Australian timber industry news

The Wood Solution Thailand Forum, recently held in Bangkok, explored practical solutions for Thailand’s timber industry by connecting Swedish forestry expertise with the country’s forest sector. Source: SEI The forum was part of the Wood Solution Thailand Program, which brings together researchers, foresters, architects, investors, and policymakers from across Thailand and Sweden to build a sustainable timber construction ecosystem. Speaking at the forum, Mrs Arunrung Phothong Humphreys, Ambassador of Thailand to Sweden, explained why Sweden’s experience offers a powerful model. Sweden has a strong forestry sector, an advanced wood-processing industry and decades of experience balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship. She also pointed to the broader diplomatic foundation, noting that the relationship has been strengthened by the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed between the two countries, and described the project as a new model linking grassroots communities with emerging green industries. Emanuel Lundin, First Secretary at the Embassy of Sweden in Bangkok, highlighted how the partnership is turning years of dialogue into collective action: “The process is important … the journey matters as much as the eventual outcome.” Since 2022, partners including the Thailand-Nordic Countries Innovation Unit (TNIU), the Eco-Innovation Foundation (EIF), and SEI have worked to lay the groundwork for wood innovation in Thailand, aiming to establish timber construction as both an economic driver and a climate solution. The program’s engagement phase (March–June 2026) is designed to prepare the ground for a long-term initiative promoting sustainable wood-based construction, forest restoration and climate-smart bioeconomy solutions. “This is a great opportunity to address the climate change issue while creating an economic growth engine for Thailand, that’s the big picture,” Klas Bengtsson, Director of the Eco-Innovation Foundation (EIF) said. Marie Jürisoo, Centre Director of SEI Asia, introduced the engagement phase and its strategic role, explaining that it had been designed to accelerate momentum, deepen stakeholder participation and identify practical next steps. The engagement phase is supporting “pioneer initiatives” across the full value chain, from forest management to construction, demonstrating practical wood-based solutions. The forum showcased more than 10 such initiatives. Thanyaporn Wongtitirote, Coordinator of the Thailand and Nordic Countries Innovation Unit (TNIU)/Royal Thai Embassy in Stockholm, is involved in supporting the pioneer projects. She said: “The results are now adding up from what we’ve been discussing for many years. Now we’re making stronger connections across many groups and sectors and figuring out the key challenges and milestones.” One flagship model is the Phrae Sustainable Wood City initiative. Reflecting Phrae’s long association with teak, the project has already trained around 150 postgraduate students as future forestry, resource and environmental managers – and it is emerging as a potential model for nationwide development. We have five working frameworks: first, sustainable plantations like Sweden; second, modern processing technology using AI and innovation to increase quality and safety; third, wooden construction and teak products; fourth, education – we have three institutions that can connect with Sweden; fifth, policy, with provincial and local governments driving sustainability. “We have about 300,000 rai (48,000 hectares)  of plantations, 44,000 skilled people, around 200 wood-processing factories, and strong academic institutions such as Maejo University and three newly established forestry schools,” Veerit Kanlayapanik, Secretary to the President of the Phrae Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO) said. These initiatives are also driving rural income. The Grow Longevity Ecovillage, championed by Pordee Society, integrates sustainable agronomy, AI smart farming and wellness principles to build resilient communities. The project focuses on “right livelihood,” combining traditional ecological wisdom with modern innovation to ensure food safety and long-term health. Its founder Mr Sak (Chayadis Hutanuwatr) said: “The problem with planting teak is you have to wait 20–30 years with no income. But with smart farming – using sensors, organic fertilizer, automated shade – a couple can work about four hours a day and earn 30,000-40,000 baht per month after expenses. That’s real.” To support long-term success, the program is developing the Wood Solution Support Platform, an international network of experts and technology providers to help Thailand and other tropical countries build sustainable timber construction ecosystems. The effort also involves forming funding partnerships with bilateral, multilateral, philanthropic and private-sector actors to support the program’s next phases. Throughout, Sweden’s role has been supportive – bridging expertise between countries rather than imposing a one-size fits all solution. “What I witnessed was no longer a Swedish project. It was a Thai movement … the Swedish role had become almost invisible. Perhaps that is the highest achievement of all,” said Gregers Møller, editor-in-chief of ScandAsia, who joined the meeting online and wrote about it on the ScandAsia website. Thanapon Piman, SEI Asia’s Senior Research Fellow and the Project Lead said: “The long-term vision of the program is to provide forest-based climate solutions that can lead to a sustainable timber industry.” To implement this vision, the Wood Solution Thailand Program has set out a phased roadmap extending to 2037, showing how international partnership, sustainable forest use and innovative construction can work together to support rural income and climate action. As Marie Jürisoo put it: “This kind of initiative requires a whole-of-society approach and a collaborative mindset. We can all contribute in many ways.” The model now shifts its focus to implementing the long-term roadmap, scaling and building a sustainable timber future for Thailand.

The post The Wood Solution Thailand Forum connecting with Sweden appeared first on Timberbiz.

US sawmill production fell in the first quarter, the second consecutive quarter of lower output according to the Federal Reserve G.17 Industrial Production report. Source: National Association of Home Builders Sawmill output has remained largely flat since 2023, after increasing in the post-pandemic period. The utilization rate for sawmills and wood preservation industries was 71.8% on a four-quarter moving average, up from 71.2% in the fourth quarter of 2025. The sawmill utilization rate, a measure of actual production relative to potential full production published quarterly by the Census Bureau, moved upward over 2025 as capacity for sawmills fell. Sawmill production, based on a four-quarter moving average, was 0.4% lower in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the fourth quarter but remained higher than a year ago by 1.7%. U.S. sawmills’ full production capacity, an estimation of what could have been produced if running at full production capability, was down 6.0% from a year ago. Lumber prices rose slightly in the first quarter. Softwood lumber prices rose 6.1% during the quarter but were down 3.8% from a year ago. Hardwood lumber prices continued to increase, rising 1.0% in the first quarter. This was the ninth consecutive quarter of price increases in hardwood lumber. Employment in sawmill and wood preservation industries continued to fall, dropping to roughly 82,800 workers in the first quarter. This marked the twelfth straight quarterly decline, bringing employment to its lowest level since 2010.

The post US sawmill production flat since 2023 appeared first on Timberbiz.

