Australian timber industry news

Archaeologists from the University of Southampton have excavated and recorded a large timber platform hidden beneath what today appears to be a stone-built island, located in a Scottish loch. Source: Timberbiz They used a technique called stereophotogrammetry to record the human-made island above and below the waterline as a single continuous structure, providing a perspective that wouldn’t have been possible using land or underwater survey alone. The researchers, working with the University of Reading, examined the ‘crannog’ in Loch Bhorgastail on the Isle of Lewis to reveal a structure built more than 5,000 years ago. Their fieldwork uncovered a layered wood and brushwood construction under the stone capping of the island, along with hundreds of pieces of Neolithic pottery submerged in the surrounding water. “Crannogs are small artificial islands that are typically thousands of years old. Hundreds exist in the lochs of Scotland and many remain unexplored or undiscovered,” University of Southampton archaeologist Dr Stephanie Blankshein said. “While crannogs were long thought to have been built, used and re-used, mainly between the Iron Age and the post-medieval period, we now know that some were first constructed much earlier during the Neolithic between 3800 and 3300 BC.” Over several years of fieldwork visits, using traditional excavation techniques, coring, sophisticated surveying, and radiocarbon dating, the archaeologists have revealed the different stages of development of the Loch Bhorgastail crannog. It was first established over five-thousand years ago, making it older than well-known monuments such as Stonehenge. It started as a circular wooden platform, around 23 metres across, topped with brushwood. S ome two-thousand years on, in the Middle Bronze Age, another layer of brushwood and stone were added, before another phase of activity took place around one thousand years after that during the Iron Age. A stone causeway, now underwater, leads from the loch shore to the island. Over the years, archaeologists have discovered hundreds of pieces of Neolithic pottery, such as from different types of jars and bowls, scattered in the surrounding water. This suggests the site was first established by people of this period, before the Bronze Age. “While we still don’t know exactly why these islands were built, the resources and labour required to construct them suggests, not only complex communities capable of such feats, but also the great significance of these sites. Large quantities of pottery, often still containing food residue, and worked stone found on and around the islands, suggest their use for communal activities such as cooking or feasting.” Dr Blankshein said. During fieldwork in 2021, archaeologists designed and applied a new technique for using stereophotogrammetry in shallow water. The To help solve this, the researchers used two small waterproof cameras – with low-light performance and a wide-field of view. Locked at a set distance apart on a frame, this ‘stereo’ method provides precise overlapping of imagery, to help compensate for any missing or disrupted data. The cameras were manoeuvred through the water by a diver with positioning controlled to centimetre accuracy, matching that achieved by an aerial drone. “By combining stereophotogrammetry, drone technology and some innovative post-processing of the data, we have managed to set out an accessible approach that is portable and cost effective,” said Dr Blankshein, lead author on the paper.

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As the harvesting of small-diameter timber continues to increase worldwide – driven by growing demand for energy wood, plantation forestry, and higher productivity requirements – equipment efficiency is becoming increasingly critical. Source: Timberbiz In response to these evolving operational needs, Kesla is extending the availability of its Kesla twinAX shear-cutting solution, first introduced at FinnMetko 2024, to the 24RH III and 26RH III harvester heads. Kesla twinAX is a cost-effective wood-cutting solution, particularly for operations processing large volumes of small-diameter trees. This shear cutting module cis ompatible with Kesla 19RH III, 21RH III, 24RH III, and 26RH III harvester heads. Thanks to the modular frame design, contractors can replace the standard chainsaw module with the twinAX shear cutting module. The twinAX system delivers significant advantages in conditions that require frequent cutting of small diameter material, such as energy wood harvesting and eucalyptus plantation operations. Key benefits include: No downtime or costs caused by chain dulling or breakage No unproductive work related to chain changing, transport, or sharpening No guide bar or sprocket failures No lubrication costs, no oil handling, and no mess No oil released into the environment and no harmful skin contact with oil No chain tensioning or adjustment issues No disturbances caused by snow, ice, sawdust, or branches No risk of chain shot No concerns about contact with soil or stones, or the chain coming off the bar   The cutting capacity of the KESLA twinAX is up to 28 cm, depending on tree species and operating conditions. Kesla’s unique interchangeable module concept makes it possible to switch between shear-cutting and traditional chainsaw use, allowing the harvester head to be configured for both energy wood and roundwood harvesting. The twinAX module can also be retrofitted to existing compatible KESLA harvester heads. “As the leading independent manufacturer of harvester heads, we continuously strive to develop cost efficient and functional solutions,” said Mika Tahvanainen, Director of Product Management at Kesla. “From the perspective of both machine manufacturers and contractors, it makes sense to rely on proven modular base solutions that can be configured for various applications, rather than developing a separate special head for every use case. “The Kesla 19RH III twinAX was introduced at FinnMetko 2024, and the results from both plantation harvesting and energy wood operations have been extremely positive. Based on this feedback, we are now expanding the twinAX product family to include the larger 24/26RH III models.”

