Australian timber industry news

For more than a decade, Vietnam has been one of the biggest success stories in the global wood pellet market. Fuelled by strong demand for renewable energy in Japan and South Korea, the country rapidly became Asia’s largest wood pellet supplier and the world’s second-largest exporter. Source: ResourceWise But as the market matures, the conversation is shifting. Buyers, regulators, and industry stakeholders are increasingly focused on the resilience, sustainability, and long-term competitiveness of pellet supply chains. Vietnam’s expansion didn’t happen by chance. As Japan and South Korea sought alternatives to coal, wood pellets became an important component of their renewable energy strategies. That demand created an enormous opportunity for Vietnamese producers, who quickly scaled production to serve these growing markets. Today, however, the dynamics are changing. Policy shifts in Japan and South Korea are reshaping biomass incentives, creating new uncertainty for exporters that have become heavily dependent on a relatively small group of buyers. Rapid growth often attracts greater attention and higher expectations. As Vietnam’s pellet industry has expanded, discussions have moved beyond production volumes to questions about sourcing practices, supply chain transparency, product quality, and environmental impact. Importing countries are placing more emphasis on sustainability standards, while buyers increasingly expect greater visibility into how pellets are produced. These developments reflect a broader trend across global biomass markets: commercial success is increasingly tied not only to price and availability, but also to operational transparency and environmental stewardship. Vietnam is also operating in a more competitive marketplace than it did several years ago. Emerging suppliers across Southeast Asia are expanding production, while established exporters continue investing in efficiency and sustainability. At the same time, pricing pressures make it more difficult for pellet manufacturers to invest in facility improvements or environmental upgrades, particularly when contracts prioritize cost over long-term partnerships. As competition intensifies, producers will likely need to balance affordability with investments that strengthen product quality, operational performance, and buyer confidence. The challenges facing Vietnam are not unique. Around the world, wood pellet producers are navigating similar questions around emissions, community impacts, certification requirements, and supply chain transparency. As biomass markets continue to evolve, these factors are becoming increasingly important to buyers and policymakers alike. For market participants, understanding these broader trends is becoming just as important as tracking prices and trade flows. Vietnam remains a critical player in the global pellet trade, but the industry’s next chapter will likely be defined by more than export growth alone. Policy changes, evolving buyer expectations, and regional competition are reshaping what success looks like for producers across Asia. ResourceWise’ latest Market Insights report, “Vietnam’s Wood Pellet Industry Faces Growing Market and Sustainability Pressures,” takes a deeper dive into these developments, exploring the market forces behind Vietnam’s rapid rise, the growing scrutiny surrounding the industry, and what these trends could mean for buyers, suppliers, and the broader biomass sector. If you’re looking to understand where the Asian wood pellet market is headed next, the full report provides the context and analysis behind these emerging shifts. You can download the report at https://www.resourcewise.com/resources/report-market-insights-asian-pellet-market-july-26?hsCtaAttrib=217560324217  

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The Council Recommendation on Integrated Wildfire Management, which is a non-binding policy recommendation adopted by the Council of the European Union providing a common framework for EU Member States to improve how they prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from wildfires across the entire disaster risk management cycle, identifies FoRISK among the initiatives to foster international cooperation on integrated wildfire risk management. Source: Timberbiz The Recommendation was adopted in response to increasingly severe wildfire seasons, particularly the record-breaking 2025 season in which more than one million hectares burned across the EU. FoRISK, an implementation mechanism of Forest Europe hosted by EFI, is mentioned under Article 41 in the section on Measures to Strengthen International Engagement. This reference recognises FoRISK as a key initiative in the pan-European region supporting cooperation, knowledge exchange and capacity building on forest risks management, such as wildfires, windstorms, pests and diseases. FoRISK is an implementation mechanism under the aegis of FOREST EUROPE, the pan-European voluntary high-level forest policy process, for the forest risk management community. Its main objective is to foster and strengthen international cooperation and knowledge exchanges between all members for the resilience and adaptation capacity of forests and the forest sector to future disturbances. The focus is on the evolving interactions between disturbances like wind, fire, pest outbreaks, and diseases – critical and essential for future forest management. Through the analysis of good practices, we develop policy recommendations and joint innovative solutions to support stakeholders in building more resilient forests. The Recommendation follows the publication by the European Commission in March 2026 of the Communication on Integrated Wildfire Risk Management, which set out a comprehensive approach to cover the whole risk management cycle of prevention, preparedness, response and recovery across Europe. FoRISK goals are to enhance and maintain the resilience of forests and the forest sector within sustainable forest management, and to support forest adaptation to changing conditions to future forest disturbances, by creating a proactive, long-term network through international collaboration and cross-disciplinary knowledge exchange. Wildfires are among the most pressing manifestations of the abovementioned challenges, exacerbated by climate change. As climate change increases the frequency and severity of forest disturbances across the pan-European region, proactive and effective risk management requires coordinated action across sectors, disciplines and national borders. FoRISK contributes to this objective by facilitating and supporting the exchange of knowledge and good practices and helping translate scientific evidence into practical and policy-relevant solutions. FoRISK remains committed to supporting pan- European countries and stakeholders in strengthening integrated forest risk management and contributing to resilient forests and resilient societies across the region.

