Australian timber industry news

Komatsu’s digital solution Precision opens up new opportunities to work in a smarter and more efficient way thanks to technological developments, it is now possible to show the machine’s position to within just a few centimetres, providing the foundation for many functions that facilitates the forest machine operator’s working day. Source: Timberbiz Precision is now expanding with more useful benefits, such as line following with guidance support. Precision includes many features that help increase productivity while providing the operator with important information and support to make wise decisions. With geofencing, it is possible to draw in digital fences when planning the object, around the work area or to mark a protected area. Selectable alarms then alert the operator if the machine is too close to the border, providing extra peace of mind. The high precision also provides advantages such as being able to mark boundaries and areas digitally, based on map data from, for example, drones or LiDAR scanning. An accurate visualisation of the machine on the map as well as higher resolution map layers are other practical features. Another area of use is stem code visualisation, which means that individual stems can be visualised with stem codes based on, for example, biodiversity considerations. Stem coding supports the operator in their work, enabling them to make better decisions more easily. It will also be easier to comply with directives, such as distances between future trees. Precision can also show the exact position of the felled logs, not just where the tree was cut. This feature allows the operator to know exactly where the timber is, even when it is dark or has snowed. This will also make it easier to see the assortment found in each log pile or at the roadside. Precision is constantly evolving, and new features are being added. New a guidance support for line following, which helps the operator stick to a particular path. The person planning the route also sets limits for deviations and if the machine starts to deviate from the planned course, a guide will support the operator in how to navigate back to the line. This function is very useful when planning, for example, strip roads. It is also important that the user experience is as smooth and intuitive as possible. A new feature is the ability to set zoom levels for different working modes. The zoom is automatically adjusted during work based on the operator’s presets, ensuring a more seamless experience throughout the working day. The functionality of the map layers has also been improved. For example, it is possible to import data layers, activate boundaries such as area boundaries, and add detailed information about a data layers. A new feature also allows the operator to select how felled stems should be visualized on the screen. Either as individual logs for full control of production or grouped together to give a good overview.  

Södra has decided to invest in a battery-electric long-haul truck in its daily logistics chain for transporting woodchips. Using self-produced, fossil-free electricity to charge the woodchip truck, the environmental footprint from these transport operations will be dramatically reduced. Source: Timberbiz The electric woodchip truck is supplied by Scania and represents a milestone in Södra’s long-term goal of transitioning to fossil-free transportation. Today, road transport plays a key role in the Swedish forest industry, and as one of the largest buyers of transport services, Södra has long strived to make its logistics more efficient and environmentally friendly. Truck transport accounts for about 5% of Södra’s fossil CO₂ emissions when indirect emissions are also included. By introducing this long-haul truck to transport woodchips in Blekinge and eastern Småland, Sweden, Södra is taking an important step towards a fossil-free future. Delivery of the battery-electric woodchip truck is expected towards the end of 2024 and the truck will be tested in real-life conditions during the 2025–2027 period. The aim is that the truck will travel about 100,000 kilometres per year, corresponding to 400 kilometres every day. Meanwhile, to facilitate charging during normal operations, the plan is to extensively expand the charging infrastructure at the mills in Mörrum, Mönsterås, Orrefors and Långasjö, Sweden, over the coming year. On completion of the test program, the pilot project will be evaluated to formulate a clear plan for the large-scale electrification of Södra’s entire vehicle fleet. “This battery-electric woodchip truck is an exciting milestone in our efforts to electrify the truck fleet, not least because it is being deployed directly in our operations as part of our day-to-day transport operations. The project will teach us a great deal while contributing to Södra’s overall goal of net zero emissions by 2040. I am convinced that the test will also generate valuable insights that the entire industry can benefit from in the future,” said Henrik Brodin, Project Manager for A Fossil-Free Södra. The pilot project is part of the TREE project, an initiative coordinated by the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden (Skogforsk). The overarching objective of the project is to contribute to ensuring that battery-electric vehicles accounts for 50% of new truck sales in the forestry industry by 2030. In addition to Södra, a further 20 partners are participating in this ambitious initiative, including other forest companies, logistics companies, haulage companies, charging infrastructure companies, technology companies and universities. The project will answer important questions regarding route optimisation and charging infrastructure, knowledge that can help Södra and its contract hauliers to reduce their costs and environmental footprint across the value chain. The electric woodchip truck is a Scania 45R with a load capacity of up to 64 tonnes. With an estimated range of 250 to 300 kilometres when deployed in Södra’s operations, it is ideal for regional transport operations in eastern Småland. The truck has three integrated electric motors providing a continuous power output level equivalent to 610 hp and comes equipped with 624 kWh of batteries installed. The truck has a charging capability of 375 kW, which means that charging time is minimised and is usually around one hour under normal operations. The electric woodchip truck will be introduced into regular route planning and will operate just like the rest of Södra’s truck fleet. “It’s clear that a major shift to fossil-free electrified road transport is under way. It will be interesting to see how the electric woodchip truck performs once it is integrated into Södra’s daily production operations,” said Patrik Svanberg at Scania Sverige AB.

