Australian timber industry news

The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) has provided feedback on the Government amendments to the Treasury Laws Amendment (Making Multinationals Pay Their Fair Share – Integrity and Transparency) Bill 2023 (Bill). AFPA has said that plantation forestry was never the intended target of the Bill and has been inadvertently captured in the drafting of the Bill. Source: Timberbiz As such, it is pleased to see some changes in the Government amendments to reduce the Bill’s negative impact on the Australian plantation forestry sector. However, AFPA remains concerned that the Bill (even with the Government amendments) will effectively cease plantation forestry expansion in Australia. The Bill (even with the Government amendments) is still contrary to the Albanese Government’s election commitments in relation to plantation forestry, is contrary to the Australian Labor Party Platform in relation to plantation forestry expansion, is contrary to the National Forestry Ministers meeting in relation to plantation forestry expansion and is contrary to international commitments made by the Australian Government. Currently, under the balance sheet method, plantation forestry companies could claim up to 60% of their debt costs. Under the Bill (including Government amendments), companies can only claim a deduction for financing costs up to 30% of their tax EBITDA with any disallowed deductions carried forward for up to 15 years. This will result in effectively ceasing plantation forestry expansion in Australia. AFPA is the peak national industry body representing the growing, processing, and pulp, paper and bioproduct industries covering the forest products value chain. Relevantly AFPA represents the interests of over 90% of Australia’s forestry grower entities. AFPA represents 25 forestry grower companies and government entities, 15 of which are impacted by the Bill. Over 80% of the plantation forestry grower companies are impacted by the Bill and its amendments. AFPA also represents the majority of large timber manufacturing companies and paper and cardboard manufacturers in Australia. Plantation forestry expansion is not only a priority for forest growers. Is the number one priority across the entire supply chain, including harvesting contractors, timber mills and paper manufacturers. Any effect on plantation expansion negatively impacts the entire supply chain including these downstream manufacturers, and severely limits Australia’s future capacity to supply the building industry’s timber needs for housing expansion, limits Australia’s action on climate change and Australia’s plan to replace fossil-fuel-based plastics. The full submission is available on the AFPA website https://ausfpa.com.au/  

Pollution-trapping yew trees could help clean up Britain’s air, a new study has found. According to scientists from Surrey’s Global Centre for Clean Air Research, the yew’s pointy leaves excelled at trapping toxic particles and releasing them in the rain. Source: Country Living The team looked at 10 evergreen tree specimens – including viburnum, white cedar, sitka spruce, dwarf pine, Chinese juniper, and Japanese holly – and measured which species caught the most pollution particles, as well as which best allowed the rain to wash those particles to the ground. Scientists placed the trees in plant pots beside the A3 in Guildford, an area that sees 80,000 cars drive past every day. The yew tree outperformed the other trees by far. “When tackling air pollution, the ideal leaves cling on to particles when it’s windy but let go of them in the rain,” Yendle Barwise, a former forester and University of Surrey researcher, said in the study. “That means the wind blows less pollution back into the air but rain can wash it safely to the ground. Being rough and hairy isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. To remove more particle pollutants over time, leaves need to be washed by rainfall, and it seems that the size and shape of the leaf is much more important from this perspective.” Meanwhile, the study also suggested that ‘pores’ of the leaf could help plants ‘catch’ particles. Professor Prashant Kumar, founder of the University of Surrey’s Global Centre for Clean Air Research, adds: “We know that planting trees by roadsides can make a big difference to air quality. Our study shows that by choosing your trees carefully, that difference can be even bigger.” Many planting projects around the UK choose deciduous trees which lose their leaves in winter; however this is when air pollution is often at its worst.    

In 2022, PEFC embarked on a mission to understand perspectives on sustainability and certification through a market survey, with the promise to plant one tree for each completed questionnaire. In partnership with French communities and primary schools, PEFC turned the answers into seeds for forest revival, and the education of future sustainability ambassadors. Source: Timberbiz Together with the French Office National des Forêts (ONF), PEFC identified Saxel and Burdignin, two villages in Haute Savoie, France, with a strong desire but limited budget to restore their forests. Through your contributions and with the help of local children, PEFC was able to give the forests new life by planting over 500 trees. “Forests are crucial for maintaining soils and as part of adaptation to global warming, and represent an important part of the municipal budget. PEFC certification allows for quality operations and sustainable management,” said Frédéric Guiberti, mayor of Saxel. Thanks to the collaboration with primary schools, the impact did not stop at regrowth, but extended to education. Integrated into the French school curriculum, 50 enthusiastic school children, aged 10, were at the forefront of the planting. Besides learning about natural science, they witnessed sustainable development firsthand, and refined their vocabulary in the field of forestry. “I loved planting trees and putting the protection against the deer. I learnt that trees in my region take 120 years to grow,” said 10-year-old Ilona. “Reforestation is important for maintaining landscapes and natural spaces, and for limiting erosion, while PEFC certification makes it possible to sell the wood at a higher price. We are proud to have sustainably managed forests,” said Pierre Chautemps, mayor of Burdignin.  

