Forest Products Industry

Enviva announced its successful emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, marking a significant milestone in the company’s strategic transformation. Source: Business Wire Enviva is well-positioned for long-term growth and consistent operating performance, allowing the company to serve its customers as a market leader and critical partner in meeting their demand for renewable fuel. Enviva’s Plan of Reorganization (the “Plan”) was confirmed by the US Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, with overwhelming support from the company’s key stakeholders and business partners. As part of its financial restructuring, Enviva has equitized more than US$1 billion of indebtedness and American Industrial Partners Capital Fund VIII (“AIP”) has become the largest shareholder of the company. To support ongoing operations and future growth initiatives, Enviva is capitalized at emergence with an attractive exit loan facility, as well as access to further capital through a delayed draw term loan. As part of the Plan, stakeholders provided US$250 million of new money financing through an Equity Rights Offering to help fund the recapitalization of the company. As a result of this, the company’s liquidity and financial profile is very strong, and the company has no near-term debt maturities. The secured funding also fully finances completion of the company’s 11th production plant, under construction in Epes, Alabama, which is anticipated to produce its first pellets in May 2025. Once fully ramped, the company expects the new plant to produce ~1 million metric tons of wood pellets per year, providing a significant opportunity to sell into new and existing markets. Glenn Nunziata, who most recently served as Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, and James Geraghty, who formerly served as Executive Vice President of Finance, has been named Chief Financial Officer. In connection with emergence, Enviva will operate as a private company with a new board of managers comprising representatives from key shareholders, including AIP, Keyframe Capital Partners, L.P., and Ares Management funds, who bring valuable financial, operational, and end-market experience to support Enviva’s operations and future growth.

As the year draws to a close, take a moment to look back at some of the impressive moments in mass timber design and construction that have made 2024 the ‘Year of the Wood Dragon’ truly unforgettable. Source: Timberbiz Record-breaking number of architectural awards for buildings designed and constructed with wood. Highlights include: Wisdome Stockholm, Dezeen, Kasper Salin, Canadian Wood Council Stora Enso Head Office, Finnish Wood Award and inclusion in the inaugural UN Bio & Earth-Based Materials Compendium that was launched at COP29 11 Belgrave Road, Retrofit Building of the Year 2024 Building Magazine Awards (G-frame Structures Ltd) Bezirksbauernkammer, Austria Archello (Innovoholz) Hope Street, 2024 RIBA MacEwen Award (EURBAN) Mediavaert ∣ DPG Media’s new HQ, The Netherlands Timber Awards (WIEHAG Timber Construction) EcoDataCenter, Urban Land Institute Awards for Excellence (ByggPartner) 2024 was also the inaugural year for the Built by Nature Prize Several major cities carried out urban planning and placemaking with engineered wood. President Macron opened Arboretum in Paris and Stora Enso delivered the mass timber kit of parts for the first building at Stockholm Wood City and Sydney’s Green City, near the new airport. Paris, Lyon, and Vancouver (to name just a few) developed affordable housing projects with mass timber, citing cost-effectiveness, speed and sustainability as the primary drivers. It wasn’t just buildings that were woodified, 2024 saw more wood-based telecom towers using laminated veneer lumber and other infrastructure, including wind turbine towers. Everything from road signs to satellites are going the woodway. More than a hundred new schools and educational extensions were built with prefabricated Sylva kits, and GenZero Designed with Nature (a design for the disassembly (Dfd) initiative in the UK) also improved state schools. Some of the best of 2024 timber educational facilities included: B&K’s Stephenson Building, Newcastle University Madergia’s UPNA Health Sciences Building Pöchhacker’s VERBUND Hydropower – Apprentice Campus The EU building sector was told loud and clear to get serious about low-emission and carbon-storing materials (aka wood) with the EU taking its boldest step yet to regulate the vast amounts of emissions in building materials. New legislation requires life cycle assessments (LCAs) for all new buildings, starting with large buildings in 2028, and requires all EU countries to set emission limits for new buildings from 2030. Supported by France’s Environmental Regulation 2020 (RE2020), prominent developers increasingly turned to mass timber to meet those legal requirements and also likely to satisfy customer sustainability demands too. The Paris Olympic venues showcased demountable wood products and Falu Rödfärg pigment by Stora Enso. In Germany, the new Model Timber Construction Directive is on track to simplify the construction of wood buildings. The federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia has already applied this directive. In Canada, the Mass Timber Roadmap was introduced to increase the mass timber market to Can$2.4 billion by 2035, with Can$4.2 million allocated for mass timber demonstration projects and research now. Provincial building codes were also updated to enable mass timber buildings up to 18 floors. The US increased funding to US$74 million to spark innovation, create new markets for wood products, and expand wood processing facilities. (USDA) The Australian government’s $300 million fund launched in 2022 to accelerate the use of mass timber in medium and high-rise buildings started to take shape. Stora Enso and WIEHAG Timber Construction are shipping elements now to build the 39-storey Atlassian HQ in Sydney set to be the world’s tallest commercial hybrid timber tower as this is written. Czechia approved the National Raw Materials Policy for Wood, which aims to accelerate the adoption of timber buildings. Lifecycle assessments went mainstream, boosting demand for carbon-storing, low-energy, and traceable building products; learn more about this in the Mass timber LCA-led design and construction case study. Demand for more detailed carbon footprint information resulted in a wealth of new carbon counters, with Stora Enso’s calculator widely celebrated for showcasing their impressively small carbon footprint in a user-friendly way. Other standouts included Siemens’ Participatory research initiatives, financial incentives and public awareness campaigns for building with wood captured our hearts and attention with stand-out examples, including Czechia’s pavilion at the World Expo in Japan (A2 Timber) Wood Circles, Alliance for Sustainable Buildings Map Project, European Wood Policy Platform (WoodPoP), New York City’s Mass Timber Studio. Climate Cleanup launched a methodology to certify the carbon stored in timber buildings (and Timber Finance Initiative made big strides with its soon-to-launch similar methodology). Under such approaches, developers can financially benefit from their buildings’ stored carbon if anyone still needs a reason to build in wood. Green building badges: More mass timber buildings received prestigious sustainability certifications, such as LEED and BREEAM, recognizing their environmental performance and setting benchmarks for future projects. More than 70 countries committed to the Chaillot Declaration to make near-zero emission and climate-resilient buildings the new global standard. This is particularly encouraging given that 2025 is the year we’ll all learn if greenhouse gases have peaked or not, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. While that remains a big question mark, the year of the Wood Dragon has delivered with many bold and beautiful examples of how we can and are resisting climate change with sustainable wood products.