The European timber industry is calling for a delay to the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) as systems and companies are not ready. Source: Timberbiz In an open statement, signed by The European Confederation of Woodworking Industries (CEI-Bois), European Furniture Industries Confederation (EFIC), European Organisation of the Sawmill industry (EOS), European Panel Federation (EPF), European Timber Trade Federation (ETTF) and European Federation of the Parquet industry (EFP), the organisations said: “The European Woodworking Industries are greatly concerned regarding information disclosed about the EU Deforestation-Free Products Regulation (EUDR) in a recent article in the Financial Times. According to the article, the EU intends to delay the application of the much-needed risk-based approach – practically implemented via a risk benchmarking of producing countries (low, standard, and high risk) – which is essential for enabling compliance with the EUDR by market actors (operators, traders, importers, exporters, and their authorised representatives) and the competent authorities of the EU Member States (CAs), as well as for incentivising good practices in producing countries (EU Member States or third countries). “Instead, all countries will now apparently be designated as ‘standard risk’ in order to ‘give them more time to adapt’ to the new Regulation. It is crucial to understand that the benchmarking of countries is a central part of the EUDR and its implementation, and any delays related to this classification will only result in additional costs and administrative burden for market actors, without any real advantages either for the producing countries or for the CAs. “Indeed, per the EUDR, whether market actors source their commodities from standard risk countries or from high-risk countries, they are facing the same due diligence obligations. Simply put, the benefit implied by the seemingly planned delay of the country risk benchmarking does not exist because no simplified procedure for export or imports is actually foreseen for standard risk countries, compared to high-risk countries. “The only difference between the two tiers of risk is the implication that it has on the control and verification obligations of CAs: CAs must control 9% of all the operators placing or making available on the market or exporting relevant commodities and products originating from high risk countries, compared to 3% in the case of relevant commodities and products originating from standard risks countries (as per Article 16, paragraphs 8 and 9 of the EUDR). “However, it is essential to identify low-risk countries as the implications are significant to all the actors: when sourcing from low-risk countries, market actors do actually benefit from the possibility of simplified due diligence, while CAs can reduce the number of controls to 1%, as foreseen by Article 16 paragraph 10. “The difficulties associated with the implementation of the EUDR are also reflected by the challenges faced by the EU when seeking to deliver on its own commitments under the Regulation. One such example is the task of benchmarking the risk level of countries, particularly the identification of the low risk-countries, which, to underline again, needs to take place urgently. “An aggravating factor is that the EU’s Information System, intended to be the main tool supporting the EUDR implementation by all the actors, is still at an early stage of development and needs significant improvement, in particular when it comes to the automatic, reliable and safe collection, registration, and protection of commercially sensitive information. Moreover, in the case of timber, aspects related to the transition period from the currently applicable EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) to the EUDR still need to be clarified. The goal is to ensure that wood which has been legally sourced until 30 December 2024 in full compliance with the EUTR can be sold on the EU market. It is crucial that the EU Information System takes this into account and does not require retrospective submission of Annex2 data of downstream producers when they place goods (e.g., sawn wood) on the markets which originates of raw material harvested before 30 December 2024. “The European Woodworking Industries fully support the scope and the objectives of the EUDR and strongly oppose all forms of deforestation and forest degradation. At the same time, the European Woodworking Industries regret that the EUDR has become a huge administrative and regulatory monster. “In the light of all the above, the European Woodworking Industries urge the EU institutions to delay the entry into application of the EUDR for the operators and traders, to amend the EUDR in order to eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles and to provide actors with sufficient time to adapt for full and adequate compliance. Moreover, it is imperative that the EU Commission swiftly proceed with the classification of the low-risk countries, with this action being its main priority.”

Attention all architects, builders, and designers the Australian Timber Design Awards is back for 2024 and entries are now open for the 2024 awards. Source: Timberbiz The categories are: Excellence in Timber Design Australian Designed International. Projects based overseas and completed within the last 3 years. Furniture and Joinery. The use of timber in furniture and/or joinery (e.g. in stairs, wardrobes, etc). Interior Fitout – Commercial. A fit-out of a new or existing building (including renovations). The building must not be residential, and must be commercial in nature and not publically owned (offices, shops, building foyers, private schools, etc.) Interior Fitout – Residential. A fitout of a new or existing single-family dwelling (including renovations). Landscaped outdoor areas that feature timber. Multi Residential. Where a building contains separate accommodation for unrelated occupants (example: apartment building, hotel, motel, aged care, student accommodation). A building that has a function other than residential i.e. office, retail, industrial, entertainment, restaurant, private schools, etc that is commercially owned. A building that has a function other than residential i.e. library, institutional, education, school, government office, hospital, public schools etc that are publically owned. Residential Class 1 – Alteration or Addition. A single-family dwelling or a single townhouse/villa that has been altered or added to. If the addition is a completely separate building to the existing structure, it is considered to be Residential Class 1 – New Building. Residential Class 1 – New Buildings. A new detached single-family dwelling. Standalone Structure. These projects must be unattached stand-alone structures. They include sculpture, artwork, features within building foyers, bus shelters, picnic shelters, shelters, playground equipment, wharves, bridges, boardwalks, observation structure, etc. Merit The entry that makes best use of sustainable design principles that includes timber. This includes all items of the sustainable design, not just that timber has been included. Judging for this category is conducted separately by Planet Ark’s Make it Wood campaign. They are particularly interested in how timber use has added to sustainable design. Rising Star. The best entry from an entrant who was (1) aged 35 or under on the date of project’s completion or (2) enrolled in fulltime study on the completion date. The designer must be responsible for a substantial portion of the design and not just be a team member. Small Budget. The best entry based on a project costing less than $200,000. Excellence in Engineering. This category recognises excellence in timber engineering in Australian architecture. The award celebrates either individual engineers who have designed a superior commercial or residential space using timber. Excellence in use of Timber Products Australian Certified Timber. This Award recognises excellence in the use of Australian Certified Timber and/or timber products which are sourced from Australian forests. “Certified timber” means timber sourced from a forest certified under a credible forest management certification scheme such as AFS (Australian Forestry Standard) which is endorsed by PEFC (Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification) and/or FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). The project will require a substantial amount (greater than 50%) of Australian Certified timber to be considered. Where imported timber products have been used nominate what timber certification scheme (if any) they comply too. Engineered Timber Products. The best use of products such as Glulam, LVL, CLT, LSL and I-beams. Recycled Timber. The best use of timber that meets this definition: Recycled timber is timber that has been previously used and has served its initial purpose. Recycled timber may be re-used either in its original cross-sectional size or following re-manufacture into smaller dimensions. Timber Cladding. The best use of timber coverings to the outside of a building. Timber coverings can be solid or panels. Timber Flooring. The best use of solid or engineered timber flooring. Timber Panels. The best use of products such as plywood, MDF, hardboard and/or particleboard. Timber Veneers. The best aesthetic use of timber veneers in, for example, furniture, joinery or linings/coverings of any kind. Timber Windows and Doors. This Award is for the best design and functional use of timber windows and doors. People’s Choice Award All entrants automatically participate in the People’s Choice Awards. For more information visit: https://timberdesignawards.awardsplatform.com

