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European forest owners firmly believe that the sustainable management of forests, as widely practiced in the continent and enshrined under the Forest Europe intergovernmental process, is a proven and credible route to meeting wood supply needs without compromising the multiple other ecosystem services, which forests deliver. Source: Timberbiz Wood production is an essential part of the sustainable forest management equation. It is what enables the economic viability of this management, while supplying their multiple ecosystems services, cost free. Moreover, the active SFM needed for wood production allows for supporting forests health and resilience to natural disasters and changing climate. At a time when Europe’s strategic autonomy is deeply tied to secure access to sustainable raw materials, the EU must deliver a strong political signal in favour of supporting the provision of domestically and sustainably sourced renewable biomass. While increased use of secondary raw materials improves resource efficiency, it cannot replace the need for a continuous supply of primary biomass from sustainably managed multifunctional forests. A competitive, scalable forest-based bioeconomy requires clear support for sustainable and active forest management and sustained growth of Europe’s renewable forest resource base. The EU needs to thrive to replace fossil-based materials in a rapidly widening range of industrial uses, with special regard to those of long-lasting wood products. However, the potential of wood products to substitute their fossil-based counterparts varies from short- to long lived products or energy. The market can and must act as the most efficient driver of forest-based materials towards different use purposes. While long-lived, high-quality wood products remain the main driver of wood production, residues and low-quality wood unfit for higher quality use need to continue to play a role in shot-lived products as well as energy production, especially in remote areas and outermost regions of the EU. Importantly, these developments should be accompanied with continuing improvement of resource efficiency use of biomass resources, for all uses of biomass. Europe is a continent of forests: an abundantly present renewable resource, which harbours biodiversity and acts as a potent terrestrial carbon sink to fight climate change. European forest owners would like to highlight that wood mobilisation for the forest-based bioeconomy and environmental ambition are not competing goals. They commit to ensure as much synergies as possible although they sometimes need to arbitrate trade-offs. However, this commitment is increasingly challenged due to climate change constraints which put forests at risks, highlighting the need to accelerate adaptation of both forest management and the forest-based value chain. In this context, European forest owners therefore welcome the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy and the Intergrated Wildifre Risk Strategy. Active sustainable forest management and bio-based values chains are recognised as crucial enabler to develop lead markets that rely on forest biomass. These markets can help strengthen demand for sustainable forest-based products, support investment and innovation, and contribute to the EU’s broader climate resilience and circular economy objectives. Supporting sustainable and active forest management is essential for keeping EU forests healthy and resilient and strengthening EU autonomy. There can be no sustainable forest management without timber. The sustainable production of wood and wood products is an asset that the EU should rely on to become stronger and cleaner. This is why the implementation of the bioeconomy should be among EU high priorities of the EU political agenda. European forest owners are aware of, and committed to, their role in developing this asset.  

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Irish Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture, Niall Collins TD, opened and addressed the International Softwood Conference which met in Malahide, Dublin. Source: Timberbiz The annual meeting brings together representatives from the forest sector from across the world to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the sector. The conference is organised jointly by the European Timber Trade Federation (ETTF) and the European Organisation of Sawmills (EOS) and is being held in Ireland for the first time. “This conference recognises the importance of softwoods in providing renewable and sustainably grown timber for construction. Sustainable forest management is at the cornerstone of Ireland’s forest sector and softwoods are a driver of this sustainable forest management,” Minister Collins said. Ireland’s forest sector processed more than five million cubic metres of timber in 2025. This resource of timber comes from state forests and from over 24,500 forest owners providing rural employment. Exports of Irish coniferous timber totaled €184.3 million in 2025 generating income for forest owners and the forest sector. “The sectors represented at this week’s conference play an important role in providing timber which has the capacity to significantly decarbonise the building environment and supports international trade that delivers a wide range of products across the world through the pallet and wood packaging sector,” Minister Collins said. “There is growing demand for softwood timber, and this presents important market opportunities for the Irish timber sector and forest owners.” The United Nations State of Worlds Forest Report in 2026 presented at the recent FAO Committee on Forestry in Rome states that global demand for wood products is projected to increase by roughly one-third by 2050, particularly in emerging economies. The International Softwood Conference has been running for over 70 years and is organised by the European Timber Trade Federation (ETTF) and the European Organisation of Sawmills (EOS). The conference rotates around Europe and 2026 is the first time it was held in Dublin. Attendees from the conference come from all over the world, not just Europe.

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In the US a coalition of 43 forestry associations have written a letter to the US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins urging immediate action for fuel relief for logging and log-hauling businesses who were excluded from a recent US$8 billion Harvest Fuel Relief Program. Source: Timberbiz This is the letter. On behalf of the undersigned state and regional forestry associations, representing forest landowners, loggers, state foresters, and the forest industry, we respectfully request that the U.S. Department of Agriculture establish a diesel-fuel relief program for logging and log-hauling businesses, modelled on prior USDA assistance provided to the timber sector. The recently announced $8 billion Harvest Fuel Relief Program, funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), provides one-time payments to agricultural producers to offset fuel-related cost spikes and market disruptions. While we strongly support relief for farmers, the program’s eligibility restrictions exclude logging contractors and log-hauling businesses, despite their essential role in maintaining the nation’s wood supply chain and rural economies. Logging and hauling operations are diesel-dependent sectors experiencing the same fuel-price volatility and cost pressures affecting agricultural producers. According to FRA’s Technical Release 26-TR-24, forest-products transportation has experienced (this does not include in-woods harvesting equipment diesel usage): Year-over-year diesel price increases exceeding typical operational margins, forcing contractors to absorb costs they cannot pass downstream; Per-mile hauling costs rising sharply, driven almost entirely by fuel volatility; Weekly fuel expenditures increasing by several thousand dollars for mid-sized logging fleets, threatening business viability; and Reduced hauling capacity, as contractors’ idle equipment or decline loads due to unaffordable fuel costs.   These impacts mirror the economic pressures facing agricultural producers—yet logging and hauling businesses currently receive no federal relief. During the COVID-19 pandemic, USDA supported and successfully implemented the Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers (PATHH) program, which provided urgently needed support to this sector. The PATHH program demonstrated that USDA has both the administrative capability and precedent to deliver targeted assistance to logging and hauling businesses when broader federal programs inadvertently exclude them. We respectfully request that USDA: Develop a diesel-fuel relief program for timber harvesters and timber haulers, modelled on the PATHH program or other existing USDA assistance frameworks; Recognize logging and hauling businesses as essential supply-chain partners experiencing fuel-related economic harm comparable to agricultural producers.   We welcome the opportunity to meet with you and your staff to discuss this request and provide additional data, including detailed year-over-year fuel-cost impacts and regional economic effects. Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your continued leadership at USDA. We look forward to working with you to support the nation’s forest products supply chain and the rural communities that depend on it.

