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Vida AB, a subsidiary of Canfor, will permanently close its sawmill operations in Urshult and Orrefors, Sweden. Source: Timberbiz “While this was a difficult decision, the closures are necessary given the ongoing imbalance between production capacity and access to fibre in southern Sweden,” said Karl-Johan Löwenadler, CEO of Vida AB. “By concentrating production in fewer more productive and efficient facilities, we will strengthen Vida’s competitiveness and better position the business for the future.” The closures will reduce Vida’s annual lumber production capacity by approximately 265,000 cubic metres. Following the closures, Vida will operate 13 sawmills across central and southern Sweden, along with its other facilities in packaging, specialty finishing, and logistics.

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Deep Forestry a Swedish robotics and AI company announced the successful close of a €3 million funding round led by Fairpoint Capital, with participation from Superorganism, SpatialCapital, The Arbor Day Foundation’s Impact Fund, First Gate Invest and others. Source: Timberbiz Deep Forestry’s autonomous under-canopy drone system produces the first end-to-end, precision single-tree inventory of the world’s forests. This is the foundational data layer that harvest planning, wildfire fuel-load management, carbon and biomass measurement, reforestation monitoring, biodiversity reporting, and timber logistics all depend on to modernize. Each is a multi-billion-dollar market primed for automation that only becomes achievable once precision single-tree ground truth exists. To date, Deep Forestry’s drones have completed more than 1,000 autonomous flights beneath the canopy in forests across multiple continents. The system measures stem diameter with a mean absolute error of 1.6 cm against harvester measurements along the full length of the stem, independently verified by a third-party government forestry authority. “Autonomous drone surveying beneath the forest canopy was by far the hardest problem to solve. But once achieved, it unlocked the acquisition of precision single-tree inventory: the foundational data layer that forestry and ESG industries had long been missing,” said Levi Farrand, CEO and Founder of Deep Forestry. “By solving end-to-end autonomy in nature, the most complex environment on earth, we’ve built a spatial intelligence stack that generalizes beyond forestry. Every other vertical becomes accessible from here.” Deep Forestry will use the funds to expand both its technical and commercial teams and establish a commercial presence in key forestry markets across the world, while deepening partner integrations with players running on top of its inventory layer. To learn more about Deep Forestry, visit https://www.deepforestry.com/

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The Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC) work is often rooted in standards, scientific data, and the tangible metrics of sustainable forest management. But the future of forests is not just a matter of policy; it is a profoundly human endeavour. With this in mind, FSC collaborated on Three Words for Forest, an innovative theatrical production that explores the complexities of our relationship with the natural world. Source: Timberbiz Three Words for Forest is a compelling project that steps away from conventional environmental advocacy. Instead, it invites the audience into the lives of those who steward our woodlands. The play is built upon a series of candid interviews with forestry specialists, capturing the diverse voices of people working on the frontlines of conservation. Through their narratives, the production delves into the urgent challenges, the complexities, and the quiet, persistent hopes and fears of managing forests in an era defined by the climate crisis. For FSC, engaging with the performing arts represents a vital shift in how it communicates the importance of sustainable forest management. While scientific reports and certification criteria provide the roadmap for a sustainable future, storytelling provides the emotional framework necessary to inspire action. By supporting Three Words for Forest, FSC aims to foster a deeper, more empathetic connection between the public and the stewards of the land. By humanizing the forestry profession, FSC can better articulate why sustainable management is not just a technical necessity, but a moral imperative. One of the most exciting aspects of this collaboration is its commitment to accessibility. The production is free to access, ensuring that this message can reach classrooms, community groups, and individuals around the world. To further support this engagement, the project includes a range of discussion and learning resources, designed to help viewers unpack the themes raised in the play and facilitate meaningful conversations about the future of our planet. Whether you are a student, a professional in the sector, or simply a concerned citizen looking to better understand the realities of forest life in the 21st century, Three Words for Forest offers a unique, reflective experience. It challenges us to look beyond the trees and consider the human stories that underpin our global commitment to forest stewardship. You can watch the play and explore the educational resources for free at https://threewordsforest.org.uk/

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May marks the approaching end of the fiscal year for many businesses and a rush to find receipts and finalise financials, but for one Tiwi Islands organisation, the focus is firmly on planting for the future. Source: Timberbiz Tiwi Plantations Corporation, based 80 kilometres north of Darwin on the Tiwi Islands, has released the Tiwi Forestry Workforce Plan 2026–2030, a coordinated roadmap designed to grow Tiwi participation in forestry and strengthen long-term local employment across the industry. The plan outlines the stages of forestry on the plantation, the range of jobs and career pathways available and the qualifications and skills required at each stage. It responds to the scale of upcoming work with the business preparing to replant 30,000 hectares with Eucalyptus pellita over the next 10 years. The Workforce Plan was developed alongside the Tiwi Forestry Seasonal Calendar, a first of its kind which supports forestry operations by aligning work programs with Tiwi seasons and ecological knowledge. Forestry is a crucial part of the Tiwi Islands economy and engaging more Tiwi people, particularly young people, into the workforce has become a strategic priority. Charles Darwin University (CDU) Northern Institute Research Associate Alicia Boyle, who is the academic lead on the project, said the Workforce Plan was developed to ensure information about jobs, training and progression pathways was clear and accessible. “The plan provides a practical way for Tiwi people to see what roles exist in forestry and how to move into them,” Ms Boyle said. “It shows clear training and career pathways for young people, as well as leadership opportunities. When Tiwi people move into supervisory and senior roles, they create visible pathways for others to follow.” Ms Boyle said the timing of the plan was critical with the first rotation of plantations now harvested and a significant replanting phase recently commenced. “This was an opportunity to look at what comes next, what we can do differently and how we can better support Tiwi people to build long‑term careers in this industry,” she said. The plan is being shared with schools across Darwin and the Tiwi Islands to help engage Tiwi students early and demonstrate the skills and training needed for a future in forestry. Tiwi Plantations Corporation Chair Gibson Farmer Illortaminni said the plan was a key step towards realising long-held aspirations for a strong, local Tiwi forestry workforce. “This has always been part of our vision. Now we have a clear plan to support the next generation to step into the workforce and into leadership,” Mr Illortaminni said. “We’re excited to showcase the plan to our people, because there are jobs on the Tiwi Islands, and we have to get our people into the workforce”. “In the old days, it was the elders’ vision to get our people in the workforce. The next generation needs to step up”. “The calendar makes sure everyone knows which seasons are for burning, planting and looking after the plantation, while also making sure our people know when not to light fires.”

