Australian timber industry news

A new, UK-based trade association focused on biomass heating was launched in June. The Wood Fuel and Heating Association aims to provide a clear, informed and responsible voice for the UK wood fuel and heating sector. Biomass Magazine “Wood fuel and biomass heating already support homes, businesses and industry across the UK while also contributing to forestry management, rural employment and the wider transition towards low-carbon heat,” the group said in a statement. “Despite this, the sector has historically lacked a single coordinated body focused on representing those interests consistently, constructively and with practical industry expertise. “WFHA has been created to help address that need and to powerfully advocate the benefits of the sector,” the organization continued. The WFHA will represent organizations across the UK wood fuel and heating sector supply chain, including wood fuel producers; wood fuel suppliers and distributors; boiler and appliance manufacturers; installers, engineers and maintenance providers; equipment suppliers; landowners; commercial and industrial heat users; and professional and advisory organizations. According to the WFHA, it will represent members’ interests in the areas of air quality and emissions policy; renewable heat and energy policy; sustainability and fuel standards; the future role of sustainable wood heating on the UK; biomass boiler standards; and training, skills and job creation.

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Kesla has expanded its range of accessories for harvester heads by introducing the new BB360 rotator, enabling unlimited rotation without traditional movement restrictions. The solution responds to the growing demands for efficiency, productivity, and machine utilisation in forestry operations, as well as to increasingly demanding working conditions. Source: Timberbiz The BB360 rotator eliminates the restrictions related to hose routing between the boom and the harvester head, which have traditionally limited the working area and increased the risk of hose and control cable damage. These challenges have often led to unplanned downtime and additional maintenance costs. Similar types of solutions are in use among other harvester head manufacturers in various configurations, and the concept has proven to be reliable in demanding field conditions. The new rotator solution enhances working efficiency and allows operators to focus on what matters most, as there is no longer a need to constantly monitor the orientation of the harvester head in relation to energy transfer and cabling. This enables smoother and more uninterrupted work, even in challenging environments. The KESLA BB360 rotator is manufactured in Finland and is currently available installed on KESLA 24RH-III and 26RH-III harvester heads. Availability will be expanded in the future to meet customer needs across different markets.

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China remains one of the world’s major importers of softwood logs and lumber, but its softwood sawlog imports have declined significantly in recent years. According to ResourceWise’s Wood Market Prices (WMP), China’s softwood sawlog import volumes in 2025 were less than half their 2021 peak and were down 17% year-over-year. Source: ResourceWise The decline reflects both weaker demand and changes in global supply. While there are forecasts for improvement in China’s construction market in 2026 or 2027, the WMP report indicates there is limited evidence that this will lead to a rapid or substantial increase in sawlog imports. The main factor behind the decline has been reduced demand from China’s construction sector. The country’s real estate crisis began after several major developers collapsed in 2021. This reduced demand for construction timber over the following years. Some forecasts suggest China’s construction market may begin to improve this year or next, supported by infrastructure spending and urban renewal. However, any recovery is expected to be gradual. A stronger construction market could support higher timber demand, but import volumes are unlikely to return quickly to the levels seen in 2021. Supply-side issues have also affected China’s softwood sawlog imports. Russia’s log export ban, reduced supply from Germany following spruce bark beetle damage, and China’s temporary ban in 2025 on US log imports all changed the flow of logs into China. New Zealand is China’s largest supplier of softwood sawlogs. In 2025, it supplied more than 75% of China’s total softwood sawlog imports. Canada was the second-largest supplier. China has accounted for around 85% of New Zealand’s softwood sawlog exports between 2017 and 2025, rising to more than 90% in the past two years, according to the WMP report. However, New Zealand’s export volumes may decline in the coming years as planted radiata pine forests reach maturity, and harvest volumes fall. This could affect future availability and pricing for China’s sawlog imports. China is also increasing its use of engineered wood products, including cross-laminated timber and laminated veneer lumber. These products are supported in part by domestic green construction policies and the development of local manufacturing capacity. This shift may influence future demand for imported sawlogs. Many engineered wood producers in China use a mix of domestic plantation wood and imported logs, but changes in product use and supply costs could affect how much imported material is needed. Overall, China’s softwood sawlog import market remains shaped by weaker construction demand, changing supplier availability, and evolving wood product use. While construction activity may improve, current conditions do not point to a fast return to peak import levels. To learn more, download our full market insight report, Understanding the Factors Behind China’s Declining Sawlog Imports. The report can be accessed here: https://www.resourcewise.com/report-understanding-the-factors-behind-chinas-declining-sawlog-imports?hsCtaAttrib=215567099932