The forest industry, technology companies, research organizations, and universities have joined forces to revolutionize the traditional pulping processes under the joint leadership of VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. Source: Timberbiz The Emission-Free Pulping research program intends to find ways to improve energy efficiency, enhance the efficiency of wood usage and conversion to products, achieve emission-free pulping (especially carbon dioxide emissions), and significantly reduce water usage in the processes. “Due to the limited nature of forest resources, the growth opportunities for the industry are constrained. Moreover, the burning of biomass in the pulping process results in the emission of biogenic CO2. To significantly enhance resource efficiency and increase the value added from wood, revising the chemical processes and unit operations used in the pulping process is essential,” says Atte Virtanen, Vice President of biomaterial processing and products at VTT. So far, five industrial companies have committed to the program, and they will bring in their knowledge about industrial relevance and operations as well as financial contribution. Have committed to a five-year collaboration with  ANDRITZ, Arauco, Metsä Group, Stora Enso, and Valmet the research organizations and universities for this program. The program has been granted substantial funding from Business Finland, amounting to over 5 million euros over a three-year period. “Long-term research cooperation between companies, research organizations, and universities is essential for solving major sustainability challenges. With the financing of this joint project, we want to speed up the renewal of the forest industry, which is of paramount importance for Finland’s competitiveness,” says Executive Director Timo Metsä-Tokila from Business Finland. “We are deeply committed to the vision of a thriving forest-based ecosystem that delivers the full value of Nordic wood. The key to achieving this lies in fostering innovation and coming together as an industry and as a research ecosystem. By combining our efforts, we can drive advancements that not only enhance efficiency but also uphold our commitment to environmental stewardship. It’s about creating a future where sustainable wood use and more resource-efficient pulping methods go hand in hand, ensuring the longevity and prosperity of our forests and the industries dependent on them,” says Katariina Kemppainen, SVP Group R&D at Metsä Group. The expertise and knowledge being developed will be internationally groundbreaking, and the program’s sought-after results are expected to have wide-ranging effects. “We celebrate that other companies and universities share our view on the necessity to use science and joint research for enabling significant improvement of the material yields from pulping and thereby reducing emissions. Can we reach zero? Let’s see what academia and industry develop together, based on science, knowledge, and inclusion of industrial realities from start to end in the program,” says Mikael Hannus, Senior Vice President, Group Innovation R&D at Stora Enso. International collaboration across sectors Strong commitment from leading universities in both Finland and Sweden creates the conditions for the success of the project. The project involves significant contributions from Aalto University, LUT University, Chalmers University of Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Mid Sweden University, University of Helsinki, University of Oulu, and Åbo Akademi University. The Finnish public funding enables the hiring of the initial group of scientists that will be expanded with further funding from the companies involved. The goal is to form a group of 10–20 researchers focusing full-time on advancing the research agenda collectively agreed upon by the Consortium. Public funding is currently being sought also in Sweden, and doors are open to new corporate partners. “The key to success lies in open collaboration. This is why we invite industry leaders and scientists from around the world to join our consortium, participating in spearheading research that aims to transform pulping processes for better energy and material efficiency,” says Per Tomani, Director of Research & Business Development at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. “The challenge is common to the entire industry; no one can solve it alone. Technology plays one key role in the evolution of the pulp and paper industry. This transformation is not just about meeting industry standards; it’s about setting new benchmarks for environmental responsibility and operational excellence. The focus needs to remain on innovation and collaboration to drive this vital change in the industry,” concludes Johan Engström, CTO, ANDRITZ. Companies involved iclude ANDRITZ, Arauco, Metsä Group, Stora Enso, Valmet Universities and research institutions involved include VTT, RISE, Aalto University, Chalmers University of Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, LUT University, Mid Sweden University, University of Helsinki, University of Oulu, Åbo Akademi University.

A new mobile app, MyPestGuide Trees, is available to industry, government, and citizen scientists, empowering all to easily identify and report invasive pests and diseases that could threaten our native, plantation and urban forests. Source: Timberbiz While many potentially damaging pests and diseases exist overseas, Australia has robust biosecurity measures in place to mitigate these risks. Even so, exotic pests and diseases can and do occasionally reach our shores and can damage our environment, including Australia’s trees and forests. Australia’s trees and forests provide a diverse array of economic, cultural, environmental, and amenity benefits. The forest, wood and paper products sector is Australia’s sixth largest manufacturing industry. Forestry contributes $9.2 billion to the Australian economy. The MyPestGuide Trees mobile phone app is designed to promote, encourage, and make it easy for everyone to get involved in identifying and reporting pests sightings in trees in your backyard, street, parks or local bushland. The app allows users to filter exotic environmental and plant pests using various criteria to identify causal organisms and, if required, submit images of pests to their state or territory agriculture department for identification. The use of the app will assist in the early detection of new and exotic pests, potentially allowing for timely eradication of new and potentially damaging incursions. “The MyPestGuide Trees app is a pest identification field guide containing information on established and exotic forest pests, as well as a pest reporting tool,” said Paco Tovar, Forest Biosecurity Manager at the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA). “By using the MyPestGuide® Trees app, members of the public are helping Australia to gather data to build a comprehensive understanding of the forest pests in Australia and help support early detection of exotic forest pests,” said Dr Lucy Tran-Nguyen, PHA’s General Manager, Partnerships and Innovation. The app is available for free download via the Apple App Store or Google Play as well as a web-based version or call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881. The MyPestGuide TREES mobile application was developed through funding from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s Environmental Biosecurity Office and Forest Wood Products Australia. Plant Health Australia also gratefully acknowledges the expertise provided by Australian Forest Products Association, agriculture departments from different states and territories, forest sector organisations, and university experts.

