Forest Products Industry

Södra has entered an agreement with the German corporate group Brüning Group under which Brüning Group will acquire parts of Södra’s operations in Denmark, including project sales, interior wood products, and the trading activities within the bioenergy business. Source: Timberbiz The transaction forms part of Södra’s efforts to focus on its core businesses and create a more efficient organisation. Through this change, Södra will be able to further concentrate resources and expertise on its different business areas while continuing to develop its offering in the Danish market. At the same time, Brüning Group will have the opportunity to further develop the operations included in the agreement. Completion of the transaction is expected by the end of September 2026. “The transaction strengthens our ability to focus on the areas where we see the greatest potential going forward. At the same time, our ambition is to ensure a smooth transition for customers, business partners and employees. We will continue to maintain a strong presence in the Danish market,” said Johannes Bogren, Executive Vice President, Södra Bioproducts. He emphasises that the transaction does not mean Södra is leaving Denmark. Rather, the business is being adapted to create better conditions for continued growth and development across the Group’s business areas. “Denmark is an important market for us, and we see strong opportunities to continue developing our business there. This change enables us to focus our resources while ensuring that customers and business partners continue to benefit from a strong product offering from Södra,” Mr Bogren said. Denmark remains an important market for Södra Group´s different business areas. Through Södra Wood, the company will continue to supply structural timber and pressure-treated timber products, while Södra Building Systems will continue to offer cross-laminated timber (CLT) and Södra Bioproducts will continue to develop its bioenergy and biochemicals business in Denmark, with sales and customer relations coordinated from Sweden. Brüning Group is an established player in the trading and distribution of wood and bioenergy-related products. Södra views the acquisition positively and welcomes the fact that the operations will be taken forward by an owner with extensive experience and expertise in the relevant market segments.

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Forests are among the planet’s most important natural resources, storing carbon, supporting biodiversity, and supplying everything from timber to clean water. Source: Visual Capitalist This graphic ranks the 15 countries with the most forest in 2025, from Russia’s vast boreal forests to the tropical forests of South America and Central Africa. The data comes from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Russia ranks first with 833 million hectares of forest, about 70% more than second-ranked Brazil and equal to roughly one-fifth of the global total. Canada ranks third with 369 million hectares, followed by the US at 309 million and China at 227 million hectares. Russia’s vast forest area is closely tied to its geography. Much of it stretches across Siberia, part of the enormous boreal forest belt spanning the northern reaches of the planet. Together, the 15 countries in this ranking account for nearly three-quarters of the world’s forest area. The Americas are especially prominent, with eight countries making the list: Brazil, Canada, the US, Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Bolivia, and Venezuela. The top five countries, Russia, Brazil, Canada, the US and China, account for more than half of global forest area. Forest area matters for more than timber, biodiversity, and carbon storage. In the US, which ranks fourth globally, forests also play an outsized role in the country’s water supply. Overall, forests generate about 46% of the surface water supply in the contiguous US. By capturing precipitation, filtering water, and feeding rivers and reservoirs, forests directly support water supplies that millions of Americans rely on every day.

