Australian timber industry news

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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Ponsse is launching the ExtendedLIFE project, funded by the EU’s LIFE Program. The project aims to extend the service life of used forest machines and increase the reuse of machine components. As part of the project, Ponsse will establish a Refactory in Iisalmi, Finland, where used machines can be refurbished or dismantled and recycled on an industrial scale. Source: Timberbiz “Our goal is to significantly extend the lifetime of forest machine components and improve the efficient use of materials. We aim to even double the service life of key components and achieve substantial environmental benefits in line with our sustainability targets,” Katja Paananen, Chief Responsibility Officer at Ponsse said. The ExtendedLIFE project develops new solutions that enable more efficient refurbishment, reuse and recycling of forest machine components. Ponsse has already established circular economy processes for forest machine components. In 2010, a remanufacturing unit was established in Iisalmi, where components are refurbished for reuse. The operation has gradually expanded. In 2025, the volume of refurbished or reused spare parts reached 222 tonnes. Through the ExtendedLIFE project, these operations will be further expanded and developed on an industrial scale. The project also includes the development of a digital marketplace for remanufactured components and training for personnel, dealers and value chain partners in circular economy and remanufacturing practices. “As a result of the development work, a new Refactory concept will be created, enabling forest machines to be refurbished, dismantled and recycled as efficiently as possible. The Refactory will be established near Ponsse’s service and logistics centre in Iisalmi during 2026. The project is expected to increase employment in Iisalmi in areas such as machine dismantling and installation work,” said Ville Ohukainen, Circular Economy Coordinator at Ponsse. Ponsse is utilising digital tools and AI-based solutions in the project to anticipate maintenance needs and direct components for refurbishment, reuse or recycling. “For Ponsse customers, the project will primarily be visible through improved availability of refurbished and remanufactured spare parts. This will provide more cost-effective options for machine maintenance and support the long service life of forest machines,” Ohukainen said. ExtendedLIFE is a project funded by the EU’s LIFE Program in which Ponsse develops the remanufacturing and recycling of forest machine components on an industrial scale. The aim is to extend component lifetimes and significantly reduce the use of materials and emissions. The project’s total budget is approximately EUR 5 million, of which 60% is funded by the EU’s LIFE Program.

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According to Growth Market Report, a market research firm based in India and USA, the global sustainable timber chain-of-custody platform market size reached $US1.15 billion in 2025, reflecting robust expansion driven by rising demand for traceable and eco-friendly timber products. Source: Growth Market Reports The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.6% from 2026 to 2034, with the market size expected to reach $US3.64 billion by 2034. This impressive growth is primarily fuelled by stringent regulatory frameworks, increasing consumer and corporate awareness about sustainability, and the proliferation of digital transformation initiatives within the global forestry sector. As per Growth Market Report’s latest research, the market is undergoing significant transformation as stakeholders across the value chain prioritize transparency and accountability in timber sourcing, processing, and distribution. The enforcement of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) beginning in 2025 has served as a major catalyst, compelling businesses across the supply chain to invest urgently in credible, auditable digital chain of custody solutions. The Sustainable Timber Chain-of-Custody Platform Market is emerging as one of the most influential segments supporting responsible forestry and transparent global trade. As governments strengthen environmental regulations, consumers demand ethically sourced wood products, and corporations commit to sustainability targets, digital chain-of-custody platforms have become essential tools rather than optional technologies. These platforms document every stage of a timber product’s journey—from certified forests and sawmills to manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and end users—ensuring that sustainability claims can be verified with confidence. Modern timber supply chains often span multiple countries and involve dozens of stakeholders. Without digital visibility, verifying legal harvesting practices, certification compliance, and product authenticity becomes increasingly difficult. Sustainable chain-of-custody platforms solve this challenge by creating secure, traceable, and