Forest Products Industry

Forests and other land ecosystems failed to curb climate change in 2023 as intense drought in the Amazon rainforest and record wildfires in Canada hampered their natural ability to absorb carbon dioxide, according to a study presented on Monday. Source: Reuters That means a record amount of carbon dioxide entered Earth’s atmosphere last year, further feeding global warming, the researchers said. Plant life helps to slow climate change by taking in huge amounts of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas driving global warming. Forests and other land ecosystems on average absorb nearly a third of annual emissions from fossil fuels, industry and other human causes. But in 2023, that carbon sink collapsed, according to study co-author Philippe Ciais of the Laboratory for Climate and Environmental Sciences (LSCE), a French research organization. “The sink is a pump, and we are pumping less carbon from the atmosphere into the land,” Mr Ciais said in an interview. “Suddenly the pump is choking, and it’s pumping less.” As a result, the growth rate of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere jumped 86% in 2023 compared to 2022, the researchers said. Scientists at Tsinghua University in China, the University of Exeter in England and LSCE led the research into what caused the shift. Their study was presented at the International Carbon Dioxide Conference in Manaus, Brazil. A major driver was record high temperatures globally that dried out vegetation in the Amazon and other rainforests, preventing them from taking up more carbon while also fuelling record fires in Canada, the study found. “Imagine your plants at home: If you don’t water them, they’re not very productive, they don’t grow, they don’t take up carbon,” said Stephen Sitch, a study co-author and carbon expert at the University of Exeter. “Put that on a big scale like the Amazon forest,” Mr Sitch told Reuters on the sidelines of the conference The study is still in the process of peer review with an academic journal, but three scientists who were not involved in the research told Reuters that its conclusions were sound. They said that dips in land carbon sinks tend to happen in years affected by the El Nino climate phenomenon, like 2023. But the record high temperatures being driven by climate change made last year’s dip particularly extreme. Also, the consequences of the dip are more severe than in the past because humans are now causing the emission of more carbon dioxide than ever before. The scientists cautioned that Earth’s carbon sink varies widely year to year, and a single year alone will not spell doom. But it would be alarming if what was observed in 2023 becomes a trend, they added. “This is a warning,” said Richard Birdsey of Woodwell Climate Research Centre in the United States, who was not involved in the study. “There’s a good chance that years like 2023 are going to be more common.” The less carbon the land ecosystems absorb, the less fossil fuels the world can burn before humankind blows past global climate targets, said Anthony Walker, an ecosystem modeler at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the United States who was not involved in the study. “We cannot count on ecosystems to bail us out in the future,” said Trevor Keenan, an ecosystem scientist at University of California, Berkeley who was not involved in the study.  

Russian forces have begun using wooden drones made from plywood and styrofoam to locate Ukrainian air defence systems. Source: msn According to Tech these unconventional unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been spotted over Ukrainian territory in recent weeks, with Ukrainian forces encountering these mysterious devices for the first time. According to Andrii Cherniak, a representative of the Ukrainian Defence Intelligence, these new drones are equipped with cameras and Ukrainian SIM cards. The use of Ukrainian SIM cards is strategic, allowing the drones to transmit images back to Russia without raising alarms that would occur if Russian SIM cards were used. This tactic also provides the drones with the best possible network coverage across Ukraine. The wooden drones, though not armed with explosives, serve a crucial reconnaissance role. They are primarily used to identify and pinpoint the locations of Ukrainian air defence systems. Despite their rudimentary construction, these drones pose a significant financial challenge for Ukraine. The cost of intercepting them with missiles is high, which makes these low-cost drones an effective tool for Russia. Reports suggest that Russia has been refining its drone technology and tactics, using these wooden UAVs more frequently to gain an upper hand in the conflict. This development allows Russia to enhance the effectiveness of its missile and drone strikes by targeting key defensive positions in Ukraine. In response to these tactics, Ukrainian forces have been proactive. Recently, they launched a record-breaking strike on the Olenya air base, hitting a valuable Russian Tu-22M3 bomber.  