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Voodin consortium has secured a €48M EU grant to build Spain’s first automated wooden blade factory. Launching in 2031, the Navarre facility will replace fibreglass composites with recyclable engineered wood and support more resilient European wind energy production. Source: TechEU Wind energy is an important part of Europe’s shift to clean power, with €45 billion raised for new wind projects across the region in 2025. But that investment comes with a sustainability challenge: today’s wind turbine blades are made of fibreglass, a material that is difficult to recycle. Around 78% of decommissioned blades end up buried in landfills, raising serious environmental and cost concerns for the industry. To tackle this challenge, Germany’s Voodin Blade Technology and three partners have secured a €48.18 million grant from the EU Innovation Fund for the Voodin Blade 1st Factory (VB1F) project. The initiative will scale the production of fully recyclable wind turbine blades made from Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL), replacing conventional composite materials with engineered wood. The consortium comprises project coordinator VMG Wood Invest and VMG Technics from Lithuania, together with Germany’s Voodin Blade Technology and Anker-Tec. Voodin Blade Technology has developed a fully automated, mold-free manufacturing process, which can produce wooden wind turbine blades anywhere in the world where clean energy is needed. This approach avoids the limitations of centralised factories and enables blade production with less specialised labour and investment. “Our manufacturing system is designed for fast-scale deployment,” said Tom Siekmann, Co-Founder and CEO of Voodin Blade Technology. “By enabling local blade production, we can help build stronger, more resilient European supply chains, reduce dependence on overseas manufacturing, and accelerate the deployment of wind energy where it is needed most. Our approach is designed for both scale and flexibility.” A first-of-its-kind factory in Navarre, Spain, will be established to create an all-European sustainable supply chain in line with the European Green Deal, the Net-Zero Industry Act, and REPowerEU. VB1F as the first automated, mold-free wind turbine blade factory in Spain. Launched in 2031, the Navarre facility will produce up to 160 sets of blades per year, supporting the manufacture of wind turbines that can collectively generate around 13.5 million MWh of electricity over a decade.  The process relies on advanced automation in a fully electric, mold-free environment, enabling flexible production without retooling for each new blade design. The operation is expected to support about 450 local jobs at full capacity. The technology not only removes supply bottlenecks but also helps meet Europe’s ambitious energy and climate targets. The plant can be licensed and replicated in other regions worldwide.

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For Corryong’s Lily McKimmie, last summer was her initiation as a seasonal firefighter and a chance to step into a role she’d grown up around. Source: Australian Rural & Regional News “I grew up at the Corryong depot with my Dad working there, so it was a bit surreal actually being the one doing the job,” she said. As a first-year seasonal firefighter, there was a lot to take in. “It was a bit daunting at the start,” Ms McKimmie said, “but I settled in quickly. “I learned a lot in a short time and got more confident with each shift. “Being part of an experienced crew made a big difference. There was always support when I needed it and I got to learn by doing, which really helped. A highlight of the season was working alongside her dad, Beau, a career forest firefighter and respected member of the Corryong community. “I never really knew exactly what he did until this season,” she said. “Seeing him out there, the way he works and steps up, gave me a whole new level of respect. I’m really proud of him.” Like any first season, there were challenges especially when the Walwa River Road fire threatened communities in the Corryong district. “There were definitely a few moments early on where I felt out of my depth but those were the ones that pushed me the most,” Ms McKimmie said. “The long hours and having to back it up day after day was also something I had to adjust to. “It made me realise how important it is to stay calm, trust what you’ve been taught, and just focus on doing your job properly even when you’re tired.” Now studying at university in Geelong, Ms McKimmie is already keen for another season. Her advice to others thinking about joining? “Just give it a go, you learn so much by being there and getting involved,” she enthused. Anyone interested in a career in forest firefighting and land management can apply now for the 2026/27 season at https://jobs.careers.vic.gov.au/jobtools/JnCustomLogin.Login?in_organid=18479 or call 136 186.

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Long before power tools, traditional timber framing was crafted with generations of accumulated knowledge. In Australia this practice continues to evolve, adapting centuries-old European joinery traditions to local timbers, climates and building codes. Source: Timberbiz Join Chris Nance, founder of Traditional Timber Frames and one of Australia’s most accomplished post-and-beam practitioners, as he draws on more than 130 commissioned frames and nearly two decades of practice to share what traditional timber framing looks like in Australia today. Mr Nance will share how he has adapted the oak framing techniques he learned in Wales to Australian hardwoods and architectural contexts; and the practical considerations that come with designing, engineering and certifying handcrafted timber frames within the Australian regulatory environment. He will also reflect on his role as an educator, having taught timber framing in the UK, France and across Australia, and what it takes to pass on a craft that demands both deep material knowledge and hands-on skill. Whether you’re an architect, engineer, builder, or simply drawn to the idea of beautiful buildings made to last, this session offers a rare window into a craft tradition that is alive and growing in Australia. Registration is free, the event is on Tuesday, 4 August 2026 from 11am – 12pm. CPD points available For more information visit https://traditionaltimberframes.com.au/ or email info@traditioinaltimberframes.com.au

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A new survey shows the forestry sector maintains New Zealand’s largest private landowner investment in wildfire preparedness and firefighting capability, with forest owners spending an average of NZ$8.1 million on fire protection annually. Source: Timberbiz The investment extends beyond emergency response, covering training, specialist equipment, vehicles, prevention activities and insurance. The 2025 Wildfire Statistics and Forest Fire Management Capabilities Study found forest owners maintain trained fire crews, heavy machinery, specialist firefighting equipment, water supplies and fire management plans across 77% of New Zealand’s plantation forest estate. New Zealand Forest Owners Association (NZFOA) and New Zealand Farm Forestry Association (NZFFA) Fire Committee Chair Sean McBride says the study demonstrates the significant investment forest owners make in capability and equipment to ensure wildfires can be detected and contained quickly year-on-year. “Forestry is the only private landowner group in New Zealand maintaining substantial in-house wildfire suppression capability,” Mr McBride said. “Forest owners maintain trained crews, water supplies, pumps, tankers and heavy machinery so they can move quickly when a fire breaks out. “This capability also supports Fire and Emergency New Zealand, neighbouring landowners and rural communities during wildfire events.” The survey found that the most damaging fires recorded by forest owners start outside forest boundaries, often spreading from grass or scrub into plantations. “Most rural fires ignite in grassland outside forests but can quickly cross from one property to another,” Mr McBride said. “While forests are generally more resistant to ignition than surrounding grass and scrub, those grassland fuels dry quickly, ignite easily and can spread fire rapidly into neighbouring properties including forests. “This is why forest owners invest heavily in people, equipment and local capability. Our crews know the forest roads, water points and terrain, enabling them to respond quickly when every minute counts.” The study found the number of slip-on firefighting units, where a water tank or pump is mounted on a ute or truck, are an increasingly important tool for forest owners’ rapid wildfire response. The number of units have more than doubled in recent years, from 12 in 2022 to 28 in 2025. “These units are critical for enabling crews to get water directly to a developing fire promptly,” Mr McBride said. With El Niño forecast to bring drier, windier conditions and elevated fire danger across many parts of New Zealand this summer, maintaining a strong level of readiness will be particularly important. Mr McBride says preventing fires from starting remains the most effective way to reduce wildfire risk. “People cause around 98% of New Zealand’s wildfires, so everyone has a role to play in mitigating the risk. Before carrying out work, check the conditions and current fire danger, follow any restrictions and postpone activities when the risk is high to prevent fires from starting. “While the forestry sector invests heavily in prevention and suppression capability, the safest and most effective method is a fire that never starts.”

