Australian timber industry news

The Finnish Sawmilling Industry Association says wood construction should be recognised as part of Finland’s sustainable growth, competitiveness and clean transition investments. Source Fordaq The Finnish Sawmilling Industry Association has called for wood construction to be placed more firmly at the centre of Finland’s sustainable economic growth, competitiveness and clean transition investments. In comments prepared for Ministry of Employment and Economy officials’ talks, the association said Finland has a strong forest and sawmill industry base, supported by renewable domestic raw material. According to the association, this base can support higher value-added business, exports and regional vitality. The association said the growth of wood construction can increase the value added of domestic wood and strengthen investments, exports and employment across Finland. It also said that the use of domestic wood in construction should be increased more widely, beyond wood construction alone. The association said the growth of the wood construction market should be seen as part of Finland’s competitiveness, industrial policy and low-carbon built environment. In its view, wood construction offers a concrete way to combine climate goals, eco-nomic growth, investments, exports and regional vitality. It also highlighted the role of wood in construction quality, comfort and user-friendliness, noting that research shows people feel comfortable in wood-based buildings and perceive wood as a pleasant material in housing and public spaces. The association emphasized that a long-term and predictable operating environment is a key prerequisite for investments, innovations and the growth of higher value-added wood-based solutions. The Finnish Sawmilling Industry Association presented five key proposals for strengthening wood construction in Finland. Introduce life-cycle-based carbon limits for buildings. Increase the use of wood in public construction and public procurement. Direct RDI funding towards wood construction innovations and new wood construction solutions. Strengthen training and expertise in timber construction at all levels of education. Launch a national timber construction programme led by the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, supported by a high-level cross-administrative steering group.   According to the association, Finland is not yet fully using the potential of wood construction and wood use to strengthen the added value of domestic wood, investments and regional vitality. It said the use of wood in construction has decreased significantly in Finland over the past 20 years. Wood construction is also still growing too slowly in relation to national climate, growth and export targets. The association said the current regulatory and market environment does not sufficiently support the growth of wood construction or the wider use of wood in construction. The association said Finland needs new high value uses for domestic wood, and that wood construction represents a significant opportunity. It added that the sector can increase investments, exports and employment throughout the country. While wood construction has been promoted in several government programmes and strategies, the association said practical measures and their effectiveness have remained fragmented. It called for more long-term and cross-administrative implementation to grow the wood construction market. Proposed solutions include creating a predictable operating environment, using public procurement to develop the market, directing RDI funding towards new wood construction solutions, and developing regulation and permitting processes in a way that enables investments. The association said the share of wood construction in Finland is still growing too slowly in relation to climate, investment and employment goals. Slow market development, it said, weakens the opportunity to create new jobs, in-crease investments and raise the value added of domestic wood in Finland. It also limits opportunities to strengthen regional vitality and exports linked to wood construction and wood products. To address this, the association called for stronger timber construction teaching at different levels of education, closer cooperation between universities, educational institutions and companies, and better availability of skilled labour for the expected growth of wood construction. The Finnish Sawmilling Industry Association also linked wood construction to Finland’s climate goals and clean transition investments. It said emission reductions in the built environment are progressing too slowly and that the potential of wood construction is not being fully used as part of climate, in-vestment and industrial policy. The association called for construction guidance to take account of buildings’ cli-mate impacts across their full life cycle. It also said the potential of wood construction to reduce life-cycle emissions and act as long-term carbon storage in the building stock should be recognised. It added that substitution effects of materials should be considered as part of the climate impacts of construction. In its final remarks, the association said the growth of wood construction can strengthen Finland’s competitiveness, increase investments and raise the added value of domestic wood products. It said the same growth can also support regional vitality, employment and exports throughout Finland. The association concluded that Finland has excellent conditions to increase the share of wood construction as part of sustainable economic growth and competitive industrial policy, but that a long-term and predictable operating environment will be essential for new investment.  

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Spruce has long been the default choice in the Swedish construction sector. However, interest in pine as a structural timber is now growing both within the sawmill industry and among construction stakeholders. Source: Timberbiz According to Norra Timber, this shift is about broadening the perception of which timber species can be used in construction and creating greater flexibility at a time when raw material availability is changing. “It is the strength class that determines performance, not the species itself. Properly graded and strength-classified pine performs just as well as spruce in structural applications,” said Erik Högbom, Sales Director for Building Products at Norra Timber. The industry body Svenskt Trä has also highlighted that pine has significant untapped potential in construction, and several Swedish sawmills are now expanding their product portfolios with pine-based structural products. In Sweden, spruce has traditionally dominated structural timber applications, largely due to convention. However, when timber is graded to strength classes such as C24, both pine and spruce meet the same technical requirements for load-bearing structures. Both species are already used in applications ranging from roof trusses to floor joists. “Spruce has become the norm more out of habit than technical necessity. By also using pine, the construction industry gains access to equivalent alternatives and a broader supply base,” said Mr Högbom. For builders’ merchants and contractors, this means greater flexibility to plan projects based on availability and demand, rather than relying on a single species. “We are seeing a clear increase in demand for pine studs. Many customers value the ability to choose between equivalent options, strengthening both supply security and competitiveness in their projects,” he said. This development is also driven by changes in raw material availability. In recent years, spruce supply has been affected by factors such as bark beetle infestations, storm damage and strong demand across Europe, while the availability of pine has increased. As a result, more stakeholders are reassessing how different timber species are utilised. A broader use of pine can also contribute to more efficient resource utilisation across both forestry and the wood processing industry. “When both pine and spruce are used in structural applications, we make better use of the forest resource and strengthen the long-term availability of structural timber,” Mr Högbom said. According to Norra Timber, advances in sawmilling technology, kiln drying and grading processes have also played a key role in changing perceptions of pine as a structural material. Modern quality control systems now deliver a more consistent and predictable product than in the past. “A lot has changed over the past decade. With today’s production methods and quality control, pine studs are a highly consistent, high-performance product – making pine just as suitable as spruce for structural use,” Mr Högbom said.