FSC is terminating the Trademark License Agreement (TLA) of the eight certificate holders belonging to the Vinda group through a mutually agreed termination agreement. Hence, the Vinda group can no longer be associated with FSC because it was recently acquired by the Royal Golden Eagle (RGE) group. FSC disassociated from the RGE group, which includes APRIL, in August 2013.  Source: Timberbiz According to the mutual termination agreement: The TLAs of all the Vinda certificate holders will be terminated effective 30 September 2024. Therefore, after the termination becomes effective, these companies can no longer produce products with FSC claims, and they cannot claim that they are FSC-certified. The liquidation period of all FSC-labelled products produced up to and including 30 September 2024 may be sold with an FSC label until 31 December 2024. This means that Vinda can no longer sell products with FSC claims after this date. Vinda’s customers who bought products produced by Vinda as FSC-certified before the end of the liquidation period will be able to claim that they are FSC-certified without any time restrictions. RGE’s acquisition of the Vinda group by RGE makes them a part of this disassociated corporate group. According to FSC’s Policy for Association, when a valid certificate holder is acquired by a disassociated corporate group, FSC terminates the company’s TLA and the certification body terminates their FSC certificate. The Policy for Association stipulates that when FSC disassociates from a corporate group due to Policy for Association violations, all entities belonging to that group are barred from entering the FSC system through certification as long as the disassociation is valid. Read more about the implications of disassociation, especially when a certificate holder is acquired by a disassociated corporate group in this set of FAQs. Vinda is a hygiene products company in Asia headquartered in China. Therefore, the termination of their FSC certificates will have implications that affect its suppliers and customers. The terminated Vinda certificate holders are: License – Organization Name FSC-C119971 – Vinda Paper (China) Co., Ltd. FSC-C119971 – Vinda Paper (China) Co., Ltd. Guangdong Branch FSC-C119971 – Vinda Paper (China) Co., Ltd. Jiangmen Branch FSC-C119971 – Vinda Paper (China) Co., Ltd. Xinhui Branch FSC-C161508 – Vinda Trading Co., Ltd. FSC-C133911 – Vinda Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. FSC-C133911 – Vinda Marketing (M) Sdn. Bhd. FSC-C106732 – Vinda Household Paper (China) Limited FSC-C117913 – Vinda Paper Industrial (H.K.) Co., Limited FSC-C158078 – Vinda Personal Care (Guangdong) Company Limited FSC-C125756 – Vinda Paper (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd. FSC-C136725 – Forton Enterprises Limited Royal Golden Eagle (RGE), the corporation that owns APRIL, announced the acquisition of Vinda Group on 22 March 2024. FSC disassociated from the APRIL group in August 2013, hence, currently no entity of that corporate group is eligible for association with FSC. Since October 2023, FSC has been facilitating APRIL’s remedy process. After successfully completing the remedy process, all companies belonging to the APRIL/RGE group, including those from the Vinda Group, may become eligible for association and certification. The completion of a remedy process may take several years.  

Recent media reports have highlighted regulatory actions against Forestry Corporation. Most of the alleged breaches mentioned in these articles occurred around four years ago. Source: Timberbiz Forestry Corporation takes its environmental responsibility in managing native forests very seriously, adhering to some of the most stringent environmental regulations in the world. These regulations are designed to protect native forests while allowing sustainable timber production. Forest management is inherently complex, and despite our best efforts, Forestry Corporation acknowledges that some non-compliances have occurred in recent years. Where breaches of regulations have occurred, these have been unintentional errors, and we are committed to learning from these incidents to prevent future occurrences. When concerns arise, Forestry Corporation works closely with the regulator to address these promptly and effectively. Our Forest Management System is underpinned by continuous improvement, and we review each incident to identify what went wrong and enhance our systems, processes, procedures and training accordingly. Additionally, we have increased staff presence in the forest, upgraded our technology and established a dedicated compliance assurance team. This team continually reviews, improve and automate processes to ensure better compliance. FCNSW employs highly skilled and professional staff, including ecologists and forest scientists, who are dedicated to the health and sustainability of our forests. We continually strive to exceed the minimum environmental requirements, often protecting significantly more trees than mandated by regulations.