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Each year, Forest Week spotlights the importance of sustainable forestry worldwide. Held annually, FSC Forest Week is a worldwide campaign to help drive consumer awareness about the importance of responsible forestry. Source: Timberbiz The aim is to inspire customers to act by choosing FSC-certified products. This year Forest Week will be held on 21-27 September. Spotlighting the importance of sustainable forest management, the global FSC Forest Week campaign is held on the last week of September. Each year, brands, NGOs, and organisations join forces to raise awareness about the importance of responsible forest management and its role in fighting climate change and biodiversity loss. Since its launch, FSC Forest Week has evolved into a powerful, global campaign. With initiatives such as community engagement, internal company activities, forest walks and factory tours, we are discovering new, exciting ways to expand our influence every year. This year’s theme is ‘Do one thing for forests’. You can be part of this journey by doing your one thing for the forests and inspiring consumers to find the one thing they can do that will positively impact the world’s forests, ultimately promoting FSC’s work together. FSC certificate holders and promotional licence holders can register to take part in the campaign via the FSC Brand Hub https://brandhub.fsc.org/auth/login After registering, you will have access to the campaign toolkit, which includes assets such as social media posts (visuals and copy) covering various topics to keep your audiences engaged. The campaign’s key visual (logo), an email signature banner, a digital background, and a printable banner are also included, so you can support FSC Forest Week in any way you wish. You can choose which assets to use, or you can use the campaign’s key visual to create your own. FSC Forest Week 2025 Social Media Wall Explore the media wall to experience how individuals and organisations around the world demonstrated their commitment to sustainable forestry online. From creative campaigns and product spotlights to powerful storytelling, the global FSC community made a strong impact. View the Social Media Wall to see the reach, creativity and momentum behind FSC Forest Week 2025.

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A Volvo L120 Electric wheel loader is helping PermaPine test what sustainable equipment can really deliver in one of New Zealand’s most demanding timber processing environments. Source: Timberbiz Set on a 100-acre site outside Taupō, PermaPine is New Zealand’s largest manufacturer of timber posts and poles. The site runs 24/7, peeling up to 11,000 meters of timber per day and steaming and treating up to 11,000 cubic meters per month. Moving material efficiently across such a large site is critical to keeping production running smoothly. At the same time, the business is on an ongoing journey to reduce its environmental footprint. Having already invested in renewable energy through a biomass boiler, which uses timber residues to produce the steam required to dry and fixate products, PermaPine saw the L120 Electric as the next step. The trial set out to determine whether electric equipment could meet both sustainability goals and the realities of industrial-scale operations. “New Zealand is known for its outdoor environment, and we’ve got a great country. We need to ensure we’re protecting it,” Ian Potter, Operations Manager, PermaPine, said. “As a business, we’re always striving to improve, and sustainability is something we’re really working on. It’s part of a journey, not something you do once, but something you think about on an ongoing basis.” The L120 Electric trial marked a significant milestone, becoming the first fully electric wheel loader in New Zealand fitted with log forks and operating in a true 24/7 environment. Rather than limiting the machine to light duties, PermaPine deliberately deployed the L120 Electric across multiple areas of the site to fully test its capability. “I’ve been pleasantly surprised. The L120 Electric got passed around – it went over to our log yard, the treatment plant and did some work in the yard as well. The general feeling from everyone was positive,” Mr Potter said. “Moving around the site is effortless, no matter the ground conditions, it’s responsive, has good lifting capabilities, great visibility from the cab and is comfortable. It’s working well in our application, and we’re enjoying using it.” With support from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), New Zealand’s government agency dedicated to promoting energy efficiency, conservation and the use of renewable energy, PermaPine installed the charging infrastructure required to support the L120 Electric. The investment also positions the site to expand its electric fleet in the future. Further support has been provided by local Volvo CE dealer, TDX Limited, through whom the L120 Electric has been leased. “As it was a new piece of equipment, the capital cost was high. Leasing supported where we wanted to be in terms of our cash flow, and it also means the risk is shared. We’re really happy with the support from TDX and their help getting the L120 Electric onto our site,” Mr Potter said. PermaPine is a long-standing Volvo CE customer, operating a fleet of 20 Volvo wheel loaders and three Volvo excavators. Volvo machines are well regarded by operators for their comfort and suspension, an important factor on a large site when long distances are travelled every day. You can view the machine at work at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=BXoMuGVn7BM

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A new flagship JCB dealership opened its doors in Victoria, marking a major milestone for the company and strengthening support for customers in Australia. Source: Timberbiz The purpose-built Adaptalift JCB facility in Truganina, Victoria welcomed its first customers, industry leaders and partners, showcasing a new dedicated destination to experience the latest JCB construction equipment, connect with product specialists and access industry-leading service and support. Adaptalift has created a model dealership to showcase the growing JCB product range and the industry-leading customer support that Adaptalift JCB has to offer across Australia’s major metropolitan territories, including Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. JCB’s Deputy Chairman George Bamford, son of JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford, hailed the opening as a crucial next step to realising JCB’s growth ambitions in the important Australian market. “I’m really excited about where we are going in Australia, both in construction and agriculture. For me, Australia is one of our most important markets. JCB is a family business, and we really want to give our customers the best and finest support, and we have that with Adaptalift, which is also a family business. This next chapter is going to be really exciting for JCB, Adaptalift JCB and our regional dealership network. I’m really pleased about where we’re going in Australia.” said George Bamford JCB’s Deputy Chairman. JCB CEO Graeme Macdonald said that with the opening of Adaptalift JCB, the company was now moving at pace to grow its presence in Australia and unlock many new opportunities. “This celebration is more than just the opening of a new facility, it’s the beginning of an exciting new chapter for our customers,” Adaptalift Group CEO Lindsay Whiffen said. “JCB is a world class brand and we’re proud to represent it across key metro and regional markets. From day one, our focus is simple, selling a great product range, providing fast service and world-class parts availability and keeping machines working safely and reliably.” JCB also hosted its regional dealer conference in Sydney recently, bringing together regional JCB dealers from across Australia to launch its strategy that focuses on getting the brand closer to customers. In Australia, this has meant shortening the chain from factory to customer by taking direct control of importation, alongside strong investment in building and supporting the dealer network. JCB’s product range is now bigger than at any point in its 80-year history, offering huge growth opportunities in Australia. As a producer of backhoe loaders and telescopic handlers, JCB is well positioned to grow its share of these important sectors in Australia. There are also huge growth opportunities for JCB’s range of excavators which span the one tonne micro to 52-tonne tracked excavators. JCB is also a leading producer of wheeled loaders, skid steer loaders, compaction equipment and access equipment.