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Canada’s Ontario government is investing more than Can$14 million to build a modern, digital system to inventory the province’s forest resources, giving industry access to better information to invest, grow and create jobs. Source: Timberbiz As part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario, this investment will modernize the Forest Resources Inventory (FRI) Information Management System, the essential database of Ontario’s managed forests, by replacing outdated systems with cutting-edge technology to make critical forest data more accurate, accessible and easier to use. “Ontario’s forest sector is a key economic driver that supports good-paying jobs and the workers and communities that depend on them across the province,” said Kevin Holland, Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products. “As a leader in advanced forest inventory technology, Ontario is equipping industry with the data it needs to stay competitive, make faster decisions and establish the regulatory framework needed to support long-term growth.” Through a strategic partnership with Microsoft, powered by Databricks technology, the province is developing customized digital tools to modernize how Ontario collects, stores and shares forest inventory information, strengthening the sector’s long-term competitiveness and resilience in the global economy. “Microsoft Canada is incredibly proud to have partnered on the Forest Resource Inventory (FRI), helping transform vast, growing volumes of forest data into accessible, actionable insights. The FRI is critical to enabling sustainable forest management, driving innovation, and supporting the long-term health and growth of Ontario’s forestry sector,” Robert Wood Microsoft said. This work is a key commitment in the Roadmap to Protecting Ontario’s Forest Sector, Ontario’s 10-year plan to defend forestry workers and businesses, adapt to global market pressures and grow long-term demand for Ontario wood products. Historically, a forest resources inventory was produced using static, digital images stored on physical drives. By leveraging cutting-edge lidar technology, a sophisticated remote-sensing tool that measures distances using laser pulses of light, Ontario can capture precise information about forest structure and ground elevation, some individual tree characteristics and three-dimensional views of forest landscapes. This provides a far more detailed and accurate picture of Ontario’s forests than was previously possible. This investment will support the secure storage and analysis of more than 3,700 terabytes of lidar data on a cloud-based, secure data platform, more than eight times the amount of data stored in NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope data archive. In addition to supporting forest industry, this inventory plays a vital role in informing broader natural resource management decisions including land-scape analysis, land use planning decisions and wildfire management. “This investment puts better tools in the hands of the people who manage and depend on Ontario’s forests,” said Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources. “By investing in this innovation, we’re giving the forestry sector clearer, more reliable information to plan ahead, reduce operational burden and make confident decisions that will drive growth and protect the land and resources Ontarians depend on, today and for generations to come.” Guided by the Roadmap to Protecting Ontario’s Forest Sector, modernizing the Forest Resources Inventory and cutting red tape are essential to keeping Ontario’s forest sector strong and competitive. Reliable forest data gives industry the confidence to invest, create jobs and build a more resilient sector for workers and communities across Ontario.

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Dangerous incidents involving trailers unintentionally disconnecting from heavy vehicles have doubled compared with the same time last year, with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator issuing an urgent warning to operators. Source: Timberbiz National data collected by the NHVR shows a clear rise in the number of potentially critical incidents, with 8 trailer drop incidents already recorded in 2026, as well as one serious injury from a crash. In April 2025 there was a fatal crash in New South Wales when a dolly and two rear trailers became detached from the lead trailer. NHVR Chief Operations Officer Paul Salvati said while the heavy vehicle industry was doing it tough at the moment, safety needed to remain the number one priority. “We know it is a challenging time for many people and heavy vehicle drivers play a crucial role in keeping our country moving, however safety standards are critical,” he said. “Our data shows an increase in heavy vehicle incidents due to unplanned trailer drops and decoupling events, which we know can be minimised by drivers taking steps like conducting pre‑start checks before every journey. “Drivers must be trained in the safe system of work and a failure to check vehicles and trailers thoroughly can create serious safety risks for drivers on the road.” Key contributing factors to crashes and fatalities included mechanical wear or failure, operator error or distraction, improper loading and dynamic forces on combinations. Drivers are urged to follow a checklist before getting behind the wheel of a heavy vehicle, including: Undertaking a thorough visual inspection of couplings – including drawbars and towbars – and removing any covers or protective plates to check for wear, dam-age, or defects and reporting any issues before moving the combination Ensuring coupling components are clean and free from dirt or debris which may prevent proper engagement of couplings or locking mechanisms Ensuring all air lines, electrical cables and safety chains are correctly secured and operational before departure Conducting a walk around of the combination and complete a final visual check Performing a tug test prior to departure.   Mr Salvati said without proper cautions taken, members of the heavy vehicle industry risked contributing to serious crashes or road fatalities. “These factors can significantly increase safety risks, particularly on high-speed roads where a trailer loss can have severe consequences for both the driver and other road us-ers if the trailer is dropped and it causes a hazard on the road,” he said. “This can lead to crashes, or worse – fatalities – when a driver hits, or swerves to miss a dropped trailer. “It’s important all of industry takes this issue seriously so everyone can return home safely to their families at the end of the day.” From July 2024 to April 2026, the NHVR identified a total of 26 trailer drop incidents across its regulated jurisdictions. Mr Salvati warned that while the NHVR was aware of increasing incidents, many more could occur without being reported. “If anyone is concerned about safety or the potential for a trailer-related crash to occur, they can speak anonymously to the NHVR’s Heavy Vehicle Confidential Reporting Line,” he said. Issues can be reported by phoning 1800 931 785 or online through the NHVR website at www.nhvr.gov.au/hvcrl

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The New Zealand Government is investing in rural productivity by supercharging efforts to tackle the spread of wilding pines, according to Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard. Source: Timberbiz “Wilding pines threaten productive farmland, water supplies in sensitive catchments, and native biodiversity and they significantly increase the impact of wildfires,” Mr Hoggard said. “Budget 2026 invests an additional NZ$79 million over the next three years, taking the total commitment to NZ$109 million, so we can ramp up control work and get ahead of the spread. This is a smart investment in rural productivity and will back those working hard on-the-ground to contain wildings.” More than two million hectares of New Zealand are affected by wilding infestations, with untreated areas expanding by an estimated five per cent a year. The National Wilding Conifer Control Program has received more than NZ$175m in government funding over the past decade, alongside more than NZ$38m contributed by partners and communities. “This Budget 2026 increase in funding is about boosting that momentum and backing the long-term resilience of rural communitiesm,” Mr Hoggard said. “We’re supporting regional councils, iwi, farmers, researchers, and volunteers who are making a real difference across nine priority regions, including Canterbury, Otago, and Marlborough.” About NZ$30m of the funding over three years will be provided through the International Visitor Levy. “Tourism is a key part of our plan to grow the economy and create jobs, lift wages, and help kiwis get ahead. This funding will help protect our unique natural environment from the spread of wilding pines,” Mr Hoggard said. The program is led by Biosecurity New Zealand and delivered in partnership with councils, landowners, iwi, industry, community groups, and other government agencies. In addition to the significant funding boost, MPI will begin developing a National Pest Management Plan for on-going control of wilding conifers. “This will further strengthen national coordination of wildings management, ensuring efficient and effective control work and establishing nationally consistent rules to prevent their further spread,” Mr Hoggard said.