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Sustainable Timber Tasmania’s 2025–26 Annual Report highlights a year of transition, achievement and continued progress as the organisation manages Tasmania’s public production forests with care and purpose. Source: Timberbiz Sustainable Timber Tasmania says the report reflects the professionalism, resilience and commitment of its people, and the important contribution of our contractors, customers, Shareholder Ministers, Board of Directors, stakeholders and the broader Tasmanian community. Highlights from 2025–26 include: Delivering value for Tasmania $162 million in revenue generated. $102 million paid to 495 Tasmanian businesses. More than one million tonnes of wood products supplied to industries across Tasmania. Regenerating and re-establishing forests 5,048 hectares of native forest regenerated following harvesting. 719 hectares of plantation forest re-established. 110 million seeds sown, with 100% of regenerated areas meeting stocking standards. Strengthening fire management and community safety STT firefighters supported interstate bushfire response efforts in Victoria. 11 AI fire cameras operated across Tasmania, supporting earlier smoke detection and response. The fire camera network generated 1,112 potential bushfire detections during the season. Keeping communities connected 11,975 kilometres of forest roads managed across the estate. 2,883 bridges managed to support safe access for communities, industry and visitors. Major bridge replacement and restoration projects helped maintain important regional connections. Supporting people, learning and community connection 51 schools participated in Schools Tree Day activities. More than 2,800 seedlings were gifted and planted. 2,460 staff training hours supported workforce capability and development. Climate, carbon and innovation 604 million tonnes of carbon stored across forests and harvested wood products. Seven carbon projects now registered, covering more than 2,000 hectares. $3.4 million in cash and in-kind contributions supported research projects. The 2025–26 Annual Report demonstrates how sustainable forest management can balance economic prosperity, environmental stewardship and community value, supporting a resilient and productive future for Tasmania’s public production forests. The report can be downloaded here – https://assets.sttas.com.au/uploads/2026/10/STT11272-Annual-Report-2026-WEB-OP3.pdf

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New Zealand Federated Farmers’ Richard Dawkins has spoken on his ideas on the consequences of carbon forestry. This was published in Farmers Weekly New Zealand I must admit there’s something surprisingly therapeutic about taking a chainsaw to young pine trees. A couple of well-placed swipes and another handful of pines are on the ground. Recently, I joined Federated Farmers meat and wool leaders visiting the Hain and Long families in Gisborne, who are investing in returning around 400 hectares of forestry land to productive agriculture. For a few hours, we got to enjoy felling a few trees on the property. But for Sam Hain and Matt Long, cutting down trees comes with a hefty price tag. At around NZ$900 per hectare to repay carbon credits and remove the trees, that’s NZ$360,000 before they’ve even started rebuilding the farming operation. Their investment shows farmers are still prepared to back agriculture with their own money. It also highlights a much bigger problem: New Zealand is still losing productive farmland to carbon forestry, with consequences reaching well beyond the farm gate. Research from Beef + Lamb New Zealand shows another 30,000 hectares of whole sheep and beef farms have been sold for forestry since mid-2025. That brings the total sold for afforestation since January 2017 to almost 330,000 hectares. To put that into perspective, it’s equivalent to nearly two Molesworth Stations lost to pine trees in less than a decade. During our visit to Tairāwhiti, alongside Federated Farmers president Colin Hurst, we got to see what’s at stake. At Ovation’s meat processing plant, we saw the jobs and economic activity supported by livestock farming, including tanning and pet food manufacturing. When whole farms become carbon forests, the effects ripple through processors, rural businesses and communities already struggling to sustain schools, sports clubs and local shops. With the election only weeks away, the next government must do more to stop the wholesale conversion of productive farmland to carbon forestry. National needs to strengthen its restrictions, not just stand by them. To its credit, National has introduced some limits on registering farmland in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), including a 25% cap for land use capability (LUC) classes 1 to 5. But those rules miss much of the problem, because only 12% of recent carbon forestry conversions have occurred on this land. The remaining 88% have been on LUC classes 6 and 7 – the hill country where many of our sheep and beef farmers operate. The Government has imposed a 15,000-hectare annual cap on ETS registrations for class 6 land, but class 7 remains unrestricted. Some people think of this land as blocks of scrub or waste, but we’re actually talking about productive hill country that underpins our red meat industry and supports rural communities. That’s why Federated Farmers wants the next government, whoever forms it, to extend much tougher restrictions to classes 6 and 7. National has so far refused to go further, but Labour’s promise to consider additional restrictions shows there is political room to move. This isn’t about opposing all forestry because, at Federated Farmers, we’re big supporters of the right tree in the right place. We fully agree that some steep, erosion-prone land needs permanent vegetation cover, and that targeted planting and native regeneration can complement productive farming. It’s about getting the balance right and recognising that land-use decisions have major economic and social consequences. Right now, the incentives remain badly skewed. The ETS can make carbon farming more attractive than producing food, encouraging landowners to plant pines across productive country that may never return to agriculture. The result is fewer livestock, less work for processors and other rural businesses, and mounting pressure on the communities that depend on farming. When whole farms become carbon forests, the effects ripple through processors, rural businesses and communities already struggling to sustain schools, sports clubs and local shops.