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Restricting logging in the EU would cost a fortune, but the resulting benefit to the climate would be virtually non-existent, Professor Maarit Kallio tells Audiomedia. Source: Tero Karjalainen Forest Fi Implementing the EU’s carbon sink targets and biodiversity strategy for land use and forestry would cause a massive outflow of logging from the EU to other countries, Audiomedia writes. “In practice, this would mean a massive transfer of income from EU countries to elsewhere, but almost no climate benefit compared to the costs,” says Maarit Kallio, professor of forest economics and policy at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), to Audiomedia. According to Kallio, the EU’s LULUCF (Regulation on Land Use, Land‑Use Change and Forestry) sector climate and biodiversity policies, if implemented, would have a massive impact on European forestry. “The targets are ambitious. However, implementing them is proving to be significantly more difficult than is often implied in political discourse. Nor have the global knock-on effects of the targets been assessed.” Forest News reported as early as December 2024 on the preliminary results of the research project. Even then, it was observed that reducing logging in the EU would increase logging elsewhere in the world and cost the EU dearly. “Achieving the LULUFC targets would multiply the risk of biodiversity loss elsewhere in the world,” Kallio told at the time on Forest News. As wood raw material production declines in the EU, processing, export revenues, investments and employment are expected to contract as well. The study forecasts a substantial transfer of income from the EU to non‑EU countries as production shifts elsewhere. According to the analysis, the marginal cost of achieving emission reductions in this scenario could rise to more than 700 euros per tonne of carbon dioxide. “By comparison, the price of a ton of carbon dioxide in the EU Emissions Trading System has been a fraction of this in recent years. If the same emission reductions can be achieved through other measures at a significantly lower cost, it raises questions about the cost-effectiveness of the policy,” Kallio notes in an interview with Audiomedia. The European Union’s LULUCF sets strict carbon sink targets for member states for the years 2026–2030. According to Kallio, in practice, this target means that forest carbon sinks must be increased rapidly. “According to a recent modelling study, achieving the LULUCF targets requires an immediate and sharp reduction in commercial timber harvesting volumes in the EU.” The magnitude of the reduction in logging volumes would be approximately 113–117 million cubic meters in 2030–2035 compared to market-driven trends. According to Kallio, this is not a matter of marginal fine-tuning, but a historic cut on the scale of forestry. “If the policy leads to logging and revenues shifting outside Europe without significant global climate benefits, it is justified to ask whether the direction is correct. The responsibility for achieving the targets and for any potential consequences lies with the member states.” According to the study’s modelling results, about two-thirds of the EU’s logging reductions would be offset by increased logging elsewhere in the world. It won’t help the climate, even if the forest carbon sink were to grow in the EU. ”A significant portion of the logging not carried out in Europe would take place in North America, Brazil, Russia, Indonesia, Chile, and other major forest regions. From a climate policy perspective, this is a key problem. If logging simply shifts geographically, global emissions will not decrease significantly.” If the use of wood decreases, it may increase the use of fossil or non-renewable materials. “The climate benefit of wood does not come solely from the carbon sequestered in forests, but also from the fact that wood replaces concrete, steel, and fossil fuels,” Kallio tells Audiomedia.

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Bark and ambrosia beetles are acting as tiny taxis for fungi across New Zealand, giving researchers valuable clues about how these organisms travel through forests and crops. Source: Timberbiz To understand whether plant disease-causing fungi are being moved this way, Bioeconomy Science Institute Maiangi Taiao scientists are identifying the species being carried on beetles found in New Zealand forests and orchards. “While a lot is known about the beetles, less is known about the fungi that travels with them,” task lead Darryl Herron said. Since 2024, researchers across the Bioeconomy Science Institute, including teams from Lincoln, Rotorua, Ruakura, Auckland and Motueka, have been collaborating to trap bark and ambrosia beetles across New Zealand and analyse the fungi they carry, through projects funded by Better Border Biosecurity (B3) and Zespri. By combining expertise and sampling capability across teams and sites, this work has revealed a broad range of fungal associates linked to native and introduced beetle species. While most of these fungi are common plant associates, the team has detected species with the potential to disrupt plantation forestry, horticulture and native ecosystems if conditions change or new beetle species arrive. The work includes assessing potential risks to native bush, urban environments and botanical collections and monitoring beetle activity in and around orchards, where new associations and increased aggressiveness in the beetle-fungal system could pose future threats. Bark and ambrosia beetles tunnel into trees and interact with fungi in different ways. The latter carry and cultivate specific fungi, while the former pick up a more mixed assortment. Together, they’re associated with a wide range of woody plants across plantation forests, orchards, urban areas and the native estate. Their rapid breeding ability means beetle numbers can rise quickly – so their fungal passengers are never short of taxis. “It’s often these fungi that cause the greatest harm,” Darryl says. “Some fungal species block a tree’s ability to move water and nutrients, weaken natural defences or accelerate disease, particularly when trees are already stressed by drought, age or harvesting activity. “By identifying these fungal “passengers”, we’re building a clearer picture of the microscopic communities being moved across New Zealand and which beetles are more important to focus on from a biosecurity perspective. This helps us assess whether these beetles have the potential to facilitate the movement of fungi not currently established in New Zealand.” Overseas, certain beetle–fungus partnerships have caused extensive forest dieback. “Our focus is understanding what risks exist here before those impacts occur,” Darryl says. “If we know which beetles can carry damaging fungi and where they’re moving, we can respond faster and reduce the risk to forests and export markets.” The research also contributes valuable information to national surveillance efforts led by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and industry partners, including the Forest Owners Association, alongside other research programmes. Understanding fungal diversity being carried on these tiny beetle taxis could help refine risk modelling tools, guiding where and how surveillance and monitoring is most effective and strengthening post border surveillance. Together, these investments support New Zealand’s ability to stay ahead of emerging biosecurity risk, helping protect forests, horticulture and ecosystems and the industries and communities that depend on them. “Maintaining strong biosecurity pathways is critical for protecting plantation forestry and export markets,” Darryl says. Because bark and ambrosia beetles can occasionally arrive in wood packaging and untreated wood products brought into New Zealand, sector and public awareness remains vital. Anyone noticing dying trees accompanied by significant insect activity is asked to report it to MPI (https://report.mpi.govt.nz/pest/) or the or the Bioeconomy Science Institute (fhdiagnostics@scionresearch.com) with a clear photo of the damage and insect activity and the GPS co-ordinates or address.