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New Zealand’s WIDE Trust Best Practice Study Tour is an initiative designed to support experienced forestry and wood industry professionals in exploring leading-edge practices, innovation, and emerging ideas from around the world. Source: Timberbiz Each year, the Trust offers a travel grant of up to NZD$30,000 to support an eligible candidate, or candidates, to undertake an international study tour focused on advancing knowledge within New Zealand’s forestry and wood sectors. The tour must be a minimum of two weeks in duration and is designed to provide valuable international exposure to new technologies, operational approaches, and industry developments. The Best Practice Study Tour reflects the WIDE Trust’s commitment to strengthening leadership and encouraging innovation across the forestry and wood industries. The opportunity is aimed at senior professionals who are actively pursuing careers within the sector and are in positions where they can influence change within their organisations. Applicants are ideally members of senior management teams, with the ability to implement learnings from the study tour and help drive new thinking, improved practices, and long-term industry development. By supporting industry leaders to gain first-hand international insights, the Trust helps encourage the adoption of new ideas and global best practices within New Zealand businesses. Successful applicants are required to develop a fully scoped itinerary outlining the companies, organisations, and industry leaders they plan to visit, along with the reasons those visits have been selected. Study tours may explore a wide range of topics across forestry and wood processing industries, including: Advanced timber manufacturing and processing Sustainable forestry management practices Emerging wood technologies and innovation Automation and operational efficiency Workforce development and industry leadership Environmental performance and resource management   The program is designed to ensure participants return with practical knowledge and insights that can be shared and implemented within the New Zealand industry. In addition to financial support from the WIDE Trust, successful applicants and their employers are expected to contribute towards some study tour costs, reinforcing industry commitment and support for professional development. Following the completion of the study tour, recipients present their key learnings directly to the WIDE Trust Trustees, helping share knowledge and encourage wider industry benefit beyond the individual participant. This focus on knowledge sharing ensures the impact of the programme extends beyond a single experience, contributing to broader conversations around innovation, leadership, and continuous improvement within the forestry and wood sectors. Applications for the WIDE Trust Best Practice Study Tour close on 31 July each year for tours undertaken in the following calendar year. More information at https://www.widetrust.org.nz/

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A decade ago, the concept of mixing wind turbines with tree plantations was unheard of in Australia, but a new addition to the federal EPBC queue now brings the current total of such project proposals to at least eight. Source: Renew Economy Spanish energy giant Iberdrola is seeking approval for 33 turbines in the Mullions Range softwood pine plantation in New South Wales (NSW), which deliver 248 megawatts (MW) of capacity, and which is one of two forestry projects it’s pitching in the state. The project is located about 20 km north of Orange and is one of five solicited by the state’s Forestry Corporation in 2023. Forestry Corp issued an “investigation permit” in 2024, and if the project proves feasible Iberdrola expects it to take around six years to deliver. The EPBC referral shows Iberdrola is planning to install turbines with a tip height of up to 250 metres above ground level and a hub height of 150m above ground level. The developer is looking at an area slightly more than 2,000 hectares, with an actual disturbance area of about 400 hectares at this stage. Plantations are seen as an ideal location for wind turbines. They’re already a monoculture and have existing roads made for heavy trucks. And they’re also harvested as well, meaning that any trees cut down to make way for turbines would one day have been cut down anyway. Or, as Iberdrola’s EPBC referral puts it, the “forestry land use has resulted in a highly modified landscape and a generally degraded ecological condition across the majority of the site.” Native vegetation is limited to areas set aside for existing transmission corridors through the plantation, and while there may be some hollow-bearing habitat trees, “fauna habitat quality is generally low, reflecting the dominance of [pine] plantation forest.” While several endangered and threatened flora and fauna were noted in the wider area, just koalas and white throated needletails were spotted inside the 2000-hectare footprint. The NSW Forestry Corp is going all in on wind projects for its softwood plantations, the only ones that state law allow renewable energy to operate in. There are four other projects with permits in the state’s commercial plantations, the 158 MW Four Mile Creek project, also owned by Iberdrola, Someva Renewables’ and Mainstream Renewable Power’s 500 MW Sunny Corner, Neoen’s 1.2-gigawatt (GW) Bondo, and TagEnergy’s 2-gigawatt proposal The Pines. Other states have also considered plantation renewables.  The first was the Delburn project in Gippsland, Victoria, which was first proposed in 2019 and was recently sold to the Victoria SEC. The 600 MW Kentbruck project, on the other side of the state, received a state planning nod in January, much to the disappointment of conservationists concerned about nearby wetlands. Queensland had one forestry wind project, the 1.2 GW Forest Wind, but planning minister Jarrod Bleijie convinced colleagues to cancel the law allowing renewables in state-owned forests, effectively killing the project – pending an appeal.

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OneFortyOne’s 2025–26 fire season has officially concluded, following generally milder conditions across the Green Triangle compared with previous seasons. Source: Timberbiz OneFortyOne Green Triangle Forests general manager Deon Kriek acknowledged the efforts of crews and partner brigades. “Working closely with the Country Fire Service (CFS), Country Fire Authority (CFA), and industry brigades continues to be essential in protecting our forests and supporting our communities,” Mr Kriek said. The 2025-26 season ran from 1 December 2025 to 13 April 2026, lasting 134 days. Mr Kriek said conditions across the region were generally wetter than average for most of the season, which helped reduce overall fire activity. “Our crews were on standby for 88 days, which is slightly below the long-term average,” he said. “Across the season, we responded to 28 fires both within our estate and across the region.” Fifteen fires occurred on OneFortyOne-managed land, with crews also assisting at fires on private property, other forestry estates, national parks, and roadsides. Fire causes included lightning strikes, suspected arson, vehicle-related incidents, and escaped agricultural burns. “Only 0.3 hectares of our local forests were impacted, and most importantly, our crews went home safe and well every day,” Mr Kriek said. OneFortyOne supported efforts interstate, with teams of firefighters completing three deployments to Victoria, including assisting with the Otways fires. The season also saw three new Quick Response Vehicles (QRVs) added to the fleet, along with ongoing construction of the Mount Burr Fire Tower, due to be completed before the next season begins. An end of season celebration was held in May to thank crews and recognise their contribution. “The end of season get together is a good opportunity to catch up and thank our crews for the effort they’ve put in,” Mr Kriek said. “While we had a relatively quiet season, we’re proud of our teams, the work they’ve done and the connections they’ve made with other brigades.” Fire management activities, including training, prescribed burns and firebreak maintenance, will continue throughout the year to keep crews and forests prepared.

