Australian timber industry news

The European Union Deforestation Regulation has been postponed, amended and simplified since it came about in 2023, yet the central compliance challenge confronting wood pellet producers has barely changed. Source: Biomass Magazine Producers shipping into the European Union will need to demonstrate that their fibre is legal and deforestation-free, identify the plots where the wood was harvested and preserve the connection between those plots and the finished product. That requirement reaches beyond conventional sustainability certification and deep into supplier networks that were not designed to provide plot-level information. The latest delay moved the primary application date to 30 December 2026, while providing additional time for certain small and microenterprises. The United States has also been classified as a low-risk country, reducing some risk assessment and mitigation obligations for US suppliers. Neither development eliminates the need to collect geolocation data, document legality and maintain traceability. Instead, the added time has revealed a widening divide between companies that continued preparing and those that treated postponement as permission to wait. “The delays gave producers much-needed time to figure out how to collect geolocation data and work with suppliers to prepare for compliance,” said Barry Parrish, director of sustainability at ResourceWise. “The low-risk designation also eased some of the burden by removing the need for formal risk assessment and risk mitigation, allowing producers to focus more directly on data collection and traceability.” That focus is moving EUDR from the policy office to the procurement desk. Compliance will ultimately depend less on what pellet producers already know about their overall supply bases than on whether they can connect individual consignments to sufficiently detailed, verifiable records from forests, landowners, loggers, sawmills and other upstream suppliers. The full story is at: https://biomassmagazine.com/articles/the-traceability-test

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US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L Rollins announced the US Forest Service has filed a proposed rule to rescind in its entirety the national 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, a one-size-fits-all restriction that, according the government, has frustrated land managers and served as a barrier to wildfire risk reduction work across large swaths of America’s national forests. Source: Timberbiz “Our forests can’t afford another decade of inaction. Across the country, we’ve watched preventable conditions – overgrown stands, insect outbreaks and disease – turn healthy landscapes into tinderboxes,” said Mr Rollins. “For too long, outdated restrictions have kept tens of millions of forested acres off-limits to the very treatments that improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk to our communities. Today, we filed a proposal to restore authority to local forest managers who know the land best, removing the barriers that have kept them from doing the work the land demands. It’s time to turn the page on the failed roadless rule and return our forests to health and productivity.” For 25 years, the 2001 Roadless Rule restricted road construction and limited the Forest Service’s ability to carry out critical active management work within inventoried roadless areas. Today, that includes more than 44 million acres of the 193-million-acre National Forest System. The rescission is intended to prioritize local agency decision-making over regulatory rules that are the same across the country, regardless of specific land management issues and needs. “This proposed rule is commonsense policy sought since the first Trump administration. In the years since, the need for it has only become more apparent,” said Deputy Secretary Stephen A. Vaden. “It is a credit to President Trump that we can begin to put into place a rule that will allow us to properly manage our national forests, because the first step to managing forests is to have access to them.” The agency will seek public comment on the proposal and on a draft of the environmental impact statement filed today in the Federal Register. The rescission removes national designation of roadless areas but does not mandate timber cutting or road construction. The action removes regulatory burden and sends decisions about roadless areas to the local national forest managers. “Active forest management is not an option. It’s essential,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “More than 40% of inventoried roadless areas, primarily in the West, have high or very high wildfire hazard potential. And only 5% of those areas have received hazardous fuels reduction treatments since 2014. “At the same time, more than a quarter of these lands, 11.3 million acres, are already near existing roads. Acting now, thoughtfully and decisively, is the best way to restore the balance, reduce wildfire risk, and secure the long-term health of our forests and neighbouring communities.” Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte said that for 25 years, the heavy thumb of Washington DC has hindered Montana’s ability to properly manage wildfire risk and road development on nearly 60% of Forest Service land across the Treasure State. “Today’s long overdue decision will empower states like Montana to pursue proper forest management on federal lands with local communities in mind. I’m grateful to President Donald J. Trump and Secretary Rollins for their strong leadership in restoring common sense to active forest management.” The proposed rescission reflects the administration’s commitment to return authority to local line officers and ensure they have the tools needed to restore forest health and productivity. The rescission aligns with Executive Order 14192, Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation, to alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens, Executive Order 14225, Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production, Executive Order 14154, Unleashing American Energy, and Executive Order 14153, Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential. Returning roadless-area decisions to forest-level land management planning provides flexibility the national rule did not. Future land management decisions would be based on natural resource conditions and needs and informed by states, tribes, and communities. Rescinding the rule allows forest managers to address watershed, economic, and wildfire-risk conditions within the sideboards of existing laws, regulations, and policy. That would put those decisions within the same planning framework that guides individual plans throughout the National Forest System. More than 95% of inventoried roadless areas are in 10 Western states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The proposed rule does not apply to national forests in Colorado and Idaho because those lands are under separate state-specific roadless regulations.