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Across the country, self-seeding “wilding conifers” are spreading beyond managed forests, taking over open land, and by the government’s own assessment, cutting into water supplies in sensitive catchments. Source: Techy44 That is why this is no longer just a forestry story. It is a water story, an energy story, and a public spending story, too. The numbers help explain the urgency. New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries says wilding conifers now affect more than 2 million hectares. Before the national control program was created, they were spreading across about 90,000 hectares a year, and the ministry estimates that as much as a quarter of the country could be covered within 30 years if the spread is left unchecked. That is a huge shift for landscapes that were never meant to become pine thickets. And what happens when those trees move into the wrong place? Less water, for the most part. A 2022 cost-benefit analysis tied to the national control effort says wilding conifers reduce surface flows and aquifer recharge in water sensitive catchments. It cites catchment studies showing annual surface water yields falling by 30% to 81% when pasture is replaced by radiata pine forest, and notes one study that found a 40% drop in mean annual flow when two-thirds of an experimental catchment was planted within pines. In practical terms, that can mean less water reaching rivers, reservoirs, irrigation systems, and hydro plants. Why hydroelectric power is part of the problem. That last point matters more than it may seem. The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has warned that wildings spreading into hydro lake catchments can reduce water yields, and in turn, dam generating capacity. So yes, this reaches beyond remote hillsides and into the power system people depend on every month when the electric bill lands. New Zealand’s wilding conifer control program now costs millions. New Zealand has responded with a large, long-term control effort. MPI says that from July 2020 to June 2021, the program and its partners spent almost NZ$40 million (USD $23.45 million) on control work across 817,000 hectares. In its latest official update, the government said it has invested more than NZ$150 million (USD $88 million) in the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme since 2016, with more than NZ$33 million (USD $19.35 million) added by partners and communities. Ministers have described the trees as a threat to farmland, water catchments, native biodiversity, and wildfire resilience. That is the real takeaway here. What was once sold as useful planting now comes with a national cleanup bill.  

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In February, mining company Alcoa was hit with a $55 million penalty for illegally clearing about 2,000 hectares of WA’s Northern Jarrah Forest. About $40 million was earmarked for so-called “permanent ecological offsets,” for Alcoa to repair the damage in terms of ecology lost. Source: PhysOrg In the same breath as imposing the fine, Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt also granted Alcoa an exemption. This exemption allows Alcoa to continue mining for at least 18 months as Watt mulls a proposal to extend the company’s mining operations until 2045. This decision may rest on a critical minerals deal struck between Australia and the US last year. The Northern Jarrah Forest is a subregion in the sprawling jarrah forest bioregion, located south and east of Perth. Jarrah trees (Eucalyptus marginata) known in Noongar as djarraly, are tall, straight-growing trees whose timber has historically been in high demand. The South West of WA is the only place on Earth that plays host to the jarrah forest ecosystem, which was ostensibly protected when the WA Government banned commercial native forest logging in 2024. For at least 60 years, Alcoa has mined the vast layer of bauxite that stretches beneath the forest, clearing an estimated 28,000 hectares out of the roughly 1.8-million-hectare region. Bauxite is a reddish, clay-like rock with a high aluminum content. It is refined into a white alumina powder then smelted into solid aluminum metal. Australia is the world’s second major producer and biggest exporter of alumina. Demand for aluminum is rising, in part for its use in “green technology,” including electric vehicles and renewable energy infrastructure. The World Economic Forum predicts demand to increase by 40% by 2030. While Alcoa is required to restore any land it clears, a 2024 study found that cleared jarrah forest sites were not being rehabilitated to their pre-mining state. The problem is, there are two giants competing for this landscape, the mining company and the sprawling old-growth forest that grows atop it, as Kingsley Dixon points out. Dixon is a botanist at the University of Western Australia (UWA). He believes the multilayered bauxite deposits structure the ground, aiding water retention, which the northern jarrah forest has evolved to exploit. “It’s a geological relationship between the forest and the bauxite,” says Dixon. “You’re fundamentally removing the very substrate that’s created this extraordinary forest.” However, the science behind how bauxite and jarrah trees in this region support one another has not been extensively studied. Jarrah trees are slow growing, meaning they recover on scales of centuries, not decades. Professor Stephen Hopper, a botanist and conservation biologist at UWA, says that the many other plant and animal species beneath the jarrah canopy also need to recover or the whole ecosystem crumbles. “As with all Mediterranean climate areas, it’s really the shrub layer, the plants that are below the canopy, that are incredibly diverse,” says Hopper. “There are complications with trying to get stuff like that back into the landscape.” In 2023, a group of scientists released a statement with more than 150 signatories calling for a total halt to mining operations in the Northern Jarrah Forest. They warned of a potential “extinction catastrophe.” The Northern Jarrah Forest is among the most biodiverse temperate forests on Earth, with more than 800 native plant species and at least 10 endangered animal species. The South West global biodiversity hotspot—of which the Northern Jarrah is a part—boasts more than 8,000 species. Around 80% of these aren’t found anywhere else on Earth, including the critically endangered Baudin’s cockatoo, the western quoll and several rare orchid species. Alarmingly, Hopper says that about two-thirds of the threatened plant and animal species in this bioregion live in the uplands, which is where bauxite mining tends to happen. “Bauxite is deepest and richest in the remnant fragments that are highest in the landscape,” says Hopper. “The notion of extending the mining leases to take out substantial further areas without having a clear biological understanding of how to care for this stuff is of concern.”  

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Forest Growers Research has announced the first commercial licence from its Precision Silviculture Program, with Interpine launching TreeTools, a new platform that uses LiDAR and drone imagery to help forest managers assess thinning quality faster and at greater scale. Source: Timberbiz The commercial licence is the first to be delivered through the programme, which is supported by a Primary Sector Growth Fund partnership between MPI and the forest industry. The launch marks a shift from research trial to commercial deployment of technology designed to solve one of forestry’s persistent challenges, helping forest managers check whether thinning work has achieved the right stocking levels without relying solely on field crews manually measuring trees on site. Claire Stewart, Precision Silviculture Programme Manager, says TreeTools can reduce the need for extensive fieldwork, potentially lowering costs, improving consistency, and enabling faster decision‑making after thinning operations. “TreeTools brings Interpine’s remote-sensing capability into two online tools: SilvaCloud, which analyses LiDAR data to count trees and assess stocking across forest blocks, and VirtualPlot, which uses drone imagery to estimate post-thin stocking,” she said. Ms Stewart says confidence in the quality of the data is critical for foresters. “The testing showed TreeTools can produce stocking results that closely align with field measurements, while reducing the time and cost involved in checking every block on the ground. That means crews can focus field effort where it is most needed. “The platform was tested against traditional field-based assessments, with drone and LiDAR results aligning within ±5 per cent of manual measurements,” she said. “The sector needs tools that improve consistency, reduce avoidable cost, and help managers make decisions sooner. TreeTools is a tangible step in that direction.” TreeTools is available now at www.treetools.ai with further development underway for regeneration assessment, chemical thinning, and other silviculture activities.