auditable records that improve accountability while reducing fraud and operational inefficiencies. A sustainable timber chain-of-custody platform is a digital ecosystem that tracks certified wood products throughout every phase of the supply chain. Instead of relying on fragmented paperwork and disconnected databases, these platforms consolidate information into a centralized or distributed digital environment where authorized stakeholders can monitor product movement, verify certifications, and demonstrate compliance. Each transaction, including harvesting, transportation, processing, manufacturing, storage, export, and retail, is digitally recorded. The result is a complete lifecycle history that helps organizations prove responsible sourcing while simplifying audits and regulatory reporting. Rather than replacing certification programs, these platforms strengthen them by making certification records easier to validate and significantly more difficult to manipulate. Global timber markets are evolving beyond price and product quality. Buyers increasingly evaluate suppliers based on sustainability credentials, legal compliance, biodiversity protection, and environmental responsibility. Illegal logging continues to threaten forests, wildlife habitats, and local communities. Consequently, regulators are introducing stricter due diligence requirements for imported timber products. Businesses now require accurate documentation demonstrating legal origin and sustainable harvesting practices. Digital chain-of-custody platforms provide the transparency needed to meet these expectations while building trust among manufacturers, retailers, investors, and environmentally conscious consumers. Traditional recordkeeping methods often involve manual documentation that is vulnerable to human error, delays, and document loss. Digital platforms modernize forest management by integrating technologies such as cloud computing, GPS mapping, mobile applications, digital certificates, and automated reporting. Field inspectors can upload harvesting data directly from forests using mobile devices. Transportation companies can update shipment status in real time. Processing facilities can record material transformations instantly, creating uninterrupted digital records from forest to finished product. This continuous information flow improves operational efficiency while significantly reducing administrative complexity Blockchain technology has become an important innovation within sustainable timber tracking. Because blockchain records cannot easily be altered once validated, they provide a highly secure digital ledger for documenting timber transactions. Every movement of certified wood can be recorded with timestamps, participant identities, and verification data. This creates a trusted audit trail that strengthens confidence among buyers, regulators, certification agencies, and financial institutions. Although blockchain is not mandatory for every chain-of-custody platform, its ability to enhance data integrity makes it increasingly attractive for complex international supply chains. Artificial Intelligence is transforming timber traceability beyond simple tracking. Advanced analytics can identify unusual transaction patterns, predict compliance risks, detect documentation inconsistencies, and optimize logistics planning. Machine learning algorithms analyse thousands of supply chain records to identify anomalies that may indicate fraud or certification irregularities. AI-powered forecasting also helps manufacturers estimate timber availability, optimize procurement strategies, and reduce material shortages. As datasets continue expanding, predictive intelligence will become an increasingly valuable competitive advantage. Environmental legislation across many regions is becoming more comprehensive. Authorities increasingly require importers, manufacturers, and distributors to demonstrate legal sourcing through verifiable documentation. Digital chain-of-custody platforms simplify regulatory compliance by generating standardized audit reports, maintaining secure transaction histories, and reducing manual paperwork. Government-supported digital forestry initiatives are also encouraging modernization among forest operators, helping accelerate market adoption while improving national resource management. Corporate sustainability reporting has evolved from voluntary disclosure into a strategic business function. Investors, financial institutions, procurement teams, and consumers now expect measurable evidence supporting environmental commitments. Chain-of-custody platforms generate reliable sustainability data that organizations can incorporate into environmental reporting frameworks. Metrics related to certified sourcing, carbon impact, supplier compliance, and responsible procurement become significantly easier to monitor and communicate. This capability enhances organizational credibility while strengthening relationships with environmentally focused stakeholders. Cloud computing has made advanced timber traceability systems accessible to organizations of