Forest Products Industry

FWPA’s ForestLearning program is dedicated to bridging the gap between the forest and wood products industry and schools across Australia by providing Australian curriculum-aligned resources. Source: Timberbiz These resources help educators teach about the importance of forestry, forests, and wood products, while also delving into the scientific principles underpinning sustainable forestry practices. A newly launched educational resource from ForestLearning for primary students sheds light on Australia’s diverse native forests, highlighting how key tree species have adapted to thrive in their environments. The Forest Science Explorers unit for Years 5 and 6, developed in partnership with the Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA) by FWPA’s ForestLearning program, showcases how sustainable forestry practices leverage these adaptations to ensure the health and vitality of our forests for the future. The Forest Science Explorers unit specifically focuses on how four distinct tree species – Swamp Gum/Mountain Ash, Spotted gum, Jarrah, and Cypress pine – have adapted to their unique environments and how foresters apply this knowledge to maintain healthy, resilient forests. Complementing the ForestVRTM 360-degree virtual tour videos and unit are four new visual fact sheets, featuring hand-drawn life-cycle illustrations that make comparing four of Australia’s forest types straightforward and engaging. These resources highlight the adaptations of each forest type and the trees within them, providing clear illustrations that help students understand the scientific work behind sustainable forest management. Fact-checked and edited by foresters from key organisations, including Queensland Department of Agriculture & Fisheries, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), Forest Products Commission Western Australia (FPCWA), Sustainable Timber Tasmania (STT), VicForests, and Forestry Corporation of New South Wales (FCNSW), these fact sheets ensure content that is accurate, relevant, and reflective of real-world forest science. This connection between biological sciences and forestry aims to inspire the next generation of foresters and forest scientists. The unit includes online interactive or printable workbooks for both students and teachers, embedding immersive education technologies such as video experiences via ForestLearning’s own ForestVR and 360-degree videos and photo tours, providing an in-depth virtual tour of different forest types. The Forest Science Explorers unit made its debut at the Australian Science Teacher’s Association Conference (CONASTA71), where ForestLearning exhibited and presented a workshop to primary and secondary science teachers. At an exhibition stand made entirely from sustainably sourced cardboard from The Cardboard Mill, the resource received significant interest from teachers, many of whom plan to integrate it into their Term 4 lesson plans.

In a world where every purchase affects the planet, Boody urges us to consider the impact of even our smallest choices, starting with our underwear. Source: Timberbiz Boody merges exceptional comfort with significant social and environmental benefits in their supply chain, showing how our clothing choices can make a profound difference. By using FSC-certified bamboo-derived viscose, Boody delivers exceptional softness while supporting the protection of forest wildlife and the rights of communities and workers reliant on sustainably managed forests. The fashion industry faces a critical challenge, balancing high demand with environmental responsibility. While renewable fibres like man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCFs) offer a path toward more sustainable solutions, around 50% are still sourced from uncertified forests. This jeopardises precious ecosystems and underscores the urgent need for change. This year, Boody proudly became an FSC Promotional Licence Holder and an FSC Fashion Forever Green Pact signatory. This commitment highlights their dedication to sustainable sourcing and forest stewardship, ensuring that each garment bearing the FSC label contributes to the responsible management of our planet’s forests. “Sustainability and comfort are the pillars of our philosophy. We don’t view sustainability as an afterthought but as an integral part of our process and purpose,” shares Rebecca Innes, Boody’s Product Lead. Boody’s dedication to sustainability is evident in its choice of materials, which includes products crafted from organically grown bamboo sourced from FSC-certified suppliers. As Rebecca explains, “Bamboo is the world’s fastest-growing plant, requiring no pesticides or insecticides. It absorbs CO2 and produces oxygen at a rate 35% higher than trees.” She continues, “We’re excited to announce our support of the Forest Stewardship Council and our recent transition to becoming Promotional Licence Holders with FSC. We are proud to be the first Australian Promotional Licence Holder signatory to the FSC Fashion Forever Green Pact. Our FSC licence is important to us because we want our customers to know that when they buy our products, the bamboo has been responsibly and sustainably sourced to protect the world’s forests for years to come.” In another step towards sustainability, Boody introduced The Goodness Loop in 2023, in partnership with UPPAREL. This initiative gives old, retired textiles a second life, diverting them from landfills and rewarding participants with $35 to spend on Boody’s basics. Boody is redefining comfort and sustainability in fashion, offering consumers a chance to embrace a wardrobe that cares for both the body and the planet. By choosing Boody’s FSC-certified ranges, you’re not just investing in luxurious basics but also supporting a future where every small choice can have a positive impact on the environment.