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Eucalyptus bark, usually stripped from logs and treated as waste, could be repurposed to help clean polluted water, filter dirty air and capture carbon dioxide, according to new research from RMIT University. Source: Timberbiz Researchers at RMIT have shown the bark can be converted into a highly porous form of carbon that traps pollutants as water or air flows through it. The findings point to a practical way of turning a common forestry by product into a useful environmental material using a relatively simple processing method. Porous carbon materials are already widely used in water filters, air purifiers and industrial gas treatment systems. Their effectiveness comes from their structure rather than the source material itself. These materials contain a network of microscopic pores. As air or water passes through, unwanted molecules are captured and held within the tiny spaces. PhD researcher Pallavi Saini, who led much of the experimental work, said the performance of eucalyptus bark was unexpected. “It is usually treated as low value waste, but with a simple process we were able to convert it into a highly porous material with strong adsorption performance,” Ms Saini said. “It highlights how overlooked biomass can be transformed into something useful.” In the study, the researchers used a relatively simple, one step activation process to produce porous carbon from eucalyptus bark. While similar approaches have been explored using other biomass sources, many porous carbons are still produced through more complex, multistage routes that require additional energy and infrastructure. Plant-waste based carbons are being studied worldwide using feedstocks ranging from agricultural residues to forestry and industrial waste. These materials are typically assessed based on availability, sustainability, processing complexity and performance. Dr Deshetti Jampaiah said eucalyptus bark compared favourably on several of these measures, particularly in Australia. “The strength of this approach lies in its simplicity,” Mr Jampaiah said. “We are converting a widely available waste material into a functional carbon with promising performance, without relying on complex processing steps. That makes it highly relevant for real world environmental applications.” Australia is home to more than 900 species of eucalypt and related trees. As a next step, the researchers plan to work with Indigenous people and organisations with deep knowledge of eucalyptus species to help identify which species may be best suited for this type of application. The team says there is potential to further optimise the material by understanding species specific chemical and structural characteristics, guided by both scientific analysis and long-standing ecological knowledge. Any future work would be undertaken through genuine, respectful collaboration. Because the bark comes from existing forestry operations, it does not compete with food production and aligns with circular economy and waste reduction goals. Materials like this are already being explored internationally for a range of environmental applications. In time, eucalyptus bark derived porous carbon could potentially support: water purification, including treatment of contaminated groundwater and wastewater air and industrial gas filtration point of use filtration systems in regional and remote communities carbon dioxide capture, where pore structure, regeneration and material cost are critical considerations Any real-world use would depend on further work to assess durability, regeneration, scale up and performance in operating systems. Distinguished Professor Suresh Bhargava AM said the research demonstrated how waste materials could be re imagined as part of environmental solutions. “This work shows how eucalyptus bark can be transformed into materials that support cleaner water, cleaner air and carbon capture,” said Bhargava, Director of the Centre for Advanced Materials and Industrial Chemistry (CAMIC) at RMIT. “At CAMIC, we combine circular economy innovation with real societal impact, while mentoring the next generation of researchers to ensure the work remains purposeful.” ‘Sustainable valorisation of eucalyptus bark waste into microporous carbon materials for efficient CO₂ capture’ is published in the international journal Biomass and Bioenergy (DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109242).

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Entries are open for the 2026 Sustainability Awards, recognising excellence in sustainable architecture, design and construction. Source: Timberbiz Celebrating its 20th year, the 2026 Awards arrive at a pivotal moment for the built environment, one defined by increasing regulatory pressure, housing supply challenges, and the mainstreaming of sustainability as a commercial imperative rather than a design aspiration. Entries opened on 29 April and close on 24 June 2026, with submissions invited from professionals delivering measurable impact across projects, products and practice. Judging will commence on 17 July and the awards gala will be held on 12 November. This year’s program introduces two significant category updates that reflect the evolving priorities of the industry, including the return of established and emerging areas of practice. The introduction of Sustainable Builder/Developer of the Year, marks a decisive shift in recognising accountability for sustainability outcomes. The category acknowledges that leadership has moved beyond the drawing board, rewarding builders and developers who are embedding environmental performance, social responsibility and long-term value creation into delivery at scale. It signals a broader industry recalibration, where sustainability is judged on execution, not intent. Equally, the return of the Prefab & Modular category, absent since 2020, reflects the sector’s rapid maturation and growing strategic importance. Once considered niche, prefabrication is now firmly positioned as a scalable solution to some of Australia’s most pressing challenges, including housing affordability, construction productivity and waste reduction. Its reinstatement underscores increasing industry adoption and alignment with government and institutional support for modern methods of construction. “Sustainability in the built environment is no longer aspirational—it’s essential. These awards not only celebrate the innovators getting it right but also amplify their impact to drive broader change,” said Branko Miletic, Program Director. The Awards Gala will be held at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), Sydney, bringing together leaders shaping the future of Australia’s built environment. Established by Architecture & Design, the Sustainability Awards spotlight excellence in ecological and socially responsible design. Over two decades, the program has become one of Australia’s most trusted and influential platforms for recognising leadership in the built environment. For entry submissions, judging information, sponsorship opportunities or event details, visit: www.sustainablebuildingawards.com.au

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The Electoral Commission of South Australia formally declared the final election result of the Legislative Council at a ceremony in Adelaide this week, confirming the re-election of Labor MLC Clare Scriven. Source: Timberbiz The return of Ms Scriven as a Member of the Legislative Council means she can continue to deliver for the state in her role as the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development and the Minister for Forest Industries. As a Limestone Coast local with a special affinity for the state’s rural, remote and regional communities, Ms Scriven is an important voice for regional South Australia and an important member of Peter Malinauskas’ diverse and hard-working team. The final election result means Labor now holds 10 seats in the Legislative Council, a position not experienced by any government in almost a quarter of a century. Labor has already recorded a record result in the House of Assembly, holding 34 out of 47 seats.