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Nippon Paper Resources Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Paper Industries has launched a softwood tree plantation project and a carbon credit generation project in the Green Triangle region of Western Victoria, Australia. Source: Timberbiz Since 1996, NPR has been operating a hardwood tree plantation business in Australia with the aim of securing raw materials of pulp for NPI. As its existing hardwood plantations are now reaching maturity in stages, the company has decided to switch to softwood species for reforestation. Nippon says that this policy aims not only to secure softwood raw materials for NPI but also to supply timber for residential construction, for which demand is expected to grow in Australia. Furthermore, the switch to softwood will enable the generation of new carbon credits. Starting in 2026, Nippon says it will gradually convert existing hardwood tree plantations into softwood. By 2028, as part of Phase 1 of the project, we will establish approximately 1,500 hectares of softwood plantations and generate carbon credits from these areas. Furthermore, leveraging the knowledge and expertise gained during Phase 1, the company will explore expanding to a total of 10,000 hectares as part of Phase 2 of the project. Australia’s carbon credit system, established under the Carbon Credits Act 2011 (Carbon Farming Initiative), is administered by the federal government’s Clean Energy Regulator (CER) and is regarded globally for its transparency and reliability. Under this system, a framework for the generation and trading of carbon credits, known as ACCUs (Australian Carbon Credit Units), within Australia has been established. NPR has already obtained approval from the CER in 2026 for the registration of its carbon credit generation project, and the generation and acquisition of carbon credits will begin in 2027 and beyond. Furthermore, as demand for paper used in packaging and packaging materials continues to grow, and global demand for softwood woodchips, the primary raw material for these paper products, is also expected to increase, the company acquired a New Zealand-based softwood woodchip production and export company in February 2026. In addition, by launching a softwood plantation business in Australia, NPR aims to secure a stable supply of resources and maximize the Nippon Paper Group’s revenue from timber-related businesses. Through this softwood plantation project in Australia, the company aims to expand the Nippon Paper Group’s forestry and timber-related businesses and contribute to solving societal challenges.

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In June 2026, FSC Italy hosted the inaugural General Assembly of Italian Forests at the Presidential Estate in Castelporziano. Forest managers, owners, national and local institutions, NGOs, and other stakeholders gathered to discuss the future of responsible forest management. Source: Timberbiz The impacts of climate change have revealed the interconnectedness of people and places, with far-reaching consequences spreading through social and natural networks. That same interconnectedness applies to preparing for and responding to climate change, especially when it comes to the governance, ownership, and sustainable management of forests worldwide. Safeguarding our forests requires effective coordination among multiple interconnected stakeholders. This spirit of unity was a guiding principle for the General Assembly of Italian Forests, a new regular event organized by FSC Italy. The event took place in the symbolic setting of the Castelporziano Presidential Estate – one of the most significant forest areas in the Lazio region and coincided with both World Environment Day and the 25th anniversary of FSC Italy’s foundation. The Castelporziano Presidential Estate achieved FSC certification in 2025. Giulia Bonella, Director of the estate, was proud to host the meeting. “Accepting FSC Italy’s proposal to host the General Assembly of Italian Forests during World Environment Day consolidates a shared path and encourages us to build a long-term vision together,” she said. Italy is home to 11 million hectares of forests, about 27% of the country’s land area. The area has grown steadily since the end of World War II, primarily as a result of depopulation and subsequent abandonment of inland rural areas. Currently, only about 10% of forests are managed according to strict environmental, social, and economic sustainability criteria. The theme of this inaugural Assembly was Managing Complexity, chosen to address the contemporary challenges of handling increasing pressures on vulnerable forest ecosystems while building the resilience of local communities through a shared vision. Official institutional sessions, where representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests and national NGOs like WWF shared their visions for future woodlands, were interspersed with community-driven moments. For example, during the Stories from the Woods session, nine FSC-certified forest managers and owners presented their management models and offered practical insights from their firsthand experiences. This first edition of our General Assembly of Italian Forests represents a turning point for certified forest management in Italy,” Maria Rita Gallozzi, President of FSC Italy said. She described the event as both a marker of FSC’s 25 years in the country and an opportunity to plan ahead amid what she called the “climatic, social, economic and political complexities” facing Italian forestry. During the event, FSC Italy signed an agreement with the Italian Federation of Parks and Nature Reserves (Federparchi) to establish a working relationship between forest certification bodies and protected natural areas. The Assembly offered an example of how to convene a fragmented sector around a shared table, bringing together institutional reach and grassroots participation. She described the event as both a marker of FSC’s 25 years in the country and an opportunity to plan ahead amid what she called the “climatic, social, economic and political complexities” facing Italian forestry. During the event, FSC Italy signed an agreement with the Italian Federation of Parks and Nature Reserves (Federparchi) to establish a working relationship between forest certification bodies and protected natural areas. The Assembly offered an example of how to convene a fragmented sector around a shared table, bringing together institutional reach and grassroots participation.