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Combining drone data and machine learning can help cover a lot more ground in monitoring forest soil health, University of Alberta research shows. Source: Timberbiz Using both tools to map and monitor soil fungal diversity — a key indicator of a healthy forest ecosystem — proved highly effective and could help ease the need for taking boots-on-the-ground soil samples over huge areas of forest, says Dr. Cameron Carlyle, a professor in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences and a co-author on the study. “To understand patterns across the landscape relies heavily on manual soil collection and DNA sequencing across many locations, which means it’s labour-intensive and expensive,” he notes. “But by integrating remote sensing data — information collected from drones — with soil measurements and machine learning, the research provides a more cost-effective and scalable way to map out fungal soil diversity.” Keeping track of that diversity is vital, adds Wanwan Yu, who led the research as a visiting PhD researcher in Carlyle’s lab. “Soil fungi are central to forest function, influencing nutrient cycling, decomposition and tree growth,” she said. “Without that monitoring, we risk losing critical information on biodiversity patterns, ecosystem stability and the ability to manage and conserve forests effectively, particularly in the face of environmental change.” The study, conducted in a 40-year-old planted forest located in a nature reserve in China, looked at alpha diversity — the number of different fungal species living in one specific spot — and beta diversity — how much the types of fungal species change from one area to another across the forest. The team collected 538 soil samples from a 26-hectare area and used DNA sequencing to identify the different types of fungi present. Drones were also flown over the forest to collect high-resolution images, measure tree heights and track how much light the leaves reflected, gauging factors such as chlorophyll content and water levels. The information was then processed by a smart computer program called a random forest model to test whether the drone data could reliably predict what was happening in the soil fungi community. The results showed that host tree species, the landscape and soil properties jointly shaped fungal patterns. Soil fungal diversity changes significantly depending on tree species, as well as among trees of the same species, by creating different micro-environments that shape the fungal community. Nor was there one single driving factor in soil fungal diversity. Rather, the variety and the shifting patterns of fungal species across the forest were influenced by different combinations of environmental factors, the study showed. The research also revealed that machine learning was successful in predicting about 53% of the beta diversity of fungi, and did a moderate job of predicting alpha diversity, ranging from 28% to 45%, depending on the specific measurement used. While the combined high-tech approach used in the study can’t completely replace more detailed, localized information provided only through hands-on field sampling of soil, it could improve the coverage and efficiency of monitoring general diversity patterns across huge, varied areas of forest, Yu suggests. “It helps extend information from limited sampling points — which can miss important spatial patterns and vulnerable biodiversity hotspots — to broader landscapes that would be difficult or costly to monitor using traditional methods alone.” The work provides a practical way to include belowground biodiversity in forest restoration, conservation and long-term monitoring efforts, Carlyle adds. “This tool allows forest managers, reclamation companies and conservation researchers to efficiently monitor underground soil health to support better long-term land management and restoration.”

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A school-based traineeship creating a pathway for young people into timber manufacturing careers has been named a finalist in the Industry Collaboration category of the 2026 South Australian Training Awards. Source: Timberbiz The Timber and Wood Products Operations Traineeship brings together the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub (GTFIH), Group Training Employment (GTE), LITA Training and host employers Porta Products, OneFortyOne, AAM Timber and Timberlink. Trainees remain at school while completing paid employment, nationally recognised training and workplace experience across the four host businesses. Developed in response to a shared need for skilled, work-ready production operators, the program provides an entry point into timber manufacturing, with opportunities to progress into further training, employment and technical roles. The program grew from the Green Triangle Forestry Skills Centre Pilot, which established local delivery of the Certificate II and Certificate III in Timber and Wood Products Operations. All five trainees in the inaugural 2025 cohort successfully completed the traineeship and Certificate II, with a second cohort now underway. The Green Triangle is one of Australia’s most significant forestry and timber processing regions. Continued investment in manufacturing capability, new timber products, automation and process technology is also changing the skills required within modern production environments. GTFIH Chair Dr Ruth Schubert said the finalist recognition highlighted the importance of developing local skills alongside industry investment. “The Green Triangle is home to a nationally significant timber industry, and we are continuing to see major investment in processing, manufacturing and technology across the region,” Dr Schubert said. “That creates exciting opportunities for young people, but also means we need to develop the skilled workforce required to support the industry into the future. To have this collaboration recognised at a state level is a fantastic achievement for everyone involved.” GTFIH Workforce Development Manager Lara Kroeger said the traineeship allowed young people to experience an industry they may otherwise know little about. “Across the four host businesses, trainees experience different products, technologies and production systems, while seeing the core skills that connect the industry and the range of careers that can grow from an entry-level production role,” Ms Kroeger said. GTFIH is also working with employers to explore a similar school-based traineeship linked to the Certificate II in Forest Operations, extending the approach into other parts of the forestry value chain. The winner of the Industry Collaboration Award will be announced at the South Australian Training Awards Gala Presentation Dinner in Adelaide on Friday 11 September 2026.