  New Zealand Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts met in Brisbane with their Australian counterparts, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen. Source: Timberbiz Ministers discussed joint action to meet our climate commitments, climate resilience in the Pacific region, how investment and finance can be mobilised for climate change action, and how we can improve our preparation and response to future severe weather events. “Unlocking investment to reduce and remove emissions from the atmosphere is key to helping us meet our climate change targets,” Ms Willis said. “Today, we have confirmed the development of New Zealand’s sustainable investment model, or taxonomy, will begin with the agriculture and forestry sectors. “This is a great opportunity to showcase the efforts of our domestic farmers and foresters as well as giving international investors’ confidence their money will have a positive impact for the climate and the economy. “We will also begin work to develop a sustainable finance strategy for New Zealand. Enhancing cooperation with Australia on this work, as well as the other initiatives discussed today, will help position the region as a robust sustainable finance market.” Ministers discussed joint action to meet climate commitments, climate resilience in the Pacific region, how investment and finance can be mobilised for climate change action, and how we can improve our preparation and response to future severe weather events. “In the lead up to COP29 where the New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance will be decided, we will continue to participate in negotiations on how finance can support global climate action,” Mr Watts says. Ministers agreed to a joint statement, outlining their plans for greater bilateral collaboration. These include: Conducting a joint regulatory barrier review, initially focusing on batteries and electric vehicle charging Convening roundtables with the maritime sector to identify the conditions required for green shipping routes between countries Inviting New Zealand aviation companies and representatives to join the Jet Zero Council, and investigating the conditions required to develop a regional sustainable aviation fuel industry. Engaging collaboratively in the development of a Guarantee of Origin scheme for green hydrogen, sustainable fuels, and green metals Coordinating approaches to sustainable finance, starting with the development of a taxonomy rulebook Exploring alignment on wider sustainable finance policy and legislation New Zealand joining Australia in the Climate Club to support industry decarbonisation on both sides of the Tasman. Further deepening collaboration to deliver outcomes under the Paris Agreement Investing in long-term emissions reduction opportunities for the agricultural sector. The full joint statement can be read here.

A former camel dairy farmer, an avid motorcyclist obsessed with the colour pink, and a collector of John Deere equipment scale models are just some of the 24 Australian finalists in this year’s 2024 John Deere Technician of the Year Awards. Source: Timberbiz The Awards program, established in 2021, recognises and celebrates the important role technicians play in keeping John Deere’s customers operating to support Australia’s vital agriculture, construction and forestry industries. More than 130 nominees from 69 dealership locations were put forward for this year’s event, demonstrating the momentum the awards program has gained across Australia and New Zealand. The Australian finalists will travel to Brisbane in early September for a final round of intense judging where they will be tested on their ability to perform hands-on diagnostics and troubleshoot and solve technical issues on the spot. John Deere Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Luke Chandler, congratulated the finalists and recognised the huge value they bring to their dealerships, communities and the broader industries they support. “Technicians require a unique combination of mechanical knowledge, proficiency in digital technology and advanced problem-solving skills to support customers’ operations, helping them to increase their uptime, enhance productivity and promote sustainable practices across their business,” Mr Chandler said. “All the finalists should be extremely proud that their dedication, hard work and commitment to excellent customer service was recognised by their dealerships and congratulated on passing the first round of internal judging. “We look forward to welcoming the finalists to our headquarters at Crestmead, where their diagnostic and problem-solving skills will be put to the test in a series of complex real-life scenarios.” Eight titles will be awarded across five categories in the 2024 John Deere Technician of the Year Awards, which includes individual country awards for the Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year, Parts Technician of the Year, and Construction & Forestry Service Technician of the Year. One award winner, from either New Zealand or Australia, will be announced as the Service Apprentice of the Year. Five Australian apprentices will compete for the Parts Apprentice of the Year Award. John Deere Australia and New Zealand Director of Aftermarket and Customer Support, Emma Ford, said while the group of Australian finalists were all individuals with exceptional skills, the one common thread was their commitment to their customers. “This year, across our Australian finalists, we have a number of new entrants from all across the country, and we are pleased to welcome back several returning regional finalists and winners from previous years,” Ms Ford said. “Some have come from traditional farming backgrounds and always had an interest in pursuing a career in agriculture or heavy machinery, whereas other finalists have made this career choice later in life. “Regardless of their pathway to their current role, they are all deeply committed to delivering exceptional service for customers, and to making the most of all the opportunities they have to grow their career and excel in their field.” The Award winners will be announced at the John Deere Technician of the Year Awards gala event on Thursday, 5 September 2024. 2024 JOHN DEERE TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS AUSTRALIAN FINALISTS Construction & Forestry Technician of the Year (will compete for an Australian only Award) Hayden Cox, RDO Equipment, Eastern Creek, New South Wales Andrew Moat, RDO Equipment, Derrimut, Victoria Ben Mummery, AFGRI Equipment, Albany, Western Australia Johannes Viljoen, AFGRI Equipment, Busselton, Western Australia Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year (will compete for an Australian only Award) Brady Gunter, Hutcheon & Pearce, Wagga Wagga,             New South Wales Karl Moschella, Honeycombes, Ayr, Queensland Rodney Pearce, Hutcheon & Pearce, Lavington, New South Wales Bradley Skinner, AFGRI Equipment, Esperance, Western Australia James Smart, Emmetts, Horsham, Victoria Zac Weir, RDO Equipment, Gympie, Queensland Parts Technician of the Year (will compete for an Australian only Award) Andrew Keller, Hutcheon & Pearce, Lavington, New South Wales Kirsten Rush, Brandt, Ballarat, Victoria Alex Tyler, Emmetts, Murray Bridge, South Australia Emma Whitbread-Edwards, RDO Equipment, Richlands, Queensland Service Apprentice of the Year (will also compete against two New Zealand finalists for a combined Australian/New Zealand Award) Owen Armstrong, Hutcheon & Pearce, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales Daniel Barnes, RDO Equipment, Beaudesert, Queensland Samuel Dyer, Emmetts, Pinnaroo, South Australia Josh Kramer, Emmetts, Roseworthy, South Australia Nicholas Lattanzio, Emmetts, Horsham, Victoria Parts Apprentice of the Year (will compete against each other for the Award) Belinda Gade, Emmetts, Renmark, South Australia Matthew Giuntini, RDO Equipment, Eastern Creek, New South Wales Tracy Hogan, RDO Equipment, Emerald, Queensland Wyatt Sciacca, Honeycombes, Innisfail, Queensland Hannah Goedhart-Hutchings, AFGRI Equipment, Merredin, Western Australia