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The long-anticipated El Niño is here, and already it’s living up to the hype. In the spring, climate scientists had forecasted an El Niño to develop in the central Pacific region. Source: CBC As the months progressed, more and more of the models forecasted a particularly strong or “super” El Niño, as some people like to call it. But scientists also warned that it was too early to know for sure. In its monthly update in June, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), issued an El Niño advisory, confirming that the warmer conditions had developed in the specific part of the Pacific Ocean known as Niño 3.4. In order to be considered an El Niño, temperatures in that zone need to be 0.5 C above the average. Ocean temperatures are now close to 2C above average. And we’re not even close to the peak yet. This is the warmest on record that region has ever been at this time of year. “In the sort of traditional Nino 3.4 region, we’re a bit above 2 C, which is generally seen as the threshold for a very strong or, some people don’t like this term, but a super El Niño,” said Zeke Hausfather, a climate scientist with Berkeley Earth, a non-profit climate analysis organization. “So, effectively, we’re already touching a very strong El Niño conditions, and it’s early July still.” El Niño and La Niña are part of a larger, natural cyclical cycle called the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which occurs in a specific part of the Pacific Ocean. La Niña brings cooler temperatures in that region while El Niño brings warmer temperatures. Hausfather said some forecasts currently expect the peak of the El Niño to occur in October, though the bulk of available models suggest it’s more likely it will peak in November or December. “So, we have a long way to go. We’re already brushing super El Niño territory, and we may well be in uncharted waters later this year,” he said. The strongest El Niño in recent years was the one in 2015-2016, where the ocean temperature anomaly was roughly 2.75 C. It’s believed that there was a comparable one in 1877-1878. Nat Johnson, a meteorologist at NOAA’s geophysical fluid dynamics laboratory, said the transition from a La Niña to El Niño has been very quick. “We were in a La Niña last winter, which was cooler than average conditions in the eastern equatorial Pacific. And now if we have a very strong El Niño forecast. That’s a very rapid change over the course of one year,” he said. “So why are we seeing such a big change this year? I think it’s still an open question.” Hausfather said that, when models first showed the potential of an El Niño being as strong as 4C above average, he thought that they couldn’t be right. But now, months later, it does seem to be a greater possibility. “The very fact that models right now are predicting a peak of around 3.6 C when the strongest El Niño in history, including arguably the one in the late 1800s, was only 2.75 C, is kind of mind boggling.” Could this be due to climate change? Johnson said that, while there have been fewer neutral years in the Niño 3.4 region, and there have been bigger swings between El Niños and La Niñas, it’s not clear if or how climate change could be playing a role. “It’s still a topic that I think we haven’t quite reached scientific consensus yet.” One impact that concerns Hausfather, particularly in light of ongoing geopolitical issues, is food security in tropical regions — which are expected to be affected by drought in coming months.

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Thunderstorms in the north-eastern United States are forecast to clear air choked with smoke from wildfires just in time for the World Cup final, as President Donald Trump threatened Canada with new tariffs to pay for the pollution. Source: The Sydney Morning Herald Nearly 1000 fires are burning across Canada, and winds have carried the smoke south of the US border, prompting air quality alerts and health warnings in parts of the United States and complaints from Trump and other US politicians about its northern neighbour. However, fires are also raging in the US with the National Interagency Fire Centre reporting 73 large blazes across 12 states, from Minnesota in the Midwest to Oregon and Washington in the Pacific Northwest. The Canadian federal Natural Resources Department said there were 69 new fires across the country, raising the total to 955. In Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, nearly 200 wildfires have already scorched 1.7 million hectares of forest, while 10 communities have been evacuated, and 300 people have been rescued from campsites in 40 operations. There are also fires in Nova Scotia, while in British Columbia thousands of lightning strikes increased the number of active fires from 20 in the middle of last week to about 100 now. On Saturday morning (AEST) Trump threatened Canada with additional tariffs to pay for the “incalculable cost” of dealing with wildfire smoke pollution, which he said was becoming a yearly occurrence and costing the United States billions of dollars. “We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their Forests, and Brush therein, and the United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. Canada is home to some of the world’s largest forests, and major fires have become a regular occurrence in summer. Climate experts say rising temperatures have led to drier timber and increased fire risk, while this year’s strong El Nino is sending summer temperatures skyrocketing across the northern hemisphere. Last week Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the topic of criticism by US officials, saying that climate change was the responsibility of everyone, including the US. After Trump’s post, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said US criticism of Canadian efforts to stop the fires was “absolutely unacceptable.” If Trump wanted Canada to clear its forests, he should drop US tariffs on softwood lumber, Ford said. “We’re trying to get through this,” Ford said. If the situation were reversed and the US were facing wildfires, “we’re going to be down there to support our neighbours”, he added. Trump then reposted Tim Sheehy, the junior senator from Montana, saying that the “send help” message was “extremely dishonest framing” by the Canadians. Trump’s repost came with an endorsement that Sheehy was “GREAT. A Winner!!!” . Sheehy, who said he was a former waterbomber pilot who used to lead an aerial firefighting fleet, said: “The Canadian government routinely blocks US firefighting companies from attacking fires in Canada, while aggressively sending their government-subsidised aircraft to the US to earn commercial rates from the US government. It’s big business for them and they run it like a Chinese protectionist racket.” At MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, site of the World Cup final at 3pm Sunday (5am Monday AEST), which Trump is expected to attend, the sky was the same thick, soupy grey it has been for days, even after a drenching thunderstorm prompted warnings of flash flooding and forced the Spanish national team to suspend its last outdoor training session. Tyler Roys, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, said a storm front the day before the match will largely move the smoke out of the Northeast before the final between Spain and Argentina. “There could be some lingering smoke that would make things hazy, but very faint,” Roys said. “In terms of the thickest smoke, the smoke that has really been eye-popping and leads to poor air quality, that is not expected across New York City or much of the Northeast.” WFLA-TV Chief Meteorologist and Climate Specialist Jeff Berardelli, in Tampa, Florida, said the storm front would “sweep the atmosphere clean,” leaving only a thin smoke that World Cup spectators may still smell in the air. Tyler Roys, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, said a storm front the day before the match will largely move the smoke out of the Northeast before the final between Spain and Argentina. “There could be some lingering smoke that would make things hazy, but very faint,” Roys said. “In terms of the thickest smoke, the smoke that has really been eye-popping and leads to poor air quality, that is not expected across New York City or much of the Northeast.” WFLA-TV Chief Meteorologist and Climate Specialist Jeff Berardelli, in Tampa, Florida, said the storm front would “sweep the atmosphere clean,” leaving only a thin smoke that World Cup spectators may still smell in the air.