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The New Zealand Forest Owners Association (NZFOA), Eastland Wood Council (EWC), Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA) and Ngāti Porou Forests have jointly backed the Government’s decision to appoint Doug Leeder as an independent facilitator to support land transition and long-term forestry management in Tairāwhiti. Source: Timberbiz NZFOA Chief Executive Dr Elizabeth Heeg says the appointment provides an opportunity to make progress on difficult questions around land use, woody debris and forestry-related environmental issues. “Forestry wants a system that protects the environment while allowing businesses to keep investing and operating responsibly in the region,” Ms Heeg said. “Tairāwhiti needs to see decision-making that recognises where land use has to change, while allowing forestry to continue on land where it remains appropriate. “Bringing Government, Gisborne District Council, iwi, communities and industry together with an independent facilitator gives us a practical way to work through those issues.” Eastland Wood Council Chairman Julian Kohn says decisions about forestry have consequences for everyone living in Tairāwhiti. “NZIER research has shown forestry accounts for 7.9 per cent of Tairāwhiti’s GDP, the highest proportional contribution of any region in New Zealand. Around $295 million per year is added to the regional economy through forestry and logging, support services and wood processing,” he said. “We want environmental issues addressed, but the decisions made through this process also have to recognise the scale of forestry’s contribution to Tairāwhiti and the communities that depend on it.” Ngāti Porou Forests Chairman Whaimutu Dewes says decisions about land use have long-term consequences for iwi landowners and communities. “For iwi landowners, there is a responsibility to look after the whenua for generations to come but also to create opportunities for our people today. Forestry supports whānau by generating employment and providing income from whenua to sustain our communities,” Mr Dewes said. “Bringing iwi, communities, Government, Council and industry together gives us a better chance of making decisions that achieve both.” Forest Industry Contractors Association Chief Executive Rowan Struthers says contractors and forestry workers will bring an important operational perspective to the process. “Decisions about forestry directly affect crews, trucking companies, machinery operators and local businesses,” Mr Struthers said. “Our members want high environmental standards and clear expectations, but those expectations also have to work on the ground. “The experience of the people carrying out harvesting and other forestry work will be important as practical solutions are developed.”

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Sustainable Timber Tasmania (STT) has appointed Craig Taylor and Calton Frame as Non-Executive Directors of the Sustainable Timber Tasmania Board, following approval by the Cabinet and Governor-in-Council. Source: Timberbiz Craig Taylor is a highly regarded forestry and governance professional with more than 40 years’ experience across forest management, wood products manufacturing, commercial strategy and industry leadership. He began his career with the Forestry Commission of NSW before joining Boral Wood Products and then Wesfi working in timber and wood product sales.  He subsequently worked in forestry consulting at Jaakko Pöyry before joining The Fifth Estate Consultancy where he is currently a director. He has significant board experience as Chair of Forest and Wood Products Australia and Director of PF Olsen Limited. Mr Taylor brings extensive expertise in forestry operations, corporate governance, investment and divestment of forestry assets and strategy. Calton Frame is an experienced finance, risk and governance professional with a strong background in Tasmania’s forestry sector. His career includes both natural and planted forest management initially with North Forest Products and then Gunns where he gained major project development and financing experience and ultimately managing Gunns on behalf of the liquidators as the CEO. More recently he was Business Development Manager and Company Secretary at Scotch Oakburn school in Launceston. Mr Frame brings significant expertise in governance, strategy and risk management and financial stewardship in forestry and education. He has both practical experience and deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing the forestry industry.

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A secure domestic timber supply will be essential to meeting Australia’s future housing needs, according to the Housing Industry Association. HIA Chief Executive Industry and Policy Simon Croft speaking at the launch of National Forestry Day yesterday, said Australia’s forestry and timber industries played a vital role in supporting housing construction, regional economies and the nation’s growing population. Source: Timberbiz “Australia’s rising population will require hundreds of thousands of additional homes in the years ahead, and a secure domestic supply of timber is fundamental to achieving that outcome,” Mr Croft said. “On National Forestry Day, it is important to recognise the thousands of Australians working across the forestry and timber supply chain who make an essential contribution to housing, regional communities and the broader economy.” Mr Croft said the residential building industry relies heavily on a stable supply of locally produced timber products, including structural framing, engineered wood products, flooring, cladding and other essential building materials. “Timber remains one of the most important building materials used in Australian homes and is a cornerstone of residential construction across the country,” he said. “A strong domestic forestry sector gives builders and consumers’ confidence that key building materials will be available when needed and at competitive prices.” Mr Croft said recent years had highlighted the importance of supply chain resilience and the need for long-term planning to support future housing demand. “The experience of recent years demonstrated how quickly supply constraints can affect housing affordability, construction costs and project delivery timelines,” he said. “As governments work to increase housing supply across Australia, it is critical that building material supply keeps pace with demand.” HIA supports policies that encourage long-term investment in forestry resources, timber processing capacity and regional manufacturing to strengthen Australia’s supply chain resilience. “Australia needs a long-term vision for timber supply that recognises the role forestry plays in supporting housing construction, regional employment and economic growth,” Mr Croft said. “Investment decisions made today will determine whether future generations have access to the building materials needed to construct the homes, schools, hospitals and infrastructure our growing population will require.” Mr Croft said sustainable forestry and responsible timber production should be recognised as important contributors to Australia’s housing future. “The forestry and timber sector supports jobs, regional communities and the delivery of new housing across the country,” he said. “Ensuring a secure and sustainable timber supply chain will be essential to meeting Australia’s housing needs and supporting national economic growth for decades to come.