Destructive beetle Polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB) was first detected in August 2021 in WA and has now been confirmed in more than 80 suburbs across the metropolitan area in backyards, street verges, public open spaces, parks and reserves. Source: Timberbiz A Quarantine Area is in place for most of the metropolitan area. One of the impacted sites is Kings Park and DPIRD is currently working with Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority (BGPA) on the removal of PSHB infested Moreton Bay and Port Jackson fig trees from Mounts Bay Gardens (Goonininup) scheduled for early 2024. The removal of these infested trees is vital to protect trees in the Western Australian Botanic Garden and the many rare and endangered flora in its collection. Over the next month, a digital campaign will be rolled out at Yagan Square to raise awareness of the pest and encourage people to ‘look and report’. A video animation will be screened on the Yagan Square tower and highlight the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD) ongoing works to inspect, prune and remove infested trees to save Perth’s healthy trees. To date, more than one million trees have been inspected on more than 59,000 properties, making it the biggest surveillance program ever undertaken by DPIRD. Biosecurity Executive Director Sonya Broughton said DPIRD was doing everything it could to stop the spread of PSHB as part of a national biosecurity response. “We are working closely with residents, businesses, Traditional Owners, local and State government agencies and other community organisations to protect our healthy trees from this pest,” Dr Broughton said. “PSHB can severely damage host trees once it takes hold with some species dying within two years of infestation. “With no known treatments available, pruning and removing infested trees is currently the only way to prevent this serious pest from spreading to our other trees and putting the urban canopy at risk.” Dr Broughton asked the community to continue checking their trees, particularly box elder maple trees, robinias, coral trees, Moreton bay and Port Jackson figs and London plane trees, and report any suspected beetle activity immediately to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. “It’s also important that wood and green waste is not moved outside of the Quarantine Area to ensure the pest beetle doesn’t spread beyond the metropolitan area,” she said. Report signs of borer damage (or any unusual pests) via the MyPestGuide reporter app or the Pest and Disease Information Service on (08) 9368 3080, email padis@dpird.wa.gov.au

The NZ Forest & Wood Sector Forum (NZFWSF) will improve communication throughout the forestry supply chain to pursue and ensure continued growth and to manage issues with the interest of the whole sector in mind. Source: Timberbiz Forestry Industry Contractors Association CEO and NZFWSF spokesperson Prue Younger says the NZFWSF’s collective advocacy will be for policies that are socially responsible, environmentally, and ecologically sustainable, internationally competitive, and profitable. “The greater and long-term goal for the pan sector initiative is the desire to improve the coordination and collaboration of the sector and make it communicate, promote, and improve the total value chain,” she says. “The benefit of a common and collective ‘whole of industry’ voice, with direction and future opportunities stands to be shared with the industry and Government providing credibility that the ‘whole of industry’ is backing the content.” The pan sector group was an outcome of a ‘Forestry Supply Chain – Pan Sector Meeting’ held in Rotorua. The hui provided a shared understanding of the problems and opportunities the sector faced in a 15-year crisis for the forestry industry. “Collective discussions were had around what change would look like to generate a sustainable operating model that we don’t currently have,” says Prue. “This collective direction setting can better guide decisions for the future and define what can be done more effectively, more efficiently and potentially what can be rationalised or minimised.”

Eleven South West businesses will share in almost $10 million in funding as part of the WA Government’s Native Forest Transition Plan to continue to drive economic diversification and jobs in the region. Source: Timberbiz The New Industry Development Grants (NIDG) aim to attract new industries and support the expansion of businesses in timber communities. Bendotti Exporters, which trades under the WA Chip brand, will receive almost $2 million in funding. This will allow the Manjimup-based company to upgrade its potato processing line, increase production and offer new full-time employment opportunities. WA Chip supplies premium French fries to cafes, restaurants and pubs across Western Australia, processing up to 20,000 tonnes of locally grown potatoes every year. Other projects include the development of a new industrial floor resin industry in Northcliffe and Pemberton, a three million seedling nursery and mechanised planting unit in Albany as well as the establishment of a 50-seat Indigenous-themed restaurant in Nannup. The Cook Government says it is committed to the $80 million Native Forest Transition Plan which includes significant industry restructure payments and grant support to dependent industries and communities. For more information on the New Industry Development Grants visit: Native Forest Transition: New Industry Development Grants (www.wa.gov.au)

A conservation group has gone to court in a bid to halt logging in more NSW forests where vulnerable and endangered species live. Source: Timberbiz The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has repeatedly extended stop-work orders in the Tallaganda and Flat Rock state forests, alleging the corporation failed to competently look for habitat trees used by endangered species before harvesting began. Now the South East Forest Rescue (SEFR) group has launched court action in a bid to expand the list of forests where harvesting is banned until “adequate” surveys are done for imperilled species including the greater glider. “SEFR is seeking an injunction that the Forestry Corporation be permanently restrained from logging anywhere in the north east or south east forests unless they conduct effective surveys for gliders,” the group says. “SEFR’s position is that the Forestry Corporation is breaking the law by not performing adequate surveys for den trees, and necessary exclusion zones around den trees are not being implemented.” The matter will be heard in the NSW Land and Environment Court on Tuesday. The Forestry Corporation has voluntarily agreed to suspend harvesting operations in parts of seven state forests, pending Tuesday’s hearing. It says it’s working to improve the way it looks for important habitat trees before harvesting commences,” the Forestry Corporation said in a statement. “Forestry Corporation continues to work with the EPA on new approaches to surveys and searches for Greater Glider dens and fully cooperates with the EPA, as the body responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance of forestry operations in NSW.”