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HQPlantations will begin using road trains within the Tuan–Toolara Plantation Forest from June 2026 to improve log transport efficiency and reduce the number of haulage vehicles traveling on local public roads. Source: Timberbiz The longer and heavier road trains will only operate on plantation roads, transporting larger loads of logs to the Hyne sawmill at Tuan near Maryborough. The benefits of using road trains include: fewer haulage vehicles on public roads reduced fuel use and emissions per tonne overall improved environmental performance higher log volume per trip to Hyne Timber Mill. HQPlantations is reminding all motorists, recreational users and visitors to the Tuan–Toolara Plantation Forest to remain vigilant, drive to conditions and share the road safely.

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The ban on SMSFs building new homes undermines the governments’ objective of building 1.2 million homes and improving housing affordability according to Tim Reardon, HIA’s Chief Economist. Source: Timberbiz The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has called on Treasury to publicly assess the impact of the Government’s new Self-Managed Superannuation Fund (SMSF) borrowing restrictions on housing supply, following the passage of the legislation through Parliament. “The Government has made increasing housing supply its central housing policy objective. “The question now is whether this SMSF legislation advances that objective or makes it more difficult to achieve. The legislation was passed without a cost/benefit analysis or any publicly available data on how significant the reduction in new home supply would be, as a result of this change. HIA has today released the results of a survey of Australia’s largest detached home builders, representing more than 40 per cent of national detached housing construction. The survey found: builders currently have 3,613 signed contracts with purchasers using SMSF Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements that have not yet commenced construction, builders estimate 2,415 of those contracts, or 66.9%, are likely to be cancelled once the legislation comes into effect, more than 70% reported investor enquiries have already declined since the Federal Budget, almost 90% expect detached housing commencements to decline during 2026 and 2027.   Mr Reardon said the survey provided the first direct evidence from builders of how the legislation is expected to affect housing supply. “These are not hypothetical future investments,” he said. “They are signed contracts to build homes that builders had expected to construct in the next year. Mr Reardon said the findings reinforce an important distinction that is often overlooked in housing policy. “SMSFs do not live in homes. They do not create demand for housing. They do provide capital that finances the construction of new housing. “Restricting one source of investment does not reduce the number of Australians needing somewhere to live.” HIA estimates the combined impact of contract cancellations and weaker future sales is likely to reduce detached housing commencements by between 3.5 and 5 per cent, while reducing GST and stamp duty revenue to state governments by more than $450 million. Mr Reardon said these estimates relate only to detached housing. “The survey does not include financing of apartment construction, where investor participation is typically higher and pre-sales are often required before projects can obtain construction finance,” Mr Reardon said. “The total impact on housing supply may therefore be greater than these estimates suggest. “Treasury had appropriately modelled the housing supply impacts of the changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax announced in the Federal Budget. “It is now appropriate that the same analytical framework be applied to the SMSF borrowing restrictions. “Treasury should publish a housing supply impact assessment and cost-benefit analysis consistent with the analysis undertaken for the changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax. “That assessment should quantify the expected impacts on detached housing, apartment construction, housing affordability and government revenue. “The issue extends well beyond superannuation policy. This is ultimately about how housing policy is evaluated.” “If increasing housing supply remains the Government’s objective, then every major housing policy should be assessed against one simple question. “Will it increase or reduce the future supply of homes? “The next step is to transparently measure its outcomes and release that evidence prior to the next election.”  

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New Zealand’s forestry sector has confirmed it will align its workplace vocational training with the new Engineering and Manufacturing Private Training Establishment (PTE), operating under Competenz. Source: Timberbiz The decision follows extensive consultation with employers, contractors and training providers, led by the New Zealand Forest Owners Association (NZFOA) and Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA) joint Forestry Training Committee (FTC). The NZFOA and FICA have endorsed the move, saying it provides the strongest platform to maintain consistent, industry-led training across silviculture, harvesting, engineering and forest management while improving long-term capability. “This is about ensuring forestry continues to have a training system designed by industry, for industry,” said Forestry Training Committee Chair, Kevin Ihaka. “Our employers invest heavily in training because they know a skilled workforce is essential for safe, productive and sustainable forestry operations. This arrangement gives the sector greater influence over how that training evolves in future.” Forestry is New Zealand’s fourth-largest primary export earner, directly employing more than 8500 people. Over 90% of the workforce participates in formal training, with the vast majority of learning taking place on the job. Following consultation with more than 200 industry participants, employers, contractors and training providers, the FTC developed a clear set of requirements for any future training provider. These included strong industry input into decision-making, transparency around investment in forestry training, continuity of existing capability and minimal disruption for learners and employers. “In assessing potential training providers against these requirements, the proposed primary industry Private Training Establishment (PTE) was initially preferred, but after engaging with the Competenz Board and leadership team, it became clear that Competenz’s Engineering and Manufacturing PTE would be better suited to forestry’s training needs,” Mr Ihaka said. Under the new arrangement, forestry will have: A dedicated forestry team with its own cost centre Retention of forestry programmes, systems, staff capability and intellectual property Continued access to the national network of forestry trainers and assessors Forestry participation in ownership through a shareholder arrangement A formal forestry Board seat, with candidates assessed against a skills matrix A Head of Forestry role within the senior leadership team Structured industry input through the FTC, which will act as the industry’s advisory group to both the Forestry Team and the PTE Board Transparency over financial performance and investment decisions.   “Industry told us it wanted stronger influence, greater accountability and continuity for learners and employers. We believe this model delivers on those priorities while creating opportunities to modernise training delivery over time,” Mr Ihaka said. Higher-level forestry qualifications, including diplomas, university degrees and other tertiary programmes, will continue to be delivered by existing universities, polytechnics, wānanga and other PTEs. The FTC will now work with Competenz, the Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board and industry stakeholders to support implementation. An online briefing for industry will be held in early August to outline the transition process and next steps.