New rules will ensure everyday products sold in the UK including coffee and cocoa do not contribute to illegal deforestation around the world. Source: Timberbiz The world’s rainforests are to be better protected from deforestation as the government plans to take forward new rules in Great Britain including using powers in the Environment Act alongside legislation strengthening the UK Timber Regulation. Under the proposals UK businesses who trade in commodities sourced from rainforests such as soy, palm oil, cocoa and rubber will need to check that their supply chains are not contributing to illegal deforestation. These products are commonly found in everyday supermarket products including chocolate, cooking oils, shampoo and cosmetics. This move will help protect the habitats of some of the world’s most precious and endangered species, while giving British consumers confidence that the products in their shopping baskets are not contributing to illegal deforestation. Around 90% of global deforestation is driven by agricultural expansion, much of it linked to the production of internationally traded commodities. In 2023, the UK’s consumption of these goods was associated with approximately 29,000 hectares of deforestation worldwide or around one and a half times the size of Manchester and 9.4 million tonnes of related carbon emissions. “Tackling global deforestation is one of the most effective ways we can address climate change and protect some of the world’s most unique and precious wildlife,” Nature Minister Mary Creagh said. “That is why we are leading by example and scrutinising our own supply chains. Eliminating products linked to illegal deforestation not only helps to protect precious ecosystems but is good for our collective resilience and long-term prosperity.” These new measures will help businesses better identify and reduce the risk that their imported products are linked to illegal deforestation and land clearing. The government will consult businesses, civil society and international partners later this year on the details of the proposed GB deforestation policy. This will include consulting on the introduction of these mandatory due diligence requirements for businesses in Great Britain including using powers such as under the Environment Act which target illegal deforestation, and by strengthening the existing UK Timber Regulation. To maintain Northern Ireland’s unique dual market access to both the UK Internal Market and the EU Single Market, the EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR) will apply in Northern Ireland in phases starting 30 December 2026. Crucially, to protect the UK Internal Market and streamline compliance, the upcoming consultation will propose that the GB regime covers the same core commodities and underlying information requirements as the regulation in Northern Ireland. This aligned approach is designed to prevent administrative duplication across the UK while helping British exporters to the EU meet consistent data and traceability standards. Businesses in Northern Ireland are encouraged to begin preparations now. In due course, the Government’s ambition is to transition to a deforestation-free standard which will require relevant products to be produced free from any deforestation, building on stakeholder efforts globally to decouple supply chains from forest loss and land conversion. These changes help deliver on the UK’s commitment under the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use, agreed at COP26, to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030. It also supports the cross-government 2035 International Climate, Nature & Energy Strategic Framework.  

The post UK government’s hard tackle on deforestation appeared first on Timberbiz.

Conservation groups are calling for the connection of state and national parks and nature reserves from the Illawarra to the Victorian border in a bid to better protect the region’s forests, wildlife habitats, water catchments and cultural landscapes. Source: AboutRegional The ‘Great Southern Forest’ is proposed by the National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) and would see the reclassification of about 365,000 hectares of State Forest into permanent protected areas, to be combined with the region’s existing 824,000 hectares of national parks and nature reserves along the South Coast. “Right now, native forests in southern NSW are being logged at an industrial scale, primarily for woodchips, putting our unique ecosystems and wildlife at risk,” NPA president Liz Jeremy said. “The Great Southern Forest is once-in-a-generation alternative that could reverse the fate of these forests and see them thrive again. “Stretching from the Illawarra to the Victorian border, the proposal would bring together 55 state forests, 24 flora reserves and 98 existing national parks and reserves into one of Australia’s largest connected conservation landscapes.” The proposal calls for the new park, which would stretch from Budderoo National Park in the north to Nadgee Nature Reserve in the south, to be managed as a unified ecological system, prioritising biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, cultural heritage, and community benefit; for all native forest logging in the region’s state forests to be ceased and for joint management arrangements to be established with First Nations communities. it aims to fill gaps in the ecosystem representation, strengthen wildlife corridors, increase the resilience of forests to climate change and secure large, intact landscapes essential for long-term conservation. “The Great Southern Forest proposal is a vital step in reversing species decline and safeguarding our region’s biodiversity,” NPA Far South Coast Branch president David Gallan said. “The proposal would protect more than 10,000 hectares of threatened ecological communities, support 12 endemic and four critically endangered flora species, and protect 61 threatened animal species, including the Yellow-bellied Glider, Swift Parrot, Southern Greater Glider, Spotted-tailed Quoll and Southern Brown Bandicoot. “We need proper protection for our native forests now, more than ever. Every Australian has a responsibility to conserve our unique natural heritage.” The greater environmental protection is also set to have tourism and economic benefits for the communities right along the coast. “With NSW national parks attracting more than 65 million visits each year and contributing more than $19 billion annually to regional economies, protecting these forests represents a significant opportunity to secure both environmental and economic benefits for generations to come,” Liz said. The proposal was launched on 19 June at Mogo, to more than 80 community leaders, conservation organisations, scientists, local residents and elected representatives, with hope that strong interest in the project will continue momentum towards meaningful change within the region. “The strong turnout today demonstrates growing community and local business support in securing a long-term future for the region’s forests,” NPA Eurobodalla convenor Joslyn van der Moolen said. “This proposal provides an opportunity to work with stakeholders on increasing their engagement with our public forests. We look forward to continuing conversations with communities, traditional owners, local tourism, and primary industry local business, recreation groups, local councils and government in the months ahead.” This article was first published by Keeli Dyson on Regional Illawarra  

The post Conservation groups call for state park from NSW to Victoria appeared first on Timberbiz.

Forest and Wood Products Australia has confirmed the next phase of industry investment in timber durability and performance-in-use research, following consideration of the 2026 Mid-Term Review of the National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life (NCTDDL). Source: Timberbiz The FWPA Board has decided to continue funding the Centre through to 30 June 2028, in line with the current agreement, while not extending the existing Centre funding model beyond that date. This provides time for a structured transition, allowing current projects, including commitments to PhD students, to be completed. FWPA said the decision reflects a positive and forward-looking outcome for industry, recognising the substantial contribution the Centre has made since 2017 while creating a pathway for new, innovative and more industry-led approaches to future investment. Timber durability and performance-in-use remain high priorities for FWPA and the broader forest and wood products sector. Future investment will build on the knowledge, relationships and capability developed through the NCTDDL, with greater emphasis on industry leadership, collaboration, extension and adoption. “The Centre has helped strengthen the sector’s understanding of timber durability and created a valuable foundation for the next stage of research, development and practical application,” FWPA Head of Research, Development & Extension, Ian Blanden said. “The work undertaken through the NCTDDL has advanced knowledge, supported collaboration and helped build capability across important areas of timber durability and performance. FWPA sincerely thanks the Centre’s leadership, researchers, students, industry participants, university partners and all contributors for their dedication and expertise.” Mr Blanden said the transition period would allow FWPA and industry partners to shape future arrangements that respond directly to industry priorities and emerging opportunities. “This is about building on the Centre’s achievements and forging the way forward with a model that is even more closely aligned to industry needs,” Mr Blanden said. The NCTDDL has been supported by FWPA in partnership with the University of the Sunshine Coast and the University of Queensland, with the Centre taking a national and international approach to timber durability research. FWPA will continue to consult with industry stakeholders, research partners and advisory groups as future arrangements are developed. FWPA said the decision marks an important milestone in a long-term investment journey, ensuring the industry can recognise the Centre’s achievements while moving confidently towards future programs shaped by sector priorities, adoption pathways and practical impact.