When livestock and forestry come together it can be the best of both worlds, leading to resilience against climate change, productive landscapes into the future and improved animal welfare. Source: Timberbiz Scion researchers and partners are on a mission to demonstrate the environmental, economic, cultural and social benefits of an integrated system during the three-year Taking risk out of next generation silvopastoral systems research programme. Agroforestry blends agriculture and forestry in a way that addresses environmental, economic and social pressures. Silvopastoral systems are the form of agroforestry involving livestock grazing on pasture.There has been little new research on silvopastoral systems in New Zealand for more than 30 years and there is a gap in current knowledge and lack of demonstrated systems. This project aims to change that. During the research program, which started in August 2024, the team will hold co-design workshops with research partners and landowners to identify sites where trees can either be planted into established farms or existing stands of trees can be modified. Animal and plant monitoring will ideally be done across trials on sheep, beef, and dairy farms. Engagement with landowners occurred pre-proposal and will continue throughout ensuring research, infrastructure and project objectives are collaboratively developed, project lead Peter Clinton says. “Co-design is a key requirement to ensure objectives are met and research is relevant to the needs and aspirations of landowners.” Animal welfare and climate change are at the project’s core. Clinton, a microbial ecology and soil systems principal researcher, says trees on farms create more natural shelter for animals from the elements. Other benefits include less erosion, potentially more biodiversity and increased carbon sequestration. Mr Clinton hopes the trials can continue beyond the life of the research project. Simon Van Haandel, a Forestry Business Manager at Pāmu, one of Scion’s research partners, says deciduous silvopastoral systems could be a viable land use option on vulnerable land types across New Zealand. He says climate modelling shows extreme weather events will worsen over time which will reduce productivity and increase the risks to both stock and the land. Trees can help mitigate the effects of erosion and minimise the impacts of extreme weather by cooling air and regulating water flows. “Historical silvopastoral trials under radiata pine were not economically viable however, other values such as erosion control, animal health, shade and shelter, timber and carbon are becoming increasingly important for farm resilience in the face of climate change. “Pāmu hopes that through the project we can show the conditions under which silvopastoral systems can work in New Zealand to provide farmers with another option for their tool kit.” Dane Tamepo (The Proprietors of Orete ll & Other Blocks Incorporated) believes science is pivotal in addressing climate change and building resilience across the Incorporation’s dairy operation and other land uses. Central to their discussions are the priorities of people, climate, animal welfare, water quality, and adapting farming systems to support long-term land-use sustainability. The Incorporation also has an interwoven relationship with other whenua landowners within Te Whānau a Pararaki hapū, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Iwi. “With this in mind our intention is to share the research so that our whānau, hapū and Iwi can benefit. Understanding our unique challenges and bringing to the table our Te Ao Māori worldview, are key outcomes for us and why we are involved in this research,” Mr Tamepo said. Senior scientist Karin Schutz of AgResearch’s Animal Behaviour and Welfare team says she is excited about the project as it incorporates a One Welfare perspective — the concept that animal welfare depends on and influences human wellbeing, biodiversity and the environment, and is therefore interconnected. “Cows and sheep are very good at seeking out microclimates that help them thermoregulate and stay comfortable, so it is good for their welfare. It is also good for the farmer because animals that do not have to spend energy to thermoregulate produce more, so it is good for the wallet as well. It is a win-win for both animals and farmers.” Short-term, the project aims to develop new systems infrastructure to promote farming practice changes. In the medium-term it aims to develop methods for quantifying the benefits of silvopastoral systems. Long-term, the aim is for local communities to have increased confidence in the future of silvopastoral systems, for the public to have greater confidence in intergenerational sustainability of New Zealand agriculture and the Government to have greater confidence in the farming community’s ability to adapt to climate change and other global pressures. The project is funded through MPI’s Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change fund. Scion’s research partners include Pāmu and Orete No. 2 and Other Blocks Incorporation and AgResearch. For more details visit https://www.scionresearch.com/science/sustainable-forest-and-land-management/next-generation-silvopastoral-systems  