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Andreas Råheim and his son Mikael run a business in Norway that’s helping test and develop forestry technology. They are using drones, satellite positioning and remote monitoring in tandem with equipment engineered with the latest automation and communication technology. Though it’s something Andreas could barely have imagined as a child, he has embraced it as a business owner. Source: Timberbiz “Using new technology is a big part of success,” he said. “It makes you work safer, more efficiently, and more securely, putting you at the forefront.” The logging practices Andreas observed as a child have evolved far beyond horses and tractors as foresters like him have sought ways to grow their business while adapting to environmental concerns and tight labour markets. Andreas and Mikael embody the dramatic changes in forestry operations taking place in their lifetimes. Their company, Valdres Skog, is north of Oslo in the region of Østlandet and employs 20 people, including two apprentices. Using five Komatsu harvesters and five loaders, they harvest about 130,000 cubic meters (170,034 yd3) annually for more than 250 forest operations. They made their first technology leap in 2015, after learning about Komatsu’s MaxiFleet system (now called Smart Forestry) at a trade show in Sweden. It was the first fleet management system of its kind: a web-based suite of tools enabling foresters to remotely visualize information from each machine’s control system. It meant that production could be monitored at the office — a huge development for an industry that often functions in remote, hard-to-reach areas. When the Valdres Skog machines were retrofitted to use the new technology, it was the start of a long partnership. The Råheims helped Komatsu understand how their new solutions worked in the field and how they could be improved even further. When Mikael enrolled at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, which specializes in agriculture, environmental sciences and natural resource management, he had additional exposure to technologies Komatsu would later introduce to the market. The suite of solutions now known as Smart Forestry kept evolving, adding functions that helped Valdres Skog automate administrative tasks, receive remote training and support, use drones to collect data, share information among locations and machines and more. The most recent new offering Valdres Skog helped test, Smart Forestry Precision, uses the latest satellite positioning technology to determine a machine’s position within a margin of error of just a few centimeters. “Precision’s Geofencing has allowed us to increase efficiency and avoid errors, especially when it comes to environmental considerations,” Mikael said. “I can’t imagine working without Precision now.” Technology makes it possible to selectively harvest, plant diverse species, and work in a way that causes less disturbance to the forest ecosystem. Valdres Skog is investing in equipment for thinning as a way to future-proof the forest by making it more resilient to storms and disease. “If you take care of the forest, it stays healthy and binds carbon dioxide, and you can also extract the important forest raw material that adds great value by replacing fossil materials in many cases,” Andreas said.

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Increased wood consumption in Finland is now primarily driven by industry, where demand for wood-based products continues to rise. Finland remains one of Europe’s largest exporters of forest products, and the sector plays a crucial role in the national economy. Source: Luonnonvarakeskus, photo: Creative Commons Lic. Credit: Vargazs Finland’s forest sector is undergoing a clear transformation. In 2025, the use of directly harvested wood for energy declined, even as total wood consumption increased. This is shown by preliminary data from the Natural Resources Institute Finland. Firewood, long a central part of energy use in many households, particularly during winter months, saw reduced consumption over the year. The development marks a shift in a country where bioenergy has traditionally held a strong position. Many Finnish households still rely on firewood for heating, especially in detached homes and rural areas. Despite this, the volume of wood taken directly from forests for energy use declined in 2025. There are two main reasons for the decrease. On the one hand, demand for firewood has weakened. On the other hand, alternative uses for wood — particularly in industry — have gained importance. At the same time, total wood use increased compared with the previous year. This suggests that a larger share of raw material is now directed towards industrial processing rather than being burned directly. In earlier reports, it was pointed out that the forest industry is increasingly shifting towards higher value-added products, such as pulp, paper and wood-based bioproducts. This development reduces the incentive to use raw wood for simple energy production. The decline in firewood consumption is occurring alongside broader changes in Finland’s energy system. Alternative heating solutions, including district heating and electricity-based systems, have become more widespread. At the same time, questions remain regarding the role of bioenergy. Firewood and other biomass are often considered part of the energy mix, but critics argue that direct combustion of wood leads to resource inefficiencies compared to industrial use. The developments in 2025 indicate that the balance between energy use and material use of forest resources is being reassessed in Finland.