The post Funding for the National Centre for Timber Durability extended appeared first on Timberbiz.

Forest & Wood Communities Australia (FWCA) has written to Macquarie University researcher Dr Carmen da Silva seeking clarification regarding comments made during a recent ABC Sydney Radio interview in which she stated that Australians need to “try to stop native forest logging” in order to help protect native bees. Source: Timberbiz FWCA Chair Steve Dobbyns said the organisation welcomed the research and acknowledged the importance of understanding the challenges facing Australia’s native bee populations under a changing climate. “Native bees are an important but often overlooked component of Australia’s biodiversity, and research that improves our understanding of their ecology and climate vulnerability should be encouraged,” Mr Dobbyns said. “However, after reviewing Dr da Silva’s recently published paper, FWCA has been unable to identify how a recommendation to cease native forest logging arose from research that appears not to have examined forestry as a causal factor.” Mr Dobbyns said the study focused on the thermal tolerance of 95 Australian native bee species and examined how nesting behaviour influences vulnerability to rising temperatures. “The paper investigated climate vulnerability, heat tolerance and nesting ecology,” he said. “It did not compare logged and unlogged forests, assess the impacts of timber harvesting on bee populations, measure bee abundance before and after harvesting operations, or attempt to isolate forestry impacts from other environmental variables.” FWCA has asked Dr da Silva to clarify whether her statement that Australia should stop native forest logging was: a conclusion arising from the research itself; based on a separate body of scientific literature not discussed in the interview; or a personal opinion regarding native forest management policy. “If there is a body of scientific evidence demonstrating that contemporary regulated native forest harvesting contributes to native bee decline, then that evidence should be identified and openly discussed,” Mr Dobbyns said. “If not, then it is important that the distinction between scientific findings and personal policy views is made clear.” Mr Dobbyns said the issue was not about restricting academic freedom but about maintaining public confidence in science. “Researchers are entitled to hold and express personal views on public policy issues,” he said. “However, when policy recommendations are presented during discussion of scientific research, many listeners will reasonably assume those recommendations are supported by the evidence being discussed.” “Where that connection is unclear, it is appropriate to seek clarification.” Mr Dobbyns also noted that the study identified climate warming and temperature exposure as the primary mechanisms influencing native bee vulnerability. “This naturally raises broader questions about other landscape-scale disturbances that may alter forest microclimates, including drought, forest decline and severe bushfires,” he said. “High-intensity bushfires can remove canopy cover, increase ground temperatures, destroy nesting resources and reduce flowering across extensive landscapes for many years.” “These factors appear directly relevant to the mechanisms identified in the study and may warrant further investigation.” Mr Dobbyns said FWCA looked forward to Dr da Silva’s response. “Good science is strengthened through open discussion, scrutiny and evidence,” he said. “We are simply seeking clarification about the scientific basis for a statement that has the potential to influence public policy and public perceptions about native forest management.”

The post Bee accurate Macquarie University appeared first on Timberbiz.

Juken New Zealand has begun a formal consultation process with employees regarding a proposal to close its Northland Mill after failing to find a buyer. The company is to make a final decision on the Northland Mill’s fate by 16 July. Source: Timberbiz Workers First Northland members are shocked and disappointed following the announcement that the mill has failed to find a buyer and is proposed for closure. “We’re disappointed that no buyer has been found for Northland Mill but there is still a window for central Government to step up and push for a solution. Now is the time for a localised solution to save our manufacturing industry and our skilled woodworkers,” Workers First Marcus Coverdale said. The Northland Mill employs around 60 people, with 40 Workers First members who have redundancy provisions and may be able to access redeployment or other options. The potential closure of Northland Mill would be the seventh major wood processing site lost under the current National-NZ First-ACT Government. The company says the proposal reflects challenging market conditions, including falling demand in key markets, rising costs and insufficient work to keep the mill operating sustainably. JNL has made an extensive effort to identify a buyer or alternative pathway that would allow the site to continue operating, but this has not resulted in a viable option at this time. Triboard isn’t impacted by the proposal, and the process to explore a potential sale of that site as a going concern is continuing. According to Workers First the Triboard Mill appears to have found a buyer, or at least, was not proposed for closure. “In terms of sustainability, between the two mills, the full log is used. The top of a log is refined for the tri-board product, and the middle for veneers and mulch. Without a buyer found for the Northland Mill, we’ll be taking the top of the log for tri-board and sending the other raw two-thirds overseas without any value added,” said Mr Coverdale. No final decisions have been made. The company says it is committed to a thorough consultation process and is seeking feedback from employees and union representatives before determining next steps. We recognise the impact this will have on employees and their families and are providing access to support services throughout the process. Juken New Zealand owns 30,000 hectares of sustainably managed and certified plantation forests, providing ongoing employment to over 200 forestry workers in Tairawhiti and 100 in Wairarapa. The company has three working mills in Kaitaia and Wairarapa making wood products for local and export markets, with about 450 manufacturing employees combined. Owned by WoodOne Ltd, which established Juken New Zealand in 1990 and has since invested more than $NZ720 million into its forest and processing operations in NZ.

The post Juken NZ fails to find a buyer for its Northland Mill appeared first on Timberbiz.