Detached house approvals across Australia rose by 6.1% in September to 9890, the highest monthly number of detached house approvals in two years. Source: Timberbiz The Australian Bureau of Statistics Thursday released its monthly building approvals data for September 2024 for detached houses and multi-units covering all states and territories. “There were 28,970 detached house approvals nationally in the September quarter 2024. This is 4.1% higher than in the previous quarter and 12.9% higher than at the same time in the previous year,” HIA Economist Maurice Tapang said. “It has been a year since the RBA last raised interest rates. Unchanged cash rate settings, supported by strong population growth, low unemployment levels and acute housing shortages, have helped lift consumer sentiment. “The result seen in house approvals data continues to confirm that the market is past its trough, and more buyers are building a new home especially in those markets outside of Sydney,” he said. Detached house approvals in Melbourne were double that of approvals in Sydney, despite the two capital cities having comparatively similar population numbers and inflows. Mr Tapang said that detached house approvals in some areas of Regional NSW had also improved as home buyers in the state search for more affordable opportunities outside the capital city. “The cost of home building materials are growing at a more normal pace, while build times for houses are back to pre-pandemic levels. The price of shovel-ready land, however, remains prohibitively high especially in Sydney,” he said. “Multi-unit approvals rose by 8.5% in the month of September to 4,950. Approvals for multi-units have been bumpy and trending at decade-low levels amid challenges with capacity, labour availability and materials costs. “There were 14,890 multi-unit approvals in the September quarter 2024, which is 10.7% higher than in the previous quarter and 1.2% higher than at the same time in the previous year. “The volume of apartment construction needs to double current approvals numbers in order to achieve the Australian Government’s target of 1.2 million homes over five years,” Mr Tapang said. Detached house approvals in the September quarter 2024 rose by 49.9% in Western Australia compared to the same time in the previous year. This was followed by South Australia (+21.1%), Queensland (+17.8%), and Victoria (+9.3%). The other jurisdictions recorded a decline over the same period, led by the Australian Capital Territory (-20.9%), followed by Tasmania (-19.1%), New South Wales (-5.1%) and the Northern Territory (-1.9%). Muli-unit approvals in the September quarter 2024 rose by 179.1% in Western Australia compared to the previous year. This was followed by Queensland (+39.6%) and South Australia (+0.3%). The Northern Territory recorded no change over the same period, while declines were recorded in the Australian Capital Territory (-75.2%), Tasmania (-10.9%), New South Wales (-8.4%) and Victoria (-4.2%).