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Caterpillar has produced six new attachments to increase application flexibility of its next generation skid steer loader (SSL) and compact track loader (CTL), mini hydraulic excavators and certain backhoe loader models. Source: Timberbiz Built rugged to deliver reliable performance in the field, these new attachments are purpose-designed to optimize the performance advantages offered by next generation machines when completing land reclamation, grading, construction, demolition, agriculture, snow removal, trenching and other applications. Versatile buckets New Cat HD MP buckets help to optimize SSL and CTL versatility when digging, dozing, clamping, scraping, back dragging, grading and leveling. Designed specifically for next generation Cat 250 – 285 models, eight different bucket options offer widths ranging from 1883 to 2340 mm (74 to 92 in) and capacities of 0,53 to 0,68 m3 (0.7 to 0.88 yd3). These new HD MP buckets deliver up to 21% higher capacity versus similar standard MP buckets. With their serrated clam and dozer edges, these new buckets provide better material clamping retention. Reinforced side plates enhance bucket longevity and performance in demanding digging conditions, and bolt-on replaceable cutting edges offer edge protection, enhance structural strength and prolong bucket life. Serrated steps help to ensure the operator’s safety when entering/exiting the cab. Ideal for land management  Designed for larger Cat 270 to 285 XE models equipped with rear auxiliary hydraulics, the new Cat Retrieval Winch allows operators to self-retrieve or recover a stuck machine due to challenging terrain or adverse underfoot conditions. Featuring an industrial planetary gear and hydraulic winch motor, this new winch offers a rated line pull of 8165 kgf (18,000 lbf). The design minimally impedes rear camera view to give operators maximum visibility to machine clearances and recovery operations. With its quick-disconnect hose design, the retrieval winch integrates into the advance joystick controls for dedicated hydraulic power-in/power-out operation. Its recessed roller fairlead design provides superior protection from damage, while permanently lubricated bronze bushings offer long roller life and smooth winch rope retrieval. Featuring a swing-away winch frame design, service techs maintain full-service access to the engine bay with simple removal of the retention-pin. Efficient ripping/scarifying  Designed for use with Cat CTLs with rear auxiliary hydraulics, the new Cat Ripper/Scarifier breaks up, loosens or conditions the surface layer of compacted soil. It is ideal for scarifying tree roots, fields and small to medium rocks, and, when paired with the Cat Smart Dozer Blade and Cat Smart Grader Blade, it enhances grading in construction applications. Integrated with advanced joystick controls, it features dedicated operational control. Proven tough, the removeable and replaceable shanks and teeth are the same design as those used on Cat motor graders, and its multi-shank design allows the operator to select the number of shanks necessary for the application. The ripper/scarifier’s unique parallelogram linkage design allows shanks and teeth to rotate inward when raised to maximize machine departure angle. When lowered, it enables full-service access to the engine bay for daily maintenance tasks. Maximizing excavator utilization Our innovative next generation mini excavators made significant performance and serviceability advancements with groundbreaking designs, technology integration and an elevated operator experience. These new mulcher, grading beam and tilting bucket attachments, specifically designed to meet customer needs, offer more solutions to enhance productivity and utilization, so customers can do more jobs with one machine. High-performance mulching New Cat Bite-Limiter Mulchers for 6- to 10-tonne Cat mini excavators deliver high-performance cutting and mulching of vegetation, saplings and undergrowth from overgrown agricultural and forested terrain. With ribs on the rotor limiting material penetration of the chisel teeth to prevent stalling, the new mulcher quickly reduces trees and shrubs into mulched material, making it ideal for environmental maintenance and land reclamation. Smaller bits provide a finer finish product for fast decomposition. An integrated thumb bracket allows the operator to pull or push material into position for mulching or to move it away from the mulching area. With a gauge included to ensure correct sharpening, the chisel teeth deliver a consistent cut and finished product. The design features a variable displacement piston motor that provides high torque at low speed to power through tough material with reduced risk of stalling and automatically switches displacement to high speed once the material is cleared. Precise grading  Designed for use with 5- to 10-tonne Cat mini excavators, the new tilt rotate system (TRS) Cat Grading Beams deliver precise grading and leveling capabilities, especially for 2D and 3D applications when used with TRS6 and TRS8 attachments. Available 1500 mm (59.5 in) and 2000 mm (78.7 in) widths allow these grading beams to offer efficient, high-performance grading with 360˚ of rotation and up to 40˚ angling capability. TRS vibration combines with machine down pressure to effectively compact material for a quality surface finish. Enabling clean leveling and grading at the jobsite, fixed in-line grading beams easily collect, transport and spread materials, and spill guards positioned on top of the in-line wings provide added control over material movement. Depth of the heavy-duty roller and scraper assembly is variable via side bearings for added versatility, and the heavy-duty scraper cleans the roller drum in both forward and reverse direction to prevent silt, clay, mud and other materials from sticking to the roller bar. When performing material compaction, the roller can be used in both forward and reverse directions. Ditch cleaning buckets  New pin-on Cat Tilting Ditch Cleaning buckets feature tilting angle flexibility for digging trenches, slopes and other applications where up to 45˚ digging angles are required. With widths and capacities ranging from 1200 to 1500 mm (48 to 60 in) and 360 to 460 L (12.9 to 16.4 ft3) respectively, bucket designs are available for next generation 307.5, 308, 309 and 310 mini excavators as well as center-pivot and side shift backhoe loaders. A two-cylinder bucket design creates equal left/right tilt speed and equal hold force. The horizontally positioned two tilt cylinders are connected to one auxiliary for precise, synchronized movement of both cylinders. Their modular bracket design limits loss of breakout and digging forces, and the bracket connection features […]

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Eligible community organisations are encouraged to consider how the Hyne Community Trust can support them to deliver lasting benefits to the Tumbarumba region. Source: Timberbiz An example of a recently successful project is the Tumbarumba Sports Academy and its new basketball hoops. Hyne Community Trust Director, Janet Anderson said this is the second grant the Tumbarumba Sports Academy has received as the facility goes from strength to strength. “The provision of good quality sports and recreational opportunities for the Tumbarumba region enables health and fitness in a fun, social and affordable way for all ages. “The funds to fit out the sports hall with new basketball hoops has further improved the range of quality sporting opportunities for the community. “This comes after the Trust previously helped to fund the transformation of the mezzanine level into a safe Youth Precinct which is now fully operational and complete with security cameras in both the sports hall and adjacent dance hall.” Ms Anderson said. Tumbarumba’s community groups are reminded the Hyne Community Trust will open for applications on 1 June and close 30 June 2026. Community groups considering applying for a Hyne Community Trust grant should start reviewing the 2026 guidelines available here: https://www.hyne.com.au/about/community Projects must be valued at more than $10,000 and demonstrate how they will provide lasting benefits for the community in order to meet the criteria. The Hyne Community Trust was established in 2007 and has provided almost $1 million to the Tumbarumba region to date.

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Now entering their 51st year in 2026, these prestigious awards celebrate the best in timber design and construction and provide a national platform to recognise outstanding achievement in the use of timber across the built environment. Source: Timberbiz Proudly hosted by Timber Unlimited, the awards recognise the businesses, people, and teams who are at the forefront of the timber revolution, using timber to deliver beautiful, high-performance, low-carbon, exemplary projects from large-scale commercial and public buildings through to residential, interior and innovation-focused work. For the first time, the Simpson Strong-Tie People’s Choice Award will be decided live on the night by guests at the gala event and online voters. This new format puts the spotlight firmly on the audience, giving everyone a chance to help crown one of the 2026 NZ Timber Design Awards winners in real time. The gala will be held on 6 June 2026 in Auckland. More details about how you can vote for your favourite finalist will be shared closer to the night. Buy tickets https://twelve.eventsair.com/tda2026/tickets/Site/Register More info https://timberunlimited.co.nz/get-involved/timber-design-awards