Australia must decide what it wants from its timber supply, according to Forestry Australia. The organisation believes that ending native forest harvesting at home does not reduce the demand for timber; it simply shifts that demand elsewhere, including to suppliers the country cannot always vouch for. Source: Timberbiz Forestry Australia believes that when Victoria ended native timber harvesting in 2024, six years ahead of its previously scheduled 2030 end date, the demand for hardwood did not stop. Building supply chains looked interstate and overseas to make up the shortfall, with native hardwood once cut in Victoria now being sourced from Tasmania. Forestry Australia President Dr Michelle Freeman said the consequences were predictable. “When Victoria brought native forestry to an early close, the timber used in our floors, windows, furniture and joinery didn’t stop being needed, it just had to come from somewhere else, interstate or overseas,” she said. “We can either grow it here; in forests we manage to some of the highest standards in the world or import it from places where we have far less certainty about how it was produced.” Dr Freeman raised the issue in an interview on 3AW’s Mornings with Tom Elliott:  “Stopping timber harvesting in one area doesn’t magically make demand for that timber go away. Australians want and need timber products, and they should,” Dr Freeman said. Forestry Australia welcomed the ABC Four Corners program Timber Turmoil for highlighting a critically important issue: that ending local, regulated native forest harvesting in one area has significant flow-on effects to other states, to private land and, critically, to vulnerable forests overseas, which Australia becomes increasingly reliant on to meet ongoing demand. Native forest harvesting in Australia is renewable, regulated and certified. It occurs within a framework of legislation, codes of practice, operational controls, monitoring, independent auditing and internationally recognised forest certification frameworks. The alternative to locally grown timber is rarely no timber at all, but a switch to materials with a heavier environmental footprint, or to imports. “If we’re not sourcing timber from our own backyard, we have to get it from elsewhere or substitute it with other products that are almost always non-renewable, like steel, concrete or plastic,” Dr Freeman said. According to Dr Freeman, harvesting and conservation are not competing goals. A well-managed native forest supports biodiversity; stores carbon and protects water catchments while remaining resilient to bushfire and continuing to supply timber. Sustaining all those values is becoming harder as forests come under growing pressure from severe bushfires, invasive species, pests, disease and a changing climate, which is exactly why active, professional management matters. On the integrity of local supply, Dr Freeman said Australian operations were subject to strong oversight. “Harvesting in Australia is highly regulated and independently certified,” she said, noting the high level of scrutiny on operations, “particularly from environmental groups. They really can’t be getting away with doing anything untoward.” The greater risk lies in winding back well-managed local supply and leaning harder on imports that are difficult to trace, too often from forests run to standards far weaker than Australia’s. Dr Freeman said Australia already ran a timber trade deficit of around $2 billion a year, a significant proportion of it drawn from what she called high-risk countries, “those where the sustainability, environmental and social credentials are hard to verify”. She said this included conflict timber from Russia entering Australia via China. “So, Australia really needs to decide what it wants. For me personally, I would much rather we sourced our timber needs locally, from our own forests, where we know where it’s come from and we can verify it.”  

The post Australia must decide on its hardwood future appeared first on Timberbiz.

Australian Sustainable Hardwoods Pty Ltd (ASH) is aware of a recent program containing misleading, factually incorrect and damaging claims about ASH. We are deeply disappointed and we are actively working through our legal options. Source: Timberbiz The conclusion of the story was determined before filming began. The program showed heavy bias and ignored facts that did not fit their narrative, including clear, documented evidence supplied to them that contradicted the claims they chose to air. ASH’s Managing Director, Vince Hurley, participated in a 2.5-hour interview in which he answered every question and allegation put to him. The editing of that interview was, to put it plainly, dubious. ASH provided access to multiple scientists who specialise in their respective fields. None of this was aired. Instead, the program chose to platform activists with a shared, predetermined view, and in some cases appears to have reworded terminology in ways designed to lead viewers to incorrect conclusions, replacing accurate contractual language with loaded terms like ‘subsidy’ and ‘compensation’. Timber in Australia is sustainably managed and is the ultimate renewable. Let us address the facts directly. The figures stated were wrong ASH did not receive $61 million in 2017. ASH received $3 million, which was applied entirely to union-negotiated, enhanced redundancy entitlements for workers. Our net position from that transaction: zero. ASH received contractual failure to supply penalty payments from VicForests (two years of undersupply) and the Victorian Government (contract withdrawal). This is not compensation. It is not a subsidy. It is a penalty payment that VicForests and the Government was contractually required to make. The total of penalty payments to ASH was $49 million. That payment was taxed so the total amount received by ASH was $34 million. Every cent of that $34 million, and more, was reinvested into replacement stock, additional employment, plant and equipment. The penalty payment ASH received was one third of the revenue that would have been generated if contracted VicForests supply continued. It was significantly less than what it cost ASH to retool operations, develop new products, open new markets and transition to plantation fibre. We have not gained from this. We have absorbed the loss and continued. Importantly, we have made significant gains in developing markets for plantation hardwood. Something few others have been able to do. ASH ceasing operations following the closure of Victoria’s native timber supply would have cost the Victorian taxpayer an additional $30 million instead of maintaining employment for over 200 employees in regional communities and strengthening economic activity. ASH has produced over $500 million in economic activity since 2017 including paying over $100 million in Government taxes and charges. A good result for the Victorian taxpayer. Western Junction Sawmill (WJS) was purchased in 2021 and is not owned by ASH nor the Victorian Government. WJS is now investing in value added manufacturing on the site. On wood fibre ASH does not receive logs from Tasmania. One 100% of timber purchased by ASH from Tasmania is sawn timber from WJS. WJS purchase plantation hardwood and low-grade regrowth sawlogs produced as a byproduct of forest operations. These sawlogs were destined for export and the wood chip market. Instead, they are upgraded into high-value timber products for Australian consumers. A good result for forestry, conservation and the Tasmanian taxpayer. There is no increase in harvesting and there is no basis to the claim of a rapid loss of old trees. ASH has three main fibre sources, and our operations do not survive mainly on feedstock from Tasmanian native forests as implied by the program. The report failed to emphasise the significance of plantation oak, nor mention ASH’s Glacial Oak feedstock entirely. This is not an oversight. It is selective journalism. On terminology and framing The episode framed this story as ‘logging versus environmentalists.’ That framing is both misleading and telling. There is no logging in isolation. Logging is one activity within forestry. Forestry is the science of managing forests for all their values, ecological, social and economic, for the long-term benefit of all Australians. These are not the same thing and conflating them is not journalism. It is a narrative device. On certification and standards Every aspect of ASH’s operations is independently, third-party certified as sustainable and fully compliant with Australian Standards. The opinions of unsustainable practices made by activists in this program carry no such certification and have not been independently verified as factual. They should not have been given equal weight in responsible journalism, let alone greater weight. Regrowth native forestry and/or plantation forestry do not need protecting from logging. The values that exist in the forest are a result of careful forest management. Not in spite of it. Forestry (not logging) manages the long-term sustainability of forest products. On the future of the timber industry Timber is not a ‘zombie industry’ as described in the program. ASH is a business that is unique in Australia. Manufacturing products for which the only alternative is imported timber, often inferior in quality and of dubious environmental origin. Closing domestic forestry does not help the environment. It exports the problem to countries with lower standards and less oversight. ASH has navigated an extraordinarily difficult transition: new fibre, new products, new markets, new manufacturing and new production, all in a short period of time, during a cost-of-living crisis, in a depressed market. We have come through it.

The post ASH addresses the false claims in the ABC program appeared first on Timberbiz.