The 2025 Forest Carbon Summit will be held at Canberra’s National Press Club in April next year from 10- 11 April 2025 at the National Press Club of Australia in the ACT. Source: Timberbiz This 2-day event is designed to equip forest carbon practitioners, forest managers and a diverse range of stakeholders with the knowledge and tools needed to successfully navigate the forest carbon landscape. The event aims to provide attendees with an improved understanding of the demand for forest carbon, ethics in the carbon market, and the technical and administrative requirements of forest carbon projects. The program will feature a range of speakers and panellists who are experts, practitioners, researchers and thought leaders in their field. Announcements on confirmed speakers will follow. Some key themes at the Summit include Intersection of carbon and natural capital markets Complexities in existing and emerging forest carbon accounting methods Opportunities in off-market carbon accounting Forest carbon and investment Ethics & risk Agroforestry, agriculture and environmental plantings Local and international best practice Future legislation and reporting requirements The Summit will feature breakout sessions, including ‘Carbon 101’for newcomers, and ‘Plantation project development and the role of the RFP’, essential for Registered Forestry Professionals. The Summit will also feature a social function, to facilitate networking and collaboration in an informal and relaxed environment. For more information visit https://www.forestry.org.au/2025-forest-carbon-summit/  

The first of 100 additional Biosecurity officers will start to hit the front line from December, as part of the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to strengthen Queensland’s agriculture, fisheries, and forestry sectors. Source: Timberbiz The officers will play a front-line role in detecting and responding to biosecurity threats, conducting inspections, monitoring activities, and enforcing Queensland’s world-leading biosecurity standards. The Crisafulli Government has set an ambitious target of increasing the state’s agriculture output to $30 billion by 2030, driving future investment, creating jobs, and unlocking opportunities for producers. Research and development will play a key role in driving the industry forward, with a $30 million Sowing the Seeds of Farming Innovation Fund to promote new technologies and practices. This fund will focus on boosting efficiency and sustainability further across Queensland’s agriculture sector. In a clear demonstration of the commitment to supporting rural and regional Queensland, the Crisafulli Government will make a $12.5 million investment in the Mossman region and reaffirmed a commitment to working with all stakeholders to find a sustainable solution regarding the Mossman Mill. Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett made the revelations in a powerful keynote address at the Rural Press Club today. “Our agriculture, biosecurity, fisheries, and forestry industries are the backbone of this state,” Minister Perrett said. “They employ over 377,000 people, represent 13% of our workforce, and generate billions in export value each year. “We’re committed to making these industries more productive and profitable. “I will always have the back of our rural communities like Mossman. This is our promise – we are here for the people who make Queensland’s agriculture great,” Minister Perrett said.

AgCAREERSTART is a Federal Government program to place young people (17-25) in a gap year in rural industries. Source: Timberbiz AgCAREERSTART is a Federally funded program being delivered by the National Farmers Federation. Two applicants into the program this year have indicated that forestry is a preferred industry for them. One is a high school graduate, the other just graduated from university. Both have indicated a willingness to relocate and are looking for an opportunity to get hands on experience. Participants successfully matched with an employer received a $4,500 training allowance, and employers receive a $2,000 grant Placements cannot start before 1 January 2025, and standard employment processes apply including interview prior to appointment. The program does involve coordinated support for the participants provided by the project team. For more information about AgCAREERSTART visit: https://agcareerstart.com.au/