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A recent report by Terrafolia Advisory has asked questions about Australia’s sawmill output and why Australia has become an attractive market for imports since 2021, and where the opportunities lie for Australian processing. Source: Timberbiz Terrafolia Advisory provides commercial advisory services to businesses in the forest products sector, including timber processing and laminated veneer lumber (LVL) businesses. Steve Walker, the author of the review says the analysis, views and conclusions in this report are the author’s own and do not represent views of any client. This report analyses industry-level public data. It describes outcomes for the industry as a whole, not the decisions of individual businesses, many of which have operated under log supply, bushfire, pandemic and cost constraints outside their control. Its purpose is to inform investment and policy decisions that strengthen Australian timber processing. Since about 2015, Australian sawn softwood has depended on housing, but housing has not depended on Australian sawn softwood. When house starts fall, domestic sawn output falls with them. When house starts rise, domestic output barely moves, and imports meet the extra demand. In the seven years since 2015–16 when new house starts fell (by 7.5% on average), Australian sawn softwood production fell 3.9%. In the three years house starts rose (by 15.4% on average, including HomeBuilder), production rose 0.8%. Imports supplied 83% of the extra consumption. From 2002–03 to 2014–15, production rose 6.8% in years house starts rose 8.0%, and imports supplied only 12% of the extra demand. Domestic supply hit a ceiling around 2015. Domestic mills have lost market share in a shrinking market. Sawn softwood consumption fell 16% between 2015–16 and 2024–25. Mills in NSW and Queensland lost the most share (−4.7 points, output down 26%), and imports gained the most (+2.8 points to 11.3%). Since 2021, prices have risen while volumes fell. Before 2015, prices fell in housing slumps and volume rose in booms. Since 2015, prices have risen in both, and in 2021–22 structural pine rose 34% while domestic output fell 8%. Prices have held near that level since. Structural constraints on log supply and capacity appear to explain much of this; industry-level data cannot show whether individual businesses could have done otherwise. Australia has become an attractive market for imports. While US, European and Chinese markets saw volume and price fall, Australian prices held, drawing suppliers from New Zealand, Europe and Asia. Imports have not fallen below 10% of the market since 2021. LVL imports reached a record 254,065 m³ in 2025–26, and E10 LVL, marketed as an MOE 10 alternative to MGP10 framing, is an increasingly important segment. Selling below Australian prices is not in itself dumping, and this report cannot rule dumping in or out. The more immediate concern is compliance among some traders and suppliers, which the major manufacturers share. The opportunity is Australian investment in scale and engineered wood. The strongest options are: larger, integrated processing sites in the few catchments that can supply 1–2 million m³ of logs within about 150 km; finger-jointing and laminating to lift the value of existing sawmill output; higher-value engineered products such as beams, glulam and CLT rather than more commodity framing; and trade settings that tax Australian processed timber no more heavily than logs.   The author of the report Steve Walker is the managing director of Terrafolia Advirosy and has more than 30 years of experience running forestry, wood processing, manufacturing and industrial global supply chains in Australia and New Zealand. He founded Terrafolia Advisory in 2025 to help founders, investors and government with strategy, commercialisation and partnerships across the forest and fibre value chain. He was Chief Operating Officer of HQPlantations (2021–2025) and of China Forestry Group NZ (2016–2021), General Manager of South West Fibre (2008–2013) and Afforestation Manager at Midway (2003–2008). He is a former director of the New Zealand Forest Owners Association, and former Chair of the Australian Forest Products Association Growers Chamber. He holds an MBA and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. The report can be downloaded here.

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Matariki Forests in New Zealand is taking a major step forward in protecting its people with the development of a new Critical Risk Management Framework. This is one of the most significant health and safety initiatives the company has ever undertaken reflecting its commitment to ensuring everyone gets home safe every day. Source: Timberbiz The framework brings together operational knowledge, worker feedback, recognised international best practice, artificial intelligence and strengthened assurance processes to focus on the risks most likely to cause fatal or life-changing harm. Matariki Forests Health and Safety Advisor, Claude Hendrikse, says the project began well before recent legislative changes reinforced the need for organisations to identify and prioritise their most critical risks. “We recognised early that traditional hazard-based systems don’t always keep enough focus on the events that have the greatest potential to seriously harm someone,” Mr Hendrikse said. “This framework is about understanding those risks and making sure the controls that protect people are clear, practical and consistently applied.” The project has drawn on internationally recognised approaches, including the International Council on Mining and Metals’ Critical Control Management model and the principles of Energy Based Safety.  By understanding the energy behind serious incidents – whether released, transferred or uncontrolled – the company can better identify where robust controls are needed. A key part of the project has been strengthening how hazards are identified in the field.  Matariki Forests is using STKY (Stuff that can kill you) thinking alongside Energy Based Safety to help workers recognise the critical risks hidden within everyday tasks and providing constant reminders through a range of on-the-job resources. The framework has been shaped through extensive consultation with staff, contractors, workers and experts.  Regional workshops, structured reviews, together with contractor feedback and workforce engagement have all helped ensure the proposed critical controls are practical and effective in the field. Artificial intelligence has also supported the project by helping analyse existing safety documentation, identify duplicate controls and highlight gaps. “AI has helped us work smarter and faster, but it hasn’t replaced human judgement,” Mr Hendrikse said.  “Every AI-assisted output has been reviewed and validated by experienced people.  The real measure of success is whether the controls make sense to the people doing the work and help keep them safe.” The next stage of the project will explore software solutions to strengthen how critical controls are scheduled, verified, monitored, reported and linked to corrective actions, creating a strong foundation for future assurance and reporting. While consultation, refinement and field testing will continue, the goal remains simple. “We’re not trying to build a more complicated safety system.  We’re building a better one.  One that helps people understand what can seriously hurt them, what protects them and how we know those protections are working,” Mr Hendrikse said.

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Forest Fire Management Victoria’s (FFMVic) specialist remote forest rappel firefighters have begun preparations ahead of the 2026-27 bushfire season. Source: Timberbiz Rappel firefighters provide a critical rapid response capability, enabling crews to quickly reach and contain fires in some of Victoria’s most remote and inaccessible forests. This bushfire season, additional Victorian Government funding will increase the number of rappelers by four, bringing the total to 40. “These additional firefighters strengthen our ability to hit fires hard and fast in some of Victoria’s most rugged and remote terrain,” Acting Chief Fire Officer Aaron Kennedy AFSM said. “Our priority is aggressive first attack, keeping fires small and preventing them from threatening communities and the environment.” The funding is part of the Victorian Government’s $44.48 million investment in additional seasonal firefighters, training, equipment, fire detection capability, fleet and heavy machinery ahead of the bushfire season. Based at Ovens and Heyfield during the fire season, FFMVic’s rappel crews can be airborne within 15 minutes of a fire being detected. Crews rappel from helicopters directly into the fireground, where they work to contain or slow the spread of the fire. Fire-bombing aircraft provide aerial support while additional crews and machinery are deployed. Last season, rappel crews flew 56 missions to 22 fires, many of them started by lightning in otherwise inaccessible areas. Over the coming weeks, recruits will complete four weeks of intensive specialist training before progressing to helicopter operations, while new rappel dispatchers are also being trained ahead of the bushfire season. Since the program was established in 1985, more than 350 firefighters have completed the training. “Every bushfire is different, but our aim is always the same: early detection, respond quickly, contain fires early and protect communities, property and the environment,” Mr Kennedy said. “Whether it’s rappel crews deploying into remote forests, aircraft water bombing fires from the air, or crews and dozers building containment lines on the ground, each resource plays a critical role in our response.” This season, 633 seasonal firefighters, an increase of 133, will work alongside experienced permanent firefighters, helping protect communities and the environment. Mr Kennedy said new seasonal firefighters will complete two weeks of classroom and field-based learning, covering topics such as fire behaviour, firefighter safety, fire suppression and working around aircraft. “With an increased risk of bushfires forecast for Victoria, our seasonal firefighters are an important and valued addition to our firefighting resources,” Mr Kennedy said. “They play a critical role alongside our experienced crews, responding to bushfires in some of the state’s most remote and challenging environments. “This season they will be part of our team of 2,700 accredited emergency management staff, which includes frontline firefighters and incident management personnel.” Eleven firefighter training camps are being held across the state in the coming weeks. The camps are being held at Colac, Mildura, Swan Hill, Horsham, Ballan, Yarra Valley, Bairnsdale, Rawson, Dookie and Beechworth and offer hands-on experience operating water pumps and chainsaws and driving specialised firefighting vehicles. This bushfire season, the Victorian Government is investing $44.48 million in additional seasonal firefighters, training, equipment, fire detection capability, fleet and heavy machinery ahead of the bushfire season.