Wilding conifers are a major threat to New Zealand’s environment and economy. Understanding how these species invade and re-invade the landscape is critical to win the battle against these invasive trees. Source: Timberbiz As part of the complex puzzle of re-invasion Scion scientists are investigating how animals can affect wilding conifer populations by using their seed as a food source (seed predation), reducing the number of seeds in the environment. Determining what animals eat these seeds, and in which habitats, is crucial to understand wilding conifer re-invasion patterns. One of the suspects that might eat conifer seed is another invasive pest – the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Scion’s invasive plant ecologists have conducted field trials under different environment types (pasture, tussock, beech forest, ground-controlled wilding areas, dead wilding forest) in Arthur’s Pass, South Island, to investigate which animal species are conifer seed predators. Seeds were eaten at variable levels across these areas, with the highest levels of predation seen in the beech and dead wilding forest areas. Low predation areas such as tussock are particularly vulnerable to future invasion and re-invasion as there are higher levels of seed available left to grow. Scion’s invasion ecologist Tom Carlin says this research will support management of wilding conifers and the risk of continued seed spread. “Understanding which animal species are eating conifer seeds, and how quickly, are crucial questions in finding out how vulnerable different areas are to conifer invasion. “Aotearoa is home to many seed-eating birds and insects, however it also supports large populations of exotic granivores such as mice and rats. “By removing these exotic mammals from the environment, which is necessary to protect our native species, there is a risk we will inadvertently help conifers spread more rapidly by reducing their seed predation pressure. This project was initiated to help determine that risk, and if possible, help prevent it.” Early on, Scion teamed up with Willowbank Wildlife Reserve in Christchurch to investigate what animals might be eating the seeds based on teeth marks on the sticks that seed was mounted on. Common knowledge suggests possums don’t eat seeds from the forest floor, so the experiment was replicated in the possum enclosure to find out. Willowbank Wildlife Reserve is home to two possums, Tiny and Dobbie. If the damage done to the sticks in their habitat matched what was observed in the field trial, we could determine the culprits. Out in the field, footage from camera traps and feeding stations confirmed that exotic mammals (mice, rats, possums) were the main culprits although insects were also responsible for eating seeds. Willowbank Wildlife Reserve Community and Conservation engagement manager Shaun Horan shares his enthusiasm for protecting New Zealand’s ecosystems. “Willowbank has been excited to collaborate with the team at Scion for this study. “It harmonises with the conservation efforts Willowbank strives for and has aided us to begin conversations with our visitors about wilding pines in New Zealand.” Wilding pines are introduced species that become invasive in environments if not managed well, threatening native ecosystems (and the biodiversity within), production lands (grazing) and change the vistas of iconic landscapes. The worst wilding offender, Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), grows readily and will form dense forests if left untreated. Wilding pines already cover more than 1.8 million hectares of New Zealand with a further 7.5 million hectares of productive or conservation land (approximately 28% of New Zealand’s land area) threatened over the next 30 years. The New Zealand government established the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme (NWCCP) to deal with this growing problem, but continuous management is required. Current one-off treatments are not able to eliminate wildings fully and prevent cleared land from re-invasions. Preliminary analysis shows that current control measures such as hand weeding, felling or herbicide application, are unlikely to achieve eradication. Vive la résistance is an MBIE Endeavour-funded five-year research programme awarded $12.85 million in 2021. The Scion led programme team is investigating effective strategies for long-term resistance to re-invasion of wilding pines. New methods and management approaches are developed and tested under this project and include the support and analysis for operational large-scale control trials, aerial and satellite imaging to detect and monitor emerging wilding pines, multifactorial experiments to identify drivers and inhibitors of re-invasion and computer modelling of the “behaviour” of wilding populations. The highly collaborative programme involves researchers from Scion, Lincoln University, University of Canterbury, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Australian National University, and the National Centre for Atmospheric Research (USA) to support the NWCCP. This seed predation research is just one piece of the puzzle to understanding drivers of re-invasion risks. This knowledge helps us move towards accurate computer modelling predictions for seed dispersal and to inform recommendations for wilding pine management practices to break the inevitable cycle of treatment, re-invasion and re-treatment. This research was recently published in Biological Invasions. Learn more about Scion’s wilding pine research at https://www.scionresearch.com/science/managing-forestry-risk-and-climate-change/managing-wilding-pines