Mechanised Logging (MechLog), a pioneering force in the Australian forestry sector, is commemorating three decades of dedicated service to sustainable timber harvesting practices. Since its establishment in 1994, MechLog has been at the forefront of innovation, delivering unparalleled forestry solutions to the softwood and hardwood plantation timber industries across Australia. Source: Timberbiz Reflecting on the company’s remarkable journey, MechLog CEO Jillian Aylett Brown, said that MechLog’s 30th anniversary celebrates a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to excellence and sustainability. “From our humble beginnings in 1994, and with a commitment to taking a new approach to how the forestry sector had operated previously – MechLog has thrived,” she said. “We are proud to be recognised as a progressive and innovative company, dedicated to championing the Australian forestry industry. MechLog has remained steadfast in our mission to provide quality services while continuing to promote sustainable and responsible forestry practices. “MechLog’s success is built on a systematic approach to harvesting operations that maximises efficiency while minimising environmental impact. The company offers a comprehensive range of services, including forestry operations consultancy, equipment services, harvesting, forwarding, and haulage management, catering to the diverse needs of our clients. In some respects, MechLog is leading the way in our approach to forestry practices, and we have our dedicated team of 40 employees to thank for that. “We recognise the importance of investing in our workforce to ensure the continued success of our clients, the company, and every employee. MechLog provides ongoing training and development opportunities for the team to empower them to grow both personally and professionally. By nurturing talent and fostering a culture of innovation, MechLog has maintained a competitive edge in the forestry industry and is recognised as an employer of choice. Our clients certainly appreciate our commitment to training and development, which directly benefits them through efficiencies and dedication to excellence. “At MechLog, we recognise that it is important to balance economic prosperity with environmental preservation. This is drilled into every member of the MechLog team from day one. As a result, they work tirelessly to ensure sustainable forest management practices, which safeguard Australia’s valuable timber resources for future generations, is the foundation of our operational philosophy.” For 30 years, in addition to its core services, MechLog has been a leader in adopting the latest technology to enhance productivity and sustainability in the forestry industry. By embracing cutting-edge equipment and practices, MechLog has been able to maximise yields for clients while minimising waste and its environmental impact. MechLog’s ethical and sustainable approach to forestry has earned the company a reputation as a preferred provider of harvesting services in Australia. The company prioritises developing strong relationships with clients and end-users, understanding their unique needs, and delivering tailored solutions that exceed expectations. The company also values a strong emphasis on community engagement and corporate social responsibility. The company actively participates in local and industry initiatives and supports environmental sustainability efforts, demonstrating its commitment to making a positive impact beyond its business operations. “It’s all about sustainable innovation, ethical and efficient business practices, and advanced training methods. Our commitment to innovation and training drives our success and sets us apart in the industry. We are constantly exploring new technologies and methodologies to improve our operations and deliver exceptional results for our clients,” Ms Aylett Brown said. “We value the trust our clients place in us, and we are committed to delivering exceptional service every step of the way. We are so proud of the MechLog team, who are all dedicated to providing innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions that add value to our clients’ operations. “MechLog is proud to have served the Australian forestry industry for 30 years, and we are looking forward to continuing our journey of growth and innovation in the years ahead.” As the company looks to the future, it remains committed to delivering competitive forestry solutions, while continuing to uphold the highest standards of environmental stewardship and customer satisfaction. The company continues to explore new technologies and methodologies to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Through collaboration with industry partners and stakeholders, MechLog aims to drive positive change and promote responsible forestry practices across Australia.

From Saturday 13 to Sunday 28 April, Auckland Live in association with Insite Arts brings the highly popular ARBORIALIS Luminarium, a colourful inflatable labyrinth created by Alan Parkinson of Architects of Air, to Aotearoa. Source: Timberbiz The astonishing multisensory experience for all ages will take place at Auckland’s Aotea Square. ARBORIALIS Luminarium echoes aspects of being lost in a forest – with many radiant canopies of leaves that stretch overhead accompanied by an immersive, ambient score by Irish composer Dr Michael Morris. From the Guggenheim in Spain to the Sydney Opera House in Australia, the monumental interactive walk-in sculptures from Architects of Air have astounded audiences across the globe. A luminarium is a dazzling inflatable maze of winding paths and soaring domes where visitors can be immersed in an amazing world of light and hues for a unique sensory experience. Many people find a luminarium a place for rest or meditation. The luminarium that will be displayed at Aotea Square – ARBORIALIS – is half the size of a football pitch and dedicated to the theme of trees. There are radiant canopies of leaves that stretch overhead and vibrant tree trunks rising from the ground beneath. The main dome sees a leaf motif in a magnificent arch that references the form of the Islamic Mosque domes as a primary source of inspiration from designer Alan Parkinson. The visual world of ARBORIALIS Luminarium is enhanced by the natural and spiritual sounds of the Song of Danu (a Celtic goddess). Past visitor’s perceptions of the luminarium experience have provoked comments such as “It felt like living in a painting” or “being inside a spaceship”. The luminarium is wheelchair accessible, and children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult, with a minimum of 1 adult for up to 4 children. It has been nine years since Architects of Air were last in Auckland, with their previous work Arboria proving popular at Aotea Square in the September 2015 school holidays. In January 2024, Arborialis was displayed at the Christchurch Buskers Festival, giving Ōtautahi a taste of what Aucklanders can now expect during these school holidays. Pre-sale starts Monday 18 March. Tickets on sale Tuesday 19 March: www.aucklandlive.co.nz