For more than two decades, Tasmania’s Regional Forest Agreement has delivered stable forest management, a rigorous reserve system, and the long-term investment confidence that sustains thousands of regional jobs. That stability is now under serious threat and the Federal Government’s own words are beginning to reveal why. In a recent interview the Federal Environmental Minister had the opportunity to give the native forest industry certainty about the new environmental reforms however, his response suggested the resource could be further restricted. This appears inconsistent with repeated assurances from the Federal Government that its position on native forestry has not changed and that it will not abandon timber workers. Either the reforms preserve the current operating framework, or they do not. Before we go further, let us be clear about what is at stake. Tasmania’s forestry sector is a fully integrated system. The RFA underpins activity across public and private land, across plantations, manufacturing, and the wood that builds Tasmanian homes. Undermining the RFA doesn’t affect just one part of the industry it undermines the entire sector. A persistent misconception in this debate is that the RFA operates as a loophole that allows forestry to sidestep environmental scrutiny. This is fundamentally wrong, and a Federal Court judge said as much in 2024. The Court confirmed that an RFA provides an alternative mechanism by which the objects of the EPBC Act can be achieved not avoided through an intergovernmental framework that allocates environmental responsibility to the State. The current RFA exemption sunsets on 1 July 2027. What the industry needs is certainty that any future accredited framework will allow the same level of sustainable harvesting as exists today. Without that assurance, businesses cannot plan, invest, or guarantee future timber supply. The Minister has also argued that if Tasmania’s forestry standards are genuinely world-class, the industry should have nothing to fear from new national environmental standards. While superficially reasonable, that argument misses the point. The issue is not whether our practices meet the standards it is that the standards have not yet been defined, and industry doesn’t know whether they will be workable in practice. Growers and processors are being asked to invest, plan and operate without knowing the rules they will be required to meet. Until the new standards are settled, uncertainty will continue to hang over the industry’s future. The TFPA is not seeking special treatment or reduced environmental accountability. We are asking for something straightforward. A clear, public guarantee, backed by a credible transition pathway, that no Tasmanian forest business will be worse off under these reforms. We have engaged in good faith. Now it’s up to the Federal Government to provide the certainty we need.   By Nick Steel, TPFA CEO, as published in The Mercury newspaper in Hobart

The post Opinion: Nick Steel – The Feds need to provide certainty for Tasmania appeared first on Timberbiz.

A new, UK-based trade association focused on biomass heating was launched in June. The Wood Fuel and Heating Association aims to provide a clear, informed and responsible voice for the UK wood fuel and heating sector. Biomass Magazine “Wood fuel and biomass heating already support homes, businesses and industry across the UK while also contributing to forestry management, rural employment and the wider transition towards low-carbon heat,” the group said in a statement. “Despite this, the sector has historically lacked a single coordinated body focused on representing those interests consistently, constructively and with practical industry expertise. “WFHA has been created to help address that need and to powerfully advocate the benefits of the sector,” the organization continued. The WFHA will represent organizations across the UK wood fuel and heating sector supply chain, including wood fuel producers; wood fuel suppliers and distributors; boiler and appliance manufacturers; installers, engineers and maintenance providers; equipment suppliers; landowners; commercial and industrial heat users; and professional and advisory organizations. According to the WFHA, it will represent members’ interests in the areas of air quality and emissions policy; renewable heat and energy policy; sustainability and fuel standards; the future role of sustainable wood heating on the UK; biomass boiler standards; and training, skills and job creation.

The post New UK trade association formed for wood fuel sector appeared first on Timberbiz.

Kesla has expanded its range of accessories for harvester heads by introducing the new BB360 rotator, enabling unlimited rotation without traditional movement restrictions. The solution responds to the growing demands for efficiency, productivity, and machine utilisation in forestry operations, as well as to increasingly demanding working conditions. Source: Timberbiz The BB360 rotator eliminates the restrictions related to hose routing between the boom and the harvester head, which have traditionally limited the working area and increased the risk of hose and control cable damage. These challenges have often led to unplanned downtime and additional maintenance costs. Similar types of solutions are in use among other harvester head manufacturers in various configurations, and the concept has proven to be reliable in demanding field conditions. The new rotator solution enhances working efficiency and allows operators to focus on what matters most, as there is no longer a need to constantly monitor the orientation of the harvester head in relation to energy transfer and cabling. This enables smoother and more uninterrupted work, even in challenging environments. The KESLA BB360 rotator is manufactured in Finland and is currently available installed on KESLA 24RH-III and 26RH-III harvester heads. Availability will be expanded in the future to meet customer needs across different markets.

The post Unlimited rotation with Kesla’s new harvester rotator appeared first on Timberbiz.

China remains one of the world’s major importers of softwood logs and lumber, but its softwood sawlog imports have declined significantly in recent years. According to ResourceWise’s Wood Market Prices (WMP), China’s softwood sawlog import volumes in 2025 were less than half their 2021 peak and were down 17% year-over-year. Source: ResourceWise The decline reflects both weaker demand and changes in global supply. While there are forecasts for improvement in China’s construction market in 2026 or 2027, the WMP report indicates there is limited evidence that this will lead to a rapid or substantial increase in sawlog imports. The main factor behind the decline has been reduced demand from China’s construction sector. The country’s real estate crisis began after several major developers collapsed in 2021. This reduced demand for construction timber over the following years. Some forecasts suggest China’s construction market may begin to improve this year or next, supported by infrastructure spending and urban renewal. However, any recovery is expected to be gradual. A stronger construction market could support higher timber demand, but import volumes are unlikely to return quickly to the levels seen in 2021. Supply-side issues have also affected China’s softwood sawlog imports. Russia’s log export ban, reduced supply from Germany following spruce bark beetle damage, and China’s temporary ban in 2025 on US log imports all changed the flow of logs into China. New Zealand is China’s largest supplier of softwood sawlogs. In 2025, it supplied more than 75% of China’s total softwood sawlog imports. Canada was the second-largest supplier. China has accounted for around 85% of New Zealand’s softwood sawlog exports between 2017 and 2025, rising to more than 90% in the past two years, according to the WMP report. However, New Zealand’s export volumes may decline in the coming years as planted radiata pine forests reach maturity, and harvest volumes fall. This could affect future availability and pricing for China’s sawlog imports. China is also increasing its use of engineered wood products, including cross-laminated timber and laminated veneer lumber. These products are supported in part by domestic green construction policies and the development of local manufacturing capacity. This shift may influence future demand for imported sawlogs. Many engineered wood producers in China use a mix of domestic plantation wood and imported logs, but changes in product use and supply costs could affect how much imported material is needed. Overall, China’s softwood sawlog import market remains shaped by weaker construction demand, changing supplier availability, and evolving wood product use. While construction activity may improve, current conditions do not point to a fast return to peak import levels. To learn more, download our full market insight report, Understanding the Factors Behind China’s Declining Sawlog Imports. The report can be accessed here: https://www.resourcewise.com/report-understanding-the-factors-behind-chinas-declining-sawlog-imports?hsCtaAttrib=215567099932

The post China softwood market decline appeared first on Timberbiz.