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The forestry industry in the southwest of France is preparing for a large-scale timber harvest of wood damaged by the July fires. Sources: Forest Brief  and Le Monde According to preliminary estimates from local authorities, the fires in the Gironde department affected 39–41 thousand hectares of maritime pine plantations, which corresponds to approximately 3.5 million m³ of timber. This is nearly two-thirds of the usual annual timber production in the Landes de Gascogne forest region, which encompasses the territories of Gironde and Landes. This was reported by Le Monde, citing data from the local prefecture. Additionally, a fire near Biscarrosse damaged approximately 210 thousand m³ of timber. Thus, the potential volume of timber that the French sector will need to urgently assess, harvest, and process after the two fires approaches 3.7 million m³. The fire in Gironde, which started on July 22, was localized by the end of the month. However, foresters currently do not have full access to the most affected areas. The ground in parts of the forest remains hot, and smoldering can resume after machinery passes through. According to French experts, full-scale work in certain areas will likely have to wait for the autumn rains. Once the forests are opened, actual salvage logging — sanitary harvesting of damaged trees will begin. The main task is to extract the timber as quickly as possible while it still retains industrial value, before the development of fungal infections and the spread of bark beetles. The degree of damage to the plantations varies widely. In some areas, the fire passed through the tops of the trees and completely destroyed the needles. In other places, the underbrush burned primarily, while the trunks of the maritime pine remained relatively unscathed. That is why the timber can be directed to different segments. The most damaged material can be used for: fuel pellets; energy wood. Higher quality timber may potentially be used for: pallets; the pulp and paper industry; plywood; beams and other sawn timber.   According to Le Monde, depending on the degree of damage and end use, the price of such pine can range approximately from €10 to over €50 per m³. The scale of the problem is best seen when compared to the normal volume of work in the local forestry industry. The damaged 3.5 million m³ in Gironde corresponds to nearly two-thirds of the timber that the Landes de Gascogne region typically produces over an entire year. This means that the sector potentially has to accept a volume that, under normal conditions, constitutes a significant portion of the annual raw material flow in a relatively short time. This is where the main economic risk arises. The mass influx of damaged timber is capable of creating serious pressure on the local market. It’s not just about a possible drop in prices. Physical constraints arise: the capacity of logging machinery; the amount of available transport; storage capabilities; the capacity of sawmills; the capacities of manufacturers of boards, paper, pallets, and biofuels.   Therefore, even if a significant portion of the timber retains industrial value, the sector has limited time to realize it. Le Monde notes that local market participants are already preparing for a significant influx of raw materials and potential price pressure. The forestry sector in the southwest of France enters this period already weakened. In addition to the fires, the region has recently faced the consequences of storms, issues with the pine nematode, and high fuel costs. This further complicates the economics of quickly harvesting and transporting millions of cubic meters of timber. Another feature of Landes de Gascogne is the ownership structure. According to Le Monde, about 89% of the forest land in the region is owned by private owners. This means that the process of recovering and marketing the damaged timber will require coordination among a large number of owners, logging companies, and processors. The French authorities have already recognized the situation as a natural disaster, which should simplify some administrative procedures and open access to financial support for harvesting and restoring forests. This is not the first major blow for the region. The fires of 2022 also caused significant damage to the forests of Gironde and Landes and created a large volume of emergency timber. The current situation is yet another test for the model of intensive maritime pine cultivation, on which a significant part of the forestry economy in the southwest of France is built. The fire has also reignited the discussion about broader firebreaks, the structure of plantations, and the overall adaptation of the region’s forestry to the increasing fire risk. For the European timber market, this situation is significant not only because of the scale of the fire itself. 3.5 million m³ of damaged pine in Gironde and another approximately 210 thousand m³ in the Biscarrosse area — this is potentially a very large additional flow of coniferous raw material. However, it will not appear on the market all at once. The pace of harvesting will be determined by access to the damaged forests, the condition of the timber, logistics capabilities, and the ability of French enterprises to absorb additional volumes. That is why the main question in the coming months will be not only how much timber can be salvaged, but also how quickly the French market can absorb it without a sharp drop in prices. For other European conifer producers, this may also be significant: a substantial volume of cheaper salvage timber could potentially impact regional raw material flows, the production of pallets, boards, pulp, and biofuels. The scale of this impact will become clearer after the full-scale autumn harvesting begins.

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Snow gums are the iconic vegetation species of the Australian High country. They are beautiful, vital for biodiversity and tourism, help hold snow pack which is released into river catchments, and hold deep cultural value for many people. Source: Timberbiz However, we are now seeing the beginning of ecosystem collapse across these forests – drought, dieback and successive fires have altered the structure, composition, and condition of snow gum woodlands dramatically. During August 2026 resort and mountain loving communities were invited to join Friends of the Earth for a couple of hours of citizen science to better understand the health of local snow gum forests. ARV is inviting resort communities to join in on these surveys that are taking place across Baw Baw, Falls Creek, Mt Hotham, Mt Buller and Mt Stirling throughout August. These surveys will be happening as part of a process to gather data about the health of snow gum forests and will be used to assist in gaining threatened species listing under federal environmental laws.