Scion is welcoming the gene technology reforms announced by the New Zealand Government for their ability to advance research and create a cleaner, greener and more prosperous country. Source: Timberbiz Scion is leading New Zealand in industrial biotechnology, which includes GE, under the experienced stewardship of Dr Alec Foster, who heads Scion’s Bioproducts and Packaging portfolio. A vocal advocate for regulatory reform, he says New Zealand can no longer afford to shy away from the transformative potential of cutting-edge genetic technologies. “A bill that allows for greater use of gene technology will enable New Zealand to embrace gene technologies as a key tool for achieving important environmental and societal goals whilst also improving productivity. “Gene Technologies offers enormous opportunity for tackling challenges like reducing methane emissions from agriculture or reducing emissions and achieving net-zero targets. “The world around us is rapidly evolving and today’s announcement is a step change in New Zealand being able to solve these challenges using biotechnology as well as support various industries to deliver new high-value products and be more competitive on the international stage.” Through favourable biotech regulations, other countries are already well ahead of New Zealand. By 2040,Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, projects a $19.2 billion benefit and 31,200 new jobs from GE in the food and agriculture sectors alone. The United States is investing billions and aims to replace 30% of chemicals and 90% of plastics with biotechnology-derived alternatives by leveraging genetic engineering and bioengineering tools, using various biomass streams as feedstock. Even the European Union, long cautious about genetically modified crops, has followed the UK and recently voted to ease regulations to maintain crop yields, reduce chemical inputs, and bolster food security amid climate change. In New Zealand to date, gene technologies have been used but restrictive rules and time-consuming processes have made research outside the lab almost impossible. The NZ Government has announced its support for new legalisation to allow for greater use of gene technology, while ensuring strong protections for the health and safety of people and the environment. The bill will be introduced to Parliament by the end of this year. The decision to update New Zealand’s gene technology rules follows consultation with industry and guidance from a Technical Advisory Group. Dr Foster says New Zealand now stands to reap economic advantages comparable to Australia, given the similarities in our agricultural sectors. Beyond agriculture, gene editing and genetic engineering hold promise in sectors like forestry, where Scion is at the forefront of pioneering research. One of Scion’s key projects involves developing sterile pine trees that cannot reproduce sexually, addressing the long-standing issue of wilding pines invading and degrading our natural ecosystems. This innovative approach could enable us to enjoy the economic benefits of plantation forestry while mitigating its environmental risks. Scion is also exploring the potential to enhance carbon capture by trees, a critical tool in our fight against climate change. By modifying genes that control growth rates and biomass accumulation, researchers aim to create trees that can sequester significantly more carbondioxide from the atmosphere. But the opportunities presented by gene technology reform extend far beyond agriculture and forestry. From developing bioplastics and renewable chemicals to engineering microbes for wastewater remediation and carbon sequestration, genetic engineering could catalyse the transition toward a truly circular bio-economy, enabling New Zealand to move away from reliance on petrochemicals and fossil fuels, says Foster. “Away from plants we are exploring many of these avenues with microbes. We are looking at scaling technologies that utilise carbon dioxide and methane, as well as waste streams from dairy, and converting them in a fermenter with bacteria to produce feed, chemicals, and bioplastics – greener products from more sustainable sources.” Dr Foster adds that nearly 30 years has passed since New Zealand last debated the need for genetic engineering. Since then, there is a wealth of evidence and real-world examples that illustrate the profound impact genetic engineering can have on our economy, environment, and even the health of New Zealanders. Thousands of studies and numerous products have also demonstrated the safety of these technologies. “New gene editing techniques, like CRISPR, offer a precise and efficient way to breed crops and livestock, with desirable traits. Such methodologies mimic natural breeding processes but with far greater accuracy and speed. Microorganisms are now being grown in fermenters, similar to brewing, not only providing insulin, components in washing powders, and enzymes for rennet (products New Zealand currently imports), but also producing goods traditionally made from oil. “The potential benefits of gene editing and genetic engineering for New Zealand’s primary sector are vast and varied. At Scion, we look forward to leading the way using our expertise and infrastructure to unlock new opportunities for our primary sector as well as attract investment, foster research and development and create high-value jobs in the burgeoning field of biotechnology.”