all sizes. Small forestry businesses, independent sawmills, exporters, and furniture manufacturers can implement scalable digital solutions without investing heavily in on-premise infrastructure. Cloud deployment enables secure collaboration among geographically distributed participants while supporting automatic software updates, centralized data management, and remote accessibility. As cloud technologies mature, implementation costs continue declining, encouraging wider market participation. Despite strong momentum, several operational challenges remain. Many forestry operations continue relying on legacy documentation systems that require significant modernization. Data standardization across international supply chains can also be difficult because participants often use different software environments and reporting formats. Digital literacy varies considerably among smaller suppliers, particularly in developing regions. Initial implementation costs, cybersecurity concerns, and integration with existing enterprise systems also require careful planning. However, continuous technological improvements and increasing […]

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FSC has blocked four certificate holders for making false claims and engaging in fraudulent activities. These blockages are based on evidence gathered during the birch plywood transaction verification (TV) loop. Source: Timberbiz In May 2026, FSC blocked these certificate holders, in addition to the four certificate holders blocked in October 2025. The blocked companies are: Xuzhou Discover International Import & Export CO., LTD (FSC-C159783) for selling non-conforming birch plywood to customers while reporting zero sales of FSC materials to their certification body between 2020 and July 2024. Xuzhou Huayu Wood Industry Co., Ltd (FSC-C181040) for selling non-conforming birch plywood to customers while reporting zero sales with FSC claims to the certification body, including during the TV period between July 2022 and June 2023. Xuzhou Shelter Import & Export Co. LTD (FSC-C180645) (henceforth referred to as Xuzhou Shelter) for selling plywood products with false FSC claims in 2023 to Shelter Forest International Acquisition, Inc. (FSC-C146872), even though they declared no sale of FSC materials in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Furthermore, the organization repeatedly failed to cooperate with required oversight activities, including refusing to provide the required TV data, limiting access to Assurance Services International (ASI) during the October 2024 assessment, and subsequently becoming unreachable to their certification body and ASI. Shelter Forest International Acquisition, Inc. (FSC-C146872) (henceforth referred to as Shelter International) for knowingly purchasing materials with false FSC claims from Xuzhou Shelter Import & Export Co. Ltd. (FSC-C180645), the organization identified in the preceding bullet. Shelter International also hindered the investigation by repeatedly refusing to provide the required transaction documents to its certification body and was eventually terminated by their certification body.   Originally launched by Assurance Services International (ASI) in 2023, the birch plywood TV loop included 78 certificate holders and analysed transaction data from July 2022 to June 2023. This TV loop started with traders and downstream buyers and then expanded to include the supplying sectors. It is a part of FSC’s Eurasia Integrity Workplan, which focuses on identifying and addressing various integrity risks in FSC-certified birch supply chains in the Eurasian region. Within the Eurasia Integrity Workplan, FSC and ASI initiated another TV loop in 2024 with a focus on birch wood panels for certificate holders with physical possession of certified material in the Eurasian region. Findings from the Eurasia birch wood panel TV loop supported the observations from the birch plywood TV loop. To protect the integrity of FSC certified birch plywood supply chains, FSC is implementing measures to strengthen the certification system. For instance: Delivering on the Advice Note, Public disclosure of ‘no FSC sales’ (ADV-STD-20-011_15_V1-0), FSC has introduced a new feature FSC Public Search, which lists the certificate holders who reported ‘No FSC Sales’ to their certification bodies during a specified evaluation period. Strengthening the supply chains of solid wood, veneer, or wood panels, as well as FSC-certified bamboo products in China by making annual audits mandatory for all certificate holders even if they did not buy or sell any FSC-certified materials through the Advice Note Remove option for waiving surveillance audit (ADV-STD-20-011-12_V2-1), available in page 10 of this document. FSC encourages certificate holders and stakeholders to strengthen due diligence by checking FSC Public Search for organizations declaring ‘No FSC Sales’ and confirming this with their suppliers. This way, any potentially fraudulent activities will be detected, thereby ensuring that non-certified birch products do not enter FSC-certified supply chains.