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The Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union (TFTU) has welcomed the Victorian Liberals and Nationals’ new forest management policy as a step in the right direction. Source: Timberbiz Announced last Wednesday, the policy proposes ecological thinning and fuel reduction across 5,000 hectares of public forest annually, with recovered timber made available to Victorian mills and manufacturers. “Healthy forests need good management, including reducing bushfire risks. And where that work produces usable timber, why burn it when it could support local timber supply, jobs and regional communities?” said TFTU Acting National Secretary Leo Skourdoumbis. The union said decisions about whether and where to thin forests should be informed by forest scientists, foresters, forestry workers, fire authorities and local communities. “Sometimes good management means leaving forests undisturbed. Other times it means thinning, fuel reduction or restoration.” This approach, known as active, adaptive forest management, is consistent with the Commonwealth-backed Timber Fibre Strategy and the union’s successful push for “proactive management” in Victorian Labor’s policy platform. Victoria already has a substantial, risk-based fuel management program, with almost 110,000 hectares treated in 2024–25, including 17,465 hectares of non-burn treatments such as mechanical slashing, mowing and mulching. Ecological thinning research and trials are also underway. Victoria’s existing State Forest By-Products Framework provides a sound basis for determining how recovered timber can be put to its best use for the community. However, the union cautioned against overstating what the proposal could deliver for timber manufacturing. The Coalition estimates recovering between 100,000 and 200,000 tonnes annually — roughly 7–13% of VicForests’ annual harvest a decade ago, using indicative weight conversions. The actual volume suitable for sawmilling remains uncertain, while timber recovered from ecological thinning is likely to be irregular in volume and variable in quality. “Mills and manufacturers need reliable timber supplies, and workers need job security. Recovered timber is a useful supplement, not a silver bullet. The future of the industry still depends on sustainably managed production forests,” Mr Skourdoumbis said

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The Victorian Forest Products Association (VFPA) has welcomed the Victorian Government’s announcement of recipients of the $12 million Timber and Fibre Innovation Fund (TFIF), supporting innovation, advanced manufacturing and new opportunities across Victoria’s timber and wood fibre industry. Source: Timberbiz The grants will support timber businesses, including a number of VFPA’s members, to invest in new technologies, improve manufacturing capabilities, develop innovative products and unlock new markets for locally grown timber and fibre. VFPA CEO Andrew White said the announcement was a welcome investment in an industry that contributes $9bn annually to Victoria’s economy and supports around 17,000 jobs. “We welcome the announcement of new timber manufacturing grants and congratulate the 17 successful businesses who will be investing in new innovations to improve products and unlock markets,” Mr White said. “Victoria has significant opportunities to grow its advanced manufacturing capabilities, develop higher-value timber products and make better use of the renewable wood fibre we already produce. “These grants are really important as they will help businesses invest in the technology, equipment and innovation needed to improve productivity, strengthen their competitiveness and create new opportunities for their regional communities.” Mr White said the funding was particularly timely given the challenging adverse market conditions facing Victoria’s timber and wood fibre industry, amidst growing timber imports. “Our industry is navigating some of the most challenging market conditions in recent years, with subdued housing construction, increasing competition from cheap imported timber products and ongoing cost pressures on local manufacturing operations.” “At a time when businesses are managing these pressures, targeted investment in innovation and value-adding is particularly important to maintaining our domestic timber manufacturing capability and supporting regional job security so we can meet our housing goals.” Mr White thanked the Victorian Government and Minister for Agriculture & Regional Development Michaela Settle for supporting the program and recognising the importance of the sector’s long-term future in Victoria. Mr White said imports of Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) from China had increased by 63% in just the past year, at lower prices and higher volumes than before, meaning large parts of the industry were fighting to remain competitive. “As we head toward the November election, VFPA is continuing to advocate that all political parties commit to a comprehensive 10-year Wood Fibre ‘Action Plan’ and Timber Strategy, to provide a long-term roadmap for addressing industry challenges, improving regulatory settings and supporting the sector’s long-term competitiveness.” VFPA is the peak industry body representing the wood fibre industry in Victoria, from those producing our sustainable wood fibre to those processing wood fibre into an extensive range of value-added products loved and used by Victorians every day.

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On the coastline of Porthleven, Cornwall,in the UK twin brothers and surfers Sam and Will Boex noticed a problem. They saw first-hand the impact of single-use plastic on the coast and ocean, while surfboards were usually transported in large amounts of bubble wrap. In response, and after much experimentation, they created a paper honeycomb sleeve to protect surfboards in transit and launched Flexi-Hex in 2018. Source: Timberbiz Flexi-Hex packaging is designed using a honeycomb shape with hexagonal paper cells that wrap tightly around a product. “The honeycomb is one of nature’s strongest and most efficient structures, using minimal material to create maximum strength,” said Will. When a package gets hit, the force is spread across many cells instead of one concentrated point, allowing the cells to flex and absorb the energy before it reaches the product. Flexi-Hex ships flat and can expand up to 35 times its compact size, taking up less space in storage and transport than bubble wrap. “The biggest misconception is that paper isn’t as strong as plastic. We’ve proved that isn’t the case: our packaging has passed European drop tests, and we’ve filmed bottles surviving a 4-metre drop in Flexi-Hex. The honeycomb structure gives paper a strength and cushioning ability most people don’t expect,” said Will. Flexi-Hex soon expanded beyond surfboard protection. In 2020, as e-commerce peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Boex brothers launched the Mini Sleeve for bottles, which is now their most popular product. The following year, they developed Flexi-Hex Air, a lighter tissue-paper sleeve for smaller fragile items such as cosmetics, electronics, and glassware. Today, Flexi-Hex is used to protect a wide range of products from eyewear to terrariums. Beyond protective sleeves, Flexi-Hex has expanded to corner protection for transporting books, picture frames, electronics, doors, and flat-pack furniture. The drinks industry makes up most of Flexi-Hex’s business and is where the brothers are proudest to see their impact. For example, Laphroaig Whisky, one of the first major brands to come on board, has replaced polystyrene and plastic air pouches with a paper-based solution that protects glass bottles as they travel through the postal network. Through Flexi-Hex’s corner protection solution, one kitchen manufacturer cut its breakage rate on doors from 7% to 1.3% after switching to Flexi-Hex. Because the design expands to different sizes, one protector can be used to replace several alternatives. “Since switching, we have seen a reduction in the number of damaged item complaints by over 50%,” said a marketing manager at Celtic Timber. All Flexi-Hex products are supplied under a FSC Chain of Custody certificate. “For us, FSC certification is how we prove to customers that the paper replacing their plastic is responsibly sourced,” said Will. The paper honeycomb products, including sleeves, board and pallets, are supplied under FSC RECYCLED 100% and FSC MIX Credit claims, and their corrugated outer boxes under an FSC MIX 70% claim. The Boex brothers are proud of the amount of single-use plastic their customers have removed from their packaging since 2018. And they have been able to quantify it: to date, Flexi-Hex has replaced 7,743 km of bubble wrap, roughly the distance from Cornwall to Austin, Texas. Yet Sam and Will are still looking for more ways to reduce plastic. This year they are working to develop a product that removes the need to ship bottles in corrugated boxes altogether and instead uses only Flexi-Hex and a paper bag.