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For timber and hardware merchants investing in their people, new figures from the Housing Industry Association (HIA) highlight a simple reality that apprenticeships deliver real financial benefits from day one. Source: Timberbiz Unlike university pathways, apprentices and trainees earn while they learn. That means a steady income from the outset, often supported by fee-free TAFE, and no HECS-style debt hanging over them at the end of their training. The numbers tell the story. While a university student can face annual study costs of around $17,000, a carpentry apprentice can earn between $39,000 and $42,000 by their second year. Over a typical three- to four-year training period, that creates a financial gap of at least $50,000 in favour of the trade pathway. For workers in the timber and hardware sector, that is a strong incentive to take up or complete an apprenticeship and for employers, it is a clear value-add when attracting and retaining staff. The benefits don’t stop once the qualification is finished. HIA data shows qualified tradespeople can go on to earn salaries in the $80,000 to $95,000 range – on par with many degree-qualified roles. NTHA’s General Manager for the GTO, RTO, Melissa Clark says the recent data highlights exactly why apprenticeships are such a valuable pathway, offering people the chance to earn, gain real skills, and avoid significant debt while building a strong career. “From my perspective, it reinforces the importance of employers continuing to invest in apprenticeships as a practical and sustainable way to develop and retain a skilled workforce, particularly in the Timber Industry,” Ms Clark said. For merchants supporting apprentices through industry programs, the message is clear apprenticeships aren’t just good for skills, they make solid financial sense for workers. In a market where skilled labour remains tight, offering a pathway that combines income, training and long-term earning potential is proving to be a smart move for both employees and the businesses backing them.

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FSC Australian and New Zealand-based members are encouraged to attend the FSC Annual General Meeting of Responsible Forest Management Australia Limited (FSC Australia), followed by a membership engagement event. This hybrid event allows members to attend in person or online. Source: Timberbiz The Annual General Meeting of Responsible Forest Management Australia Limited will be held on Thursday, 28 May, followed by a membership engagement event. The day will begin with the Annual General Meeting, which will provide an overview of the past year for FSC ANZ, key achievements, and priorities ahead. Following the AGM, members are invited to stay for a series of engaging sessions featuring guest speakers, as well as opportunities to network and connect with fellow members from across the sector. Update on the Australian Forest Stewardship Standard Revision The second draft of the revised Forest Stewardship Standard will have been released for consultation prior to the AGM and field-tested in forests in Victoria and Tasmania. This session will outline the proposed changes in the second draft and provide an early look at the results from the testing. Presenter: Stefan Jensen, Senior Policy Manager at FSC ANZ First Nations Committee (formerly Indigenous Working Group) Update This session will provide an update on the progress and future direction of the First Nations Committee (FNC). Participants will hear about recent achievements, ongoing initiatives, and strategic priorities, as well as the Committee’s plans to strengthen Indigenous engagement and influence in sustainable forestry governance. Presenter: Tolita Davis-Angeles, Chair of the FSC ANZ First Nations Committee Putting Nature on the Balance Sheet As financial markets respond to climate, biodiversity, and social risks, the forestry sector is working to measure and report the value of nature in financial terms. This session will share progress and next steps from the Global Forestry Natural Capital project, involving major forestry owners across 38 countries. Presenter: Rayne van den Berg, Founder of Value Australia and former CFO of Forico FSC Trace: Enhancing supply chain integrity and traceability The EU Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR) will come into force by December 2026. While uncertainties remain and market concerns continue to grow, one requirement is already clear: robust traceability will be fundamental across value chains and regions. This session will provide an update on FSC Trace, a digital solution powered by blockchain technology, highlighting its core strengths, its role in supporting EUDR compliance, and practical steps organisations can take to begin their preparation journey. Presenter: Michelle Wong, Deputy Regional Director, FSC APAC The AGM and events are exclusively for FSC members, the AGM is on 28 May starting at 11:00am and finishing at 5:00pm, in-person attendees should arrive by 10:30am at the Melbourne Museum, Treetops room, 11 Nicholson St, Carlton, Victoria. More information at: https://events.humanitix.com/agm-and-membership-engagement-forum

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A ground-breaking artificial intelligence system has detected almost 90 unplanned fires since it was rolled out across more than a million hectares in South Australia, helping firefighters coordinate earlier bushfire responses. Source: Timberbiz The technology provides early intelligence to firefighters to support their bushfire responses across the state’s Green Triangle forestry region, helping them respond to fires when they’re smaller and more containable. In 2023, the State Government in South Australia invested $2.35 million to install eight AI-powered cameras, developed by bushfire detection and intelligence provider Pano AI, in strategic locations throughout the South East’s forest estates and Limestone Coast communities. Since then, the smart camera network has detected 87 unplanned fires across vast areas of the Limestone Coast, including 12 during the 2025-26 Fire Danger Season, which ends tomorrow in the South East, Kangaroo Island, Mid North, Mount Lofty Ranges, Murraylands, Riverland, Yorke Peninsula and Adelaide Metropolitan area. Most of the fires detected by the system were during the 2024-25 Fire Danger Season, when 50 were identified. Lightning was responsible for the majority of the fires, including the March 2025 Fox fire near Lucindale, while others were linked to vehicle fires, electrical faults and escaped burn-offs. The remaining 25 unplanned fires detected by the system were during the 2023-24 season. “Pano AI’s partnership with the South Australian Government and Green Triangle Fire Alliance has been central to the network’s evolution over the past three years,” Pano AI Australia’s Andrew Prolov, said “What began as early fire detection is now an advanced bushfire intelligence capability, enabling agencies to understand not just where a fire is, but what it means in real time for nearby communities and assets. “This is a critical shift in a region as vast and operationally complex as the Green Triangle. We have trained and empowered more than 100 first responders across the region, embedding the technology into frontline response ahead of each fire season,” he said. The AI camera network is managed by the Green Triangle Fire Alliance (GTFA), which also manages another seven smart cameras installed on fire towers and infrastructure over the border in the Victorian part of the Green Triangle forestry area. Each camera feeds into a system that delivers real-time fire detection alerts which are then reviewed by a human analyst using ultra-HD 360-degree cameras, AI and satellite technology, helping to identify the earliest signs of smoke and fire. The system also helps identify a fire’s location, severity and proximity to people, infrastructure and firefighting assets, supporting more informed responses from industry and emergency services. Notable fires detected by the system since it was rolled out include the Biscuit Flat hay shed fire in January 2024, which enabled emergency services to quickly scale up resources thanks to early alerts, as well as multiple deliberately lit car fires in timber plantations during early 2024 and a string of lightning fires in early 2025. While the Fire Danger Season ends on May 1 in South Australia, fires can continue to break out at any time of year, and the public is asked to remain vigilant and continue adhering to fire safety requirements. “We’ve invested in AI technology which has made a real difference, supporting firefighters across the Limestone Coast to respond even sooner to fires that threaten our communities and plantations,” Forest Industries Minister Clare Scriven said. She said the State Government would continue to support SA’s regional communities, emergency services and state’s $3 billion forest industry. “The South Australian Government’s co-funding of the GTFA’s AI-powered fire detection camera network has significantly strengthened fire detection and management across the Limestone Coast region,” Green Triangle Fire Alliance General Manager Anthony Walsh said “The camera network provides coverage of more than one million hectares across the region. While the plantation industry initiated the project, around 90% of the coverage extends beyond plantations to include towns, farmland, roads and conservation reserves. “As a result, our communities, towns, farmlands and conservation areas are safer thanks to this advanced technology.”