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The first accredited, long-form Prefabrication Installation qualification delivered through Melbourne Polytechnic’s Future of Housing Construction Centre of Excellence was launched yesterday. Source: Timberbiz The Certificate III in Prefabrication Installation will train students for careers building prefabricated homes. Students will receive hands-on training and flexible blended learning. These skills are needed to work with modern methods of construction (MMC). The qualification was developed in consultation with industry through the Future of Housing Construction Centre of Excellence. It will be hosted at Melbourne Polytechnic’s Heidelberg West campus. “The Certificate III in Prefabrication Installation is the first-of-its-kind in Australia, established to prepare workers with the right tools and confidence needed for a career in modern methods of construction,” Melbourne Polytechnic CEO Frances Coppolillo said. The Centre of Excellence is a national hub for training, research and innovation across Australia’s building industry. Victoria is already home to more than 200 companies specialising in MMC, spanning design, manufacturing, transport, assembly and installation. Alongside the new Certificate III qualification, the Centre of Excellence is already delivering four industry-designed short courses. These help existing workers and businesses adopt modern methods of construction. The $50 million Future of Housing Construction Centre of Excellence is jointly funded by the Federal and State governments. “Building more homes, more efficiently starts with building the skilled workforce Australia needs,” Skills and Training Minister Andrew Giles said. “This new qualification will help more Australians develop the practical skills needed to embrace modern construction methods and deliver more homes, faster.” To find out more about national TAFE Centres of Excellence, visit www.vic.gov.au/national-tafe-centres-excellence  

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The world’s best and brightest in housing are invited to help build more high-quality homes, faster for the people of NSW using Modern Methods of Construction. Source: Timberbiz An Expression of Interest (EOI) is now open for businesses to establish or expand a manufacturing facility in NSW to produce prefabricated building components or large-scale modular housing, specifically for higher density housing types, including developing designs from the mid-rise pattern book. The State Government is set to turbocharge the way homes are built in NSW, unlocking the potential of MMC and lifting productivity in the building sector. Through the Modern Methods of Construction Industry Expansion Program (MMCIEP), the State Government is inviting businesses with expertise in advanced manufacturing, prefabrication and modular construction to invest in NSW and help transform the way homes are built. The program aims to grow local manufacturing, strengthen supply chains, create skilled jobs and accelerate the delivery of more homes across the state. The State Government will consider supporting the development of the facility through financial support, through the provision of suitable land, by agreement to purchase output from the facility, including housing and other public facilities, as well as considering alternative proposals where these represent value for money for taxpayers and will support the development of a sustainable industry in NSW. The EOI is the first stage of a two-stage procurement process, and proposals will be assessed on commercial readiness, demonstrated capability and capacity to deliver at scale. The launch follows the opening of the Housing Innovation in Construction Fund and Housing Innovation Network Grants Program, representing almost $4 million in investment to help grow the local MMC sector, commercialise new technologies and bring more innovative manufacturers into the NSW housing market. The Government is also investing $1.6 million to establish a new regulatory framework and introduce a certification system for MMC, formally recognising prefabricated buildings in NSW law and integrating MMC into the planning approvals system, as well as reforming procurement to open up more opportunities for MMC projects in NSW, using the Government’s purchasing power to help grow a strong and sustainable MMC industry. Together, these reforms are designed to give industry the confidence to invest in NSW, expand manufacturing capability and build a sustainable pipeline of modern construction projects for years to come. This is part of the State Government’s plan to build a better NSW with more high-quality homes and services, so young people, families and key local workers have somewhere to live in the communities they choose. The EOI closes at 3:00pm AEST on Wednesday, 29 July 2026. Businesses can access the EOI documentation and apply through the NSW Government’s tendering portal.

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When Komatsu’s Nigel Howard found out that his friend and mentor, forest industry icon Col McCulloch had been diagnosed with motor neuron disease it didn’t take him long to realise that being frustrated couldn’t help. The best thing he could do was to get on his bike and do something useful. Source: Timberbiz Next month, Mr Howard will set off on his BMW GS 1300 Adventure to undertake a 20,000 km, 38-day motorbike trip around Australia aiming to raise $150,000 for the fight against MND. As well as raising vital funds, Mr Howard is looking to start conversations and bring the timber and forestry community together. “Col told me about his diagnosis over a coffee. Like a lot of people I’d heard of MND but the reality didn’t really set in until we talked” he said. “When I started having conversations with other people in the industry, I discovered Col’s story isn’t unique – far too many people have a mate, a parent, a colleague or a spouse afflicted by the beast.” Mr Howard said it was an easy decision to bring together his passions of motorbike riding and the forest and timber community to plan the MND Beast Challenge. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned working in forestry, it’s that people show up when they’re needed. Every kilometre I ride is for people like Col, for families living with MND and for the hope that one day research can provide the answers we’re looking for,” he said. Mr Howard knows that one bloke on a motorbike isn’t going to cure the disease. But if the MND Beast Challenge can raise awareness, raise funds and get more people talking about the disease, then it will be worth every kilometre. He sets off from Daylesford on Thursday 20 August. To learn more about the MND Beast Challenge and to make a donation, head to https://www.mndbeastchallenge.com.au/