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Stora Enso and Shanshan Technology have entered into a partnership to jointly accelerate the development and industrialisation of sustainable battery materials with the construction of a demonstration line for lignin-based hard carbon battery anode materials. Source: Timberbiz The collaboration marks an important step in strengthening capabilities across the battery materials ecosystem. As part of the agreement, a demonstration line for hard carbon development will be established at Shanshan Technology’s facility in Ningbo, China, enabling faster technical development and industrial-scale validation globally. Together, the companies will be better positioned to respond to the rapidly growing interest in sodium-ion battery technologies and the increasing demand for sustainable anode materials. By combining Stora Enso’s expertise in renewable materials and lignin-based innovation with Shanshan Technology’s extensive industrial capabilities and global position in the anode material business, the companies aim to accelerate product development, industrial readiness, and commercialisation of sustainable battery materials. The joint development focuses on lignin-based hard carbon materials derived from renewable wood-based feedstock, particularly relevant for sodium-ion batteries, where hard carbon is required as the anode material. The partnership supports Stora Enso’s long-term ambition to establish large-scale production of hard carbon materials for battery anodes in Europe as sodium-ion battery technologies continue to gain momentum across a growing range of energy storage and mobility applications. “Our partnership with Shanshan Technology is a significant step in advancing our sustainable battery materials business. By combining our expertise in renewable materials with Shanshan Technology’s industrial-scale anode material capabilities, we can accelerate development, strengthen our readiness for future scale-up, and support our long-term ambition to establish hard carbon production in Europe,” said Juuso Konttinen, SVP, Head of Growth, Biomaterials at Stora Enso.

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At CBD COP17, Building for Forests brought together housing, forestry, science, industry and city perspectives to explore how growing demand for affordable housing could also benefit climate, biodiversity and forest-dependent communities. Source: Timberbiz Sometimes, the future of a forest is decided long before the first tree is harvested. It may depend on whether managing that forest makes economic sense, whether communities can earn a living from it, or whether the land becomes more valuable for another purpose. But some of the decisions shaping that future are made thousands of kilometres away, in the cities where buildings are designed, materials selected and investments made. For PEFC, this connection between what happens in forests and what happens in the marketplace is particularly relevant. Sustainable forest management requires investment, and demand for responsibly sourced wood can help create the economic incentives to maintain healthy forests, protect biodiversity and support forest-dependent communities. Forest certification helps connect that demand with responsible management on the ground. This relationship was explored at CBD COP17 in Yerevan on 22 October 2026, during Sustainable Wood Construction and the Global Biodiversity Framework, a side event moderated by Thorsten Arndt, Head of Advocacy at PEFC International. According to figures presented by UN-Habitat, approximately 3.4 billion people live in inadequate housing, including 1.1 billion in informal settlements. Meeting their needs will require substantial new construction, with major implications for natural resources and greenhouse gas emissions. Responsibly sourced wood offers opportunities to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings, store carbon in long-lived products and create economic value in forest-dependent communities. “We spend a great deal of time discussing how to give forests an economic value, including through increasingly sophisticated financing mechanisms,” said Thorsten. “But perhaps we’re overlooking something much more straightforward. We need millions of affordable homes. Why not use that demand to create opportunities for forests, while also reducing emissions?” Lea Ranalder of UN-Habitat emphasised that sustainable housing goes well beyond material choices. Affordability, access to transport and services, local employment and appropriate urban planning are equally important. A home can be affordable to construct without being affordable to live in. Christoph Wildburger of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) presented research showing that biodiversity and timber production can reinforce one another. More diverse forests are often more resilient to disturbances, supporting their capacity to produce wood over time. However, trade-offs remain. Not every forest should be managed for production, and forest management decisions must reflect local ecological and social conditions. Preliminary research presented by Merle Quade from IIASA/SITCA examined whether growing demand for construction timber could be met without compromising biodiversity and other forest functions. The contribution highlighted the importance of forest resilience, plantation management, resource availability and safeguards when assessing opportunities to increase sustainable wood supply. Yuuko Iizuka of Sumitomo Forestry illustrated how long-term business investment can connect forest management, restoration and construction. Drawing on experience in Japan, she highlighted the challenges that arise when productive forests lose economic value and investment in their management declines. Kate Strachan from ICLEI brought the perspective of cities and local governments, emphasising that sustainable construction must consider the wider urban environment, including biodiversity, transport, infrastructure and access to services. Cities can influence the transition through procurement, building regulations, spatial planning and investment, but need technical capacity and financial resources to make sustainable solutions accessible and affordable. “Building with wood is not automatically good for forests,” Thorsten noted. “We need to look at where the wood comes from, how forests are managed and what happens to biodiversity. And we shouldn’t pretend that timber is the answer to every building. The real opportunity is to use the right materials, responsibly, and make sure the benefits reach beyond the construction site.” These connections are central to Building for Forests, launched at COP30 in Belém with contributions from organisations across forestry, construction, housing and finance, including PEFC. The initiative seeks to connect responsible forest supply with the policies, investment, technologies and demand needed to make sustainable construction more widely accessible. Its approach also recognises that different buildings require different materials, including timber, concrete, steel and hybrid solutions. What matters is choosing appropriate materials and ensuring that their use contributes to better environmental and social outcomes. As Building for Forests moves towards COP31, the focus is on demonstrating what already works, identifying barriers and encouraging practical action by governments, cities, businesses and other stakeholders. The Yerevan discussion reinforced the importance of keeping biodiversity and affordable housing central to that effort, while connecting decisions made in our cities with their consequences for forests and communities. As Thorsten asked in his opening remarks: “We often ask what forests can do for our cities. Perhaps it’s time we also asked what our cities can do for our forests.”