In the wake of the Federal Court’s recent decision on native forestry, Lyndon Schneiders (executive director of the Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation) tells us the Albanese government has recognised the need for a new native forestry approach. So too has the forestry industry. Source: The Australian No sector can expect to do things the way they have always been done. Least not the forestry sector. That’s why I accepted Agriculture Minister Murray Watt’s invitation to join union leader Michael O’Connor as co-chairs of his Strategic Forestry and Renewables Partnership. The partnership – among other things – will provide advice on the best way to secure the forest resources we need while also enhancing conservation and carbon values in the native estate. Anthony Albanese and his ministers understand that closing-down our sustainable native forestry sector is a recipe for higher consumer prices and more timber imports from countries that do not enforce Australia’s high environmental standards and practices. Responding to the Federal Court’s decision, NSW Premier Chris Minns also acknowledged both our domestic resource needs and growing import-dependence. Schneiders celebrates the unfortunate decisions in Victoria and Western Australia to shut down native forestry. Victoria is now importing its wood from Tasmania and Brazil and in WA the government departments are rushing to secure all the native product they can for their construction needs before the policy is implemented. They need it for important infrastructure including bridges and power poles. Schneiders talks about the importance of our plantation estate. The industry values it too. But due to high land prices, the plantation estate is not keeping pace with demand. The Albanese government is attempting to turn that around by providing planting grants and access to carbon credits. But even if successful, hardwoods take between 40 to 80 years to grow. And in a welcome move, at COP28 the Australian government signed up to the Greening Construction Coalition to increase timber in the built environment due to its ability to decarbonise the hard to abate construction sector. The fact is Australia – and the world – will need more timber products not less. Australia now imports more than $6 billion worth of forest products. The window frames, floorboards, back decks and staircases in our homes are typically made from hard woods, most of which comes from our native estate. The industry has access to just 4% of the native estate and takes around four in every ten thousand trees using sustainable practices. Every tree harvested is replaced with a younger tree which in turn absorbs more carbon than the older tree it replaces. The carbon stored in the harvested tree is transferred permanently to the built environment. Schneiders mischievously claims our native product goes to low-value products like “firewood, woodchips, landscaping and transportation pallets”. That’s the pallets that deliver our food and drinks to the supermarkets and bottle shops. But all of the products that Schneiders dismisses have value. Native hardwoods are manufactured into high value products. It makes no sense to do otherwise. But trees don’t grow perfect shape and there will always be offcuts. It’s a positive thing we turn them into things that have value. Schneiders was keen to repeat his assertion that the legal challenge was initiated by “community conservationists”. But we all know that while their name is on the application, it’s the activist machine that runs these cases. A machine typically funded by high wealth individuals in search of relevance and represented in court by a partly government-funded Environmental Defenders Office. It’s like Legal Aid for Greenies. In an attempt to put a positive spin on their loss, the activists made much of Her Honour’s conclusion that the future of native forestry was a matter for politicians, not the legal process. Yet our elected leaders in Canberra and Sydney have made their support for the sector clear. Thirty years ago, the politicians created the Regional Forest Agreements to put an end to the “forestry wars” by striking the right balance between conservation and our resource needs. The National Forestry Statement is due for a fine tune no doubt, but that’s not what the activists want. They want to kill yet another of our important sovereign capabilities. Joel Fitzgibbon is chair of the Australian Forest Products Association. 

It’s time Federal Government funding of the Environmental Defenders Office was turned off. Just last week it lost the case brought by the North East Forest Alliance (NEFA) against the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of NSW with its lawyers arguing that the RFA should not have been renewed without assessment and approval under federal environment laws. And this week it lost a landmark case against Santos’s $5.3bn Barossa LNG project, with claims the company’s proposed 262km pipeline would cause irreparable damage to First Nations people and their sites being rejected. The EDO, which again began receiving money – $10 million from Labor last year after a 10-year funding drought initiated by the Abbott government, is carrying out four additional cases in the Federal Court, one involving Woodside’s $16.5bn Scarborough offshore gas field and another relating to the federal government’s $13bn Murray-Darling Basin water plan. AFPA chair Joel Fitzgibbon told The Australian this week that legal aid for activists was “hurting” the Australian economy and called on the federal government to scrap taxpayer funds from the service. “Hopefully the broader community is beginning to see activist lawfare for what it is, ideological and a threat to our living standards,” he said. Mr Fitzgibbon said legal aid for green activists “makes no sense, there is no case for public funding”. He also wants the EDO to disclose a list of its donors. “It was another spurious claim by the EDO, a body constantly in search of a cause rather than one championing the national interest,” he said. “Legal aid for activists is hurting our economy and our reputation as an attractive place to invest. “There should be mandatory disclosure of donations. How else can we be confident there aren’t commercial interests at play?” It echoes a call by Senator Jonno Duniam and Senator Susan McDonald who late last year said in a joint statement that alarm bells should be ringing for the Albanese Government to defund the EDO. “The Albanese Government is enabling green lawfare and stifling billions in investment by funding the EDO. The need to revisit this arrangement couldn’t be more urgent,” Senator Duniam said. “The Government is out of touch. They are on the side of niche activists, not Australian workers and communities that would benefit from investment.” “When the Government’s own union backers and the WA Labor Government are questioning the regulations and power of environmental activists, alarm bells should be ringing for Federal Labor to change the way they are governing.” Shadow Resources Minister Susan McDonald said Labor’s divided, shambolic Cabinet was sending mixed signals to industry and crippling investment. “It is clear Labor doesn’t value mining and resources, and the fact even the unions are now criticising the government should prompt a serious rethink of how they are treating our most important industry,” she said. All three are of course right. Why should any Federal Government fund with taxpayer money an organisation which seems to do little more than use the courts to seek to block legitimate value-creating businesses from operating, or even starting up? The Santos case, according to respected financial journalist Peter Switzer, draws into question the tactics of environmentalists, who do have a right to question all projects and what impact they could have on the environment. “We can’t assume all miners and other businesses are great corporate citizens, but the law courts shouldn’t be used to screw big businesses that employ people, pay taxes, and help the share prices of stocks in our super funds,” he wrote. The delays are said to have cost Santos $800 million, and Switzer points out that while we should be thankful that our courts can play the fair referee (as we’ve seen with the Santos and RFA decisions), there are calls for the Albanese Government to pay a more active role in making sure regulatory actions are not one-sided and anti-business. This, he wrote, should be what you expect of a government that represents all our interests, which not only looks like common sense but also is fair. There is no doubt about that. No doubt at all.  

