Forest Products Industry

An audacious federal plan to protect the spotted owl would eradicate hundreds of thousands of barred owls in the coming years.

Resolute and Greenpeace have announced that they have resolved two long running disputes. The Greenpeace parties which were Greenpeace, Greenpeace Fund and Greenpeace International confirmed that they had no knowledge of illegal operations in off-limit areas by Resolute. Source: Timberbiz All parties are pleased that they have turned the page on these long-running litigations. The Greenpeace parties stated that their criticism was always directed at Resolute’s legal operations in certain forests that Greenpeace believes require more protection. Resolute said that it is committed to the sustainability of the boreal forest and prosperity of its communities. Resolute and Greenpeace agree everyone should be part of this discussion and to raise concerns with each other in an attempt to resolve factual disagreements.  

Now that the rebuilding of the entire roof structure of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral in solid oak has been completed, the FCBA Institute of Technology, along with PEFC France, has officially awarded PEFC project certification to public establishment Rebâtir Notre-Dame de Paris, the contracting authority for the restoration project. Source: Timberbiz This certification confirms the sustainable origin of the solid oak wood materials used, and the responsible nature of the work carried out by the contracting authority, chief architects of historic monuments and project managers. The medieval frames of the nave and choir, built in the 13th century, and those of the Viollet-le-Duc spire and both arms of the transept, dating from the 19th century, were destroyed in the fire on April 15, 2019. They were restored identically, using the same techniques and materials as the original, solid oak. By rebuilding Notre-Dame de Paris’ roof structure in wood, part of which the great roof is also known as “the forest”, the shared history of the cathedral and French forests will continue to be written for centuries to come. In a show of solidarity, the entire French forestry and timber industry mobilized to supply the wood needed to meet the specifications of this exceptional project. Actors from state-owned forests, community forests, forestry cooperatives, forestry experts, private owners and processing companies were all involved in ensuring that each stage of the reconstruction of the frameworks was carried out using a sustainable forest management approach, maintaining the balance between the economic, social and environmental dimensions of the forest. This systemic approach enables the renewal of the forests from which the timber was sourced, thereby maintaining their multifunctionality, while preserving diversity, vitality, productivity, and regeneration capacity. Project certification, developed by PEFC, certifies that at least 70% of the total volume of wood used is PEFC-certified, ensuring that PEFC’s forest certification requirements, which define and control a set of forest management rules applicable to all forest stakeholders (forest owners, forest managers, forest operators, forestry contractors), have been implemented. Additionally, the implementation of PEFC chain of custody in project certification certifies that all parties involved in a construction or renovation project, whether certified companies or subcontractors, have applied the control principles defined by PEFC, making it possible to track the flow of certified wood at every stage of the supply chain. Today, thanks to the 35 PEFC-certified sawmills involved in the project, the majority of which are PEFC-certified, 175 PEFC-certified forests, and the use of over 80% PEFC-certified logs, the entire framework of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral benefits from PEFC project certification. The implementation of PEFC’s rules for sustainable forest management on the one hand, and chain of custody on the other, means that PEFC certification can now be awarded for the entire Notre-Dame de Paris timber reconstruction project, a testament to stakeholder commitment to sustainable forest management and an environmentally, socially and economically responsible timber construction site. “I would like to thank PEFC France and the FCBA Institute of Technology for this certification. It recognizes the remarkable commitment and strong support of all the players in the forestry and timber industry: the ONF, France Bois Forêt and its members, the mayors of forest communities, private owners and their representatives, and sawmillers all over France, who donated trees and processed the timber. I extend my warmest thanks to them, as well as to the hewers, squarers and carpenters who have placed their expertise at the service of the cathedral’s rebirth, as part of an exemplary restoration project”, commented Philippe Jost, President of Rebâtir Notre-Dame de Paris. Christine de Neuville, President of PEFC France, added “awarding this certification today recognizes the commitment of not only the client, Rebâtir Notre-Dame de Paris, but also of the entire forestry and timber industry to the long-term survival of the French forest. This unprecedented industry mobilization to restore a symbol of French heritage is a perfect illustration of the vision and determination that PEFC has been pursuing for 25 years now: to bring together and offer all forestry stakeholders solutions to meet the common challenges that lie ahead: the changing environmental, economic and societal challenges facing forests in France in the face of global warming, and thus preserve the French forest”.

Japanese forestry and lumber industry groups are setting their sights on an initiative to establish an online market for trading trees before they are cut down. Source: The Japan Times With human-made forests in Japan, which constitute about 40% of the nation’s forested areas, entering full-scale harvest seasons, the process of “reforestation,” or planting new saplings after tree felling, has faced obstacles, primarily stemming from the considerable burdens placed on forest owners. The objective of the proposed market is to establish prices that account for reforestation expenses, thereby giving individuals greater incentive to be involved in forestry management and promoting the utilization of domestic lumber. “This tree is a century old,” Kenichi Sato, 69, of Hitachiota, Ibaraki Prefecture, said, looking up at a towering cedar, while giving a media tour of his 1.56-square-kilometer forest. Sato inherited the family’s forestry business following his father’s death. “There were times when I couldn’t afford to harvest trees extensively while I was preoccupied with earning (immediate) income,” he recalled. “Tree growth requires long-term patience. With each generation, there’s a growing indifference toward the forestry business, leading many to exit the industry.” The persistent decline in domestic log prices is attributed to stiff competition from imported lumber, which is abundant and available at lower prices. Typically, the prices of trees are determined after logging and transportation expenses are factored in. Consequently, forest owners often receive insufficient revenue to cover reforestation costs, leading many to leave their forests untouched after logging. To tackle the challenge, a council promoting initiatives to safeguard Japanese forests by utilizing domestic lumber and the Japan Forestry Mechanization Society have jointly proposed the establishment of a new online market. The council, a general incorporated association, was established by six industry groups. The aim of the proposal is to implement a system where forest owners can set desired prices for their trees, provided that they commit to reforestation efforts after logging. Nobutaka Hasumi, 52, also of Hitachiota, is optimistic about the potential of the new market. “Knowing the value of our trees could encourage us to offer them for sale,” said Hasumi, who oversees a forest spanning 960,000 square meters. Data from the Forestry Agency reveal, however, that approximately 90% of forest owners in Japan have plots smaller than 100,000 square meters. Many owners say they are contemplating relinquishing their forests due to their old age and issues over inheritance, according to agency officials. “It’s important to find ways to engage small-scale owners” in the proposed market, Hasumi said. In a report released by industry groups in January, lumber distributors and other potential buyers expressed favorable views regarding the proposed creation of the new market. One said, “Ensuring the sustainability of forest resources is a social responsibility,” while another said, “We hope for transparent pricing mechanisms.” Conversely, there were critical perspectives regarding the inclusion of reforestation costs in prices, with one official noting, “Users are unlikely to accept high prices without objection.” The industry groups plan to conduct demonstration tests at four or five locations sometime during the current fiscal year to March 2025, aiming to establish a nationwide market within the next few years. During the period, they will hold discussions to finalize operational details, such as the functioning of the market system and criteria for buyer participation. Satoshi Tachibana, a professor at Kyoto University who chaired a study group focused on the new market, said, “There’s a widespread acknowledgment that the forestry industry needs restructuring, and there’s increasing interest among companies in utilizing domestic lumber.” Highlighting the significance of industry collaboration with local governments, Tachibana said, “I think a pioneering deal could create momentum for nationwide expansion of the proposed market.”