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David Eby Premier of British Columbia, Canada was part of a trade mission to Asia is bringing back new opportunities to grow a stronger, more diversified economy and create good jobs throughout the province. Source: Timberbiz The 10-day economic tour promoted British Columbia’s strengths as a reliable trade partner that has what the world needs from critical minerals and clean energy to forestry and agriculture products, and the ports to deliver them. “This mission was about supporting BC jobs and building a British Columbia that will be the economic engine of a more independent Canada,” said Premier Eby. “Our trade relationships with the Indo-Pacific are exceptionally important right now, as we work to diversify our markets and become less reliant on the United States. “BC has a lot of advantages – our proximity to Asia, our abundance of natural resources, our talented and diverse workforce. These are all things that the world needs, and it was a great opportunity to showcase that to key trade partners.” During the mission, which included stops in Japan, Malaysia and South Korea, Premier Eby was accompanied by Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food, and Paul Choi, parliamentary secretary for Asia-Pacific trade. Representatives from 19 BC companies, universities and associations were part of the business delegation. The trade mission focused on strengthening relationships with governments, business leaders and investors, as well as promoting BC’s strengths in key sectors, such as clean energy, technology, wood and wood products, agrifood and critical minerals. Many of the meetings focused on plans to work with Japan, Malaysia and South Korea to support energy transitions through opportunities in clean energy. The mission also focused on promoting BC’s safe and sustainable agrifoods products. Advancing information sharing and knowledge exchange was also a key component of the mission. Multiple agreements were signed between BC and Korean universities. For example, the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University signed memorandums of understanding with Pohang University of Science and Technology to promote joint research, faculty and student exchanges and collaborative innovation. “We are extremely confident that our trade mission to Japan, Malaysia and South Korea will strengthen existing relationships and generate new opportunities across the region,” Choi said. “British Columbia has a highly efficient network of trade and investment representatives throughout Asia, as well as the products and services that the growing Asian economies need. “We will continue to promote our advantages as a key trading partner with our friends in the Asia-Pacific region to grow our trade presence there.” The mission is part of BS’s Trade Diversification Strategy, which outlines actions to increase trade and investment opportunities in existing markets, such as Japan and South Korea, as well as in new and emerging markets, such as Malaysia.

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One-third (34%) of all global forest lost between 2001 and 2024 is likely permanent meaning trees in those areas are unlikely to grow back naturally according to a new analysis by World Resources Institute (WRI) and Google DeepMind. Source: Timberbiz The impact is even more severe in tropical primary rainforests, where a staggering 61% of loss is tied to permanent land use change, a major setback for some of the planet’s most vital ecosystems for biodiversity and carbon storage. Researchers also warn that while the remaining two-thirds of forest loss is typically linked to “temporary” disturbances like logging or wildfire, and it can still have lasting consequences. Forests may take decades to recover. And even when they do, they don’t always return to full health. The findings made possible by an advanced AI model and satellite imagery and developed by Global Forest Watch, Land & Carbon Lab and Google DeepMind, offer the most detailed local, regional and global view to date of what’s driving forest loss and what can be done about it. “We’ve long known where forests are being lost. Now we better understand why,” said Michelle Sims, Research Associate at WRI. “This knowledge is essential to developing smarter actions at the regional, national and even local level — to protect remaining forests and restore degraded ones”. The new dataset distinguishes drivers likely to cause permanent loss such as expansion of agriculture, mining, infrastructure and settlements, which accounted for the 34% (177 million hectares) of global tree cover loss since 2001. Permanent agriculture alone made up 95% of that total. In tropical primary rainforests, drivers of permanent land use change drove an even greater share: 61% of loss (50.7 million hectares) nearly the size of Thailand. While the remaining two-thirds of forest loss stems from causes typically viewed as temporary, such as logging, wildfires, natural disturbances or shifting cultivation, recovery is not assured. Forest regeneration depends on how the land is managed afterward, the type of forest and the degree of environmental stress it faces. “Just because trees grow back doesn’t mean forests return to their original state” said Radost Stanimirova, Research Associate at WRI. “They might store less carbon, have fewer species or be more vulnerable to future damage. And climate change is making many natural events like fires and pest outbreaks more intense and frequent, which makes it harder for forests to recover.” In tropical areas like Latin America and Southeast Asia, permanent agriculture is the dominant driver, responsible for 73% and 66% of loss, respectively. In temperate and boreal regions such as Russia and North America, wildfires often triggered by lightning or human activity and logging are the primary drivers. In Europe, 91% of tree cover loss is due to timber harvesting, much of it within managed forests where regrowth is planned. Some drivers have an outsized impact in specific regions, even if they’re minor globally driven by local land use, economic activity and governance. For instance, mining and energy drive less than 1% of global tree cover loss but caused 28% in Peru’s Madre de Dios region. In Colorado, climate-driven bark beetle outbreaks accounted for 27% of tree loss over two decades, even though natural disturbances like pests, storms, and floods make up just 1.4% of global loss. These are just two examples, many more exist around the world, each shaped by distinct local dynamics. Permanent forest loss has serious and far-reaching consequences: reduced carbon storage, accelerated biodiversity loss and heightened risks to water and food security all at a time when the planet is already facing a deepening climate and ecological crisis. Even temporary losses can be dangerous; depending on how forests recover, they may still lead to long-term ecosystem degradation and a decline in the critical services forests provide. The new data marks a significant advance for forest policy, addressing a crucial gap in global efforts to halt deforestation by 2030. By pinpointing the underlying causes of forest loss in different places, it enables policymakers, companies and communities around the world to design more targeted, effective solutions to tackle deforestation. Researchers at WRI outline a set of urgent, evidence-based recommendations tailored to the specific drivers of forest loss. Among other priorities, they call for stronger Indigenous and local land rights, designing policies that reflect local farming and land use realities, improving how forests are managed and monitored and ensuring infrastructure and agricultural expansion are guided by strong environmental planning. For example, enforcing laws like the EU Deforestation Regulation and supporting smallholder farmers with sustainable alternatives are key to tackling agriculture-driven loss. Meanwhile, reducing wildfire risk demands ecosystem-specific fire management and early warning systems.