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Imagine a barren stretch of land in the middle of New Zealand’s North Island. Very little grows there. Farmers tried for decades and failed, since a mineral deficiency in the soil kept killing their cattle. Source: The Times of India To make the land productive, the government tried something unusual: it sent prisoners, and later thousands of unemployed men, to plant trees there. As Michael Roche, a historical geographer, explained in the study, ‘The New Zealand timber economy, 1840–1935,’ this unusual experiment eventually produced Kaingaroa Forest, which is now the largest planted forest in New Zealand and the second largest in the Southern Hemisphere. The Kaingaroa Forest sits in the Bay of Plenty region, located between Taupo and Rotorua. The area is covered with pumice, a light volcanic rock formed after a massive eruption about 1,800 years ago. Even though it looked like fertile ground, the soil was not suitable for healthy cattle grazing. For many years, no one knew why the livestock kept falling ill and dying. It was later discovered that the soil lacked cobalt, a trace element essential for survival. The Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand notes that the government eventually gave up on farming these plains and turned to forestry instead, hoping trees would succeed where sheep and cattle had failed. The first trees at Kaingaroa were not planted by paid workers, but by prisoners. From the early 1900s, New Zealand ran special “tree-planting prisons,” and men from the nearby Waiotapu prison dug holes and set seedlings across the pumice plain. In his research on 1920s plantation forestry titled ‘(Re)Interpreting Exotic Plantation Forestry in 1920s New Zealand,’ Roche explains that these early prison plantations acted as a large-scale trial, proving that exotic trees could survive on land everyone had written off. It was hard, thankless work, but it laid the groundwork for everything that followed. The tree that made the whole project a success was not even a native of New Zealand. Pinus radiata, also called the Monterey pine, comes from a small stretch of the California coast. It had been introduced into New Zealand since the 1850s but was not valued for its timber properties. It turned out to be the right tree for the job: it grew fast, produced abundant seed, and tolerated poor soils such as pumice. With no enemies in New Zealand, it grew faster than in California. New Zealand set up a proper Forestry Department in 1919, and planting increased rapidly shortly thereafter. In 1926, the government began sending unemployed men to Kaingaroa for paid work. However, the Great Depression came along, and the scheme became far larger than before. The Te Ara Encyclopedia records that more than 1,500 men were, at times, working on these unemployment relief schemes through the early 1930s, many with no forestry experience, in tough, muddy, freezing conditions. The results were dramatic. By 1935, according to the encyclopedia, Kaingaroa State Forest alone had grown to roughly 104,873 hectares, planted almost entirely by hand. A plain that had defeated previous generations of farmers was eventually lined with pine trees. The afforestation spree never really stopped. Today, Kaingaroa Forest covers 205,000 hectares, and some of its sections are in the middle of their fourth tree planting cycle. In 2009, the land was ceded to the indigenous Māori tribes as part of a Treaty of Waitangi settlement, but the trees continue to be managed by Kaingaroa Timberlands. Kaingaroa Forest supplies over 4.5 million cubic meters of logs annually. More than 65 per cent of the harvest is used locally for construction timber, posts, poles and packaging, while the lower-quality logs are exported through the Port of Tauranga. In an era marked by climate change anxiety and curiosity about how environmental restoration on a large scale might occur, Kaingaroa offers a good example. It indicates that severely damaged land can be restored through patience and persistence in the right conditions. It also carries an uncomfortable side, built partly on prison labour and land taken from Māori communities. Kaingaroa remains a reminder of a century shaped by unemployed workers, prisoners, and one adaptable Californian tree.