A recent trip to the Wide Bay-Burnett region saw the team from Canopy, Queensland’s forest and timber industry training and careers hub, lay groundwork for delivering the next generation of forest and timber workers though the Cutting Edge Program, a workforce initiative designed to address skilled labour shortages. Source: Timberbiz A two-week pre-employment training and work placement program, Cutting Edge equips jobseekers with meaningful skills while giving employers the chance to assess potential hires through work experience placements. This program bridges the gap between jobseekers and employers, fostering lasting workforce connections while addressing a critical need within the industry. During the road trip, which included hosting promotion events in Gympie and Maryborough, the team engaged key stakeholders to attract a strong talent pool for the next intake of the program, with Canopy Hub Project Lead Steve Worley noting the particularly strong engagement from local employment agencies recognising the value of the program’s capacity for creating job-ready skills. “Every industry is facing a competitive employment market at the moment, so the trip created a valuable opportunity for raising the profile of roles in the forest and timber sector. It also facilitated crucial connections with organisations uniquely positioned to identify and channel new talent into our industry,” said Mr Worley. “This collaborative approach is setting a benchmark for addressing workforce challenges in a highly competitive labour market.” The trip builds on the program’s proven past successes, which has seen a number of program graduates secure long-term employment within the industry. Andrew Davies from DTM Timber, a host of past cohorts, has found the initiative a valuable opportunity for employers and program participants alike. “It’s ‘try before you buy’, you get to have a good look at your potential employees, and insight from the program trainer into what they’ll be like as an employee, and where their skills and natural abilities will be best suited within your business,” said Mr Davies. “It’s been a worthwhile enterprise – we’ve gotten good people out of it and it’s in our best interests to keep the whole industry strong.” The next round of Cutting Edge will be delivered in early 2025, with local employers in the Gympie and Maryborough regions invited to reach out for more information on participating in this and future rounds. The Canopy Hub initiative is delivered by Timber Queensland with the support of the Workforce Connect Fund, powered by the Queensland Government’s Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032 Workforce Strategy 2022-2032.

Forestry Corporation firefighters are gearing up for the summer bushfire season in the New South Wales pine plantations. With the onset of warmer conditions solid fuel fire bans have been introduced in key pine growing regions in the Riverina and Central West. Source: Timberbiz Forestry Corporation firefighters are currently preparing for summer with a series of fire camps across the state allowing staff to train and upskill on new and existing fireground equipment and appliances. “As a firefighting authority, Forestry Corporation takes firefighting seriously, we have a commitment to ensure we keep our people, our communities and our estates safe,” Bathurst-based Stewardship and Fire Supervisor Dave Anderson said. “We hold three fire camps each year in different locations across NSW to train new staff towards their initial certification and to advance our current staff,” he said. Fire camps are week-long, intensive training sessions that prepare staff and train new staff for the upcoming fire season. A recent fire camp in Wallerawang was attended by more than 40 people and eight staff members who trained, assessed and mentored the team. Senior Manager Fire and Natural Hazards Rebel Talbert said Forestry Corporation currently has trained firefighters across the state rostered on to respond to state forest fires across NSW. “Our staff are trained in forest firefighting and work really closely with the other agencies to respond to fires when they occur,” Ms Talbert said. Our statewide fleet includes fire appliances, pieces of heavy plant machinery, contracted aircraft and over a hundred drones and trained pilots,” Ms Talbert said. “Our fleet of fire tankers and light vehicles fitted with fire-fighting gear and heavy plant like bulldozers, which is used in forest operations in state forests, are also made available by the broader forest industry to fight fires in NSW.” Currently a major multi-year program is underway to upgrade Forestry Corporation’s firefighting fleet and improve safety for our firefighters. In response to a recommendation of the Independent Bushfire Inquiry, burn-over Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) protection systems are being retrofitted to all existing light firefighting fleet and installed standard on new vehicles. In addition, new fire tankers are being purchased to replace ageing vehicles. “As a statutory firefighting authority managing two million hectares of land and supporting community firefighting efforts across the landscape, it is vital that we maintain safe and efficient fleet and equipment and investments in our fleet will further enhance efforts made in recent years to improve the safety, efficiency and effectiveness of our fleet,” Ms Talbert said. To find out more about Forestry Corporation firefighting visit www.forestrycorporation.com.au