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A major NSW forestry consultation has highlighted the Tumut and Tumbarumba regions’ importance to Australia’s softwood processing industry, while revealing divisions over forest management and bushfire resilience.  Source: Tumbarumba Times The NSW government last week published its Independent Forestry Panel Stakeholder Consultation Report, a step towards the development of a Forest Industry Action Plan (FIAP). The panel received written submissions from over 1500 individuals and 160 organisations representing a cross-section of the timber industry, environmental groups, re-searchers, residents and businesses from regional NSW and others, guided by six prompts based around areas to be addressed in the FIAP. While the report focuses primarily on native forest harvesting, it also addresses the softwood industry in the Snowy Valleys and across the state. It groups Tumbarumba within its Coastal (Southern) forestry region, which it described as Australia’s most concentrated softwood processing area. The report identified several shared objectives across submissions, including bushfire resilience, however stakeholders differed on how forests should be managed to achieve that. “Some [say] that timber harvesting, salvage logging, and silviculture techniques like thinning reduce bushfire risks and others [say] that harvesting, salvage logging and thinning all increase bushfire frequency and intensity,” the report reads. “Despite that divergence, the submissions clearly demonstrate a deep shared concern about bushfire risk now and in the future, and that there is urgent need for improved fire policy and management based on empirical evidence and up-to-date scientific consensus.” The report notes different cohorts have different conceptions of what appropriate active management of forests for fire resilience is. “Some favour hazard reduction burning and robust fuel load reduction methods … Others caution that this approach only works in some forest types and that a much more nuanced, adaptive and multifaceted approach is needed.” The report noted some stakeholders highlighted “the strong capacity of Forestry Corpo-ration’s staff and other timber industry workers to cost-effectively prepare and respond to bushfire threats as being highly valuable.” “Previous reviews have noted that the Forestry Corporation is a statutory firefighting authority and plays a role in fire management in native forests,” the report said. “Forestry Corporation’s workforce includes trained firefighters who carry out fire mitigation and hazard reduction (including fire trail maintenance, specialist tall tree felling skills), training and maintenance programs, a large fleet of heavy machinery and equipment and supply agreements to enable quick uplift in people, plant and equipment and firefighting response in coordination with other agencies.” The Independent Forestry Panel is chaired by Peter Duncan with other panel members Professor Mary O’Kane and Mick Veitch. A ministerial statement from the offices of the Minister for Agriculture, the Minister for Energy and Climate Change, and the Minister for Environment and Heritage thanked all those who made submissions and attended focus groups and stakeholder interviews. “Making this report available to the public is a key step towards modernising forestry in a way that protects biodiversity,” the statement reads. “Following the finalisation of the stake holder report, the panel has been tasked to produce a considerations report. “This report will accommodate the stake holder report findings and identify opportunities to ensure the ongoing sustainability of the NSW forestry industry and support jobs, in the context of recent and ongoing changes.”

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Australian Bluegum Plantations is highlighting the role of adaptive silviculture and long-term landscape thinking in the recovery of its Callendale plantation estate following the devastating January 2022 bushfire in South Australia’s south-east. Source: Timberbiz The fire, in the heart of the Wattle Range region of South Australia, impacted more than 3800 hectares of ABP plantation, presenting significant challenges including extensive tree loss, erosion challenges, and sensitive post-fire environmental conditions. Recovery required more than a standard recovery and replanting response. ABP’s silviculture forester Neil Turner led the development and delivery of the complex salvage program, recovering 277,000 m3 of timber over an 18-month operation. The program required careful sequencing and on-ground decision making to navigate winter seasonal constraints to recover as much fibre as possible without compromising site conditions. “This fire event burnt almost 100 per cent of the stands, wiping out everything in its path,” Mr Turner said. “These 16-year-old trees were more than 30 metres tall, and the flames were well above the canopy, it was enormous. With strong winds, the fire raced across the landscape. During mop-up it was clear the salvage task would be challenging and would require significant planning and coordination.” Beyond salvage, ABP’s re-establishment program prioritised land recovery, environmental protection and long-term productivity. Rather than rushing to replace trees, the focus was on restoring healthy plantation systems. “After a fire of this scale, the land tells you what it needs,” Mr Turner said. “In some areas, that meant slowing down, managing erosion risk, and allowing time for conditions to stabilise before re-establishment. In others, it meant trialling different establishment techniques to better suit the post-fire environment.” The Callendale response deliberately moved away from a one-size-fits-all approach. Planting was delayed in selected areas, site preparation methods were adapted, and lessons learned were embedded into future operations. This evidence-based approach balanced immediate recovery pressures with the long-term health of soils, waterways, and surrounding landscapes. The recovery program also strengthened future fire preparedness, including the establishment of additional fire-water resources within the local drainage network to improve resilience against future events. ABP Chief Executive Officer Darren Shelden said the work at Callendale reflects a broader shift in how the company approaches plantation recovery after major disturbance. “Neil’s leadership at Callendale demonstrates that good silviculture is as much about stewardship as it is about production,” Mr Shelden said. “The decisions made following the fire prioritised land capability, environmental outcomes, and long-term value. This is exactly the kind of thinking our industry needs as it adapts to a more challenging climate.” The Callendale recovery has since become a reference point within ABP, informing post-fire rehabilitation approaches across the estate and reinforcing the importance of flexibility, innovation, and on-ground expertise. “As foresters, we’re working with long timeframes. Success isn’t just measured by survival rates at planting, but by how well the landscape performs years down the track. Callendale has been about setting that foundation properly,” Mr Turner said. ABP continues to monitor and refine its silvicultural practices at Callendale, with lessons from the recovery program contributing to ongoing improvements in environmental management and plantation resilience across the business. This includes construction of a purpose-built fire resource dam to support future firefighting defence.