One of the world’s largest certifiers of responsible forests is cracking down on risky work in erosion-prone forests, which could affect smaller plantation growers. Source: RNZ The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) was working to reduce health and safety risks in forests that were not certified under its program, but supplied what was known as “controlled” wood into mixed class products. The Germany-based organisation’s strict certification aimed to prevent illegal harvesting, human rights violations, to reject the use of genetically modified organisms and protect conservation values. The FSC label found on paper or wood products aimed to assure shoppers that the forests where the wood came from were sustainably managed. Under its “mix” product class, up to 30% of the wood’s came from either recycled or “controlled wood” sources (not FSC-certified), on products included packaging, paper or furniture. The FSC was proposing more than a dozen new risk mitigation measures in “controlled” wood areas, largely relating to erodible soils. The consultation was part of its global review of risk assessments affecting 60 countries, including Aotearoa. Most of New Zealand’s large foresters were FSC-certified, but up to 490,000 of exotic plantation forests were owned by small growers, most of whom were not certified. FSC Australia and New Zealand senior policy manager Stefan Jensen said it was proposing significant due diligence changes in New Zealand, especially in steep and erosion-prone areas. “Deforestation isn’t a major concern; our concern is more about work health and safety, and issues related to those highly erodible soils you have in areas of New Zealand,” said Jensen. He said the current risk assessment included one specified risk that was relatively easy for companies to meet, but more were being proposed. “The revised draft risk assessment suggested three specified risk categories where forest managers are required to mitigate that risk before sourcing,” he said. “Three that were nationally applicable. “And then specifically for very high-risk erosion prone areas, [consultants] suggested an additional 15 indicators to ensure materials from those areas is not from unacceptable sources.” However, the certifier considered New Zealand as a low-risk forestry nation across various metrics like deforestation risk, due to strong regional and national commercial forestry standards. Jensen said forestry was a relatively risky business. “There’s unfortunately in the past been quite a few fatalities, most of them not in FSC-certified forests, but this is about sourcing from non-certified forests,” he said. “There has been quite a number of fatalities that the consultants have reached the conclusion that there is a significant risk of sourcing from non-certified areas where workers’ rights could be a little bit under pressure.” He said the changes were to address potentially greater health and safety risks for workers, and to comply with incoming requirements under the European Union Deforestation Regulation. Parts of the forestry sector were concerned the proposals might be unworkable in New Zealand forests and could affect sawmills’ general participation in the scheme. The Wood Processors and Manufacturers’ Association saw FSC’s proposals as duplicating and exceeding current regulatory controls, “without clear benefit”. Chief executive Mark Ross said an example was the use of the term “red zone” which under its framework determined risk thresholds but was itself unclear. “For local harvesters the risk mitigation measures are impracticable and unachievable, with confusion between harvesting and engineering,” said Ross. “This puts FSC at risk in New Zealand, which is hugely unfortunate because it misunderstands the NZ situation and imposes unrealistic mitigation measures, that essentially prohibit controlled wood from a large part of the country’s forest sector.” Ross said mills relied on FSC-certified logs, and changes could mean they may not be able to stay within the FSC systems. “If New Zealand plantation forests could not meet the FSC requirements, then mills would not be able to source certified wood products.” Forest Owners Association chief executive Elizabeth Hegg said it supported work to improve environmental and health and safety outcomes in forests, but changes must be proportionate, risk-based and practical. “We’ve given FSC some feedback that some of the definitions weren’t clear or were not standardised for the New Zealand environment, so it makes it hard for us to know exactly what’s intended. “Where there are terms like high-risk areas or critical slopes, that those are clearly defined so that we all know exactly what we’re talking about.” Hegg said most of its members were FSC-certified, but the proposals might pose challenges for smaller growers who would face new mitigation measures. “We also had some concerns about operational feasibility and participation,” she said. “And there was some duplication in what was proposed that would in some cases actually make it very hard to achieve just from a bureaucratic perspective.” FSC was reviewing submissions on its draft proposals for New Zealand. It certified about 160 million hectares of forests across 70,000 organisations globally. New Zealand’s total 1.7 million hectares of exotic plantation forestry covered about 7.8% of the country’s total land area.

The post Reducing worker risks in non-certified forests appeared first on Timberbiz.

A new VAGO report reflects the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action’s (DEECA) work improving systems and processes when it comes to bushfire risk in Victoria. Source: Timberbiz The department says its people have undertaken an enormous amount of work improving systems and processes since 2020. The Victorian Auditor-General’s Office Follow-up: Reducing Bushfire Risks report acknowledges this with 21 of the 29 recommendations complete. DEECA now has accepted in part or in full four new recommendations from the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office. The new recommendations form part of the Reducing Bushfire Risks report, which reviews FFMVic and CFA progress towards recommendations set out in its 2020 audit of the same name. The report reflects DEECA’s program of work to improve how it manages bushfire risk, including improving risk-modelling tools, datasets and statewide bushfire management planning. FFMVic Chief Fire Officer Chris Hardman says the report illustrates progress, while demonstrating the complexity of bushfire management. Hotter, drier and longer fire seasons driven by climate change are increasing bushfire risk in Victoria. In the 2020 audit Reducing Bushfire Risks it looked at whether the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (now the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, or the department) and the Country Fire Authority (CFA) were effectively working together to reduce Victoria’s bushfire risk. Recommendations were made about how they measure, plan and deliver actions to reduce bushfire fuel. The Reducing Bushfire Risks report can be found at https://www.audit.vic.gov.au/report/follow-reducing-bushfire-risks

The post A new report Reducing Bushfire Risks in Victoria appeared first on Timberbiz.

Matariki Forests is celebrating its first shipment of logs from Bluff to India since 2020. Following the signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in April, improved access to the Indian market is already providing New Zealand’s forestry sector with new opportunities. Source: Timberbiz Hamish Fitzgerald, Matariki Forests Southland Regional Manager, says the shipment represents a significant re-opening of the market for the lower South Island. “Southland is home to Matariki Forests’ largest estate, and the wider Southland-Otago region is New Zealand’s second-largest forestry region,” he said. “Over 95% of forestry exports will become tariff-free once the agreement enters into force.  The removal of typical 5%-11% tariffs will improve returns to forest owners, helping to ease financial pressures currently facing the industry. “This shipment represents an important step in re-establishing supply chains and relationships with our Indian customers.  There is positive momentum with suppliers and customers working to rebuild the trade lane ahead of the anticipated FTA ratification by the New Zealand government.” With an estimated sustainable harvest of around four million cubic metres annually, local processors continue to invest in capability and play a critical role in the forestry value chain.  Export markets are also essential to the sector, helping balance supply and demand, maximising utilisation of the resource, and support regional employment and economic activity. The total shipment is approximately 44,000 tonnes of logs with 40% of the cargo sourced from Southland (18,000 tonnes) and the balance will then be loaded at Tauranga Port, before heading to Kandla Port in India. “South Port is pleased to support the first loading of logs to India from the region since 2020 and looks forward to continuing its support of this export opportunity,” said Geoff Finnerty, Interim CEO, South Port. The logs will be processed into a wide range of products including plywood, construction timber, furniture, such as tables and cabinetry, and interior applications such as doors and wall panels. Wood and wood products are New Zealand’s largest goods export to India worth NZ$134 million in the year to June 2025. NZ Institute of Economic Research estimates that forestry and wood processing directly employs around 1,950 people in the Otago and Southland regions and supports many more jobs, including transport, port operations and construction.  In total, the sector directly contributes around $348 million to regional GDP.