A recently completed research project has showcased great potential for the development of sustainable native forestry activities in the Northern Territory, led by Traditional Owner communities. Source: Timberbiz FWPA facilitated this important work by providing funding to match the investment made by project partners including the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC), Gumatj Corporation, Northern Territory and Queensland governments, and other regional organisations. Together, the partners worked to boost the forestry capacity of Traditional Owner (Yolngu) communities in the East Arnhem region. FWPA Research and Development Manager Dr Chris Lafferty said there is a growing interest in the commercial potential of northern Australia’s vast Indigenous owned and managed forest estate, and strong aspirations among Indigenous communities for self-determination and economic independence. “Industries such as sustainably managed native forestry are critical to fulfilling these aspirations because they align with Indigenous notions of value and continue to care for Country,” Lafferty said. “This FWPA-supported project saw professionally trained foresters engage with Indigenous communities to enhance Traditional Owner knowledge of modern best practice sustainable forest management principles.” “The foresters also committed to learning about Traditional Owner forest management knowledge and practices, and investigating how the differing concepts and approaches could be integrated to achieve an optimal balance of production, environmental and cultural conservation outcomes.” Another key project focus was creating business development opportunities for timber products manufactured in the region and driving stakeholder engagement around the potential of sustainable native forestry to support Indigenous livelihoods and regional economic development. Northern Territory (NT) Government Project Manager Dallas Anson said the Traditional Owner training was delivered to enhance commercial forestry skills, and knowledge of western science forest management principles. “The training was undertaken by 35 Traditional Owners and covered everything from forest resource assessment to harvesting operations, sawmilling, and value-adding processes for forestry products,” Anson said. “In total, 1,647 hours of paid training was conducted through the project, injecting almost $48,000 into the Homelands of East Arnhem Land.” The researchers used learnings from this element of the project and engagement with Traditional Owners on their own forest management knowledge and practices to develop a proposal for a forestry training program designed to drive the future development of the regional forestry workforce. In addition to the training, inventory activities were conducted by the team to provide a clearer picture of the productivity and product mix of the East Arnhem native forest resource, and a harvesting and marketing pilot program was developed to identify, manufacture, and market-test value-added timber products. The pilot program included the establishment of a demonstration site in the remote community of Birany Birany. This included, at the request of the community, the construction of several wooden shelters using the locally harvested Darwin stringybark (Eucalyptus tetrodonta) timber. Naturally durable, solid roundwood products – prototype stringybark bollards – were also manufactured from small-diameter logs harvested at the site. A market assessment identified strong interest in the bollards, and Traditional Owners were linked with prospective purchasers, collaborative business partners and investors. The development of a best-practice Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) process to help determine the commercial forestry interests, needs and desires of other Indigenous communities in the future was another key outcome of the project. UniSC Associate Professor (Adjunct) Mark Annandale said the work provides a pathway to further develop financially and environmentally sustainable Indigenous-led commercial forestry in East Arnhem. “The project generated interest in forestry from Traditional Owners and other stakeholders by creating an understanding of its potential to support ongoing Indigenous livelihoods and regional development,” Annandale said. UniSC Project Manager Dr John Meadows said the project team is now working to develop a follow-on project to further test the commercial viability of Indigenous community forestry in East Arnhem. “The mixed activities and income streams associated with sustainable, small-scale native forestry, including payments for ecosystem services, have the potential to create long-term forest livelihoods, while promoting and supporting local culture, language, and integrational knowledge transfer,” Meadows said. The next-step project will also provide a model that could be refined for application in other areas of northern Australia. This important project was a collaboration between FWPA and researchers at UniSC, the NT Government Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (DITT), and the Queensland Government Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QDAF) along with regional partners Gumatj Corporation, the Northern Land Council, National Indigenous Australians Agency, Arnhem Land Progress Association and Developing East Arnhem Limited. Learn more here. View the detailed report here.  

Sales of new homes nationally increased by 5.3% in February from very low levels. Source: Timberbiz The HIA New Home Sales report is a monthly survey of the largest volume home builders in the five largest states and is a leading indicator of future detached home construction. “Despite the increase in February, sales remain around the low levels that prevailed in the second half of 2023,” HIA Chief Economist Tim Reardon said. “The slowdown in sales is caused primarily by the rise in the cash rate which has eroded the capacity of households to borrow and impaired market confidence. “The slowing in sales and building approvals will flow through to a decade low volume of new houses commencing construction in 2024. The economic impact of this slowdown will become increasingly evident in 2024, as employment in the home building industry falls.” Mr Reardon said that higher borrowing costs were compounding the elevated cost of land and construction, drying up the pipeline of new home building work despite the significant pent-up demand for housing. “The increase in sales in February was observed in most of the large states. Given the weakness of January data, it is not all too surprising to see an uptick in February,” he said. New home sales saw a monthly increase in most large states, led by Queensland (+8.4%), followed by New South Wales (+6.5%), Victoria (+6.3%) and Western Australia (+5.0%). South Australia saw a 5.5% decline in February. Sales in the three months to February 2024 were stronger compared to the previous year in Western Australia (+39.9%), Queensland (+20.4%) and New South Wales (+16.0%). Declines were recorded in Victoria (-7.7%) and South Australia (-13.9%).  