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Juken New Zealand (JNZ) has concluded consultation with employees regarding the future of Northland Mill and has made the difficult decision to proceed with the closure of the mill Yasufumi Tsuchiya Director of Juken New Zealand said in a statement. Source: Timberbiz This decision follows an extensive process to identify a buyer or alternative arrangement that would allow the mill to continue operating in a financially sustainable way. Over recent months, Mr Tsuchiya said the company explored a range of options, including a sale process and other potential business arrangements. Despite those efforts, we were unable to identify a viable pathway forward. The decision relates to Northland Mill only. The Northland Mill produces veneer only. Triboard and Strandboard produced at Triboard Mill and J-frame, J-ply and solid wood produced at Wairarapa Mill are not impacted by this announcement. The process to explore a potential sale of Triboard as a going concern remains ongoing. Mr Tsuchiya said in the statement that before reaching the decision about the Northland Mill, the company undertook a formal consultation process with employees and union representatives. He said they carefully considered the feedback received and would like to thank everyone who participated in that process. Mr Tsuchiya said that the company recognised the significance of this announcement for its employees, their whānau and the wider Northland community. Many people have dedicated years of service to Northland Mill, and he acknowledged the impact this decision will have. The focus now is supporting affected employees through the next stage of the process. This includes discussions about redeployment opportunities across JNL, as well as access to a range of services including financial advice, wellbeing support, and employment and training opportunities. The current plan is for the mill to close by 21 August 2026. Production activity will gradually reduce over the coming weeks as remaining work is completed. While the decision has been made to close Northland Mill, the company remains open to conversations with potential buyers and continues to explore opportunities relating to the land and assets. Further updates will be forthcoming if there are any developments. JNL said that it remains committed to New Zealand and to maintaining a sustainable forestry and manufacturing business here. Decisions relating to the Kaitaia mills have been made with the long-term viability of the wider business in mind.

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The new owners of one of Tasmania’s largest farms, which they plan to turn over to a pine plantation claim the property, is “low-quality, degraded land” and not currently being used for food production. Source: Timberbiz Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers last week announced the approval of the sale of Tasmania’s largest farm, Rushy Lagoon, to UK-based forestry investor Gresham House. The 22,000-hectare property will be converted from an agricultural estate into a $142 million pine plantation and carbon project. The Australian Forest Products Association has welcomed the sale, saying the plantation project will expand Australia’s sovereign capability in sustainable timber production. The project will combine commercial softwood plantations on low productive land with large-scale conservation and ecological restoration and sustainable grazing. This is expected to provide a major boost to Tasmania’s forestry industry. The Radiata Pine trees produced by the project are expected to be processed locally by Tasmanian-based sawmills and supplied into the Australian market. This will alleviate some of Tasmania’s wood supply pressures and help divert harvesting away from native forests. It is expected to stimulate the local economy, creating jobs for contractors, sawmill operators, field surveyors and planting crews. In addition, sustainable agricultural activities will continue in designated areas across the property. Direct benefits are expected to include: More than 190 new jobs over the life of the project. Production of approximately five million tonnes of timber and 3.2 million ACCUs. Timber will be grown under Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certification or Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and be processed by Tasmanian sawmills to help offset a critical shortage of construction timber in the Australian housing market.   However, farmers groups have criticised approval of the sale, claiming the project would turn productive farmland into a monoculture pine plantation in return for carbon credits. TasFarmers will hold a community meeting on Friday, 17 July at the Scottsdale Mechanics Institute, and have invited concerned members of the public to help send a message to the Prime Minister that they want the deal reversed. But a spokesman for the Tasmania Natural Asset Trust, an investment platform managed by UK forestry giant Gresham House, told The Mercury in Hobart “This is low-quality, degraded agricultural land, not prime farmland, and it isn’t currently in broad food production: dairy operations have historically used around 14% of the property, with current use around 5% of the land.” The areas proposed for plantation forestry on Rushy Lagoon are on areas classified as marginal, Class 5 and 6 under the Tasmanian Land Capability Classification System (Class 7 being the poorest), by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Tasmania.” The