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Australia’s sustainable forest and forest products industries were celebrated yesterday as part of National Forestry Day to highlight the sector’s vital contribution to the nation’s economy and increasing housing supply. Source: Timberbiz National Forestry Day is a once-a-year opportunity to embrace and showcase an industry generating more than $24 billion in economic value and supporting 180,000 jobs. “From regional areas to capital cities, National Forestry Day is all about raising awareness among policymakers, elected representatives and the wider community about the many essential benefits of Australia’s innovative forest industries,” AFPA acting Chief Executive Officer Richard Hyett said. “Our sector is truly a growing success story.” This year’s theme, ‘Grown for Australian homes’, highlights the fundamental role of sustainably produced local timber and wood in meeting Australia’s housing and construction needs.  From timber house frames, flooring and furniture to paper, tissues and packaging, forest products are an essential part of Australian life. “Unlike other everyday items, timber and wood-fibre products are renewable and can help tackle climate change by storing carbon and providing alternatives to more emissions-intensive materials,” Mr Hyett said. “As Australia’s sixth-largest manufacturing sector, the forest products industry also proudly supports around 80,000 direct and 100,000 indirect jobs mainly in regional areas, while the national plantation estate stores an estimated 258 million tonnes of CO₂-e. “We encourage everyone to celebrate this important day through workplace events, tree planting, community activities, visits from elected representatives or by sharing National Forestry Day content online and using #NatForestryDay26. “Australian-made forestry products are critical to our daily lives – and today is about celebrating what our industry provides every day, including flooring, decking, furniture, pallets, packaging, and power poles.” National Forestry Day was first launched in 2022 and continues to provide a positive opportunity to recognise the people, innovation and sustainable products that keep Australia growing.

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Forest scientists have welcomed the deferral of the Senate vote on the Improved Native Forest Management Method (INFM) to 15 September, saying the additional four weeks should be used to publish the modelling behind the method and correct its accounting. Source: Timberbiz The disallowance motion, lodged by NSW Nationals Senator Ross Cadell, had been listed for debate yesterday. Forestry Australia President Dr Michelle Freeman said the time should go into the technical work. “The deferral is welcome. Four weeks is enough to publish the modelling and correct the accounting, and that is what we are asking for,” Dr Freeman said. “Senators should be voting on a method that has been tested in the open.” The INFM Method allows state governments to earn Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) by ending timber harvesting in state forests. New South Wales intends to register the area encompassing the Great Koala National Park on the mid North Coast, as the first project. A briefing note published by Forestry Australia on 31 July tested the method’s modelling and accounting framework and found it structurally biased towards over-crediting. That means the method may issue more carbon credits than the actual climate outcome can justify. “The method uses inappropriate modelling approaches and accounting timeframes to characterise harvesting impacts and forest regrowth post-harvest,” Dr Freeman said. “These choices mean the climate benefit claimed by the INFM method could be overstated by 40 to 100 per cent. For a method that might generate ACCUs worth hundreds of millions of dollars this is a material issue.” Meanwhile, a second briefing note, published last week, identified an additional problem. Credits are calculated across the whole project area, while the obligation to keep that carbon standing for 100 years applies only inside mapped carbon protection areas. Harvesting can therefore be reduced outside protection areas during the crediting years, earn credits, and return to earlier levels once the crediting stops. Requests for the underlying modelling have gone unanswered since consultation opened more than a year ago. “Forestry Australia raised our concerns more than a year ago and asked for the data and modelling that would allay them. We have asked to be proven wrong, yet still nothing has been released. Further, material changes were made after public consultation closed without the chance for independent scrutiny. ” Dr Freeman said. “The lack of transparency around the development of this method is deeply concerning. It does not meet expectations for a high integrity ACCU scheme method”. Forestry Australia also shares the concerns widely communicated by other environmental and industry stakeholders that the method does not sufficiently deal with additionality and leakage. Forestry Australia has asked for corrections to the INFM Method before any project is registered or any credit issued. Some of these requests include: Lengthen the accounting window Align forest modelling with Australia’s national greenhouse accounts, and Attach permanence obligations to every tonne credited.   A working model already exists. The 2022 Plantation Forestry Method assesses carbon outcomes over the long term, modelling carbon stocks over 100-years, not the 15 years used by the INFM Method. Importantly, financial assessments and forest management plans behind plantation method projects are reviewed and signed off by independent experts, such as Registered Forestry Professionals. “The plantation method shows what a forest carbon method looks like when it is built properly,” Dr Freeman said. “The accounting window matches the life of the forest, and a registered professional puts their name to the plan.” “Forestry Australia wants the ACCU Scheme to succeed. Its integrity depends on every credit representing a genuine, additional and conservatively measured climate benefit. That is what protects buyers and the landholders already delivering real carbon outcomes,” Dr Freeman said. “We need ACCU scheme methods that support these roles, whilst delivering genuine carbon benefits.”