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Germany’s forests are in distress and that distress is rewriting the rules for both forestry and industry. The drought years since 2018, followed by an unprecedented bark beetle epidemic, have left deep scars across the country’s coniferous landscapes. Source: Matthias Held UPM Germany. The fourth National Forest Inventory (BWI4) recorded approximately 100,000 hectares of bare forest land more than double the figure from the previous inventory a decade earlier. An additional 124,000 hectares were identified as having lost their tree cover between the field surveys and the start of the modelling period. Norway spruce, long the economic backbone of German forestry, was hit hardest. The consequences are not temporary. According to Germany’s latest forest development and timber projection model, known as WEHAM, spruce is expected to lose approximately 15% of its standing volume over the coming four decades, while Scots pine will shed over 20%. T he spruce roundwood potential for the next 15 years already falls 18% below recent utilisation levels — a direct reflection of calamity-driven losses. Germany has responded with a decisive push toward Waldumbau, large-scale forest conversion from vulnerable conifer monocultures toward climate-resilient mixed stands. For the first time, the national rejuvenation model explicitly incorporates species of the natural forest community, increasing species diversity as a direct contribution to greater climate resilience. In practice, this means beech and oak areas are projected to expand, while spruce and pine steadily decline. This creates a fundamental industrial dilemma. Spruce remains the single most productive species in German forests, contributing 41% of total roundwood potential from just 26% of the forest. Its wood feeds the sawmill, construction, pulp, and paper industries. As spruce retreats, the beech species group — a heterogeneous category comprising not only European beech but also ash, maple, birch, alder, and other deciduous species — will provide 31% of the country’s roundwood potential, with volumes well exceeding current utilisation. Yet industrial processing capacity remains overwhelmingly calibrated for softwood. The growing volumes of small-dimension, low-quality hardwood assortments that forest conversion inevitably produces have virtually no established market today, other than energy. Here lies the paradigm shift. What if these hardwood assortments were viewed not as a burden, but as a feedstock opportunity for one of Europe’s most carbon-needing sectors? Germany’s chemical industry currently requires approximately 10 million tonnes of carbon per year for the production of basic chemicals — nearly all derived from fossil oil and gas. Across the European Union, the figure is about 31 million tonnes. To reach climate neutrality, this fossil carbon must be replaced by alternative sources: biomass, recycled plastics, and captured CO₂. Woody biomass is uniquely suited for this transition. Compared to agricultural biomass, it has a lower ash content, a higher calorific value, and a carbon content of around 50% by dry mass — making it particularly appropriate for thermo-chemical gasification and synthesis gas production and other conversion technologies. As highly scientific as it sounds, this is not theoretical. UPM’s biorefinery at the Leuna chemical complex in Saxony-Anhalt, one of the largest investments of its kind in Europe, at 1,3 bn euros, demonstrates precisely what is possible. The facility converts sustainably sourced hardwood, with a particular focus on European beech, into bio-based monoethylene glycol (MEG) and renewable functional fillers based on lignin. MEG is a drop-in replacement for its fossil-derived equivalents and flow directly into the production of textiles, packaging materials, composites, pharmaceuticals, and coolants. Lignin is used for a variety of applications ranging from rubber applications to biostimulants. The plant’s annual capacity of around 220,000 tonnes of bio-based chemicals makes a powerful industrial statement: the very beech wood that Germany’s forest conversion is producing in ever-growing quantities can serve as a molecular building block for a post-fossil chemical industry. What emerges is a rare convergence of interests. Forest owners gain new markets for timber assortments that currently lack commercial value. The forestry sector can actively manage climate-resilient mixed forests while maintaining economic viability. And the European chemical industry gains a credible pathway away from fossil carbon dependence, strengthening both strategic autonomy and industrial resilience. The Waldumbau that climate change imposes on Germany is not merely an ecological imperative. It may be the foundation of a new bioeconomy value chain, connecting the forest to the factory at the molecular level. The real question is no longer whether this transition will happen, but how quickly the regulatory, logistical, and industrial frameworks can align to capture its full potential. For those of us working at the interface of forests and industry, that question deserves our full attention — now. This story was first published in www.Forest.fi

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The results of new laser scanning using aircraft and Forest Basic Data over Sweden’s forests are now available to forest owners and forestry. For the first time, unique opportunities are provided to follow the development of the forest over time, which gives forest owners new opportunities to plan and manage their forest. Source: Timberbiz The second national scan ever conducted of Swedish forests has now been completed. With two nationwide scans of forest land, forest change can be measured comprehensively with good precision. “For the first time, we get reliable, nationwide measurements of how fast the forest is actually growing but also see where it is not growing. This is crucial for the forest economy – the right action at the right time can increase both value growth and profitability,” said Liselott Nilsson, project manager at the Swedish Forest Agency’s geodata unit. With recurring data over the same location, there are opportunities to measure growth and create both new and better models to produce new knowledge. Later this year, maps will be released of, among other things, the age of the forest and the productive capacity of the forest land (location index), which have not been possible to produce with good precision before. This provides support for, among other things, optimizing planting and management measures, strengthening the long-term value growth of the forest and identifying land with lower productivity. “With good data and better knowledge, we can combine high production, strong forest economics and increased environmental consideration. This is central to ensuring that the forest continues to be a driving force in the Swedish bioeconomy,” said Liselott Nilsson. Regular scanning provides data for various interventions The laser scanning is done continuously and with today’s funding it will take about seven years to cover all of Sweden’s forest land. By regularly laser scanning the forests in Sweden, important pieces are added to get a comprehensive picture of how the country’s forests are doing over time. “The value of the forest is based on knowledge of how it grows and changes. With recurring measurements, we get a completely new basis for developing data that supports both profitability and sustainability in the forest sector,” said Jörgen Wallerman, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). Last year, the third scan was also started in parts of Skåne and the Norrbotten coast. This year, parts of Blekinge, Halland, Kronoberg, Södermanland, Värmland, Västernorrland will be laser scanned, as well as continued scanning of the Norr- and Västerbotten coasts. And the more that is scanned, the more basic forest data and answers about the forest will be delivered. The national laser scanning is also an important resource for society at large. The comprehensive and up-to-date data collected can be used not only in forestry but also in other areal industries, community planning, emergency preparedness and security work. Forest basic data is a collective name for maps that describe forests and land, for example timber reserves and tree height. The maps are produced using digital methods where no assessment has been made out in the forest. The data is calculated by co-processing data from the national laser scanning and sample plots with measured tree properties from the National Forest Assessment at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). The maps provide comprehensive, objective and comparable information about the forest condition for the entire country’s forests. Data is produced within the joint government mission to update, develop and provide basic forest data assigned to the Swedish Forest Agency, the National Land Survey of Sweden and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). Laser scanning is carried out continuously and takes about seven years to cover Sweden’s forest land. It is co-financed by seven forestry companies and organizations, which in this way contributes to us receiving data over Sweden a little more frequently. The quality of the Forest Basic Data is high, especially for coniferous forests. Forest Basic Data has contributed greatly to the digitalization of forestry in Sweden. Forest owners can, among other things, view the maps and make calculations of timber reserves for their own property in the Swedish Forest Agency’s My Pages. Some information is also available and open to everyone via the Swedish Forest Agency’s map services.