Global furniture retailer XXXLutz Group is taking pioneering steps towards the goal of climate neutrality and sustainability. Teaming up with Stora Enso the company is exploring game-changing alternatives to conventional packaging materials – Fibrease and Papira. Source: Timberbiz The collaboration is a milestone in the quest for eco-conscious packaging solutions and is a part of Stora Enso´s strategy to partner up with market leaders. By substituting traditional polymeric foams with lightweight wood-based alternatives, significant reductions in CO₂ emissions are possible. Similar to other used materials, like paper and cardboard, the foam materials are recyclable and can be disposed with paper and thus returned to the cycle. “These characteristics alone are reason enough to be even more motivated to start the testing phase. This affects packaging for our entire product range – from dinner plates to cabinets,” said Sascha Matzner, the XXXLutz Group’s head of ESG. ”All of us, retailers as well as manufacturers, are aware of the climate change issue and the heavy burden future generations will have to shoulder under current projections.” Stora Enso and XXXLutz Group’s collaboration heralds a promising era of eco-conscious practices in the furniture industry, setting the stage for widespread adoption of renewable and recyclable materials. Fibrease is a lightweight wood fibre composite foam made of wood from sustainably managed forests. It is flexible and has great damping and insulation capacity, whilst being recyclable in paper and board streams according to PTS assessment. The material is designed to replace PU foams in packaging solutions and is an excellent substitute to EPS in cold chain management. Papira is a bio-based and biodegradable foam made from wood sourced from sustainably managed forests. It is fully recyclable in regular paper and board streams, making it an ideal choice for protective packaging applications. Papira is highly shock absorbing, providing excellent protection for fragile and high value products. The lightweight and rigid foam can replace EPS and PE foams.

The Forest Stewardship Council is fundamentally changing its risk evaluations for forests. The next generation of risk assessments will replace the current way of assessing risks in forestry as part of the current controlled wood concept. Source: Timberbiz In an enhanced approach the new risk assessments will be of use for the production of FSC Mix products within the current controlled wood concept; but will also serve as a tool for risk evaluation in regard to new legal requirements such as the EUDR. These new risk assessments will therefore become an invaluable tool for companies to efficiently assess and mitigate risks. While doing so, FSC is going one step further by aiming for an alliance between partners facing similar challenges. This Risk Information Alliance will foster global sustainability leadership by collaborating with other sustainability leaders. The focus is on developing a single, standardized Risk Assessment framework that will benefit both certified and non-certified companies. The establishment of the Risk Information Alliance marks a transformative step for FSC, positioning it as a global leader in sustainability practices. The collaborative approach, streamlined processes, and standardized framework demonstrate a commitment to efficient risk assessment and mitigation, ultimately contributing to the preservation and responsible management of global forests. Establishing risk assessments to be used for various commodities will dramatically reduce effort needed by companies for due diligence practices. Risk Assessments from the Risk Information Alliance will be a key tool for supporting EUDR compliance, as both certified and non-certified companies will be able use them for implementing strong due diligence practices by showcasing risk assessment and mitigation for competent authorities. This development builds on the risk assessment work already in motion as part of FSC EUDR Aligned. The Risk Information Alliance aims to streamline the development of requirements and decision-making processes. By collaborating with other sustainability leaders, FSC can draw on collective expertise, ensuring that the Risk Assessment approach is comprehensive and aligned with global best practices. Through collaboration, FSC intends to maintain its leadership role in multi-stakeholder discussions. By actively engaging with other sustainability leaders, FSC can influence and shape global policies and practices related to risk assessment and mitigation. The alliance positions FSC as a leader not only within its own certification scheme but also in the broader field of risk assessment and mitigation. This leadership extends beyond FSC, contributing to the development of sustainable practices across various industries. The partnership allows FSC to address time constraints and capacity challenges by diversifying the processes involved in risk assessment. This reduces dependency on FSC alone, enabling a more efficient and timely completion of risk assessments. The alliance facilitates the sharing of FSC values, such as the assessment of High Conservation Value (HCV) protection and the exclusion of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), with other sustainability schemes. This collaborative approach enhances the overall effectiveness of risk assessment requirements. The new approach for FSC Risk Assessments will be applicable to Forest Management and Chain of Custody, including Controlled Wood, aligning with EUDR requirements. The changes and proposals for the risk assessments will be published for public consultation from 1 February 2024 – 1 March 2024. The Risk Assessments are one element among others to comply with the EUDR through FSC EUDR Aligned, and specifically the FSC Regulatory Module which forms part of it. The new Risk Assessment framework introduces several significant changes, differentiating it from the current system. FSC plans to expedite the development and maintenance of Risk Assessments, especially in response to the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The goal is to update existing Risk Assessments quickly and efficiently through the Risk Assessment Alliance, ensuring compliance and sustainability.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched a new phase of work supported with US$2 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to assist developing countries in monitoring and reporting data on both the state and changes in their forest cover more effectively and transparently. Source: Timberbiz The three-year project ‘Building global capacity to increase transparency in the forest sector: accelerating capacity-building, knowledge-sharing and awareness raising’ will build understanding of the importance of transparent forest data and strengthen capacities in developing countries to enhance the quality, timeliness, accessibility, and usability of their forest-related data. The project will directly benefit at least 20 countries and more broadly support 236 countries and territories that are part of the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment national correspondent network. “Forest data transparency is a cornerstone of effective climate action and sustainable forest management,” said Tiina Vähänen, Deputy Director of FAO’s Forestry Division. “It enables us to make informed decisions and achieve ambitious forest commitments such as Sustainable Development Goal 15 “Life onLand” and the Glasgow Declaration on Forests and Land Use, where over 140 countries committed to stop and reverse forest loss by 2030.” The project is the second phase of FAO’s work on forest data transparency supported by the GEF’s Capacity-Building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) fund, set up to help developing countries meet the requirements of the Paris Climate Agreement for enhanced transparency in how they report progress towards national targets on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and halting deforestation. Forests and land use are key components of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), providing a quarter of emission reductions planned by countries. Ensuring transparent tracking and reporting of these efforts necessitates enhanced data on forests and emission reductions, greater accessibility to advanced technical and innovative methods, and the strengthening of national forest monitoring systems. However, many developing countries lack the institutional or technical capacity to gather and share complete, reliable and timely data and face logistical challenges to monitor forests, especially in remote areas. ’The new project builds on the work of CBIT-Forest, from 2020-2022, aiming to address outstanding barriers and accelerate progress towards a world where forest data is transparent, accessible and continually monitored through cutting edge technology. The project will focus on developing capacities to champion open and transparent data at the national, regional and global levels through innovative global composite learning programs, combining virtual and in-person training. It will also work to cement regional networks with new partners including women, youth groups and academia to ensure sustainability and transparency of forest reporting. The project is set to enhance the Global Forest Resources Assessment platform, increase technical capacities and platforms for National Forest Monitoring Systems, and boost the development and dissemination of knowledge products related to forest data transparency.