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Grown from seed planted in Geelong Botanic Gardens in 1859, the female Ginkgo at Geelong Botanic Gardens is the largest of its kind in Victoria, and possibly the largest in cultivation in Australia. It is notable for unusual stalactite-like growths from its trunk and branches. This phenomenon is normally only seen in much older Ginkgo trees. source: Timberbiz The tree has thrived for more than 160 years thanks to the care of Geelong Botanic Gardens, their garden staff and a dedicated team of volunteers. The Ginkgo received 27% of the 4435 votes cast in this year’s competition, beating out 8 other finalists for the title. Second place went to the Smooth Bark Apple Myrtle (Angophora costata) in Prahran, and third place to the Myrtle Beech (Nothofagus cunninghamii) at Apollo Bay. Together, the top trees highlight three settings that play a vital role in preserving Victoria’s significant trees – Botanic and heritage gardens, urban streetscapes and national and state parks. They show what is possible when established trees are valued and looked after. Gingkos, also known as Maidenhair trees, are among the oldest tree species on Earth. A truly ancient tree belonging to an order of plants that thrived during the Middle Jurassic period (174 to 161 million years ago), Ginkgo fossils have been found on every continent. Once thought to be extinct in the wild, small relic populations survived in China and thousand-year-old examples can also be found planted at temples in Japan and Korea. Their distinctive fan-shaped leaves have inspired artists and designers for centuries, from traditional Japanese ceramics and metalwork to Art Nouveau architecture and furniture. These ancient leaves have also helped scientists investigate climate change. By comparing microscopic pores in fossilised and living Ginkgo leaves, researchers have reconstructed past atmospheric carbon dioxide levels to investigate the relationship between greenhouse gases and a period of rapid global warming around 56 million years ago. Ginkgo’s delicate appearance hides extraordinary resilience. In Hiroshima, Japan, six trees growing one to two kilometres from the 1945 atomic blast miraculously survived and are today revered as symbols of hope, longevity and peace. Ginkgos are a true evolutionary relic, yet they thrive as street trees in modern mega-cities such as Tokyo and New York. “Botanic and historic gardens play a vital role in protecting established trees like this one. We congratulate the City of Greater Geelong, Geelong Botanic Gardens and the volunteers who have cared for this tree for generations,” said Justin Buckley, Executive Manager Gardens & Landscapes, National Trust Victoria. Every year, the National Trust Victoria holds our Victorian Tree of the Year competition to celebrate our best-loved trees, but protecting them takes more than a vote. The affection Victorians hold for trees is undeniable. We instinctively understand their value. Trees cool our streets, clean our air, provide habitat for wildlife, reduce stress, and make neighbourhoods healthier and more beautiful places to live. As the population of Victoria continues to grow, equitable access to cooling green spaces becomes all the more urgent. Yet despite the benefits they provide, we continue to lose established trees at an alarming rate. For example, Stonnington City Council recently released their Urban Greening Framework, which notes that within their municipality, in the last 10 years over 17.9 hectares of tree canopy has been lost within private land, and this trend is likely to continue. National Trust Victoria strongly supports thoughtful development and recognises the need for more housing, but trees cannot remain an afterthought in the planning process. National Trust Victoria thanks everyone who nominated and voted, and the communities behind all nine finalists: Ginkgo, Geelong Botanic Gardens (winner) Indian Bean Tree, Castlemaine Smooth Bark Apple Myrtle, Prahran Myrtle Beech, Apollo Bay Bunya Pine, Maldon Flooded Gum, Carlton North Golden Wych Elm, South Yarra California Redwoods, Warburton Canary Island Pine, Ballarat Central.

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Responsible Wood has released its annual report for the 2025-2026 year. Each year the organisation publishes this report to inform members, stakeholders and the public of the progress made and highlights activities. Source: Timberbiz This review covers the 2025/26 period and was presented to members at the recent AGM. “The Board and our highly competent staff have worked hard over the past year, focussing on both strategic issues and high-quality service delivery to our members and certificate holders,” Responsible Wood Chair Tony Bartlett wrote in the report. “In February, the Board decided to create a new position of Manager, Business Operations to provide additional capacity in business management and stakeholder engagement, as well as to address the unsustainable workloads of the existing staff.” The report provides a rundown of changes to the directors and committees as well as a review of its activities with organisations such as standards and accreditation organisations, PEFC, certification and endorsement bodies, chain of custody and other accredited certification bodies. There is also a snapshot of other activities like marketing and communications work, forums and events, and community interaction. The report can be downloaded here.