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The Coalition is seeking crossbench support to disallow what it describes as Labor’s dodgy carbon credit method. Leader of The Nationals Matt Canavan said the Improved Native Forest Management method needed to be torn up, because it doesn’t contribute to Australia’s emissions-reduction objectives, and is wrong. Source: Timberbiz “Labor’s INFM method is just another way for Labor to force their net zero agenda on our forestry community, destroying lives and jobs in the process,” Senator Canavan said. “Labor is setting up a scheme to use taxpayer money to pay states to shut down productive native forestry for carbon credits that don’t represent the emissions savings being claimed. “The Coalition does not support the INFM method. That’s why The Coalition will vote to disallow the INFM method, and we call on the crossbench to do the same.” Shadow Minister for Forestry Darren Chester said the method was built around a NSW Government election promise, and it will be paid for by Australian taxpayers while delivering no genuine reduction in emissions. “I represent the Gippsland communities that have lived through the shutdown of native forestry in Victoria, and I know where this road leads,” Mr Chester said. “It leads to mills closed, skilled workers gone, and towns left to pick up the pieces. “This method doesn’t just fail on the science. At a time when Australia is facing a housing crisis, we need more Australian timber, not less. “Locking up entire forest regions for 100 years means less timber to build Australian homes, higher construction costs, and greater reliance on imports from countries with lower environmental standards. “You either use your own timber sustainably, or you use someone else’s. The Nationals will keep fighting to urge the Government to make the right choice.” Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Dan Tehan said around half of credits that New South Wales claim would likely not generate genuine climate credit. “We have long known The INFM doesn’t factor in leakage or harvested wood products, so the true extent of over-crediting could be even more,” Mr Tehan said. The Nationals’ New South Wales Senator Ross Cadell has written to all crossbench Senators, asking for their support. The disallowance motion will be listed on September 15, giving the crossbench the time needed to consider its impact. “We must stop Labor’s latest forestry failure and carbon credit scam,” Senator Cadell said. “This week, we are urging the crossbench to support our disallowance motion. With today being the National Forestry Day in Australia, it is a great opportunity for the crossbench to consider our request.” Australian Forest Products Association acting CEO Richard Hyett has warned over-crediting occurs when a project issues more ACCUs than the actual amount of carbon it has saved or removed from the atmosphere. This occurs under the INFM Method because forest regrowth occurring after timber harvesting is not factored into the carbon calculations, the method relies on new ‘no harvest’ areas being progressively added to a project throughout the 15-year crediting period, and/or the settings for harvesting are incorrect. “Forestry Australia’s careful analysis indicates that the INFM Method contains accounting and modelling choices that cumulatively act to overstate carbon benefits by 40 to 100 per cent,” Mr Hyett said. “This is important, because ACCUs are used to offset real emissions elsewhere in the country. It is critical that we maintain the integrity of the ACCU system and stop methods that do not meet the standards, so we thank the Nationals and all those that have supported the delay to critically analyse this flawed method.”  

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Södra has entered an agreement with the German corporate group Brüning Group under which Brüning Group will acquire parts of Södra’s operations in Denmark, including project sales, interior wood products, and the trading activities within the bioenergy business. Source: Timberbiz The transaction forms part of Södra’s efforts to focus on its core businesses and create a more efficient organisation. Through this change, Södra will be able to further concentrate resources and expertise on its different business areas while continuing to develop its offering in the Danish market. At the same time, Brüning Group will have the opportunity to further develop the operations included in the agreement. Completion of the transaction is expected by the end of September 2026. “The transaction strengthens our ability to focus on the areas where we see the greatest potential going forward. At the same time, our ambition is to ensure a smooth transition for customers, business partners and employees. We will continue to maintain a strong presence in the Danish market,” said Johannes Bogren, Executive Vice President, Södra Bioproducts. He emphasises that the transaction does not mean Södra is leaving Denmark. Rather, the business is being adapted to create better conditions for continued growth and development across the Group’s business areas. “Denmark is an important market for us, and we see strong opportunities to continue developing our business there. This change enables us to focus our resources while ensuring that customers and business partners continue to benefit from a strong product offering from Södra,” Mr Bogren said. Denmark remains an important market for Södra Group´s different business areas. Through Södra Wood, the company will continue to supply structural timber and pressure-treated timber products, while Södra Building Systems will continue to offer cross-laminated timber (CLT) and Södra Bioproducts will continue to develop its bioenergy and biochemicals business in Denmark, with sales and customer relations coordinated from Sweden. Brüning Group is an established player in the trading and distribution of wood and bioenergy-related products. Södra views the acquisition positively and welcomes the fact that the operations will be taken forward by an owner with extensive experience and expertise in the relevant market segments.

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Forests are among the planet’s most important natural resources, storing carbon, supporting biodiversity, and supplying everything from timber to clean water. Source: Visual Capitalist This graphic ranks the 15 countries with the most forest in 2025, from Russia’s vast boreal forests to the tropical forests of South America and Central Africa. The data comes from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Russia ranks first with 833 million hectares of forest, about 70% more than second-ranked Brazil and equal to roughly one-fifth of the global total. Canada ranks third with 369 million hectares, followed by the US at 309 million and China at 227 million hectares. Russia’s vast forest area is closely tied to its geography. Much of it stretches across Siberia, part of the enormous boreal forest belt spanning the northern reaches of the planet. Together, the 15 countries in this ranking account for nearly three-quarters of the world’s forest area. The Americas are especially prominent, with eight countries making the list: Brazil, Canada, the US, Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Bolivia, and Venezuela. The top five countries, Russia, Brazil, Canada, the US and China, account for more than half of global forest area. Forest area matters for more than timber, biodiversity, and carbon storage. In the US, which ranks fourth globally, forests also play an outsized role in the country’s water supply. Overall, forests generate about 46% of the surface water supply in the contiguous US. By capturing precipitation, filtering water, and feeding rivers and reservoirs, forests directly support water supplies that millions of Americans rely on every day.