A partnership of agencies will undertake weed control work in important ecological areas within the Nambucca Valley over the next three years. Source: Timberbiz Forestry Corporation has partnered with Nambucca Valley Council, Nambucca Heads Local Aboriginal Land Council and Reflections Holiday Parks in a program funded by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). The funding is to undertake bush regeneration work throughout coastal environmental areas and endangered ecological communities such as Coastal Swamp Sclerophyll, Littoral Rainforest, Swamp Oak Forest and Themeda Grasslands that occur along the coast of the Nambucca Local Government Area. Nambucca Valley Council Environmental Project Officer Keegan Noble said Nambucca Valley Council will coordinate contractors on lands around Valla Beach, Nambucca Heads and Scotts Head. Mr Noble said the works will connect the dots between previous areas that have received weed control works. “This is a valuable project for the Valley and will improve the resilience and environmental value of endangered ecological communities along the coast,” Mr Noble said. Forestry Corporation Senior Planner – Upper North Coast Steve Pickering said the work, starting this month, will occur across multiple tenures including Nambucca State Forest. “A lot of the work will involve hand pulling weeds followed up with the use of chemicals to treat the heavier infestation areas,” Mr Pickering said. “Working across multiple tenures will ensure maximum effectiveness of the weed control work by keeping them out of the bush altogether and not just up to a line on a map. “Many of these areas are in a good ecological condition and this work will enable us to keep weeds under control and help protect these valuable ecological communities,” he said. Forestry Corporation has provided in-kind support planning and supervising weed control works and ensuring known locations containing rare or threatened plants, cultural heritage items or other forest values are protected. As a public land manager, Forestry Corporation works closely with NSW government agencies, local councils and landowners to control weed infestations protecting the biodiversity of forests and public lands.

The Forest Stewardship Council ANZ has begun a revision of the FSC National Forest Stewardship Standard of Australia following the approval granted by FSC International in January this year. Source: Timberbiz “While the 2018 NFSS has performed well, it is now booked in for a scheduled service to ensure it can continue to support best-practice forest management across all types of forestry in Australia by incorporating contemporary scientific insights and the latest knowledge,” FSC ANZ CEO, Melanie Robertson said. “There is a raft of changes introduced by FSC International that will be incorporated into the revised Standard regarding workers’ rights and pesticide use among other topics. Additionally, the revision aims to further bolster the rights of Indigenous Peoples through the introduction of the Indigenous Cultural Landscapes concept. “The FSC ANZ Board has also determined that the revised Standard must better support responsible forest management in the face of a changing climate and what is expected to be more frequent and severe bushfires.” FSC International has also approved the composition of the Standards Development Group appointed by the FSC ANZ Board to draft the revised Standard. “This group of experts in their field, with equal representation from economic, environmental and social stakeholders, serves as the construction site for new and revised requirements,” Ms Robertson said. “It is within this collaborative forum that revisions to the Standard are meticulously discussed and drafted. “In a testament to the enduring strength of the FSC brand in Australia, we have assembled a Standards Development Group with an incredible breadth of knowledge and experience, representing most facets of forestry in the country. The revision could not be in better hands.” The members of the Standards Development Group are: Economic chamber Carl Richardson, Australian Bluegum Plantations Simon Cook, Forico Tim McBride, HVP Environmental chamber Associate Professor Grant Wardell-Johnson, individual member Patrick Gardner, The Wilderness Society Sean Cadman, individual member Social chamber Lorraine Cassin, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (This position is now a vacancy and FSC ANZ will be taking EOIs shortly to fill the position) Professor Mark Brown, Forestry Australia Tolita Dolzan, Individual member Facilitating the Standards Development Group and the revision process is FSC ANZ Policy and Standards Manager, Stefan Jensen. The revision process, which has already begun, is expected to wrap up in mid-2025. Before its completion, the revised Standard will go through two rounds of public consultation and forest testing. The first round of public consultation is planned to occur in mid-2024 and will be announced through all available channels. Read more about the revision here.  

Stora Enso launched its Harvesting Partner concept in November 2022 to encourage more skilful operators and new entrepreneurs to join the forest industry. The concept was initially introduced in Sweden, but it has since then been launched also in Finland, Norway and Lithuania. Stora Enso is currently recruiting for the second generation of harvesting partners that could join the network in 2024. Source: Timberbiz SEB has been Stora Enso’s partner from the start, and the bank has developed a new financing model to make it easier for the new entrepreneurs to start their business. Based on this model, new machinery is rented with a monthly cost for a four-year rental period after which the machinery will be returned to Stora Enso for maintenance and further use either in a new rental or in training new harvesting partners. “We are happy to support with a financial set-up that enables Stora Enso to retain ownership and control of the machines with the aim to extend usage over its lifetime as well as prolong the machines end-of-life,” said Jakob Hansson, Head of SEB Product as a Service Incubator for Large Corporates. Stora Enso’s Harvesting Partner concept is based on a four-year contract with new or established entrepreneurs. The contract includes financing of new machinery, accounting and HR services, training and participation in Stora Enso’s management and harvesting networks. Through the contract, Harvesting Partners will commit to provide Stora Enso with safe, sustainable and efficient operations and agreed volumes as well as developing their operations further. “Together with SEB we want to attract more people to join the industry and enable entrepreneurship for people living in the rural areas. The new financing model developed by SEB lowers that barriers of entry to the market as the initial investment by the entrepreneur will be lower due to external financing,” says Mattias Bränngård, Sourcing Director, Harvesting in Stora Enso. “The financing model also enables us to have control of the circularity and further use of the machinery.”  