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A new series of machine-assisted felling training videos has been released by Wairarapa-based Farman Turkington Forestry Ltd (FTFL) in partnership with Safetree and Competenz, giving forestry workers practical guidance on carrying out this high-risk work safely. Source: Timberbiz Machine-assisted felling is typically used when a tree needs to be felled against its natural lean or where obstacles such as buildings, fences, power lines or waterways mean greater control over the tree’s direction of fall is needed. The five videos are presented by registered forestry trainer, assessor and safety auditor Jason (Jay) Hemopo of Manaia Tu Ltd, who is also a Safetree auditor. Together, they provide detailed, step-by-step guidance on planning and carrying out machine-assisted felling safely. The series includes: An Introduction to machine-assisted felling: Covering when machine-assisted felling is appropriate, site assessments, communications, felling plans, escape routes and the importance of reassessing conditions throughout the day. Grapple Digger Push: Demonstrating how to use a grapple digger to assist with felling safely. Grapple Digger Pull: Showing how an excavator grapple can be used to pull over a tree when pulling provides greater control. Winch Pull: Covering the safe use of ground-based winch machines and cable haulers. Behind the Training: Featuring FTFL managing director Guy Farman explaining the background to the project and the lessons learned.   All five videos are available on the Safetree website. The training resources were developed following the death of machine-assisted feller Steven Whare in January 2021. Mr Whare was killed while working on a difficult macrocarpa shelterbelt when he was struck by a broken branch from a neighbouring tree. Following investigations into the incident, FTFL entered into a court-approved enforceable undertaking with WorkSafe. The undertaking required the company to undertake activities aimed at raising awareness of both the incident and the risks associated with machine-assisted felling. The company was also required to assist in improving relevant unit standards and guidance material to reflect lessons learned from the fatality. The new video series forms part of that work. The videos are intended to help establish a clear baseline for safe practice across the industry. FTFL has also changed the way it pays workers carrying out machine-assisted felling, moving them onto an hourly rate to take away production pressure. Safetree chief executive Joe Akari, who helped facilitate the enforceable undertaking requirements, says the videos are an important contribution to improving safety across the forestry sector. “There are no upsides to a fatality, and in circumstances like these, the industry owes it to the individual involved, their family, colleagues, community and the wider forestry sector, to take all the learnings it can from such a devastating event. I think these videos help to do that.” https://www.safetree.nz/resources/machine-assisted-felling

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Students from Rushworth P-12 College recently marked the end of their Youth Takeover project, Respecting Our Forest. Students celebrated the results of their eight-week collaboration with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action Forest Fire Management, at a launch event. Source: Timberbiz The Youth Takeover program was delivered through a partnership between Rushworth P-12 College, Campaspe Cohuna Local Learning and Employment Network and DEECA Forest Fire Management. “Through partnerships with local industry, students have the opportunity to experience real workplaces, solve authentic challenges and develop the skills, confidence and connections that will support them well beyond school,” CCLLEN project co-ordinator Cath Elms said. Led by DEECA Forest Fire Management representative Terence Roberts, the project immersed students in forest and fire management, giving them insight into the environmental, cultural and community importance of Victoria’s forests. Students worked alongside industry professionals to explore the role of planned burning, biodiversity, cultural values and bushfire preparedness, while also gaining an understanding of the work being undertaken in their region and explore the diverse career opportunities available within the industry. For the students involved, the project offered a fresh perspective on learning. “It was fun and eye-opening,” Year 12 vocational major student Hayley Marshall said. “It allowed us to develop new and previous skills like teamwork. We all had to work together.” The launch event was well attended by school and community leaders, including Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell, alongside representatives from DEECA, CCLLEN, and the Department of Education.