It is nine months since the RBA’s last rate rise and according to HIA Chief Economist Tim Reardon market confidence is returning. Source: Timberbiz “It is only the heavily taxed markets of NSW and Victoria that are yet to see a trough in detached home building in 2024,” he said. HIA released its Economic and Industry Outlook report recently. The report includes updated forecasts for new home building and renovations activity nationally and for each of the eight states and territories. “Most housing markets appear to have reached or passed the trough in home building by mid-2024, following the fastest increase in the cash rate in a generation,” Mr Reardon said. “States with good employment opportunities and relatively more affordable land are leading the charge.” Mr Reardon said that Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia appeared to be past the trough in their cycles. The number of contracts being signed for the construction of new homes has been increasing, at least since the start of the year, seeing a new wave of projects commencing construction. “This improvement in home building activity is not evident in New South Wales and Victoria where new tax imposts continue to impair home building,” he said. “Government policies continue to inflate the costs of land and construction in New South Wales and Victoria. Policy changes are also adding to market uncertainty delaying a return of investment into new home building and exacerbating the shortage of housing. “Australia’s economic fundamentals have remained resilient to the rise in interest rates. Unemployment remains exceptionally low, the economy stable and population growth strong,” he said. “Against a backdrop of an acute shortage of housing, households are slowly returning to the new home market. “Australia could be seeing far greater home building volumes, if policymakers would reduce the costs of land and construction that they are responsible for inflating.” Mr Reardon said that productivity in the sector was improving rapidly as the adverse impact of border closures and policy disruptions were replaced with more stable conditions. “Material price rises are back to pre-pandemic levels and labour shortages have eased to some extent,” he said. “Labour shortages are easing as activity levels decline. “These factors are setting the scene for an increase in home building later this year as confidence is restored. “This increase in new home commencements could be accelerated if governments remove the market failures, tax imposts and constraints on the industry, or at least stop increasing housing taxes,” h said. Detached houses: There were 25,890 detached houses that commenced construction across Australia in the first quarter of 2024, up by 5.8 per cent on the previous quarter. This figure is forecast to moderate down by 1.6 per cent in the June Quarter 2024 to 25,470, producing a financial year total of 99,060 commencements in 2023/24, down by 10.1 per cent on the previous year. A modest improvement is forecast thereafter, up by just 0.8 per cent to 99,890 in 2024/25. This would mark the conclusion of the two weakest years for detached commencements since 2012/13, over a decade earlier. Activity is expected to accelerate from here, exceeding 115,000 by 2026/27. Multi-units: recorded 14,240 commencements in the March Quarter 2024, down by 6.2 per cent from the previous quarter and the second weakest quarter for the sector in over a decade. The June Quarter 2024 is forecast to see a bounce back of 15.4 per cent to 16,440, producing a financial year total of just 60,970. This would be down by 4.0 per cent on the previous year. A modest improvement is expected in 2024/25, up by 13.0 per cent to 68,880, which would conclude the weakest three years for the sector since 2011/12, over a decade earlier. Multi-unit commencements are forecast to accelerate thereafter, reaching a peak of 104,240 in 2027/28.