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A new artificial intelligence (AI) tool developed by researchers at the University of Canterbury (UC) is revealing where trees are being lost across Christchurch, including individual residential properties, which is opening the door to healthier, safer and cooler neighbourhoods. Source: Timberbiz The study, led by UC PhD candidate David Pedley, a recipient of the Geospatial Research Institute (GRI) PhD Scholarship, and Professor Justin Morgenroth from UC’s School of Forestry, uses a combination of aerial imagery, LiDAR data and deep learning to detect and measure changes in urban tree canopy over time. The research, Detecting and measuring fine-scale urban tree canopy loss with deep learning and remote sensing, was published in the ISPRS Open Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. “Urban trees play a critical role in making cities more liveable,” Mr Pedley said. “They help cool neighbourhoods, improve air quality and support wellbeing, but until now, it’s been difficult to track exactly where and why we’re losing them.” Focusing on Christchurch, the research mapped tree canopy loss between 2016 and 2021 with a level of detail not previously possible. The results show that approximately 14.5 percent of the city’s urban tree canopy was lost over that period, with the majority occurring on residential land. “What’s new here is the level of precision we can achieve with the data. We can now identify tree loss at the scale of individual properties, which creates opportunities to better understand the drivers behind it and respond more effectively,” Mr Pedley said. Professor Morgenroth says the ability to pinpoint where canopy loss is occurring could support more targeted decision-making by councils, planners and communities. “If we want to maintain the benefits of urban trees, we need good data to inform our decisions. This kind of insight can help guide planning, policy and investment to protect and grow urban forests where they are needed most,” he said. Urban trees are increasingly recognised as critical infrastructure in cities, helping to reduce urban heat, manage stormwater and support biodiversity, as well as contributing to the local population’s mental health and overall quality of life. The researchers say their approach could be applied in cities around the world, using publicly available data to better understand urban tree dynamics and support more sustainable urban development. “This isn’t just about measuring loss, it’s about giving cities the tools to make better decisions for the future,” Mr Pedley said.

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Sorbent Paper has moved to shut down another paper machine at its Box Hill, Victoria site, wiping out around 60 more skilled manufacturing jobs and further reducing Australia’s capacity to make essential household paper products locally. Source: Timberbiz The Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union (TFTU) said the decision is another major step in the dismantling of local manufacturing at the iconic Sorbent facility, with more production shifted offshore while the brand continues to trade on its Australian reputation. The union said Sorbent is owned by offshore interests linked to Asia Pulp & Paper, and the effect of the strategy is clear: use the value of a trusted Australian brand to grow consumer acceptability of imported product while cutting the local jobs, skills and manufacturing capacity that built that brand. TFTU Pulp & Paper Workers District Secretary Denise Campbell-Burns said the company was abandoning the workers and community that made Sorbent an Australian household name. “This is corporate vandalism,” Ms Campbell-Burns said. “These jobs are not just at risk — they are being wiped out. “This is skilled, secure manufacturing work that should still have a future in Australia. Instead, an offshore-owned company is cutting Australian jobs, shutting Australian machines and replacing local production with imported product. “That is the model we are up against: keep the Australian brand, keep the Australian customers, but get rid of the Australian workers.” The union said the latest closure follows years of contraction at the Box Hill site since it was acquired by APP in 2018, with each decision reducing jobs, skills, production capacity and Australia’s ability to make essential products locally. “This is not an isolated decision. It is a pattern,” Ms Campbell-Burns said. “This is how manufacturing capacity disappears. It happens machine by machine, shift by shift, job by job, until one day we realise we no longer make enough of the essentials we rely on. “Once these machines are gone, they are gone for good. So are the jobs, the skills and the capacity to make these products here.” The union said the damage goes beyond Box Hill, because this strategy actively undermines Australia’s remaining tissue and toilet paper manufacturers. “This strategy does not just threaten Australian manufacturers, it helps displace them,” Ms Campbell-Burns said. “It uses the reputation of an Australian-made brand to grow imported supply, take shelf space and undercut companies still making tissue and toilet paper here. “That rewards the wrong model. Companies investing in Australian workers, Australian mills and Australian supply chains should not be forced to compete against a strategy that trades on an Australian name while moving the work offshore.” Ms Campbell-Burns said Australia should not wait for another supply crisis before acting to defend local production. “COVID showed what happens when Australia becomes too reliant on overseas supply for essential products. Toilet paper was the obvious example. “Instead of learning that lesson, this company is doubling down on offshoring. “Our members are angry, and they have every right to be. They built this business. Now they are watching it being dismantled.” The union is calling on Sorbent’s owners to reverse the cuts, protect local jobs and commit to the future of Australian tissue and toilet paper manufacturing.

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