Motivated by their own love of the environment, Pippa, Eli, Tyson and Ethan wanted to inspire other young people to care about the natural world as much as they do. The four Yahl Primary School students, with some help from their teacher Mel Holtz, chose storytelling as their medium and worked together to author and illustrate ‘Who will help? as part of a project through the Limestone Coast Landscape Board’s Young Environmental Leaders Program. Source: Timberbiz Who will help? is a story about a magpie, named Pippa, and a copperhead snake, named Eli, tasked with the search and rescue of two young swamp wallabies who go missing in The Valley Lakes. The creation process was a truly collaborative effort by the young Yahl Primary leaders, but it wasn’t without challenge. “It was a team effort,” Pippa said. “It was really fun and we got along. We only had one real argument. The challenge I guess was ‘creative differences’…” The student group did everything from creating characters and developing the story, to painting and illustrating every page. “We thought instead of coming up with random character names, we’d use our own names,” Eli said. “Ms Holtz’ favourite animal is the magpie, so we included that, and we researched what other native animals live around the area as well.” “We did the ink wash backgrounds together for each of the pages, decided where the images would go, then drew and created the pictures.” Consulting with local Boandik Elder Uncle Ken Jones and author Jo Watson, the students said they wanted to create a story that was local with places people would recognise but would resonate with anyone no matter where they were from. “Uncle Ken helped us with Boandik language, so we could include Boandik words in the story,” Pippa said. “At the back there’s a list of the words and the English translation. This made the book relevant to local people, but even if you’re from somewhere else, you can enjoy the story and learn about local culture and places.” “The book is aimed at younger kids, and really anyone, to inspire people stop littering, and to learn how actually care about the environment and animals.” Yahl Primary teacher Mel Holtz oversaw the project and was committed to supporting the students work by making sure the book was finished in a quality way. “Without the OneFortyOne grant, we would have just had to limit ourselves to photocopied versions,” Mel said. “I knew if we wanted the project to be successful and the students to feel like they’ve made something with a lasting impact, it needed to be good quality.” “We brainstormed organisations within the community that might support the project, and came across the OneFortyOne grants program.” The limited copies have been distributed to those who worked with the group to bring the story to life. A copy is also available at to loan from the Mount Gambier Public Library. “It feels really rewarding that the book is done, and we can share it with everyone,” Pippa said. “Creating the book and being a part of YELP was a great experience, took lots of effort, but it was worth it to achieve our goals.” “Hopefully it reaches lots of kids. If it gets a lot of interest we’ll do a softcover version.” “We hope everyone enjoys the story and that it inspires them to look after nature.”  