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Ponsse has developed a new technology solution for forest regeneration. The Ponsse Buffalo Planter is a tillage and planting unit mounted on the frame of a forest machine, enabling mechanised and automated planting. This is the first tree-planting innovation in the company’s history. Source: Timberbiz “The Buffalo Planter is Ponsse’s solution for mechanised forest regeneration, with the entire planting process carried out by a single machine. “Built on the Ponsse Buffalo forwarder platform, the planting machine performs spot tillage, plants the seedlings and waters them – all in one seamless process,” said Juha Inberg, Ponsse’s Chief R&D and Technology Officer. Developing the Buffalo Planter marks a new step for Ponsse, moving from harvesting technology into forest regeneration solutions and broader life-cycle support. In the first phase, the primary market for the planting machine is South America, where its benefits are most evident on plantation sites. “The Buffalo Planter improves the productivity and cost-efficiency of forest regeneration by enabling large areas to be planted in a shorter time. The automated planting process ensures a high-quality and consistent planting result, creating good conditions for seedling growth and reducing the need for later replanting. Outside the planting season, the system can be converted back into a conventional forwarder, which improves the machine’s utilisation rate,” said Inberg. The new planting machine has a reliable and familiar foundation: the Buffalo has long been Ponsse’s most popular forwarder model. In addition to speeding up the work, the Buffalo Planter brings safety and ergonomic benefits to the planting process. Digital systems support the monitoring, reporting and documentation of work. To ensure the high quality of the work, the cameras installed on the planting device transmit information about ground-level events to the operator in the cabin. Thanks to automation, only one person is needed to control the Buffalo Planter and carry out the planting work: the operator of the machine. The planting system consists of four planters, two on each side of the machine. Each unit has a separate tillage head, as well as a planting head that takes care of planting, watering and compacting the seedlings. The planting interval of the trees is adjustable both laterally and in the direction of travel. The seedlings are fed through four seedling cassettes with a total capacity of up to 960 seedlings per load. With spot mounding, the working rate is around 750 seedlings per hour, while without tillage, the machine can plant around 1,300 seedlings per hour.   The Buffalo Planter was developed in collaboration with Ponsse’s technology company Epec and Novelquip Forestry, a South African company specialising in planting equipment.

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A new national forestry education program, built on a century of professional training and designed to meet the demands of a rapidly changing sector, has graduated its first cohort. Source: Timberbiz The milestone is the subject of a perspective piece published in Australian Forestry tracing the arc of national forestry education from its origins in 1926 to the Graduate Certificate in Forestry that welcomed students for the first time in 2024. The Australian Forestry School was established at the University of Adelaide in 1926 before transferring to Canberra as a Commonwealth entity in 1927. And for most of the 20th century it served not only Australian students but cohorts from across the wider region, including Burma, Malaysia and New Zealand. The Victorian School of Forestry at Creswick, established in 1910, ran a parallel program with both eventually folded into the Australian National University and University of Melbourne respectively. “Changes in the structure and funding of Australian higher education have made it difficult to maintain relatively small, focused professional programs such as forestry,” according to Julianne O’Reilly-Wapstra, Professor, Forest Sciences and Course Coordinator for the University of Tasmania’s Graduate Certificate of Forestry. “The Graduate Certificate in Forestry has been designed with and is financially supported by the forest industry. “This program demonstrates a new era of university-industry collaboration to meet the need for skilled forestry professionals and support universities’ capacity to deliver specialist forestry education. This collaboration provides a sound basis for developing the future education needs to support sustainable forest management.” Forestry Australia kicked off a fresh round of industry and university discussions in 2022, establishing a committee on the Future of Forestry Education. The result was the Graduate Certificate in Forestry, hosted by the University of Tasmania and drawing on courses contributed by Adelaide University, the Australian National University, the University of Melbourne, the University of the Sunshine Coast and the University of Tasmania. Industry partners are financially supporting a minimum of 18 students annually across each course for an initial five-year term, with the Federal Government supporting a program coordinator through the Forestry Workforce Training Program managed by ForestWorks, for the first three years of the five-year term. The four-course program covers Introduction to Australian Forestry, Carbon Forestry, Plantation Silviculture and Forest Operations, each delivered in a mixed format combining online live-time learning with lecturers and a five-day residential field school. The program is designed to bring professionally employed staff without formal forestry qualifications into the discipline, while also offering a pathway for those with TAFE qualifications and recognised prior learning and/or industry experience. Beyond curriculum, the program revives something the profession has been without for a generation — the national professional networks that were a defining feature of residential forestry study at the AFS and ANU, giving the next generation of forest managers the opportunity to learn with, and from, each other across regional field-based settings. “This marks a significant step in rebuilding national forestry education capacity in Australia,” according to Dr Mohammad R Ghaffariyan, the Managing Editor of the Australian Forestry Journal. “The program responds directly to industry needs while strengthening the professional networks that underpin the sector. We are pleased to document this important development.” The paper by P. Kanowski, R. Keenan, J. O’Reilly-Wapstra, M.R. Ghaffariyan, A. Spokevicius and D. Weber, was published online on 21 April 2026 and appears in Australian Forestry.

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The Forest Industry Safety Council (FISC) has appointed Darrin Collett as its new Chair, bringing more than 35 years of hands-on experience across New Zealand’s forestry sector to the role. Source: Timberbiz Mr Collett began his career in logging crews in the late 1980s, ending up establishing and running his own forestry company, Woodbank Trading, for more than 20 years. His experience spans corporate and small-scale forestry, as well as international work as a tropical forestry consultant. He has also contributed to a range of industry and community initiatives, including the Northland Health and Safety Working Group and environmental projects. He has been an active member of organisations such as the NZ Farm Forestry Association and the New Zealand Institute of Forestry. Now semi-retired, Mr Collett says the role offers a timely opportunity to give back to an industry he remains deeply committed to. “I’ve been involved in several forestry sectors, which brings a holistic approach to my chairmanship role and an understanding of the different complexities and potential viewpoints on the way forward,” he said. “I’m excited to get started and put that experience to work for the industry.” FISC Chief Executive Joe Akari says Mr Collett’s breadth of experience will be of benefit to the council’s work. “Health and safety in forestry has come a long way over the past few decades, and Darrin has witnessed much of that change firsthand. His understanding of what it’s like on the ground, along with his experience from the decision-making table across different parts of the industry, will be invaluable,” Mr Akari said. “We’re looking forward to having him on board.” Mr Collett started the role on 20 May 2026 but will act as an observer for his first FISC council meeting. He takes over from Acting Chair Grant Dodson. Previous Chair Simon O’Grady stepped down in September 2025. Mr Akari acknowledged Mr Dodson’s leadership during the transition. “Our thanks go to Grant for stepping in as Acting Chair and providing strong, capable leadership through this interim period,” Mr Akari said.