The post Matariki Forests’ first shipment to India since 2020 appeared first on Timberbiz.

Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Darren Chester has slammed the ABC for its ‘one-sided coverage’ of the Australian timber industry. Source: Timberbiz Mr Chester said the Four Corners program, which aired on Monday night, was another example of biased reporting focused on environmental activism. “From the first sentence of the program, it was obvious the ABC wasn’t going to be interested in presenting a balanced view of our world-class and environmentally sustainable native hardwood timber industry,” Mr Chester said. “There was no attempt to include the views of some of Australia’s leading forest scientists who support the hardwood timber industry, as the ABC dragged out the same old activists. “Instead of objective reporting, we were exposed to taxpayer-funded propaganda for the Labor-Greens, who have demonstrated complete and utter contempt for the forest industry in Australia for several decades. “Driven by his desperate need to secure Green preferences in the city, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sold out blue-collar workers in regional communities. “Thousands of jobs have already been lost, communities have been destroyed, and the regions are less safe because we have lost the equipment and the skilled workforce which we’ve always relied on during major bushfire events. “We’ve already seen the Labor Party in Victoria, Western Australia, and New South Wales capitulate to the Greens and the Federal Government’s EPBC Act changes just make it harder to source Australian-grown fibre and result in more imported timber products.” Australian Forest Products Association CEO Richard Hyett said the Four Corners program was not interested in accurately reflecting the latest science, environmental credentials, and economic importance of Australia’s innovative forestry industry. “The story was not balanced, accurate or fair, and blatantly prioritised activism over credible journalism,” Mr Hyett said. “The program ignored the evidence supporting Australia’s world-leading forest management systems and failed to present a balanced assessment of a sustainable industry that provides renewable products, regional jobs and significant environmental benefits.” Mr Chester said the ABC had completely ignored the consequences of Labor Party policies to shut down the native timber industry. “When it comes to timber, governments have two choices. You either harvest your own in an environmentally sustainable manner, or you take someone else’s,” Mr Chester said. “Australia has a trade deficit in timber products, and our dependence on countries like Brazil and Indonesia will only grow in the future if we shut down our own industry. “It’s an insult to hard-working Australians in the timber industry throughout regional Australia that our national broadcaster shows no regard for the social and economic consequences of Labor-Greens policies which target the timber industry.”

The post Taxpayer funded propaganda driven by the Greens appeared first on Timberbiz.

The Tasmanian Forest Products Association has criticised the ABC’s Four Corners program on native timber harvesting for presenting a one-sided and misleading portrayal of Australia’s sustainable native forestry sector while ignoring the science, regulation and sustainability standards that underpin modern forest management. Source: Timberbiz “Tasmania’s forestry sector operates under one of the most highly regulated forest management systems in the world,” he said. “It is independently certified to internationally recognised standards and is specifically designed to deliver ecologically sustainable forest management, strong environmental outcomes and a long-term supply of renewable timber products,” Mr Steel said. “The program failed to acknowledge the significant environmental, economic and social benefits delivered by sustainable forestry, as well as the consequences of reducing domestic timber supply.” Mr Steel said demand for timber has not disappeared. Australia still needed timber for housing, construction and manufacturing. When governments reduced domestic supply, those products are sourced from overseas instead. “Recent decisions to end native forestry in Victoria and Western Australia have increased reliance on imported timber, often from countries that do not operate under Australia’s world-leading forest management standards,” he said. “Restricting domestic production does not reduce demand but simply shifts environmental impacts offshore. “If we stop producing sustainably sourced timber in Australia, we risk increasing pressure on forests in other parts of the world while undermining regional jobs, investment and manufacturing capability at home.” Mr Steel said Tasmania had demonstrated that sustainable timber production and environmental protection can coexist. “Forestry and environmental outcomes are not mutually exclusive. Tasmania has shown that renewable timber production, biodiversity conservation and responsible forest management can work together,” he said. “Rather than attacking a sustainable industry that produces essential products Australians use every day, the focus should be on supporting evidence-based policy and investing in a renewable resource that delivers environmental, economic and community benefits.” Forestry Australia President Dr Michelle Freeman echoed Mr Steel’s view that just because Victoria banned native forest harvesting the demand for timber had not vanished when the harvesting stopped. “I must admit, I’m rather bemused by all the reporting that’s been coming out about this recently, because it’s not surprising at all,” she told 3AW Mornings host Tom Elliott in Melbourne. “Stopping timber harvesting in one area doesn’t magically make demand for that timber go away. Australians want and need timber products, and they should.” She argued the real-world alternative to homegrown timber is rarely no timber at all, but a switch to materials with a heavier environmental footprint. “If we’re not sourcing timber from our own backyard, we have to get it from elsewhere, or substitute it with other products that are almost always non-renewable, like steel, concrete or plastic,” Dr Freeman said, noting timber’s role as a renewable, carbon-storing material with proven health benefits for the people who live and work around it. Pressed by Elliott on suggestions that Tasmanian logs are reaching Victorian mills through a regulatory loophole, Dr Freeman declined to comment on the specifics of the legislation but defended the integrity of the supply chain. “Harvesting in Australia is highly regulated and independently certified,” she said. “I’m confident that whatever is happening is in line with the rules and regulations, because the oversight is strong and there’s such high scrutiny on these operations, particularly from environmental groups. They really can’t be getting away with doing anything untoward.” Her most pertinent warning was reserved for what happens when domestic supply is wound back and Australia leans harder on imports it cannot always trace. She pointed to a timber trade deficit running at around $2 billion a year, “a significant proportion” of it sourced from what she called high-risk countries: “those where the sustainability, environmental and social credentials are hard to verify.” That, she said, includes conflict timber from Russia entering Australia via China. “So, Australia really needs to decide what it wants,” Dr Freeman said. “For me personally, I would much rather we sourced our timber needs locally, from our own forests, where we know where it’s come from and we can verify it.” Mr Steel said that Tasmania’s forestry sector operates under one of the most highly regulated forest management systems in the world. “It is independently certified to internationally recognised standards and is specifically designed to deliver ecologically sustainable forest management, strong environmental outcomes and a long-term supply of renewable timber products. “The program failed to acknowledge the significant environmental, economic and social benefits delivered by sustainable forestry, as well as the consequences of reducing domestic timber supply.” Mr Steel said demand for timber has not disappeared. Australia still needs timber for housing, construction and manufacturing. When governments reduce domestic supply, those products are sourced from overseas instead. “Recent decisions to end native forestry in Victoria and Western Australia have increased reliance on imported timber, often from countries that do not operate under Australia’s world-leading forest management standards,” he said. “Restricting domestic production does not reduce demand but simply shifts environmental impacts offshore. “If we stop producing sustainably sourced timber in Australia, we risk increasing pressure on forests in other parts of the world while undermining regional jobs, investment and manufacturing capability at home.” Mr Steel said Tasmania demonstrates that sustainable timber production and environmental protection can coexist. “Forestry and environmental outcomes are not mutually exclusive. Tasmania has shown that renewable timber production, biodiversity conservation and responsible forest management can work together. “Rather than attacking a sustainable industry that produces essential products Australians use every day, the focus should be on supporting evidence-based policy and investing in a renewable resource that delivers environmental, economic and community benefits.”