While global leaders discussed how to respond to “climate tipping points” at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Switzerland, one young science leader at Scion has emerged as an ambassador for the bioeconomy. Source: Timberbiz Dr Angelique Greene has been appointed as a Bioeconomy Youth Champion for the International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy (IACGB) in the Asia-Pacific region – and she’s now on a mission to gather more like-minded young people to grow awareness about the benefits of the bioeconomy for communities, the climate and the environment. She joins Kokuke Shiraishi from Kyoto University in Japan in co-leading the IACGB’s regional bioeconomy group for youth. Working together, they are recruiting researchers and young leaders to learn more about how youth are involved, understand and engage with bioeconomies in their own countries. Two workshops are on the horizon for the group. It’s hoped the first can be held this year in Rotorua, setting the stage for a second workshop in Kyoto, Japan, in 2025. The first workshop will focus on developing strategies for surveying and collecting data from young people across the Asia-Pacific region. The goal for the second is to create a culturally relevant and impactful study that can guide policy decisions and the transition to a bioeconomy. Insights gathered will be instrumental in helping countries respond to the changes that are already underway. Bioeconomy is not just a buzzword; it encompasses technologies such as biotechnology and sustainable agriculture that are crucial for solving the pressing issues related to climate change. With Scion helping New Zealand transition to a circular bioeconomy, Dr Greene and fellow Bioeconomy Youth Champions will help to assess the workforce pipeline, bioresource availability, and training needs in different regions. Dr Greene says her role reflects her commitment as a scientist to create a more sustainable future, while also highlighting the importance of involving the younger generation in shaping global policies that will affect their future. “The issues we’re focused on matter a lot to everyone around the world, but specifically to those who are most impacted by the effects of climate change. “In our Asia-Pacific region, Asia is the most populated area of the planet, and the Pacific Islands are often underrepresented on global issues. I’m strongly advocating for diverse indigenous populations that would traditionally be marginalised to be part of the conversation and have a voice.” Scientist Ki-Taurangi Bradford from Scion’s Te Ao Māori Research Group is the latest to join Dr Greene and her group who are actively recruiting members from countries such as Samoa, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Vanuatu, Philippines and Fiji. These countries represent a range of cultures, customs, and economic situations. Their indigenous communities also possess valuable knowledge about sustainable living and resource use, which can inform global bioeconomy strategies. Ms Bradford says she feels very motivated to contribute to the team. “I believe that the bioeconomy, with its potential to address climate change, promote inclusivity, and empower indigenous communities, aligns with my values and aspirations for a more equitable and sustainable future.” Before embarking on the youth survey, Dr Greene says a focus for the group will be asking if the terminology being used is correct for particular countries. “You might go into one country and say ‘bioeconomy’ and people will laugh and tell you they’ve been actively living the principles of a bioeconomy for thousands of years. It’s not a new concept for indigenous cultures. “Even a few hundred years ago, people lived off the resources of the land and used every part of things. In places like Samoa, it’s still how many people live their lives. This is why it’s important to have diverse global voices in the group.” In addition to workshops, Dr Greene and Ms Shiraishi will attend the Global Bioeconomy Summit hosted by the IACGB in late 2024 where they will share their work and experiences from the Asia-Pacific group. These global gatherings foster a sense of community, underlining the importance of collaboration in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges. Dr Greene’s work extends beyond her role as a Youth Champion. She is the project leader for the Waikato University-led MBIE-funded Amiomio Aotearoa project at Scion. This project focuses on building a circular economy in New Zealand by exploring sustainable recycling strategies for plastics. A key aspect of her research involves enzymatic plastic degradation, which offers a more sustainable and cleaner method for recycling plastics. Current mechanical or chemical recycling methods can only be repeated a limited number of times or can require harsh chemicals. Greene’s approach uses enzymes as bio-catalysts to break down plastics into their monomer components. These monomers can be used for energy production or to create new bioplastics, significantly reducing waste and environmental impact. “It’s work in the biotechnology space that we know will become increasingly important as we aim to move away from being so dependent on fossil fuels to create products,” Dr Greene said.

The NSW Rural Fire Service 2022/2023 Annual Report is now on the web it notes that there are a number of achievements to be considered. Source: John O’Donnell Hazard reduction burning and mechanical removal totalled 45,642 hectares for NSW (Appendix page 100): 82,393 ha burning. 7,696 ha mechanical. Unfortunately, areas of annual hazard reduction burning and mechanical reduction in NSW are both at very low rates and vary by year.  The areas of fuel reduction in NSW and estimated percentage of forested area based on 20 million hectares of forest in NSW were: 147,625 hectares in 2017/ 18 (estimated 0.7 % of NSW forested area); 199,248 hectares in 2018/ 19 (estimated 1 % of NSW forested area); 55,548 hectares in 2019/ 20 (estimated 0.3 % of NSW forested area); 176,499 hectares in 2020/ 21 (estimated 0.9 % of NSW forested area) and 44,642 hectares in 2021/ 22 (estimated 0.2 % of NSW forested area). 90,089 hectares in 2022/ 23 (estimated 0.5 % (actually 0.045 %) of NSW forested area. Over time, shortfalls and inadequate fuel reduction add up and result in build-up of very high fuel loads and strata across landscapes. Only 3.6 % of the NSW forested landscape has received fuel treatment over six years, this is extremely low and inadequate to reduce bushfire areas and risk. Native and plantation forests continue to be heavily exposed to lack of low intensity burns across landscapes, as highlighted in the photos below from the 2019/ 20 bushfires.  The data above over six years highlights ongoing miniscule rates of prescribed burning, which is very likely lower in landscapes away from communities. In addition, where intense bushfires have occurred, such as fuels resulting from the 2019/ 20 bushfires, there are large areas heavy undergrowth fuels, dead fuels and heavy grass fuel, this makes the conditions worse for firefighting, especially in adverse conditions. In relation to the risk remaining for future fire seasons, it is critical the bushfire risks for future fire seasons are soundly addressed, potentially including increased programs to manage fuels to catch up on shortfall seasons, fully using the additional fire mitigation employees identified in earlier NSW media releases, expanded maintenance burning and other available measures. There are large opportunities to expand the use of small aircraft, helicopters and drones for low intensity burning operations, using placed grid patterns for fires to join up in the cool of the evening and unburnt patches.   There are potential opportunities for a number of prescribed burning drones with individual brigades/ mitigation officers and fire regions. There are apparent opportunities to increase low intensity burning and mechanical treatment operations by NSW NPWS, noting a level of 71,768 hectares in 2022/23.   Noting a land area of 7.6 million hectares, this represents 0.9 % of area treated per year.  Using a forest area of 4,812,045, this represents 1.5 % of area treated per year if treatments only addressed forested areas. There are apparent opportunities to increase low intensity burning and mechanical treatment operations across private lands, noting a level of 4,270 hectares treated across NSW in 2022/23.  Using a forest area of 6,937,308 hectares on private lands, this represents 0.06 % of forest area treated per year.  There are major apparent opportunities for cooperative fuel reduction and maintenance programs between private landholders and government. There are apparent opportunities to increase low intensity burning and mechanical treatment operations by local government, noting a level of 4,254 hectares by NSW local government in 2022/23.  This had increased from 2021/ 22. Further detail that highlights low levels of prescribed burning across Australian states is a 2022 article titled “Review of prescribed burning and wildfire burning areas across Australia” which is available at: https://arr.news/2022/05/18/review-of-prescribed-burning-and-wildfire-burning-across-australia-john-odonnell/ Resilient safe, healthy landscapes is a critical issue being considered in many countries across the world, including work in the US on resilient landscapes in relation to bushfires.  Considering the extent of chronic eucalypt decline and thick understories in many NSW forests, strategies and actions to address these major issues across NSW landscapes and reduce intense bushfire risks are opportune but overdue, using low intensity maintenance burning and mechanical treatment of forests. The safety of fire fighters entering forested areas, particularly where there are high fuel loads, is a critical issue, and is a major risk area and has been for a long time. These matters are raised in order to optimise the safety of firefighting and communities and optimise protection of infrastructure/ assets, forests and the environment. The report is available at https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/resources/publications/annual-reports