The Tasmanian Liberal Government is strongly supporting Tasmanian forestry jobs by streamlining processes and cutting red tape. Source: Timberbiz Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, Eric Abetz, said the passage of the Forestry (Miscellaneous Amendment) Bill 2023 in the House of Assembly was an important step forward. “The Bill will see greater jobs security and a potentially bigger forest estate by removing the requirement for the private forest service levy to be paid on first rotations on areas of previously cleared land,” Minister Abetz said. “To further assist jobs, landholders and industry, the Bill enables a more streamlined application process for minor boundary changes to private timber reserves, reducing administrative costs and time. “Further, the Bill will see the Board of Private Forests Tasmania given powers to waive the private forest service levy under special circumstances. This will include situations where private forests are impacted by flood or fire. “The sector was closely consulted during the review process, with public consultation also taking place. I thank Private Forests Tasmania for their efforts in helping progress these reforms. “The Tasmanian Liberal Government’s 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future reiterates support for a sustainable, renewable, job-rich and world-leading forestry industry and we will ensure Tasmania’s world-class forest management framework remains at the cutting edge and fit for purpose.”

The Tasmanian Government welcomes the appointment of Minister Julie Collins to the portfolio of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Minister Collins now holds the pen on some of the most critically important industries to Tasmania’s economic prosperity. Source: Timberbiz Tasmania’s agricultural, fishery and forestry industries are the backbone of our economy and way of life and play a key part in the Tasmanian Government’s 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future. Tasmanian Government Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Jane Howlett, welcomed the move to have a Tasmanian representing the agriculture sector in the Federal Parliament. “Minister Collins has a real opportunity to stand up for Tasmanians in these important areas, and I look forward to working productively with Minister Collins to get the best outcomes for Tasmania’s farmers,” Minister Howlett said. “One of the first decisions Minister Collins must make is to immediately scrap the flawed biosecurity protection levy bill. “The Federal Government also needs to immediately fund its share of the Greater South-East Irrigation Scheme so that the project can be delivered. “I also call on Minister Collins to help fight for an expansion to the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme (TFES) to help reduce the cost of freight for fodder and feed for all of Tasmania, as many Tasmanian farmers battle through heartbreaking drought conditions. “Unlike farmers on the mainland, Tasmanians don’t have road and rail options to secure the additional feed and fodder they need to ensure positive animal welfare outcomes and the existing level of TFES support per freight unit has simply not kept pace with the significant increase in costs in recent years.” Tasmanian Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, Eric Abetz, said the new Federal Minister for Fisheries and Forestry must stand firm on backing Tasmanian jobs which drive our regional economies, and immediately secure the future of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour. “Thousands of Tasmanians are employed across these critical industries, and we welcome having a Tasmanian Minister who knows first-hand how important it is to provide certainty and stability to these industries, jobs, and our State’s economy,” Minister Abetz said. “I am confident that Minister Collins will stand up for our sustainable primary industries and the unique natural environments in which they operate – not sacrificing either for the sake of the other. “I look forward to her proactive engagement and action in championing these sustainable industry sectors with her parliamentary colleagues.” The Tasmanian Government looks forward to working with Minister Collins to deliver important support and reforms to Tasmanian industries that are in the best interests of all Tasmanians.