The post Demand for native timber doesn’t disappear when harvesting is stopped appeared first on Timberbiz.

Sustainable Timber Tasmania says it has substantially completed the development of new long-term wood supply arrangements that will guide timber supply through to 2040, replacing existing agreements due to expire in 2027. Source: Timberbiz It says a key feature of the new contracts is a requirement that logs sourced from Tasmania’s public production forests are processed in Tasmania. STT says new wood supply contracts would additionally result in future sawlog supply reflecting the increasing role of Tasmania’s maturing plantation resource, while sustainably managing native forests. STT CEO Dean Kearney said the new arrangements supported both the future evolution of Tasmania’s wood supply mix and continued investment in local processing. “The future of Tasmania’s wood supply is increasingly about the right mix of plantation and native forest resources, backed by local processing, local investment and long-term certainty for industry,” he said. “Tasmania’s sawmilling sector is continuing to invest in new technology, new products and expanded processing capability. These contract changes recognise that investment and support the continued growth of local processing and value-adding.” The new on island processing requirement is intended to support local jobs, encourage further investment and ensure more of the value generated from Tasmania’s public forest resource remains within the State. “Our responsibility is to manage Tasmania’s public forest resource for the benefit of Tasmania. By strengthening on-island processing, we can support local businesses, local jobs and the next generation of investment in Tasmania’s wood processing sector,” Mr Kearney said. The on-island processing requirement forms part of STT’s broader long-term wood supply arrangements, which are designed to provide certainty for customers while supporting sustainable industry development and economic outcomes for Tasmania.

The post Long term wood supply arrangements in Tasmania appeared first on Timberbiz.

Monday’s Four Corners investigation into Australia’s native forestry sector has been described as flawed, one-sided, unbalanced and lacked important scientific evidence and industry context. Source: Timberbiz AFPA Acting CEO Richard Hyett said the misleading program was not interested in accurately reflecting the latest science, environmental credentials and economic importance of Australia’s innovative forestry industry. “(The) story was not balanced, accurate or fair, and blatantly prioritised activism over credible journalism,” Mr Hyett said. According to the ABC, after Victoria banned native forest logging in 2024, questions were repeatedly asked in Tasmania about whether logs were crossing Bass Strait to be processed by Victorian sawmills in receipt of compensation payouts. The Four Corners investigation showed that this was the case, resulting in state-owned logging company Sustainable Timber Tasmania updating an answer it had given in parliament. Tasmanian sawmill operator James Neville-Smith confirmed to Four Corners that some logs had been sent to Victoria, where processors had received compensation from the Victorian government as part of its industry shutdown. Mr Neville-Smith told the program the decision was due to retooling a sawmill to be plantation-only, meaning that hardwood logs needed to be processed elsewhere. The ABC conceded that contracts with sawmillers did not include an explicit requirement for logs to be processed in Tasmania, but that it would be included in contracts under negotiation to cover 2027 to 2040. But Mr Hyett said the program had ignored the evidence supporting Australia’s world-leading forest management systems and failed to present a balanced assessment of a sustainable industry that provides renewable products, regional jobs and significant environmental benefits. “Disappointingly, Four Corners revoked an opportunity for AFPA – the peak national body for forestry – to provide an industry response, despite inviting our spokesperson to speak in April. “We were one of many industry representatives who were ignored or misrepresented by Four Corners.” Mr Hyett said the program also failed to acknowledge the real-world consequences of the short-sighted decisions to end native forestry in Victoria and Western Australia. “Evidence-based research shows domestic demand for timber and wood products does not stop – and these shutdowns only increase our reliance on imported hardwood products, sourced from Indonesia and Brazil that don’t operate under Australia’s world-class forest management systems,” Mr Hyett said. “Native bans in Victoria and WA have also had devastating impacts on regional jobs and communities, local economies and long-term investment in Australia’s sixth-largest manufacturing sector. “Rather than slamming an industry contributing more than $24 billion a year to the economy, Four Corners should have focused on the need to invest in sustainable forestry and support essential Australian-made products used every day, including flooring, decking, furniture, pallets, packaging, paper and power poles. “The 80,000 Australians employed in forestry in many regional communities would also take offence to working for a ‘zombie industry’, as one academic incorrectly claimed in the story. “No wonder the One Nation vote is soaring in Australia, given this type of baseless rhetoric from our national broadcaster. “We can’t afford to weaken our sovereign manufacturing capability or continue outsourcing timber production overseas.  Sustainable native forestry has an important role to play in Australia’s economic and environmental future.” The ABC reported that on Saturday, Sustainable Timber Tasmania chief executive officer Dean Kearney wrote to a government business scrutiny committee to update an answer given in parliament in November. “STT’s acting chief executive officer advised that all sawlogs delivered by STT to its customers were processed in Tasmania,” he wrote. “That advice was understood to be correct at the time, and it was provided in good faith. “STT has since become aware that a small quantity of sawlogs delivered by STT to Tasmanian customers were on sold and processed interstate. “STT was not informed of these arrangements at the time.” In an interview with Four Corners, Resources Minister Felix Ellis said all logs from public forests were provided to mills in Tasmania. He was later made aware that some were being on sold to interstate processors. Mr Ellis described that as “disappointing”.

The post A baseless rhetoric from our national broadcaster appeared first on Timberbiz.