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As Australians are urged to remember the upcoming National Census this August, researchers from The University of Melbourne’s School of Agriculture, Food, and Ecosystem Sciences have just finished conducting one that took extensive work in the Yarra Ranges. Source: Star Mail A monitoring plot has been established in the eucalypt forest near McMahons Creek that is more detailed than any other previous plot in Australia, fitting the standard for the Forest Global Observatory (ForestGEO)’s global network of plots. Author of the study Ella Hellessey said the work was super important because these forests are the most common forest type in Victoria and are also found in Tasmania and New South Wales. “This forest in particular contains a forest type that we refer to in Victoria as a low-elevation mixed-species eucalyptus…historically, from a research perspective, they’ve been a little bit overlooked and understudied compared to say, the much more spatially limited but endangered mountain ash forests,” she said. “By setting up this large long-term plot within one of these low-elevation mixed-species forests, the findings that we get from this research will support forest management and conservation and planning for a much larger, major portion of Victoria’s forested areas, as well as across temperate south-east Australia as well. “Conventionally, forest inventories historically only included trees that are 10 centimetres and above in diameter, whereas we are including one centimetre and above, so we have substantially more trees included.” As a result of surveying far smaller plants, 51,324 individual trees from 46 species were recorded in the census, while only about 9000 would have been recorded at the 10-centimetre threshold. Ms Hellessey said, for reference, one centimetre is about the width of a pinky finger, so the census included a lot of shrubs as well as larger trees. “The large size of it all is also really important as again, traditionally we do forest inventories over smaller areas,” she said. “I think a lot of the time they’re like 0.1 of a hectare or half a hectare, whereas we have a 16-hectare, so we’re seeing a much larger portion of the landscape. “As a result of that, we’ve picked up higher species diversity than we would have expected … One of the interesting things is that we found about 13 species of eucalypts and traditionally, we probably would have only expected two to maybe seven of them.” The site of the plot at Starvation Creek stood out to Ms Hellessey and the researchers for many of the same reasons it does as many visitors to the forests of the Yarra Ranges: it was within a two-hour drive from Melbourne, is within a special land management protection zone and is in a ‘beautiful little part of the world’. Ms Hellessey said the long-term aspect of the study is super important too due to climate change and it would be great to see more plots established in Australia. “With everything that’s impacting our forests, seeing how these forests are changing over time is super important when it comes to thinking about how we manage our forests and do conservation,” she said. “As far as I’m aware, I don’t think there is any plans for more, but that would be amazing, I think one of the major factors limiting that though is that it is quite expensive and very involved, our plot is 16 hectares and for ForestGEO standards, that’s on the smaller end. “I know that ForestGEO are pretty keen to try and get an Australian tropical plot…Australia is very interesting and a bit unique in how our forests operate, because of our evolution and geographic and geological history.”

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A new video has been released by Private Forests Tasmania and the Tasmanian Forestry Hub to highlight the opportunities and challenges for Tasmanian landowners participating or looking to participate in carbon forestry projects. Source: Timberbiz The video, available on the Private Forests Tasmania YouTube channel and the Tasmanian Forestry Hub website, describes two reports developed by the Tasmanian Policy Exchange on behalf of the Hub. Private Forests Tasmania’s Operations Manager Jarrod Burn said the video was a great resource for Tasmanian farmers and landowners to best understand the governance and policy around undertaking a carbon forestry project. “The video developed uses simple language and graphics to help describe the positives and challenges landowners may experience when doing a carbon forestry project, Jarrod said. “It describes the outcomes of the report developed by the Tasmanian Policy Exchange which captured feedback from Tasmanian landowners who were currently managing carbon forestry projects so includes real insights others can learn from.” General Manager of the Tasmanian Forestry Hub Jamie Lawrence said the project the video was developed from provided a timely industry perspective on Tasmania’s forest carbon market. “This work aims to optimise carbon forestry projects in Tasmania and focuses on addressing barriers to Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) scheme participation. “The key takeaways from this work, as described in the video, are that while carbon credits provide an important source of additional income from approved forestry projects, the decision to invest in such projects and their ultimate viability depend largely on other factors – including the commercial return for forest products.” The video describes that the ultimate opportunity for value from carbon forestry projects is when they can incentivise plantation establishment and be undertaken with the goal to maximise benefits other than carbon alone. This work comes at an important time when Tasmanian landowners are considering how best to realise value and meet farm sustainability benefits whilst retaining profitability and future income. Watch the video now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUYi1-geBjk