The Australian Forest Contractors Association has congratulated Julie Collins and Senator Anthony Chisholm on their appointments as Minister and Assistant Minister respectively for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio. Source: Timberbiz AFCA also thanks Senator Murray Watt for his efforts in the portfolio and in delivering several important initiatives for the forestry sector as part of the Albanese Labor Government. “As Housing Minister and a proud Tasmanian, Minister Collins will know the importance of forestry and forest products to the economy and our communities,” AFCA General Manager Tim Lester said. “Forest contracting businesses provide an essential operations and workforce for Australia’s $24 billion forestry sector. Having government policies and regulations at Federal and State levels that support our sustainable, renewable and productive sector is a must. “Across the hardwood and softwood estates forestry is a ‘yes and’ activity. Yes to regeneration, yes to renewability, yes to carbon sequestration, yes to effective landscape and environmental management and yes to quality jobs in rural and regional areas. “With AFCA’s JAS-ANZ endorsed ForestFit Standard and certification scheme, Australians can have confidence that our forestry operations are being conducted at the highest levels of environmental and safety performance. “We look forward to working with Minister Collins and Assistant Minister Chisholm on the positive role being played by forest contracting businesses and the opportunities that are ahead of us,” Mr Lester said.

Forestry Australia is leading an Australian initiative to expand Australia’s carbon credits across all native forest tenures, including State forests, private native forests, forests managed by Traditional Owners, national parks and conservation reserves. Source: Timberbiz The Forestry Australia ‘Enhancing Native Forest Resilience’ proposal is a forest-sector-led submission to the Australian Government’s Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee EOI process for Australian Carbon Credits Units (ACCU) Scheme methods. This innovative model is based on a growing body of published work that shows forests that are actively managed can have greater carbon potential. Under this method, active management means deliberate human care of forests through implementing practices to restore and improve carbon, forest health and resilience outcomes. Forestry Australia President Michelle Freeman said there were huge untapped opportunities. “There is a growing body of published work that shows our forests are not only more resilient if they are actively managed, but they can deliver greater carbon abatement benefits,” Dr Freeman said. “Our proposed new Enhancing Native Forest Resilience method is specifically focussed on unlocking the carbon potential across all types of native forests – when they remain forest land. “This would provide additional revenue streams for our national parks, state forests and private forests, specifically to support more investment in ecologically sustainable forest management, thereby enhancing landscape resilience, biodiversity and social outcomes from our forests. “It would maximise carbon market opportunities to more landowners, from state government agencies managing state forests and national parks, as well as community groups, not-for-profits, private land owners and First Nations Peoples.” This alternate approach to carbon credits will incentivise investment in the resilience and ecologically sustainable management of Australia’s native forests, while also allowing for continuing supply of locally and sustainably sourced timber and wood products – unlocking greater opportunities for Australia to meet its Paris Targets. “Our approach is more nuanced than approaches that entertain only one option for improving forest carbon outcomes,” Dr Freeman said. “This method recognises that the problem and solution requires a more holistic approach, it’s based on considering and providing options for applying a broader range of different forest management tools in the toolkit. “If we extend the potential options for earning carbon credits, we not only generate extra eligible carbon abatement opportunities for Australia, but we also enhance the resilience and ecological values of the Australian forest landscape while continuing to supply local high quality wood products from areas where that is appropriate, it’s a win-win-win. “Active management can also support sustainable livelihoods for regional communities and open up options for self-determination by land holders and managers to achieve the best possible and holistic outcomes. The proposed project activities under Enhancing Native Forest method can be grouped into three groups: Restorative forestry practices: projects that restore ecological health and carbon through forest restoration and regenerative forestry practices where forests have been degraded by wildfires, pest and diseases, or other significant disturbances. Adaptive harvesting practices: projects that reduce carbon emissions and improve carbon storage in forests currently available for timber harvesting, while allowing for a level of ongoing supply of wood products, by altering timber harvesting approaches or resting areas from harvest. Improved utilisation of harvested wood products: projects that improve carbon storage in wood products by shifting the production of lower grade logs for short-lived wood products into higher grade logs and long-lived wood products. Forestry Australia is pleased to have this opportunity to contribute directly to the further development and growth of the ACCU Scheme in Australia, and to present a proposal to the Australian Government that highlights the importance of supporting ecologically sustainable forest management for all native forests, especially in the face of increasing threats from wildfires, invasive pest species and other factors exacerbated by climate change.