Forest Products Industry

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.