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Australia has an opportunity to lead the way in recovering valuable building materials, according to a new research report from Living Lab Northern Rivers, Circular Timber. Source: Australian Rural & Regional News The report shows that carefully deconstructing buildings – rather than demolishing them – can save high-quality timber, reduce waste and create local jobs, and recommends national guidelines so the approach can be adopted more widely. After the 2022 floods, the NSW Government has approved offers for over 900 flood damaged homes, and currently owns more than 800 properties across the Northern Rivers through the Resilient Homes Program – part of Australia’s largest property buyback program. Led by Living Lab Northern Rivers with research delivered by the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), the Circular Timber pilot was funded by the NSW Reconstruction Authority, in response to community interest in recovering the valuable timber in these homes. At 125 and 127 Tweed Street, North Lismore, two uninhabitable homes were selectively deconstructed to recover their materials. The work recovered premium old-growth hardwoods including ironbark, cedar, tallowwood and blackbutt from the region’s Big Scrub rainforest, timber that is prized today and effectively impossible to source. Local makers – builders, furniture-makers, artists and craftspeople – then transformed the salvaged timbers into more than 50 new pieces that honour their origin while demonstrating reuse. It was a small-scale example of what could be achieved with right infrastructure and support. The pilot worked through the steps of deconstruction, material storage, product design and manufacturing, to develop the recommendations made in the report. The pilot also showed why deconstruction isn’t yet standard practice. Without national guidelines, recovery facilities or an agreed way to compare costs, it’s difficult to contract deconstruction at scale – especially within the timeframes and budgets of major recovery program. The report’s recommendations are aimed at closing that gap: Deconstruction guidelines. Australia has well-established standards for demolition, but nothing equivalent for deconstruction. Clear, practical guidelines would give councils, contractors and governments a shared way of working. Material recovery infrastructure. A facility to process, store and resell recovered materials would make deconstruction viable, and could in time grow into a regional hub for circular manufacturing and local jobs. A clear way to weigh the value of reuse. Deconstruction is often assumed to cost more than demolition, yet the report notes this has rarely been properly tested. A framework for comparing the real costs and benefits would help decision-makers see the full picture.   Australia’s construction and demolition sector is forecast to generate around 42 million tonnes of material by 2030. Current waste systems already do a good job of diverting material from landfill through recycling such as woodchipping. The pilot tested whether we could go one step further up the waste hierarchy – from recycling to reuse – which keeps more of each piece of timber whole and useful. International research cited in the report indicates careful deconstruction can save an average of 7.6 tonnes of CO?-equivalent per home, and that deconstruction programs overseas support several times more jobs than conventional demolition. “Demolition is fast, but it treats century-old hardwood the same as rubble,” said Associate Professor Berto Pandolfo, the project lead from UTS. “This pilot showed that with care, timber can be recovered intact and re-made into things people value. “What’s missing isn’t capability or community will – it’s the guidelines, infrastructure and assessment tools that would let deconstruction operate at scale.” Dan Etheridge, Engagement Director at Living Lab Northern Rivers, said: “The Northern Rivers has just lived through Australia’s largest property buyback program. That gave us a rare chance to test these ideas in real conditions, and the makers proved the concept. “The opportunity now is to build the systems so the next community facing this doesn’t have to start from scratch.” NSW Reconstruction Authority CEO, Kate Fitzgerald said: “As part of the Resilient Homes Program the NSW Reconstruction Authority has been prioritising the relocation, reuse and recycling of buyback properties wherever we can.At 125 and 127 Tweed Street, North Lismore, two uninhabitable homes were selectively deconstructed to recover their materials. The work recovered premium old-growth hardwoods including ironbark, cedar, tallowwood and blackbutt from the region’s Big Scrub rainforest, timber that is prized today and effectively impossible to source. Local makers – builders, furniture-makers, artists and craftspeople – then transformed the salvaged timbers into more than 50 new pieces that honour their origin while demonstrating reuse. It was a small-scale example of what could be achieved with right infrastructure and support. The pilot worked through the steps of deconstruction, material storage, product design and manufacturing, to develop the recommendations made in the report. The pilot also showed why deconstruction isn’t yet standard practice. Without national guidelines, recovery facilities or an agreed way to compare costs, it’s difficult to contract deconstruction at scale – especially within the timeframes and budgets of major recovery program. The report’s recommendations are aimed at closing that gap: Deconstruction guidelines. Australia has well-established standards for demolition, but nothing equivalent for deconstruction. Clear, practical guidelines would give councils, contractors and governments a shared way of working. Material recovery infrastructure. A facility to process, store and resell recovered materials would make deconstruction viable, and could in time grow into a regional hub for circular manufacturing and local jobs. A clear way to weigh the value of reuse. Deconstruction is often assumed to cost more than demolition, yet the report notes this has rarely been properly tested. A framework for comparing the real costs and benefits would help decision-makers see the full picture. Australia’s construction and demolition sector is forecast to generate around 42 million tonnes of material by 2030. Current waste systems already do a good job of diverting material from landfill through recycling such as woodchipping. The pilot tested whether we could go one step further up the waste hierarchy – from recycling to reuse – which keeps more of each piece of timber whole and useful. International research cited in the report indicates careful deconstruction can save an […]

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New spatial modelling published in Australian Forestry, the peer-reviewed journal of Forestry Australia, finds that only a small share of the private native forest estate along the New South Wales coast and tablelands can support commercial timber production. Source: Timberbiz Of the 3.6 million hectares assessed across 11,722 properties, just 0.6 million hectares, or 17%, is both available and commercially suitable. The finding raises the question of leakage as debate continues over the future of the Great Koala National Park in north east New South Wales. If private native forest cannot deliver at the same scale, where does the timber come from? The research is led by spatial modeller Masoomeh Alaibakhsh of the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, with co-author Nick Cameron of the North East New South Wales Forestry Hub. The team weighed more than 40 spatial datasets to rank every property on how well it could support timber production. The model measured how much of each property could be harvested, how far timber would travel to a mill, how steep and rough the ground is, and the value of the species growing there. Forest that is protected, too rugged to work or too far from a mill was set aside. What remained split heavily to the north. The northern private native forestry region held 0.5 million hectares, equal to 20% of its private forest, while the southern region held 0.1 million hectares, or 9%. “Much of the existing assessed private native forest is not commercially available and suitable,” Mr Cameron said, pointing to small harvestable areas, low-value species, poor site quality and distance from mills. Timber production in the north is more likely to be viable than in the south, with more large properties within reach of more mills. Properties in the south’s lowest suitability class sit an average of 98 kilometres from the nearest mill. Even inside the workable 17%, timber values cluster in the middle, with nearly 62% of properties rated medium and only 0.2% very high. Two or more decades typically pass between light selective harvests, so much of the resource is regrowth not yet ready to cut. The modelling lands as the New South Wales Government makes permanent the closure of 176,000 hectares of state forest in the Great Koala National Park. The reserve ends timber harvesting across its extent. “Not all wood products can be produced by the plantation industry,” the research states, with Australian native timber production down nearly 70% over the past two decades. The authors note that hardwood plantations remain far from a universal substitute for a country that already faces a wood shortage. Blackbutt and spotted gum, valued for their durability and strength, supply the flooring and decking trade and the poles that carry the state’s electricity network. Private native forests were routinely harvested for sawlogs, poles and girders, sleepers and fencing timber, the paper notes. On the other side of the ledger, 83% of the assessed estate, five hectares in every six, is likely to be managed chiefly for environmental and social values rather than timber. Landholders, agencies and processors now have property-scale rankings to guide where limited harvesting effort is best directed. The authors describe that output as the first comparison of ranked results across two discrete forest regions. The study concludes that the private estate cannot meet the expectations placed on it, with just 0.6 million hectares rated commercially workable and much of that still decades from harvest. The research is at https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00049158.2026.2694856

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