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Victorian truss and frame manufacturer AG Trusses has been named one of the successful recipients of the Victorian Government’s Timber and Fibre Innovation Fund, with the Minister for Agriculture Michaela Settle announcing the grant at the company’s site this week. Source: Timberbiz The Melton-based company received $543,610 to fund the Installation of automated frame manufacturing equipment to increase production capacity, efficiency and accuracy. The $12m Timber and Fibre Innovation Fund (TFIF) is a forward-looking initiative designed to strengthen Victoria’s timber and plant fibre industries for a sustainable future. The Fund builds on Victorian Government’s forestry transition programs by shifting focus from transition to transformation. It supports eligible Victorian businesses to invest in innovation, advanced manufacturing, alternative fibres, and new market opportunities that strengthen the long-term outlook of the sector. The Fund supports practical and scalable projects that move beyond small-scale trials into real-world implementation, commercial deployment and broader adoption. Funded projects are expected to contribute to economic growth, sustainable materials, emissions reduction outcomes and benefits for regional communities. FTMA Australia CEO Kersten Gentle said that while Modern Methods of Construction and offsite manufacturing were often talked about as new ideas, the frame and truss sector had been doing this for decades, investing millions in automation, machinery, design software and engineering technology along the way. “We’re the OGs of offsite prefabrication,” Ms Gentle said. “Our manufacturers are a significant part of the solution to Australia’s housing challenge, and we’re ready to do more.” Ms Gentle welcomed the Fund’s focus on practical innovation: improving manufacturing efficiency, reducing waste, making better use of locally grown timber and developing higher-value products that open new markets. She also highlighted timber’s environmental benefits as a renewable material that stores carbon for life, and the role the sector can play beyond detached housing in townhouses, multi-residential and mid-rise buildings, helping builders “build up, not just out”. AG Trusses has been a family business for more than 40 years and remains proud to manufacture in Victoria. Jennifer van den Bussche, Special Projects Manager and Detailer from AG Trusses, said the grant will support the business to stay competitive, improve efficiency and keep production local, while upskilling its team. “For us, automation isn’t about replacing people,” Ms van den Bussche said. “It’s about giving our people better tools, improving productivity and allowing us to manufacture more, while maintaining the quality our builders rely on.” In all six projects received funding to help support automated truss, pallet, post and timber production, improving productivity, workplace safety, operational efficiency and competitiveness. The other recipients were: ADVANCED TIMBER MANUFACTURING AND AUTOMATION Alberton Timber & Treatment Plant – Alberton Upgrades to steam treatment plant to enable night operations, improving production capacity. $73,571.06 Associated Kiln Driers – Colac Purchase and installation of automated docking saw and strapping equipment to increase productivity. $1,000,000.00 Costa’s Builders Mart – Hoppers Crossing Installation of a Flowmax automated timber handling system to improve manufacturing efficiency. $983,129.00 Dannymar – Sunshine West Upgrade timber processing equipment to increase throughput, recovery, safety and product value. $857,206.00 NACO Studio – Blackburn Installation of specialised manufacturing equipment to commercialise an innovative thick-veneer panel system for locally manufactured furniture. $62,000.00 HIGHER-VALUE ENGINEERED TIMBER AND CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS Three projects will expand Victoria’s engineered timber and prefabricated construction capability, converting lower-value timber into high-value products for housing and advanced manufacturing markets. Allstairs – Bayswater Implementation of CAD/CAM software to expand manufacturing capacity of custom staircase products. $54,795.00 Australian Sustainable Hardwoods – Heyfield Commercialisation of hardwood cassette building systems using robotics and digital automation. $800,000.00 WTIBEAM – Warrnambool Commercialisation of Bluegum glulam manufacturing through automated grading and processing technology. $1,710,000.00 TIMBER RECOVERY, RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND VALUE-ADDING Five projects will improve timber recovery, reduce waste and increase value from existing fibre resources through advanced processing, digital manufacturing and recycled timber technologies. Candour Trading – Tottenham Commercialisation of the CASE prefabricated hardwood building system through automated manufacturing and digital design integration. $49,920.00 Forrest Timber Products Australia – Birregurra Install advanced scanning and sawing equipment to maximise recovery and reduce waste. $994,477.00 Kenney-Pierce Timber – Violet Town Install advanced moulding technology to expand recycled timber manufacturing capacity. $82,000.00 Porta Products – Myrtleford Upgrade veneer manufacturing operations to increase capacity through better use of inputs for structural plywood. $1,000,000.00 Recycled Timber Flooring – Hurstbridge Modernisation of recycled timber processing through automated handling and manufacturing equipment to increase efficiency. $211,197.00 ALTERNATIVE FIBRE MANUFACTURING AND NEW FIBRE INDUSTRIES Two projects will establish advanced alternative fibre manufacturing capabilities, converting industrial hemp, marine biomass and recycled fibre resources into high-value engineered products. Seascape Restorations Australia – Portarlington Establish a marine-fibre facility to produce sustainable acoustic panels from recovered seagrass biomass. $900,000.00 UPP Operations – Cranbourne Installation of advanced fibre-processing equipment to convert low-value resources (including industrial hemp) into high-value nonwoven products $1,000,000.00 CIRCULAR ECONOMY, BIOENERGY AND FIBRE UTILIZATION One project will support conversion of timber residues into renewable energy and biochar, reducing waste, strengthening circular economy outcomes and creating higher-value manufacturing products. Radial Timber Australia – Yarram Installation of biochar and renewable energy systems to convert residues into value-added products. $819,607.42

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Forest & Wood Communities Australia (FWCA) is demanding answers from the NSW Government over looming cuts to Private Native Forestry (PNF) support services, uncertainty surrounding Commonwealth environmental approvals and a potential conflict with the Government’s forest carbon-credit interests. Source: Timberbiz FWCA says it has received concerning reports that most fixed-term positions supporting PNF within Local Land Services (LLS) may not be renewed beyond June 2027, with some staff reportedly already departing. FWCA Chair Steve Dobbyns said farmers and private forest owners deserved certainty about their right to sustainably manage and harvest timber from their own land. “You don’t have to ban private native forestry if you progressively remove the staff, technical support and approval pathways that make it possible,” he said. Mr Dobbyns said two major threats were converging in July 2027. First, the future staffing of LLS’s PNF program is uncertain. Second, changes to Commonwealth environmental legislation take effect on 1 July 2027, removing the existing Regional Forest Agreement exemption. Although a NSW–Commonwealth strategic assessment is underway, the forestry-specific approval arrangements have not been finalised. “Farmers could find themselves caught between a depleted LLS service and a new Commonwealth regulatory system that isn’t ready,” Mr Dobbyns said. He said that the NSW Government’s Improved Native Forest Management (INFM) carbon methodology contained a particularly concerning provision. Under section 40, increased harvesting in NSW private native forests above a historical baseline can reduce the carbon credits generated by eligible public forest projects. FWCA understands that NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service already holds a PNF harvesting baseline, although its origins, calculation and reliability have not been publicly explained. “This creates a potential conflict of interest. The Government stands to benefit financially from stopping timber harvesting in public forests, while increased private forestry production can reduce those carbon benefits,” Mr Dobbyns said. “We are not suggesting deliberate interference has been established. But the financial incentive exists, and the Government must demonstrate that its carbon interests are not influencing its support for private forestry.” FWCA is calling on the NSW Government to: Guarantee adequate LLS staffing and PNF services beyond June 2027. Publish the PNF harvesting baseline, its data sources and calculation methodology. Confirm a workable Commonwealth environmental approval pathway before 1 July 2027. Explain how conflicts between INFM carbon revenue and support for PNF will be managed.   “Farmers own and manage these forests. They carry the costs of maintaining their properties and should retain the opportunity to earn income through lawful, sustainable timber production,” Mr Dobbyns said. “Private native forestry must not become collateral damage in the Government’s pursuit of forest carbon credits.” FWCA urges farmers, private forest owners and rural industry organisations to raise these concerns with their local MPs and demand firm commitments before July 2027.