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Koskisen, in collaboration with Kesko, the biggest trading sector operator in Finland, has piloted the use of discarded wooden packaging materials – such as pallets – generated in the retail distribution chain as raw material for chipboard production. Source: Timberbiz During the pilot, Koskisen developed a unique recycled wood cleaning process, the first of its kind in Finland. Thanks to this breakthrough, the chipboard made with recycled material is as clean as chipboard made from virgin wood. “Increasing the use of recycled material in our chipboard products is one of our key sustainability goals. The recycled raw material cleaning process developed during the pilot has resulted in an exemplary circular economy product, which matches the performance and properties of chipboard made from virgin wood chips and sawdust. Maintaining product quality was one of the core objectives of the pilot,” said Tom-Peter Helenius, Director, Panel Industry at Koskisen. According to Mr Helenius, even the standard chipboard is a great circular economy product, as it is made from side streams of Koskisen’s Panel and Sawmill Industry operations. This new product incorporating recycled material broadens the range of circular economy products. While the share of recycled material in the finished product is currently a few percent, Koskisen estimates it will be able to utilize a significant amount in production – about one truckload of recycled material each day. “It’s great to contribute to practical circular economy solutions. Until now, Finland has lacked an industrial-scale recycling solution for end-of-life wood. By increasing the share of recycled wood in our products, we extend the life cycle of recyclable materials and use them to sequester carbon from the atmosphere in long-lasting wood products,” Mr Helenius said. Construction and demolition waste is the second-largest waste stream in Finland. In 2022 alone, the construction sector generated 248,000 tonnes of wood waste.* In practice, most of this wood waste has been incinerated in Finland. Kesko’s Building and Technical Trade Division has been actively seeking a sustainable solution for recycling end-of-life wood for several years. “We are constantly developing smarter ways to produce, transport, and use consumer goods. The solution piloted here is new and exceptional in the Finnish context. The results demonstrate that recycling end-of-life wood can be economically viable and add value for both companies. At the same time, we bring more sustainable circular economy products to consumers,” said Antti Auvinen, Director, Procurement and Responsibility at Kesko’s Building and Technical Trade Division. Koskisen and Kesko aim to integrate the pilot into their regular raw material stream and production process during summer 2025. * Finnish environmental administration portal www.ymparisto.fi

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The inaugural Growing Native Forests Champions Awards were announced in New Zealand. New Zealand Forestry Minister Todd McClay congratulated the winners for driving real progress in native forest establishment and land use innovation. Source: Timberbiz “This is what good land management looks like — native forests that support both the environment and the rural economy,” Mr McClay said. “This is practical, long-term investment in our land that delivers environmental and economic benefits while supporting farm profitability.” With 59 entries this year, the awards show what’s possible when innovation meets local knowledge — from farmers and lifestyle block owners to iwi and forestry companies. “Native forests and farming go hand in hand. We can farm the best land and plant natives on the most vulnerable, stabilising hillsides and safeguarding waterways. “These winners prove native planting can work alongside other productive land uses to deliver real results.” Award Winners: Lifestyle Block Owner: Paul and Katherina Quinlan, Northland — pioneers of sustainable tōtara timber management. Mana Whenua: Kapenga M Trust, Bay of Plenty — blending mātauranga Māori and science to grow native forests and create jobs. Trees on Farms: Ian Brennan, Waikato — integrating natives for ecosystem health and income through continuous cover forestry. Forestry Company: Tasman Pine Forests, Nelson/Tasman — restoring native forests, controlling wilding pines, and protecting native species. Catchment/Community: Wai Kōkopu, Bay of Plenty — retiring erodible land and improving estuary health while supporting profitable farming. Each winner received a handcrafted trophy made from native timbers — a symbol of their commitment to New Zealand’s land and future.

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