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The forestry industry in the southwest of France is preparing for a large-scale timber harvest of wood damaged by the July fires. Sources: Forest Brief  and Le Monde According to preliminary estimates from local authorities, the fires in the Gironde department affected 39–41 thousand hectares of maritime pine plantations, which corresponds to approximately 3.5 million m³ of timber. This is nearly two-thirds of the usual annual timber production in the Landes de Gascogne forest region, which encompasses the territories of Gironde and Landes. This was reported by Le Monde, citing data from the local prefecture. Additionally, a fire near Biscarrosse damaged approximately 210 thousand m³ of timber. Thus, the potential volume of timber that the French sector will need to urgently assess, harvest, and process after the two fires approaches 3.7 million m³. The fire in Gironde, which started on July 22, was localized by the end of the month. However, foresters currently do not have full access to the most affected areas. The ground in parts of the forest remains hot, and smoldering can resume after machinery passes through. According to French experts, full-scale work in certain areas will likely have to wait for the autumn rains. Once the forests are opened, actual salvage logging — sanitary harvesting of damaged trees will begin. The main task is to extract the timber as quickly as possible while it still retains industrial value, before the development of fungal infections and the spread of bark beetles. The degree of damage to the plantations varies widely. In some areas, the fire passed through the tops of the trees and completely destroyed the needles. In other places, the underbrush burned primarily, while the trunks of the maritime pine remained relatively unscathed. That is why the timber can be directed to different segments. The most damaged material can be used for: fuel pellets; energy wood. Higher quality timber may potentially be used for: pallets; the pulp and paper industry; plywood; beams and other sawn timber.   According to Le Monde, depending on the degree of damage and end use, the price of such pine can range approximately from €10 to over €50 per m³. The scale of the problem is best seen when compared to the normal volume of work in the local forestry industry. The damaged 3.5 million m³ in Gironde corresponds to nearly two-thirds of the timber that the Landes de Gascogne region typically produces over an entire year. This means that the sector potentially has to accept a volume that, under normal conditions, constitutes a significant portion of the annual raw material flow in a relatively short time. This is where the main economic risk arises. The mass influx of damaged timber is capable of creating serious pressure on the local market. It’s not just about a possible drop in prices. Physical constraints arise: the capacity of logging machinery; the amount of available transport; storage capabilities; the capacity of sawmills; the capacities of manufacturers of boards, paper, pallets, and biofuels.   Therefore, even if a significant portion of the timber retains industrial value, the sector has limited time to realize it. Le Monde notes that local market participants are already preparing for a significant influx of raw materials and potential price pressure. The forestry sector in the southwest of France enters this period already weakened. In addition to the fires, the region has recently faced the consequences of storms, issues with the pine nematode, and high fuel costs. This further complicates the economics of quickly harvesting and transporting millions of cubic meters of timber. Another feature of Landes de Gascogne is the ownership structure. According to Le Monde, about 89% of the forest land in the region is owned by private owners. This means that the process of recovering and marketing the damaged timber will require coordination among a large number of owners, logging companies, and processors. The French authorities have already recognized the situation as a natural disaster, which should simplify some administrative procedures and open access to financial support for harvesting and restoring forests. This is not the first major blow for the region. The fires of 2022 also caused significant damage to the forests of Gironde and Landes and created a large volume of emergency timber. The current situation is yet another test for the model of intensive maritime pine cultivation, on which a significant part of the forestry economy in the southwest of France is built. The fire has also reignited the discussion about broader firebreaks, the structure of plantations, and the overall adaptation of the region’s forestry to the increasing fire risk. For the European timber market, this situation is significant not only because of the scale of the fire itself. 3.5 million m³ of damaged pine in Gironde and another approximately 210 thousand m³ in the Biscarrosse area — this is potentially a very large additional flow of coniferous raw material. However, it will not appear on the market all at once. The pace of harvesting will be determined by access to the damaged forests, the condition of the timber, logistics capabilities, and the ability of French enterprises to absorb additional volumes. That is why the main question in the coming months will be not only how much timber can be salvaged, but also how quickly the French market can absorb it without a sharp drop in prices. For other European conifer producers, this may also be significant: a substantial volume of cheaper salvage timber could potentially impact regional raw material flows, the production of pallets, boards, pulp, and biofuels. The scale of this impact will become clearer after the full-scale autumn harvesting begins.

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Snow gums are the iconic vegetation species of the Australian High country. They are beautiful, vital for biodiversity and tourism, help hold snow pack which is released into river catchments, and hold deep cultural value for many people. Source: Timberbiz However, we are now seeing the beginning of ecosystem collapse across these forests – drought, dieback and successive fires have altered the structure, composition, and condition of snow gum woodlands dramatically. During August 2026 resort and mountain loving communities were invited to join Friends of the Earth for a couple of hours of citizen science to better understand the health of local snow gum forests. ARV is inviting resort communities to join in on these surveys that are taking place across Baw Baw, Falls Creek, Mt Hotham, Mt Buller and Mt Stirling throughout August. These surveys will be happening as part of a process to gather data about the health of snow gum forests and will be used to assist in gaining threatened species listing under federal environmental laws.