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The NSW Government has launched a new multi-agency taskforce in a bid to accelerate hazard reduction and better protect communities across NSW. Taskforce Fire Guard will bring together fire agencies and land managers to strengthen coordination and prioritise high risk areas over the coming months. Source: Timberbiz Operating from the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) State Operations Centre, the taskforce will use predictive services and weather intelligence to support agencies to target efforts where they are needed most, said Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib. Participating agencies include the RFS, Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Forestry Corporation of NSW, Crown Lands and Transport for NSW. “Taskforce Fire Guard brings agencies together to ensure we are making the most of every opportunity to reduce bushfire risk and protect communities,” said Minister Dib. “It will strengthen how we plan and deliver hazard reduction across the state, particularly as weather conditions allow work to increase. “This is a commonsense approach to hazard reduction that brings all agencies together with a sole focus of coordinated and planned hazard reduction activities. “This is about making sure every part of the system is working together, using the best available information, to reduce bush fire risk and protect lives and communities across NSW.” The centralised body will support existing local arrangements by coordinating resources and using technology to plan and deliver hazard reduction more efficiently across the state. Current conditions have created a valuable window for hazard reduction activity with burns underway across multiple regions, said RFS Commissioner Trent Curtin. The activities are reducing fuel loads, helping to lower fire intensity and better protect communities ahead of future fire seasons. “We’re dealing with higher fuel loads and increasingly narrow windows to safely carry out hazard reduction,” said Commissioner Curtin. “This taskforce allows us to better prioritise and coordinate work across agencies, focusing effort where it will have the greatest operational impact. “Hazard reduction is one of the most effective ways to reduce bushfire risk, and we will take advantage of favourable conditions wherever possible to safely carry out this work across multiple regions. “While people may see or smell smoke, these burns are carefully planned and closely monitored to ensure community safety.” Since 1 July 2025, agencies have treated 45,000 hectares across NSW, helping to protect more than 127,000 properties through a targeted focus. “Task Force Fire Guard is about strengthening how agencies work together to deliver hazard reduction burns where it will make the greatest difference to community safety. “It does not replace existing planning or command arrangements, rather it supports them by improving coordination, situational awareness and access to specialist capability, enabling agencies to take advantage of the narrow windows available when conditions are right,” said Fire and Rescue NSW, Acting Commissioner Mick Morris. “Fire and Rescue NSW’s contribution is focused on the urban interface and structure risk, supporting our endorsed bushfire mitigation plans and safe integration with our broader emergency response.” A list and map of planned burns can be found on the RFS website at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/hr or download the Hazards Near Me app for information on upcoming hazard reduction burns in ‘Watch Zone’.  

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Labor’s chronic underfunding of our Country Fire Authority (CFA) was laid bare at a Parliamentary Inquiry last week, with recent government funding announcements falling well short of reversing the damage according to the Liberal Opposition. Source: Timberbiz CFA Chief Executive, Greg Leach, confirmed the organisation was not meeting fleet renewal benchmarks, including the turning over of tankers at 20 years of age and pumpers at 15. He acknowledged that a $65 million per year investment would be needed just to maintain the current age of the CFA fleet, a far cry from Labor’s recent $10 million per year promise for the next 10 years. He also revealed there are 802 single-cab tankers in the CFA fleet. This contradicts earlier Department of Justice and Community Safety evidence that put the figure at 627 during Public Accounts and Estimates Committee hearings six months ago. CFA Chief Officer, Jason Heffernan, admitted to the inquiry that CFA staff shortages led to “some deficiencies” in affected districts. He confirmed he had formally raised concerns with the Emergency Management Commissioner ahead of the fire season and issued a “qualified attestation” about the CFA’s readiness ahead of summer due to the staff shortages. This attestation has not been made public. He also confirmed unfilled vacancies existed in District 22 at the time of the Longwood fire in January but could not say how many. Fire Services Implementation Monitor, Niall Blair, warned the inquiry the vacancies were “leaving vulnerabilities across the state”. Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Emergency Services, Danny O’Brien, said Labor continued to under-resource the CFA and leave regional Victoria vulnerable. “We knew the CFA was under-resourced going into the fire season and not getting enough support to upgrade fire trucks. Today’s hearings confirmed this. “The ageing firefighting fleet will only get older under this government, with volunteers forced to sit in the open air in single-cab trucks exposed to the smoke, dust and here for another decade if Labor win again in November. “Labor can’t manage money and it’s our firefighters and regional communities who are paying the price. “The Liberals and Nationals will stop the waste, scrap the tax on volunteers, and back our community firefighters to keep them safe and our communities protected.”

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