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The New Zealand Forest Growers Levy Trust (FGLT) application process for 2027 funding will take place in September this year as an open call, consistent with previous years. Source: Timberbiz Applicants will have from 1 – 30 September 2026 to prepare and submit their funding applications online. Any individual, organisation or business with a project or initiative that stands to directly benefit New Zealand’s forest growing sector can apply for funding. Funding eligibility Any individual, organisation or business with a project or initiative that stands to directly benefit New Zealand’s forest growing sector can apply for funding for the 2027 calendar year. Projects must demonstrate a clear and direct benefit to New Zealand’s forest growing sector Information submitted to the FGLT must be accurate, true and complete to the best of the applicant’s knowledge at the time of applying for funding Applications are to be submitted online, according to the FGLT’s instructions, by 5pm, Wednesday 30 September, 2026. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be eligible for funding.   Only applications submitted through the online form are eligible for funding. An ‘Application Worksheet’ – an exact copy of the online form in a word document format – will be made available online in August so that applicants can prepare for the questions required to be answered. It’s not a requirement to complete this worksheet but applicants are encouraged to make use of it to help prepare their responses offline, ahead of time. When you’re ready, copy your responses from the worksheet into the online application form using the link provided on this webpage. The online application form has a ‘Save and continue later’ function allowing applicants to come back to, and complete, the form later. If using this feature, a link will be sent to the email you provided in the ‘Contact information’ section. Click on the link in the email to resume your application. If completing the form over multiple sessions, use the original email and link to access your application again. All applicants must submit their proposals to the FGLT using the online form by the Wednesday 30 September 2026 deadline. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered for funding. More information at: https://fgr.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/FGLT-2027-Request-for-proposals_Research-funding_August-2026.pdf https://fglt.org.nz/work-programme/funding-process

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Responsible Wood has extended nominations for the 2026 Richard Stanton Memorial Leadership Award to Friday, 28 August. Source: Timberbiz The annual award recognises an individual who has demonstrated leadership, innovation and commitment to sustainable forest management or Chain of Custody certification under the Responsible Wood Certification Scheme. The online nomination form takes just minutes to complete, but the recognition lasts a lifetime. In 2025, the Award was presented to Shona Heading for her outstanding leadership and contribution to sustainable forest management and the promotion of certified Australian timber through the Australian Araucaria campaign. Established in 2015, the Richard Stanton Memorial Leadership Award honours the late Richard Stanton, a pioneer in sustainable forestry both in Australia and internationally. Responsible Wood CEO Simon Dorries encouraged the forestry and forest products sector to nominate individuals whose work deserves greater recognition. “Many across our industry are making an important contribution to responsible forestry and certified supply chains,” Mr Dorries said. “This award is an opportunity to recognise those who lead by example, bring people together and support the integrity of sustainable forest management and sustainably sourced materials.” The recipient will receive a $2,000 bursary to support their professional development, such as conference attendance or a course of their choice. Nominations now close Friday, 28 August 2026. Learn more https://www.responsiblewood.org.au/what-we-do/our-collective-impact/richard-stanton-memorial-leadership-award/ or Nominate online https://form.typeform.com/to/O2RpQD6B

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The National statement on First Nations in agriculture, fisheries and forestry, which provides a blueprint for greater self-determined participation, leadership and economic inclusion, has been released. Source: Timberbiz The statement was developed collaboratively by Australian, state and territory governments in consultation with First Nations peoples and industry stakeholders. It brings together different knowledge systems, perspectives, and experiences to help build a stronger, more resilient and sustainable sector for all Australians. The National statement recognises the contribution of First Nations peoples and outlines a long-term framework, with six priority areas to guide future collaboration and action including; leadership and workforce, finance and business support, knowledge-sharing and safeguards, Indigenous Estate, trade and market access, and government coordination.   Combined, these priorities aim to support increased self-determined participation and economic opportunities. The National statement closely aligns with broader national priorities including the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and the First Nations Economic Partnership. Through this alignment, the statement aims to create opportunities for future collaboration across governments, industry and First Nations stakeholders, with progress reported annually to Agriculture Ministers for at least five years. “By bringing together traditional knowledge systems, perspectives and experiences, we can help build a stronger, more resilient and sustainable agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector for the benefit of all Australians,” Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins said. “This Statement sets out a shared vision for supporting greater First Nations participation and economic opportunities, while recognising the importance of self-determination and genuine partnership. “I look forward to continuing to work with my state and territory colleagues to support greater First Nations participation and economic inclusion across our agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors.” For more information and to read the National statement visit: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/about/commitment/first-nations-aust-ag-fish-forestry/national-statement

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