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Imagine a barren stretch of land in the middle of New Zealand’s North Island. Very little grows there. Farmers tried for decades and failed, since a mineral deficiency in the soil kept killing their cattle. Source: The Times of India To make the land productive, the government tried something unusual: it sent prisoners, and later thousands of unemployed men, to plant trees there. As Michael Roche, a historical geographer, explained in the study, ‘The New Zealand timber economy, 1840–1935,’ this unusual experiment eventually produced Kaingaroa Forest, which is now the largest planted forest in New Zealand and the second largest in the Southern Hemisphere. The Kaingaroa Forest sits in the Bay of Plenty region, located between Taupo and Rotorua. The area is covered with pumice, a light volcanic rock formed after a massive eruption about 1,800 years ago. Even though it looked like fertile ground, the soil was not suitable for healthy cattle grazing. For many years, no one knew why the livestock kept falling ill and dying. It was later discovered that the soil lacked cobalt, a trace element essential for survival. The Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand notes that the government eventually gave up on farming these plains and turned to forestry instead, hoping trees would succeed where sheep and cattle had failed. The first trees at Kaingaroa were not planted by paid workers, but by prisoners. From the early 1900s, New Zealand ran special “tree-planting prisons,” and men from the nearby Waiotapu prison dug holes and set seedlings across the pumice plain. In his research on 1920s plantation forestry titled ‘(Re)Interpreting Exotic Plantation Forestry in 1920s New Zealand,’ Roche explains that these early prison plantations acted as a large-scale trial, proving that exotic trees could survive on land everyone had written off. It was hard, thankless work, but it laid the groundwork for everything that followed. The tree that made the whole project a success was not even a native of New Zealand. Pinus radiata, also called the Monterey pine, comes from a small stretch of the California coast. It had been introduced into New Zealand since the 1850s but was not valued for its timber properties. It turned out to be the right tree for the job: it grew fast, produced abundant seed, and tolerated poor soils such as pumice. With no enemies in New Zealand, it grew faster than in California. New Zealand set up a proper Forestry Department in 1919, and planting increased rapidly shortly thereafter. In 1926, the government began sending unemployed men to Kaingaroa for paid work. However, the Great Depression came along, and the scheme became far larger than before. The Te Ara Encyclopedia records that more than 1,500 men were, at times, working on these unemployment relief schemes through the early 1930s, many with no forestry experience, in tough, muddy, freezing conditions. The results were dramatic. By 1935, according to the encyclopedia, Kaingaroa State Forest alone had grown to roughly 104,873 hectares, planted almost entirely by hand. A plain that had defeated previous generations of farmers was eventually lined with pine trees. The afforestation spree never really stopped. Today, Kaingaroa Forest covers 205,000 hectares, and some of its sections are in the middle of their fourth tree planting cycle. In 2009, the land was ceded to the indigenous Māori tribes as part of a Treaty of Waitangi settlement, but the trees continue to be managed by Kaingaroa Timberlands. Kaingaroa Forest supplies over 4.5 million cubic meters of logs annually. More than 65 per cent of the harvest is used locally for construction timber, posts, poles and packaging, while the lower-quality logs are exported through the Port of Tauranga. In an era marked by climate change anxiety and curiosity about how environmental restoration on a large scale might occur, Kaingaroa offers a good example. It indicates that severely damaged land can be restored through patience and persistence in the right conditions. It also carries an uncomfortable side, built partly on prison labour and land taken from Māori communities. Kaingaroa remains a reminder of a century shaped by unemployed workers, prisoners, and one adaptable Californian tree.

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A new series of machine-assisted felling training videos has been released by Wairarapa-based Farman Turkington Forestry Ltd (FTFL) in partnership with Safetree and Competenz, giving forestry workers practical guidance on carrying out this high-risk work safely. Source: Timberbiz Machine-assisted felling is typically used when a tree needs to be felled against its natural lean or where obstacles such as buildings, fences, power lines or waterways mean greater control over the tree’s direction of fall is needed. The five videos are presented by registered forestry trainer, assessor and safety auditor Jason (Jay) Hemopo of Manaia Tu Ltd, who is also a Safetree auditor. Together, they provide detailed, step-by-step guidance on planning and carrying out machine-assisted felling safely. The series includes: An Introduction to machine-assisted felling: Covering when machine-assisted felling is appropriate, site assessments, communications, felling plans, escape routes and the importance of reassessing conditions throughout the day. Grapple Digger Push: Demonstrating how to use a grapple digger to assist with felling safely. Grapple Digger Pull: Showing how an excavator grapple can be used to pull over a tree when pulling provides greater control. Winch Pull: Covering the safe use of ground-based winch machines and cable haulers. Behind the Training: Featuring FTFL managing director Guy Farman explaining the background to the project and the lessons learned.   All five videos are available on the Safetree website. The training resources were developed following the death of machine-assisted feller Steven Whare in January 2021. Mr Whare was killed while working on a difficult macrocarpa shelterbelt when he was struck by a broken branch from a neighbouring tree. Following investigations into the incident, FTFL entered into a court-approved enforceable undertaking with WorkSafe. The undertaking required the company to undertake activities aimed at raising awareness of both the incident and the risks associated with machine-assisted felling. The company was also required to assist in improving relevant unit standards and guidance material to reflect lessons learned from the fatality. The new video series forms part of that work. The videos are intended to help establish a clear baseline for safe practice across the industry. FTFL has also changed the way it pays workers carrying out machine-assisted felling, moving them onto an hourly rate to take away production pressure. Safetree chief executive Joe Akari, who helped facilitate the enforceable undertaking requirements, says the videos are an important contribution to improving safety across the forestry sector. “There are no upsides to a fatality, and in circumstances like these, the industry owes it to the individual involved, their family, colleagues, community and the wider forestry sector, to take all the learnings it can from such a devastating event. I think these videos help to do that.” https://www.safetree.nz/resources/machine-assisted-felling

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Students from Rushworth P-12 College recently marked the end of their Youth Takeover project, Respecting Our Forest. Students celebrated the results of their eight-week collaboration with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action Forest Fire Management, at a launch event. Source: Timberbiz The Youth Takeover program was delivered through a partnership between Rushworth P-12 College, Campaspe Cohuna Local Learning and Employment Network and DEECA Forest Fire Management. “Through partnerships with local industry, students have the opportunity to experience real workplaces, solve authentic challenges and develop the skills, confidence and connections that will support them well beyond school,” CCLLEN project co-ordinator Cath Elms said. Led by DEECA Forest Fire Management representative Terence Roberts, the project immersed students in forest and fire management, giving them insight into the environmental, cultural and community importance of Victoria’s forests. Students worked alongside industry professionals to explore the role of planned burning, biodiversity, cultural values and bushfire preparedness, while also gaining an understanding of the work being undertaken in their region and explore the diverse career opportunities available within the industry. For the students involved, the project offered a fresh perspective on learning. “It was fun and eye-opening,” Year 12 vocational major student Hayley Marshall said. “It allowed us to develop new and previous skills like teamwork. We all had to work together.” The launch event was well attended by school and community leaders, including Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell, alongside representatives from DEECA, CCLLEN, and the Department of Education.