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The Forestry Centre of Excellence (FCoE) reinforced its growing role as a hub for industry connection and regional innovation, hosting its inaugural Annual Showcase marking its first 18 months of operation at the Mt Gambier Adelaide University campus. Source: Timberbiz More than 120 growers, processors, researchers, students, community partners and government representatives attended, highlighting the centre’s early achievements in establishing new research capability, building industry partnerships and translating applied research into practical outcomes. The showcase also featured the official opening of the recently completed FCoE building by SA Premier Peter Malinauskas, who reinforced the Centre’s strategic role in supporting the long-term sustainability of the Forestry sector in the region, including capability across the workforce. FCOE Director Professor Jeff Morrell said the showcase demonstrated how the Centre was already delivering value to both industry and the broader community. “The FCOE exists to bring growers, researchers, students, and community partners together to solve real problems and build a stronger future for the region. The engagement we saw at the showcase illustrates how deeply this work matters,” Professor Morrell said. The program featured keynote presentations and four technical breakout streams spanning grower innovation, timber processing, forest health, and emerging technologies. Presenters shared new insights on remote sensing, safety innovation, silviculture trials, water-use research, biochar opportunities, and climate-ready breeding programs; research that directly supports the region’s workforce, productivity and environmental resilience. Centre General Manager Dr Jim O’Hehir, who was recognised by Premier Malinauskas for his exceptional contributions to the Centre, said the Showcase feedback would play a pivotal role in shaping the Centre’s forward research agenda. “The conversations and priorities raised throughout the day give us a clear signal of where industry needs support. These insights will guide our research program, partnerships and capability-building efforts over the coming years,” Dr O’Hehir said. The outcomes from the Showcase will feed into the Centre’s strategic planning for 2026–2030, helping refine priority research themes and ensuring the FCOE continues to deliver practical, applied outcomes for growers, processors and the wider community. The event concluded with a networking session at the Adelaide University Piazza, strengthening relationships across the sector and fostering new collaborations. The FCoE is a partnership between the South Australian Government, Adelaide University, the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub and the South Australian Forest Products Association.

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Tasmanian farmers are being unfairly targeted by the state’s forestry regulator, a crossbench MP says, with the premier now signalling he is willing to look at the system. Source: Pulse Tasmania Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Carlo Di Falco raised concerns in question time about a $100,000 fine handed to an east coast farmer for unauthorised land clearing. Di Falco told parliament the landowner had acknowledged his mistake, cooperated with the Forest Practices Authority (FPA) and proposed remediation works. He argued the penalty was excessive and said the FPA had become too heavy-handed. “Farmers are fed-up with the increasing regulation they are confronted with,” he said. Di Falco asked whether the FPA was now “weighted more towards punishment and bureaucracy than practical environmental outcomes”. He returned to the issue, telling parliament farmers had shown him “overwhelming support” after his initial question. “The farming community is saying to us that these forestry regulations are out of control,” he said. “When will you act to support our farmers against this bureaucratic red tape and allow them to do what they do best?” Premier Jeremy Rockliff said he was willing to look at a “common-sense position” for farmers caught up in the system. “I am more than willing and open to take advice to see what can be done to ensure a common-sense position is taken where farmers are unfairly targeted,” he said. “I believe there is a balance needed here. We need to back in our productive sectors, our farmers, to ensure that they have a fair legal regime, but an opportunity to ensure their land is as productive as possible.” Mr Rockliff said he had heard the frustration from farmers on King Island and the east coast and was aware of others across the state who were “utterly devastated” by what they were hearing. The premier said he was not across the details of the case and did not commit to any specific review of the forest practices system. Business, Industry and Resources Minister Felix Ellis defended the regulator. Mr Ellis told Parliament the clearing included 7.1 hectares of a threatened native vegetation community, along with an additional 11.5 hectares of trees. He said the vegetation provided important habitat for native wildlife, including the endangered swift parrot. Mr Ellis told parliament the FPA had engaged constructively with the landowner to seek remediation, but no agreement could be reached. The matter was then referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions. “The Forest Practices Authority’s decision-making has clearly been upheld by the courts in this process,” he said. Mr Ellis said the court, not the regulator, set the fine. Chief Forest Practices Officer Anne Chuter defended the prosecution earlier this month, saying unauthorised clearing gave offenders “an unfair advantage over landowners who comply with the law”. “In this case, the landowner derived agricultural benefit by clearing and convert-ing forests that could not be lawfully cleared due to their significant environmental values,” she said.

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AKD is committed to modernising its Tumut timber mill in the NSW Snowy Mountains by investing in new technology to improve productivity and maximise timber recovery from smaller diameter sawlogs. Source: Timberbiz As part of a recent Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) visit to the innovative sawmill, AKD showcased its new Horizontal Shaping Saw (HSS), an advanced saw line designed to process small and medium sawlogs more efficiently while delivering higher yields and more consistent throughput. The investment comes as the large-scale timber business continues to respond to the long-term impacts of the devastating 2020 bushfires, which affected a significant portion of the plantation estate that traditionally supplied the mill. With timber volumes expected to remain low while plantations regenerate, Australian-owned AKD is focused on improving reliability, lifting drying capability and strengthening infeed and sorting systems to ensure the operation remains internationally competitive. Over the past decade, the Tumut mill has processed an average of around 525,000 cubic metres of sawlogs annually, producing structural timber and value-added products used on building and construction sites across NSW. The changing supply environment has also created opportunities to source timber from outside traditional harvesting regions, with AKD using the broader Tumut-Gilmore network to maintain customer supply and adapt product lines to available fibre resources. AKD’s Gilmore facility, located about 10km from Tumut, has played an important role in supporting distribution and value-adding activities, helping AKD to continue servicing major retail demand while the main Tumut operation adapts to post-fire market conditions. Importantly, the Tumut mill remains a major employer in the region, directly employing around 160 permanent skilled workers, alongside contractors supporting maintenance, specialist projects and mill operations. “Our people are our lifeblood, and we have generations of staff who worked with us over many decades – it’s a real family-based company,” said Tumut Site Manager Rab Green. Across Australia, AKD employs more than 1100 workers as part of its integrated forestry and timber processing operations in Victoria, NSW and Queensland. AKD says maintaining sustainable regional employment is a priority, with ongoing in-vestment in training, apprenticeships and workforce development helping secure long-term career opportunities in timber manufacturing. The company has also focused on improving day-to-day operations through safer work practices, reduced manual handling, stronger quality control processes and improved operational reliability to minimise costly disruptions. Beyond the mill gates, AKD continues to support the wider regional community through local sporting sponsorships, school and training partnerships, emergency services support, local procurement and bushfire recovery initiatives. Some of these programs include sponsoring the Big Brother Big Sister (BBBS) mentoring program for young people, Tumut Basketball Association, local primary school netball uniform purchases and a local RFS donation for protective safety curtains. The company says strong community involvement remains an important part of building a long-term future for the forestry industry in a region that continues to recover and re-build following major fire seasons. AKD also encourages its teams to participate and proudly represent AKD in community activities and local events.