Komatsu S172 has an upgraded length-measuring function as well as improvements that will increase the reliability and performance of the head. Source: Timberbiz Several improvements have been made to the length measuring function to increase the measuring accuracy. For example, the measuring wheel arm now has a stronger design, which improves its service life and allows it to better withstand pressure from the measuring cylinder. Other improvements include the measuring wheel cylinder and reinforcements in the frame. These improvements allow the measuring wheel to better follow the contour of the stem, increasing measurement accuracy. Another area of improvement is the saw unit, which has a more robust saw bar holder. This provides a smoother and more reliable operation. The saw unit has also been equipped with a protective plate that covers the saw bar holder and protects the chain when the saw bar is in the starting position. Other new features include an optional hydraulic top knife, which is ideal for cutting crooked stems or thick and difficult-to-handle branches. The head has also been improved with reinforcements in the frame, stronger attachment of the head computer and the use of expander bolts for the feed wheel arms. All these improvements help to increase the reliability and lifespan of the head.  

The European Organization of the Sawmill Industry (EOS) and the European Confederation of Woodworking Industries (CEI-Bois) sent an open letter to the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis. Source: Timberbiz With this statement the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry (EOS) and the European Confederation of Woodworking Industries (CEI-Bois) would like to encourage you in your discussions with your Japanese counterparts to raise the question of a possible Japanese ban on the imports of Russian wood products, in particular lumber and glue laminated timber. According to figures shared by the Japanese Lumber Importers Association, Japan in 2023 was still importing 13% of its total lumber imports from Russia. This is regrettable as Russia is a major global power in the woodworking industry and Japan is an important market for many Russian exporters. We believe that a concerted effort to persuade Japan to stop importing Russian lumber would be a significant step in further impacting the Russian economy and its war machine. Our trade posture towards Russia, and sanctions in particular, should be coordinated and coherent among the coalition of countries that have decided to punish Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified, and barbaric invasion of Ukraine. Up until 2021 the European Union imported significant quantities of wood products from Russia (and Belarus), much more than what Japan is currently importing, even in proportion to the larger EU population and economy. As an industry and a society, we should be proud that in the space of some months we were able to give up importing Russian wood products, swiftly readjusting and adapting to the new reality. We have thus shown that this is feasible, and we believe that Japan should join Europe in banning imports of wood products originating from Russia. We would be grateful if you could help us achieve that.

Interpine’s drone UAV team uses drone-based SLAM LiDAR technology that can work in GPS-denied environments to collect data and calculate product/material volumes for inventory stocktaking. Getting warehouse stockpile volumes in tight spaces and internal warehouses is now much easier. Source: Timberbiz The LiDAR scanning technology also provides real-time autonomous control, allowing the drones to avoid and navigate around obstacles while operating in challenging and often dusty environments. LiDAR can be used to create extremely detailed terrain and vegetation models. This can be applied in planning, resource inventory erosion and biodiversity monitoring and environmental resource management. LiDAR assists the creation of GIS surfaces of trees and stand attributes and 3D walk through and visualisations. Interpine has an expert team to arrange the collection of LIDAR requirements, tailoring the specification to suit the needs for analysis. This can range from inside or under canopy surveys, to small aerial surveys using drone-based LiDAR systems, through to millions of hectares across multiple suppliers all being managed to deliver your project on time and to specification. Interpine has developed a large toolbox to carry out a large number of LiDAR analysis workflows.  These build on our expertise in LAStools, Quick Terrain Modeler, FUSION, Pix4D, R, Python, ERSI ArcPro and ArcMap Extensions and software tools.

New Forests has appointed Michelle Elliot as Global Head of Funds, and Sanjiv Louis as Director, Investments Asia.  Source: Timberbiz In this newly created role, Ms Elliot will be responsible for overseeing New Forests’ global funds management platform to support future growth and opportunities. She will look at ways to improve efficiencies across investments, operations, and investment analytics, while harnessing data and technology to support the company’s strategic growth priorities. Ms Elliot joins New Forests after a 17-year career at Macquarie Asset Management where she was most recently Chief Operating Officer, Asia Pacific. Based in Sydney, Michelle sits on the executive leadership team and reports to Mark Rogers, Chief Executive Officer. Mr Louis will lead New Forests’ Asian investments team in identifying, evaluating, and acquiring investments within the nature-based solutions, forestry and natural capital space in the Southeast Asia region. He brings over 23 years of investment banking and alternative asset investment experience in Asia across senior roles in Sail Ventures, Credit Suisse, and UBS. Sanjiv will be based in Singapore and report to David Shelton, Global Head of Investments. “New Forests is at an important stage in its history with strong momentum in funds under management across our forestry and agriculture businesses, coupled with the demand for carbon, biodiversity and natural capital expected to grow significantly,” Mark Rogers, Chief Executive Officer, New Forests said. “Michelle and Sanjiv are key hires who will bring their deep experience to our teams, helping us to continue to deliver to our investors, while ensuring we’re remaining focused on our vision of seeing investment in land use and forestry as central to the transition to a sustainable future.” The appointments follow Sarah Campbell joining New Forests in October 2023 as General Counsel reporting to Mark Rogers, following Margaret Cole’s retirement. Ms Campbell brings over 20 years’ experience to New Forests and was most recently General Counsel and Company Secretary for Adamantem Capital.

HVP Plantations has appointed Melanie Cook as its new CEO, after an extensive search following the retirement of Stephen Ryan in October last year. Source: Timberbiz Ms Cook will begin in the role in April, bringing with her a wealth of experience from a 25-year career with ExxonMobil. HVP Board Chair Therese Ryan said Ms Cook’s appointment was an exciting move, citing her experience and background complement the company’s direction. “We are thrilled to welcome Melanie, whose extensive experience, strategic vision and leadership ability makes her the ideal person to guide HVP Plantations through the evolving landscape of the timber industry,” Ms Ryan said. Ms Cook held many roles at ExxonMobil, highlighted by Chief Operating Officer in Malaysia and President and CEO in Indonesia, before returning to Australia in 2021 where she led her own consultancy business specialising in Leadership and Energy. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Mathematics from the University of Melbourne. Interim CEO Josie Pane will work closely with Ms Cook to ensure a smooth transition, before resuming her role as CFO.