Forest and Wood Communities Australia Executive Officer and renowned Australian singer-songwriter Mick Harrington has released a heartfelt anthem, “Cutting Down Our Town,” shedding light on the challenges faced by sustainable native timber towns in Victoria. Source: Timberbiz This emotive song serves as a rallying cry for those with timber in their blood, fighting for the survival of their communities amidst the shutdown. The poignant lyrics capture the essence of the ill-informed activist class, highlighting their lack of understanding of the hardships faced by country people. “Cutting Down Our Town” is more than just a song; it’s a powerful narrative amplifying the voices of timber communities, emphasizing the need for empathy and informed decision-making. Mr Harrington, with a deep connection to the cause, says all proceeds from the song will go towards his advocacy work for timber towns across Australia. Through his dedicated work with Forest and Wood Communities Australia, he aims to create awareness about the challenges these communities endure and champion their cause on a national scale. The song is available on Mick Harrington’s Bandcamp page: https://mickharrington.bandcamp.com/track/cutting-down-our-town “We’re standing up for the heart of our towns, for the generations with timber in their blood,” Mr Harrington said. “‘Cutting Down Our Town’ is not just a song; it’s a call to action. “Let’s join forces to support these communities and ensure their voices are heard,” he said.

Albioma has purchased the Tuan wood pellet plant in Queensland. The business, previously owned by Altus Renewables, went into administration in late 2023. Source: Timberbiz The plant’s raw material is formed of residues supplied under long-term agreements by the region’s main sawmills, which process wood from sustainably-managed forests. The plant, which has been in operation since 2014, produces 60,000 tonnes of high-quality wood pellets each year. The transaction also includes a 35,000-tonne storage facility in the port of Bundaberg and a 57-ha site in South Australia, near Mount Gambier, for a prospective wood pellet plant that could produce 300,000 tonnes per year. A construction permit has been secured for the site. Ideally positioned at the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin, these facilities will supply the Group’s biomass power stations on La Réunion. The acquisition serves Albioma’s objective of strengthening its security of supply of high-quality sustainable biomass. Albioma is a France-based independent renewable energy producer. It is mainly active in the biomass and solar photovoltaic sectors, mainly in mainland France and the French overseas territories. It is listed on the Euronext Paris. “We welcome the teams at Tuan, who are bringing all their expertise to Albioma,” Frédéric Moyne, Chairman of Albioma, said. “This operation will enable us to diversify our pellet supply portfolio, which meets the most stringent requirements on sustainable development. “In addition to locally sourced biomass, which is naturally given priority in order to promote the circular economy, this supply is essential to guarantee the continued production of renewable energy in the French Overseas Territories,” he said. “This acquisition steps up Albioma’s presence in the Indo-Pacific region, where we have been deeply rooted for decades”.  

The Federal Court decision to dismiss a challenge by environmental activists to the North East New South Wales Regional Forest Agreement meant that more than 5000 workers across the North Coast can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing their livelihoods aren’t facing an imminent threat, according to the Nationals Member for Oxley Michael Kemp. Source: Timberbiz The Court rejected the claims brought by environmental groups that the Regional Forest Agreement governing the industry was out of date and did not take into account current environmental issues. Mr Kemp said that after a year-long battle, common sense has prevailed, with the application by the North East Forest Alliance dismissed. “Hardwood timber is the backbone of the Mid North Coast and contributes significantly to the $2.9 billion industry,” he said. “There is no substitute for products like timber pallets that transport our groceries and put food on our tables. Hardwood is utilised in building materials, power poles, and essential transportation like bridges and railway tracks.” Mr Kemp said hardwood timber can coexist within the parameters of conservation. NSW forestry operations follow some of the strictest regulations and environmental standards across the world. “In 20 million hectares of State Forest, only 30,000 hectares are available for selective harvesting, equating to less than 0.1 percent or just 14 in 10,000 trees. Once an area is harvested, measures are in place to ensure regrowth and regeneration,” he said. “Shutting down the native timber industry will allow for poor harvesting practices overseas and create a global conservation concern. The ideological rhetoric behind ‘stop logging to save our species’ is hypocritical and serves to endanger forests offshore because those industries do not share our Australian standards.” Mr Kemp said the court’s verdict is a landmark decision in protecting our most sustainable industries. He said the NSW Government must follow the same line of common sense and support timber, keep it onshore, and protect flora and fauna while also protecting regional jobs.