A rare Coastal Emu nest, containing nine eggs, has been discovered by Forestry Corporation staff in a State forest on the North Coast, giving hope to the future of the endangered population. Source: Timberbiz The discovery near Grafton was made by Forestry Corporation Lead Forestry Officer Kurt Holzhauser during a broad area habitat search for threatened and endangered species. The NSW Government, under Saving Our Species, has invested years of conservation and habitat protection work on the North Coast to save the Coastal Emu, after the population was classified as endangered. Forestry Corporation’s Senior Ecologist Chris Slade said the discovery of the nest was a significant ecological find and every effort will now be taken to ensure the nest contributes to recovery actions for the population. “It is estimated that there may be fewer than 50 Coastal Emus left on the North Coast, so to discover a nest bearing eggs, is a significant moment for that endangered population,” Mr Slade said. “It’s an amazing prospect as the timing of the discovery is perfect in the sense that every effort can now be taken to try and ensure those eggs hatch into emu chicks.” Genetically isolated from their western emu relatives, Coastal Emus have faced high mortality rates due to predation and car strikes. Loss of emus from the North Coast would have a serious impact on the environment, as the birds eat and spread fruits and seeds across a range of coastal habitats. The emu also has significant cultural value to Yaegl, Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung peoples. “The nest found by Kurt is within the distribution of the threatened emu population,” Mr Slade explained. “Forestry Corporation is now working with Saving Our Species on the best way to ensure this nest contributes to broader recovery actions,” he said. The Coastal Emu, (Dromaius novaehollandiae) was once widespread across north-eastern NSW, but is now only found within the Evans Head, Red Rock and Bungawalbin areas. To find out more about the Coastal Emu Population, contact Lia Hooper via:  Keeping up with coastal emu conservation | NSW DCCEW.

Private Forests Tasmania was delighted to participate in Rural Youth Tasmania’s Young Farmer of the Year competition, where our Farm and Forest Mapper tool was featured as a key module in the State finals. Source: Timberbiz The Farm and Forest Mapper, a new digital tool developed by Esk Spatial in collaboration with PFT and the Forest Practices Authority, is designed to transform the farm-planning process for landowners, consultants, planners, and contractors. This tool assists users in assessing the suitability of their land for a variety of crops, including commercial tree species, evaluating wind risk, identifying forest class, and enabling the detailed mapping, drawing, and planning of properties for optimal success. During the competition, the Farm and Forest Mapper was used to map paddocks, proposed shelterbelt plantings, existing forests, and planned fence lines across the Quercus Park property. Participants were required to utilise the Mapper’s analysis and planning tools to answer questions on crop suitability, wind exposure, and woodlot planning. They also had to interpret information related to plantation establishment and fencing requirements, all while demonstrating their ability to think holistically and critically evaluate the information during the farm planning process. The Tasmanian Young Farmer of the Year competition, open to Tasmanians aged 15 to 30, consists of two stages. In the run-offs held in July, competitors faced a range of farm-related tasks, including sheep handling, soil health, sprayer calibration, first aid, machinery operation, and finance. The top 10 scorers from these activities advanced to the Finals, where they completed 10 modules. The top four finalists then participated in the final two modules, testing both their practical and theoretical agricultural knowledge. The highest point scorer from the State Final was crowned the Tasmanian Young Farmer of the Year, taking home more than $40,000 in prizes. Private Forests Tasmania extends its congratulations to the 2024 winners: 1st – Dylan Bellchambers 2nd – Zac Leonard 3rd – Chelsea Rayner 4th – Jake Williams 5th – Charlton Skirving For more information on Rural Youth Tasmania’s Woolworths Tasmanian Young Farmer of the Year, or to get involved as a sponsor or participant, please contact Rural Youth Tasmania. To learn more about the Farm and Forest Mapper Tool, click HERE.