Students from Casterton, Hamilton and Portland descended on Casterton Racecourse this week to explore forestry career opportunities in the Green Triangle. Source: Timberbiz Around 180 students witnessed an up-close water bombing from the Green Triangle Fire Alliance’s helicopter, which has been based in Casterton over the summer. On display were some of OneFortyOne’s and timberlands Pacific firefighting trucks. The fire prevention arsenal has been active throughout the fire danger season, protecting lives, property and the forestry estate. Students also travelled out to a clearfell operation, being conducted by Merrett’s Logging. There they witnessed the operation up close, showcasing some of the impressive equipment that is used across plantations in the Green Triangle, saw a single-grip harvester, forwarder, loader and B-Double. Students were able to hear first-hand from a team of experienced operators about the nature of work in the industry, and the vast range of opportunities available to people working in the industry. Forestry directly employs 10000 people across the Green Triangle, and a further 20000 induced jobs. A range of positions are open to nearly everyone. Tertiary, vocational and unskilled pathways are on offer, in the forest, harvesting, milling and cubic sectors. For every cubic metre of timber harvested, a whopping 700 kg of carbon dioxide is sequestered out of the atmosphere. Every year, over 10 million trees are planted into the estate, to replace the trees that had been harvested. The trees planted this year, won’t be ready for harvest for over 30 years. This ensures an industry full of potential and longevity for young people entering into the workforce. “It is important we showcase some of the exciting career opportunities to students as they consider their opportunities,” Hub General Manager Tony Wright said. “The Forest Industry is international and there are many exciting opportunities from professional, business, all aspects of STEM, operations and advanced machine processing.”

VicForests will cease operations on 30 June, the end date was revealed on Wednesday during a court hearing involving VicForests and environmental group Wombat Forestcare. Source: Timberbiz Nationals’ leader Peter Walsh said VicForests was being treated deplorably. He said the State Government has not offered a single positive word, effectively ignoring its existence. “This June 30 end date is painful enough, but VicForests are being kicked on the way out the door without an ounce of respect,” Mr Walsh said. “The organisation has no way of defending itself. The Allan Labor Government remains silent, refusing to publicly defend its own logging company. “This is a cruel, unfair ending for an organisation that has done so much for regional communities and made a huge contribution to Victoria.” The winding-up of the body is part of the Victorian government’s decision to end native forest logging, which took effect on January 1. Stand-down payments to VicForests contractors are due to end on 30 June. Last September, the government paved the way for the organisation’s closure, altering its status as a state business corporation and making it a “reorganising body”, which allows its functions and staff to be moved around. VicForests employs 140 staff. Of these, it is understood 60 will be made redundant while the remaining 80 will get new roles in the state Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action. “It has always done its best despite severe harassment from illegal protesters,” Mr Walsh said. He said the contribution of VicForests should be applauded given so much of its work supporting the industry was amid continual litigation by extremists. “VicForests had to use taxpayers’ money to defend itself from carrying out government policy,” Mr Walsh said. He said the end of VicForests would also leave a gaping hole in fire management. “The risk of mega-fires will increase. There won’t be tracks maintained by the timber industry and there won’t be control lines to burn back from,” Mr Walsh said. “There won’t be the heavy equipment and timber industry workers to go in and help fight fires. “The Greens, so critical of the industry, will be hiding in inner Melbourne and nowhere to be seen as regional communities face the inevitable bushfires without the support of the timber industry to help fight them.” Community and Public Sector Union industrial organiser Kassey Dickie said VicForests’ 100 employees were aware the company would close on 30 June. She said workers were able to apply for about 80 other government jobs, including five-year contracts with Forest Fire Management Victoria. “Everyone’s going to lose their job at VicForests, whether or not a large portion find other work, that remains to be seen,” Ms Dickie told AAP. The government initially planned to phase out native logging in 2030 but brought that forward over claims the sector had become unviable because of ongoing legal action. Ms Dickie said many workers were stressed and finding new roles had been a “very fast process” for them. “They’re sad I think, to sum it up, many of them have worked together for a very long time,” she said. “They have been rushed through a process made by government in a hurry that has been pretty stressful.” VicForests recorded a net loss of $60.1 million in the 2022/23 financial year, blaming court action brought on by environmental groups. During that time it harvested $17.9 million in timber, paid $110 million in compensation for undersupply to customers and $41 million to contractors who were not able to work. It received $149 million from the state to fund the compensation.