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New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) are planning a 120 sqm New Zealand Pavilion at INDIAWOOD 2027 and are seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from New Zealand wood and forestry companies interested in exploring and growing their presence in the Indian market. Source: Timberbiz Taking place from 3-6 March 2027 at India Expo Mart & Centre, Greater Noida (Delhi NCR), INDIAWOOD is India’s leading trade exhibition for the woodworking and furniture manufacturing sector. The event attracts more than 600 brands from over 30 countries and over 30,000 trade visitors, providing a platform to connect with manufacturers, distributors, importers, architects, designers and other key industry stakeholders. For New Zealand companies considering India, participation provides an opportunity to better understand market demand, explore potential applications for New Zealand wood products, build valuable industry relationships, and assess long-term commercial opportunities in one of the world’s fastest-growing wood products markets. This is an opportunity to showcase products and capabilities as part of a coordinated New Zealand presence while connecting with buyers, manufacturers, distributors, architects, designers and other key industry stakeholders. Participation in the New Zealand Pavilion, including pavilion design, construction, branding, coordination, marketing support and on-site assistance is included with access to an optional pre-event India Market Immersion Program, designed to provide market, cultural and sector insights. For more information contact NZTEIndiaActivations@nzte.govt.nz

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The Victorian Forest Products Association (VFPA) has welcomed the Victorian Liberals and Nationals’ commitment to strengthening bushfire prevention and improving forest health outcomes. Source: Timberbiz The Coalition’s proposed Forest Management Program announced on Wednesday includes doubling planned burning, expanding cultural burning, maintaining strategic firebreaks, controlling invasive pests and weeds, and restoring 5,000 hectares of degraded public forests annually. The Coalition will also support funding for 18 bushfire detection cameras. VFPA Chief Executive Officer Andrew White said the commitments were a positive step towards healthier, more resilient forests and safer regional communities, with people’s livelihoods being threatened every year by dangerous bushfires. “Healthy forests require management, and we welcome the Coalition’s recognition that forest management and reducing fuel loads is essential to reducing bushfire risks and improving long-term forest health,” Mr White said. “Strategic and targeted planned burns, fuel reduction, maintaining firebreaks, early bushfire detection and managing invasive species are all vital measures that will help protect our forests, regional communities and critical timber resources. “We also support the principle that timber recovered through forest management and restoration activities should be put to its highest-value use, rather than allowing a valuable renewable resource to go to waste.” Shadow Minister for Public Land Management Melina Bath this week conceded that the Coalition would face legal challenges from environment groups if it won government and tried to introduce its “active forest management” strategy. The Victorians for Nature alliance, which includes the Victorian National Parks Association, the Wilderness Society, Environment Victoria and the Victorian Forest Alliance, quickly claimed that at least 10 ecological, financial and regulatory barriers stand in the way – ranging from environmental impacts, to regulatory and economic barriers, including court cases that found native forest logging breached environment laws. “Logging native forests is catastrophic for wildlife; particularly those that depend on hollows specific to older trees such as greater gliders and powerful owls,” said Nic Fox from the Victorian Forest Alliance. “Forests are worth so much more standing; providing clean drinking water, reducing erosion, carbon capture/storage, habitat and destination tourism. It is pointless to restart something with such low public support, and so many flaws, barriers and costs.” Meanwhile Mr White warmly welcomed the Coalition’s commitment to expanding Victoria’s AI-enabled bushfire detection camera network, building on the Victorian Government’s recent funding. “VFPA has strongly advocated for this technology, and we welcome the bipartisan recognition of its critical importance in providing earlier fire detection, which will better protect both our regional communities and our vital plantation timber resources used for housing,” Mr White said. Earlier this year, VFPA made a submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the 2026 Summer Fires, calling for increased funding for strategically targeted planned burning, fuel breaks and earlier bushfire detection using the latest technologies. “With another bushfire season approaching, investments like these in prevention, early detection technology and forest management to reduce fuel loads is critical to protecting Victoria’s communities, forests and regional industries,” Mr White said.

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In recent times I have sat with former loggers, CFA volunteers and farmers who openly shed tears at the state of our bush and the lessons not learned. The greatest threat to Victoria’s forests is not people managing them. It is governments failing to manage them. Hazardous fuel loads have accumulated forests have become denser and bushfires more destructive. The lesson is clear: healthy forests require active management. Active management is deeply rooted in our history. Areas now occupied by thick forest were historically open woodlands maintained through Aboriginal burning. After settlement generations, foresters, mountain cattlemen and local communities helped maintain and care for these landscapes. The evidence suggests our forests evolved through active management, not abandonment. For 21 of the past 25 years, Labor’s public land policy has been shaped more by ideology than evidence, with a ‘lock it up and leave it’ approach that has allowed fuel loads and risks to dramatically accumulate. Departmental fuel reduction has fallen. Fuel loads have grown. Sixteen years after the Bushfires Royal Commission called for a 5% annual fuel reduction target, Victoria now treats less than 1% of public land annually. Victorians have endured repeated major bushfires too many to list, culminating in the devastating fires of 2026. Yet despite inquiry after inquiry, the lessons around prevention remain unlearned. The solution is a return to practical, hands-on management of Victoria’s public land. That means reducing hazardous fuel loads, maintaining strategic firebreaks, attacking invasive pests and weeds, supporting cultural burning in partnership with Indigenous Victorians. Bushfire preparedness is not a seasonal activity. It is a year-round commitment. The Liberals and Nationals will restore active management as the foundation of public land policy. We will double planned burning and work towards the Bushfires Royal Commission’s recommendation of treating 5% of treatable public land annually. We will rebuild strategic fuel breaks, in collaboration, expand cultural burning and put more people back on the ground managing the land. Labor’s decision to shut down Victoria’s native timber industry devastated our timber communities and saw valuable skills and experience lost or move interstate. In 2026, the choice isn’t between logging and lock-up. It’s between stewardship and neglect. Under our plan, 5,000ha of degraded public forest will be actively restored each year through targeted thinning and fuel reduction to improve forest health, resilience and bushfire preparedness. Strategic fuel breaks will be maintained and expanded across the landscape to strengthen Victoria’s bushfire defences. Timber and fibre recovered through forest restoration and firebreak works will be processed locally and put to their highest-value use, supporting Victorian jobs and regional manufacturing. From sawlogs and fence posts to firewood, biochar and mulch, the resource will be fully utilised in Victoria. This program will deliver healthier forests, reduce bushfire risk, support regional jobs and strengthen Victoria’s timber and manufacturing sectors. Revenue generated through these activities will be reinvested. Victoria can have healthier forests, lower fuel loads, regional jobs and productive use of forest resources. These are not competing priorities. Melina Bath MP
 The Nationals’ Member for Eastern Victoria
Shadow Minister for Public Land Management

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