. To support consistent industry messaging, the campaign provides 14 ready-to-use campaign packs available through the WoodSolutions website. Each pack includes customer flyers, social media graphics and conversation starters, with a different timber framing benefit highlighted each week throughout the campaign. Each week’s content focuses on a different benefit of lightweight timber framing, drawing on trusted WoodSolutions technical resources and research. From renewable forestry and carbon storage to thermal performance, structural capability and construction efficiency, the campaign brings together practical information in a format that’s easy to understand and share. The initiative reflects FWPA’s ongoing commitment to supporting industry beyond research and development. By investing in practical communication tools, FWPA and WoodSolutions are helping funding partners confidently promote the value of timber framing while strengthening consistency across the sector. Research and technical guidance only create value when they’re used. This campaign helps turn existing industry knowledge into practical conversations that support confidence in timber framing across the supply chain. It’s also a reminder that meaningful industry communication isn’t driven by a single organisation. It comes from manufacturers, suppliers, merchants, builders and industry partners all contributing to the same conversation. When those voices work together, the collective impact extends far beyond what any one business could achieve alone. Funding partners and industry stakeholders are encouraged to download the campaign materials through the WoodSolutions Timber Framing Campaign page and use them throughout the campaign. Because every conversation is an opportunity to build greater understanding of timber framing, and every shared message helps strengthen the industry’s voice.

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