Recent public commentary about the closure of VicForests has included numerous false and misleading claims. VicForests knows there are individuals and organisations who are opposed to native timber harvesting who will be celebrating VicForests’ closure. But this doesn’t mean it’s open season – and it will never be acceptable to treat the men and women of VicForests with blatant disrespect. False claims do harm. This includes the impact on the mental health and wellbeing of people who have dedicated themselves to the management of forests for future generations. The most offensive category of false claims being made is the suggestion VicForests is “rogue” or a “cowboy agency”. These claims are demonstrably false – but repeated often by those opposed to the legal activity undertaken by VicForests in furtherance of longstanding government policy. VicForests is a government agency, overseen by an independent Board and otherwise subject to the ordinary governance obligations and control of any government agency. The executives and staff of VicForests are Victorian public servants. It is self-evident that if VicForests was acting otherwise than in accordance with Government policy – or behaving illegally – then it was clearly within the power of the Government to intervene. The system of regulation in Victoria is based on compliance with explicit rules to manage known threats to the environment that have been developed by forestry and environmental experts over many years. These legal rules balance environmental objectives with economic and social objectives. This balance is required by the Principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development – which is a cornerstone of Australian and International environmental law. VicForests has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment to meeting, and often exceeding, the explicit rules set by Government. It has never been prosecuted by the independent environment regulator. This is backed up by the latest published independent audit result from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, which saw VicForests achieve an average of 96% compliance across four environment areas: environmental values in State forests, conservation of biodiversity, operational planning and record keeping, and coupe infrastructure for timber harvesting operations. The 96% average compliance findings are a testament to the work our staff undertake in Victoria’s state forests. Litigation brought against VicForests over the last few years was based on arguments that VicForests had a duty to protect the environment that goes far beyond the balanced rules set by the Victorian Government. Recent outcomes in these cases were based on novel interpretations of laws that had been decided in VicForests’ favour previously. The effect of these recent cases is that VicForests could never know what it needed to do to comply with the law, because the rules will now be decided by the Courts – not the Government – on a case-by-case basis without reference to the balance explicitly required by the National and State policy arrangements. VicForests even had multiple cases brought against it by different environmental groups arguing that different measures were needed to protect the same species in overlapping locations – so that different judges were being asked to set new and different rules at the same time. And inevitably as VicForests adjusted its processes to respond to legal threats, plaintiffs simply changed their claim or brought new cases arguing for something different. Another category of offensive claims are that VicForests is an “environmental vandal” or that we are “putting countless threatened species at greater risk of extinction”. Any organisation or person who is truly committed to the protection of Australia’s threatened species would understand that the greatest risk – by far – is the risk of invasive species – affecting 82% of threatened species in Australia. [https://www.publish.csiro.au/pc/pdf/PC18024]. Professional and impartial forest scientists know that the threat of timber harvesting is comparatively low, well understood and managed through the extensive system of rules and practices reflected in the code of practice. VicForests worked in very small areas of native forests and operated in areas managed by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA). The areas in which we planned our harvesting operations were set by the government through a Ministerial Order. No harvesting could ever be undertaken in the areas explicitly set aside to protect threatened species – to ensure the State of Victoria could meet its obligation to preserve viable populations of native species throughout their natural ranges [Framework for the management of threatened species and native timber harvesting (vicforests.com.au)]. Areas available for harvest had previously been harvested or were bushfire regrowth forests. In a normal year VicForests would harvest about 0.04% of the forests, or four trees in every 10,000. All harvested areas are re-grown by law with our compliance audited on a regular basis. Prior to any timber harvesting, our staff undertook comprehensive planning to ensure all operations met the harvesting and biodiversity requirements under Victoria’s strict environmental regulatory system.  Pre-harvest studies and surveys undertaken by VicForests included: Aquatic (Fish & Crustacean) Surveys, Arboreal Spotlight and Owl Call Playback, Biodiversity Coupe Inspection, Bird, Coupe Habitat and Sign Survey, Frog, Habitat Tree and Resource Inventory Survey, Intensive Tree Geebung Surveys, Leadbeater’s Possum Arboreal Camera Trapping, Leadbeater’s Possum Thermal Imaging, Old-growth, Targeted Fauna and Flora Species Survey, Targeted Plant Surveys and Terrestrial Camera Trapping. Where required, special protections were applied for the management of threatened species and their habitat. Such protection measures complied with, and often exceed, regulatory prescriptions.  For example, between 2014 and 2021 we established well over 1000 exclusion zones around sightings of Leadbeater’s possums in state forests. This resulted in over 14,000 hectares of a forest being reserved and protected as new Leadbeater’s possum colony reserves. We also protected all hollow-bearing trees as well as a selection of trees likely to develop hollows in the future to provide habitat for native species such as the Leadbeater’s possum and the Greater Glider. Over 4500 large old hollow-bearing Ash trees were retained in areas planned for harvest. So contrary to false claims, our people are passionate about the health of forest ecosystems and remain committed to the care of Victoria’s […]

  VicForests will be gone by 30 June. It really doesn’t come as any surprise. The writing was on the wall, and writ large the moment the Victorian Government announced it would be shutting down the native timber industry by 2030. It brought that death forward when it announced that the industry would be shut down at the end of last over claims the sector had become unviable because of ongoing legal action. What is so disappointing is that the Victorian Government could have stepped in to prevent the “lawfare” campaign again VicForests. But it didn’t. The number of injunctions issued by conservation groups over logging – coupe by coupe – has had an enormous impact on VicForests. Third-party litigation locked up coupes, delayed harvesting and forced VicForests to pay harvest and haulage contractors compensation as it struggles to meet contracted log volumes. Even when VicForests won cases it struggled to recover court-awarded costs against environment groups. In the 2022-23 financial year, VicForests returned a net loss of $60.1 million, despite receiving a $149 million bailout from the state government. The record loss followed a loss of $54.2 million the previous financial year. VicForests described the financial result as having been “fundamentally impacted by litigation” brought by environment and community groups against its logging operations. Legal representatives for VicForests announced the 30 June deadline in the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne on Wednesday during yet another hearing involving Wombat Forestcare and its case alleging VicForests breached requirements to survey for threatened species in western Victorian forests. It was the first time a decision on VicForests’ future had been revealed after the Victorian government deregistered it as a state business corporation in September last year, removing the requirement for it to be commercially focused. However, many in the industry believed the 30 June closure was inevitable. Needless to say, many of those groups which were so vehemently opposed to VicForests will be dancing on the organisation’s grave this weekend. Deputy Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell, said the writing had been on the wall for VicForests for some time, after the company was plagued with illegal activity and controversy after controversy. She said the Victorian Labor Government now needed to direct its department to focus on forest restoration and protection and invest in specialised staff who have these skills. But with so many logging contractors forced out of the industry, who will be left to carry out that sort of work. Community and Public Sector Union industrial organiser Kassey Dickie said VicForests’ 100 employees were aware the company would close on 30 June.