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The South Australian state government has invested a further $2.25 million into the Bedford Group’s Mount Gambier/Berrin timber mill site following its visit for the Country Cabinet. Source: The Border Watch The investment comes after Bedford faced risk of collapse before the state government took matters into its own hands. With an initial investment of $40 million to save the organisation, Bedford was then sold to The Disability Trust earlier this year. South Australia premier Peter Malinauskas spoke during the event at the Bedford Timber Mill in Mount Gambier/Berrin to celebrate the organisation’s continued partnership with the state government and The Disability Trust. “Bedford in a broad sense has probably impacted people’s lives in South Australia al-most as much as any other organisation I can think of,” Mr Malinauskas said. “At the heart of the work you do here, it is about providing everybody with the opportunity to enjoy and experience the dignity of work. “Too often we take for granted the power of this dignity, people often think about jobs, and they look at it through the context of economics or wages or being able to provide for a standard of living which is critical, but it sometimes overlooks where the real power of people utilising your labour lives. “The real power is the dignity it gives people and a sense of purpose and fellowship and every time I have been fortunate enough to be able to go to a Bedford facility and see this in person.” Mr Malinauskas said despite Bedford leaning more towards a federal government responsibility, it was “the right thing to do” to provide assistance during the organisation’s time of need. “I have seen the incredible joy that the friendships formed in organisations like this give people not just while they are at work, but while they are out of it too,” he said. “This is why when Bedford was at risk not too long ago, we as a government decided to step in and do something about it even if it isn’t something the state governments normally do with this kind of organisation because it’s principally a federal government responsibility.” “I will be honest with you; we are entering into this agreement but there still is a bit of an issue associated with the work being done in Mount Gambier and it requires another bit of effort in conjunction with The Disability Trust to see if we can’t solve this problem.” Mr Malinauskas said the work done with the Department of Human Services and the government prompted a further investment from the state government into the partnership with the Disability Trust and Bedford to ensure the Mount Gambier/Berrin facility lasted for the long term. “There are always decisions to be made in government and the choices about where to put your resources that will sometimes be controversial, but this is not one of them, it is a no brainer,” he said. “It gives us great confidence that this is going to be an enduring enterprise providing all the opportunities we believe in so much for the long term. Mr Malinauskas thanked the workers of the Mount Gambier/Berrin timber mill for their persistence, commitment and personality they provided for the community. “I want to thank the people who work here, you are great South Australians who are a source of inspiration to everybody,” he said. “I say this with the utmost sincerity because I have seen the reaction of the entire South Australian community when Bedford was first at risk. “They drew confidence and hope from you and the work you undertake and I hope you continue to enjoy this.”  

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Public claims that timber harvesting increases bushfire risk are based on narrow and contested evidence, and should not be generalised across Australia’s diverse forests, according to a new evidence review released by Forestry Australia. Source: Timberbiz The review, Contested Evidence About Timber Harvesting and Bushfire Risk in Australian Landscapes, examines claims that timber harvesting increases forest flammability and bushfire risk. It finds that many public claims rely on evidence from one particular forest type and management system – tall wet eucalypt forests in south-eastern Australia that have been previously clearfelled and that these findings are often presented as though they apply universally across all Australian forests. Forestry Australia President Dr Michelle Freeman said the review was developed to help clarify a complex and often misunderstood area of forest science. “Public discussion about timber harvesting and bushfire risk is often highly contested, and at times, confusing,” Dr Freeman said. “The purpose of this evidence review is to unpack the science. It looks carefully at what the evidence does and does not show, where research findings are contested, and why terminology matters when discussing bushfire risk, fire severity, flammability and fire intensity.” Dr Freeman said the diversity of Australia’s forests meant evidence could not be applied uniformly. “Australia’s forests are highly diverse. Evidence from one forest type, management system or landscape context should not be generalised across the country without careful qualification,” she said. “The review highlights that different forms of forest management can have very different outcomes, and that it is inappropriate to reduce complex forest and fire dynamics to a simple claim that timber harvesting always increases fire risk.” The review also highlights the importance of using fire terminology accurately. “Terms such as fire risk, fire severity, fire intensity and flammability have different meanings,” Dr Freeman said. “When these terms are used interchangeably, public under-standing suffers. Sound policy depends on precise language and careful interpretation of evidence.” The review notes that landscape-scale analyses of major bushfires, including the 2019-20 bushfires, have found that extreme fire weather and topography are dominant drivers of fire severity, while timber harvesting, stand age and land tenure have comparatively minor effects at landscape scales. It also notes that while young regrowth forests may experience higher site-level fire severity under some conditions, large areas of mature and old growth forests, including forests in conservation reserves where timber harvesting is excluded, have also burnt at high severity. Dr Freeman said Forestry Australia hoped the review would support a more informed and constructive public conversation. “Forestry Australia represents a large cohort of professionals with deep scientific and practical expertise in Australian forests,” Dr Freeman said. “Our role is not to prosecute simplistic arguments. Our role is to support evidence-based discussion, grounded in forest science, so that policy makers, media and the broader community can better understand what the research is actually saying. “Forests are central to some of the most important challenges facing Australia, including climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, bushfire resilience, regional livelihoods and sustainable resource use,” she said. “These issues deserve careful, evidence-based discussion. We encourage journalists, policy makers, community leaders and all those engaged in forest debates to read the review and consider the full body of evidence.” Download the review https://www.forestry.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Evidence-Review-Contested-Evidence-Timber-Harvesting-Bushfire-Risk.pdf

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