spokesman told The Mercury the operation would combine commercial softwood (Radiata Pine) plantations on low-productivity land with large-scale conservation, ecological restoration, sustainable grazing and potentially other agricultural opportunities. The spokesman said agriculture would remain an important part of the property. “Sustainable grazing will continue on land best suited to farming, and additional agricultural opportunities are also being explored. “This is not a choice between food and timber – Australia needs both.” The spokesman also addressed claims that a local buyer was locked out of the sales process for the 21,744ha property. “The property was widely marketed to the agricultural sector on several occasions from 2018 onwards. However, the vendor [the estate of New Zealand farmer Allan Pye] was unable to secure a sale at independently assessed market value,” he said. “Following these unsuccessful sales processes, Gresham House entered into a purchase agreement with the vendor. “Gresham House itself did attempt a separate sale process for the dairy operation but received no conforming bids.” The spokesman said agronomist and technical advisers attributed the limited interest to poor infrastructure, soil quality and distance to market, and supported a change in land use to forestry. But the National Farmers’ Federation has questioned the approval process behind the sale which it says has left stakeholders questioning the logic behind the decision. “We’re concerned that there were buyers that were potentially disadvantaged in the process of allowing the sale to a foreign forestry fund,” Mr Guerin said. “We are calling for a review of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation’s (CEFC) mandate. “It’s imperative that these processes are transparent. “We need to understand whether various conflicts of interest were addressed through the appropriate mechanisms, including the fact that a CEFC Director sits on the Foreign Investment Review Board which is supposed to assess the decision independently.” Mr Guerin said the community’s desires had not been respected. “We echo TasFarmers’ concerns that the decision goes against what 99% per cent of surveyed Tasmanians wanted for Rushy Lagoon,” Mr Guerin said. “Australian farmers must be consulted, given choices, and listened to. “There must be a balance between emissions goals, food security, and farm profitability. “We always want to see agricultural land being used for its best purpose. We must ensure that is the case in the sale of Rushy Lagoon,” Mr Guerin said.  

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The Neville Smith Group has confirmed its full support for the Forest Congress Shared Vision Statement, joining Palawa Elders, scientists, environmentalists, industry and community leaders in a common position on the future of Tasmania’s forests. Source: Timberbiz The statement calls for an immediate end to old-growth logging, responding to a Palawa-led call to protect these forests as enduring cultural treasures, alongside the ongoing, responsible management of Tasmania’s native forest resources. “After three years of collaborative Forest Congress stakeholder engagement, the Neville Smith Group (NSG) has formalised its commitment to the shared future vision for Tasmanian forestry,” Andrew Walker, CEO of Neville Smith Group, said. “We support a Palawa-led, whole-of-landscape, pragmatic, science-backed, long-term proposition for native forestry in Tasmania, not an ideological one. Indigenous voices were absent from previous agreements, including the Tasmanian Forest Agreement, and Palawa leadership belongs at the centre of forest management going forward, alongside forest scientists, growers, landowners, processors and local communities. “This finds the right balance between protecting old-growth forests as cultural and ecological treasures, whilst securing the long-term future for native forestry, meeting national timber demand, and supporting regional Tasmanian communities. “NSG is a majority plantation and ongoing regrowth native business, established 25 years ago, on the basis of processing smaller, younger certified logs. The Plantation Nitens logs were previously destined only for wood chip export, now elevated up the value chain via cutting edge technology. “After a deliberate 4-year transition period to majority plantation supply, our native regrowth log supply has now been re-balanced to align with our Tasmanian sawmilling capacity. “We have recently advised our former Victorian customer, that the previous short-term surplus of native regrowth logs will not be available from 31st July 2026 onwards. “By ending old-growth supply (currently less than 3% of total supply to NSG), it removes a remaining point of contention, paves the way for innovation, investment and additional on-island processing in Tasmania. “We have formally notified Sustainable Timber Tasmania of our decision to not receive old-growth logs, with immediate effect. “Australia is a net annual importer of timber products, and we must ensure that native forests in lower regulatory global jurisdictions are not deforested, to meet our insatiable national timber demand. Tasmania manages its forests as well as anywhere in the world, and the regeneration of our native forests after harvest is testament to our sustainable practices. “The continuation of renewable native regrowth and plantation resource bases underpins the perpetual supply of wood-based products for housing, commercial projects, manufacturing sector, and strengthens our national resilience. As the largest plantation hardwood sawn timber processor in Australia, future investment and further industry transition is only possible with log supply security. “Wood is the ultimate renewable, healthy forests mean healthy communities. “We call on the Tasmanian and Australian Governments to join communities and industry in supporting a lasting transition, one that backs Palawa-led cultural practice, restores landscapes, supports regional communities and secures the future of the best-managed native forests in the world.”

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