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The New Zealand Forest Growers Levy Trust (FGLT) application process for 2027 funding will take place in September this year as an open call, consistent with previous years. Source: Timberbiz Applicants will have from 1 – 30 September 2026 to prepare and submit their funding applications online. Any individual, organisation or business with a project or initiative that stands to directly benefit New Zealand’s forest growing sector can apply for funding. Funding eligibility Any individual, organisation or business with a project or initiative that stands to directly benefit New Zealand’s forest growing sector can apply for funding for the 2027 calendar year. Projects must demonstrate a clear and direct benefit to New Zealand’s forest growing sector Information submitted to the FGLT must be accurate, true and complete to the best of the applicant’s knowledge at the time of applying for funding Applications are to be submitted online, according to the FGLT’s instructions, by 5pm, Wednesday 30 September, 2026. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be eligible for funding.   Only applications submitted through the online form are eligible for funding. An ‘Application Worksheet’ – an exact copy of the online form in a word document format – will be made available online in August so that applicants can prepare for the questions required to be answered. It’s not a requirement to complete this worksheet but applicants are encouraged to make use of it to help prepare their responses offline, ahead of time. When you’re ready, copy your responses from the worksheet into the online application form using the link provided on this webpage. The online application form has a ‘Save and continue later’ function allowing applicants to come back to, and complete, the form later. If using this feature, a link will be sent to the email you provided in the ‘Contact information’ section. Click on the link in the email to resume your application. If completing the form over multiple sessions, use the original email and link to access your application again. All applicants must submit their proposals to the FGLT using the online form by the Wednesday 30 September 2026 deadline. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered for funding. More information at: https://fgr.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/FGLT-2027-Request-for-proposals_Research-funding_August-2026.pdf https://fglt.org.nz/work-programme/funding-process

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Responsible Wood has extended nominations for the 2026 Richard Stanton Memorial Leadership Award to Friday, 28 August. Source: Timberbiz The annual award recognises an individual who has demonstrated leadership, innovation and commitment to sustainable forest management or Chain of Custody certification under the Responsible Wood Certification Scheme. The online nomination form takes just minutes to complete, but the recognition lasts a lifetime. In 2025, the Award was presented to Shona Heading for her outstanding leadership and contribution to sustainable forest management and the promotion of certified Australian timber through the Australian Araucaria campaign. Established in 2015, the Richard Stanton Memorial Leadership Award honours the late Richard Stanton, a pioneer in sustainable forestry both in Australia and internationally. Responsible Wood CEO Simon Dorries encouraged the forestry and forest products sector to nominate individuals whose work deserves greater recognition. “Many across our industry are making an important contribution to responsible forestry and certified supply chains,” Mr Dorries said. “This award is an opportunity to recognise those who lead by example, bring people together and support the integrity of sustainable forest management and sustainably sourced materials.” The recipient will receive a $2,000 bursary to support their professional development, such as conference attendance or a course of their choice. Nominations now close Friday, 28 August 2026. Learn more https://www.responsiblewood.org.au/what-we-do/our-collective-impact/richard-stanton-memorial-leadership-award/ or Nominate online https://form.typeform.com/to/O2RpQD6B

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The National statement on First Nations in agriculture, fisheries and forestry, which provides a blueprint for greater self-determined participation, leadership and economic inclusion, has been released. Source: Timberbiz The statement was developed collaboratively by Australian, state and territory governments in consultation with First Nations peoples and industry stakeholders. It brings together different knowledge systems, perspectives, and experiences to help build a stronger, more resilient and sustainable sector for all Australians. The National statement recognises the contribution of First Nations peoples and outlines a long-term framework, with six priority areas to guide future collaboration and action including; leadership and workforce, finance and business support, knowledge-sharing and safeguards, Indigenous Estate, trade and market access, and government coordination.   Combined, these priorities aim to support increased self-determined participation and economic opportunities. The National statement closely aligns with broader national priorities including the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and the First Nations Economic Partnership. Through this alignment, the statement aims to create opportunities for future collaboration across governments, industry and First Nations stakeholders, with progress reported annually to Agriculture Ministers for at least five years. “By bringing together traditional knowledge systems, perspectives and experiences, we can help build a stronger, more resilient and sustainable agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector for the benefit of all Australians,” Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins said. “This Statement sets out a shared vision for supporting greater First Nations participation and economic opportunities, while recognising the importance of self-determination and genuine partnership. “I look forward to continuing to work with my state and territory colleagues to support greater First Nations participation and economic inclusion across our agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors.” For more information and to read the National statement visit: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/about/commitment/first-nations-aust-ag-fish-forestry/national-statement

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