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One of the world’s largest certifiers of responsible forests is cracking down on risky work in erosion-prone forests, which could affect smaller plantation growers. Source: RNZ The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) was working to reduce health and safety risks in forests that were not certified under its program, but supplied what was known as “controlled” wood into mixed class products. The Germany-based organisation’s strict certification aimed to prevent illegal harvesting, human rights violations, to reject the use of genetically modified organisms and protect conservation values. The FSC label found on paper or wood products aimed to assure shoppers that the forests where the wood came from were sustainably managed. Under its “mix” product class, up to 30% of the wood’s came from either recycled or “controlled wood” sources (not FSC-certified), on products included packaging, paper or furniture. The FSC was proposing more than a dozen new risk mitigation measures in “controlled” wood areas, largely relating to erodible soils. The consultation was part of its global review of risk assessments affecting 60 countries, including Aotearoa. Most of New Zealand’s large foresters were FSC-certified, but up to 490,000 of exotic plantation forests were owned by small growers, most of whom were not certified. FSC Australia and New Zealand senior policy manager Stefan Jensen said it was proposing significant due diligence changes in New Zealand, especially in steep and erosion-prone areas. “Deforestation isn’t a major concern; our concern is more about work health and safety, and issues related to those highly erodible soils you have in areas of New Zealand,” said Jensen. He said the current risk assessment included one specified risk that was relatively easy for companies to meet, but more were being proposed. “The revised draft risk assessment suggested three specified risk categories where forest managers are required to mitigate that risk before sourcing,” he said. “Three that were nationally applicable. “And then specifically for very high-risk erosion prone areas, [consultants] suggested an additional 15 indicators to ensure materials from those areas is not from unacceptable sources.” However, the certifier considered New Zealand as a low-risk forestry nation across various metrics like deforestation risk, due to strong regional and national commercial forestry standards. Jensen said forestry was a relatively risky business. “There’s unfortunately in the past been quite a few fatalities, most of them not in FSC-certified forests, but this is about sourcing from non-certified forests,” he said. “There has been quite a number of fatalities that the consultants have reached the conclusion that there is a significant risk of sourcing from non-certified areas where workers’ rights could be a little bit under pressure.” He said the changes were to address potentially greater health and safety risks for workers, and to comply with incoming requirements under the European Union Deforestation Regulation. Parts of the forestry sector were concerned the proposals might be unworkable in New Zealand forests and could affect sawmills’ general participation in the scheme. The Wood Processors and Manufacturers’ Association saw FSC’s proposals as duplicating and exceeding current regulatory controls, “without clear benefit”. Chief executive Mark Ross said an example was the use of the term “red zone” which under its framework determined risk thresholds but was itself unclear. “For local harvesters the risk mitigation measures are impracticable and unachievable, with confusion between harvesting and engineering,” said Ross. “This puts FSC at risk in New Zealand, which is hugely unfortunate because it misunderstands the NZ situation and imposes unrealistic mitigation measures, that essentially prohibit controlled wood from a large part of the country’s forest sector.” Ross said mills relied on FSC-certified logs, and changes could mean they may not be able to stay within the FSC systems. “If New Zealand plantation forests could not meet the FSC requirements, then mills would not be able to source certified wood products.” Forest Owners Association chief executive Elizabeth Hegg said it supported work to improve environmental and health and safety outcomes in forests, but changes must be proportionate, risk-based and practical. “We’ve given FSC some feedback that some of the definitions weren’t clear or were not standardised for the New Zealand environment, so it makes it hard for us to know exactly what’s intended. “Where there are terms like high-risk areas or critical slopes, that those are clearly defined so that we all know exactly what we’re talking about.” Hegg said most of its members were FSC-certified, but the proposals might pose challenges for smaller growers who would face new mitigation measures. “We also had some concerns about operational feasibility and participation,” she said. “And there was some duplication in what was proposed that would in some cases actually make it very hard to achieve just from a bureaucratic perspective.” FSC was reviewing submissions on its draft proposals for New Zealand. It certified about 160 million hectares of forests across 70,000 organisations globally. New Zealand’s total 1.7 million hectares of exotic plantation forestry covered about 7.8% of the country’s total land area.

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A new VAGO report reflects the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action’s (DEECA) work improving systems and processes when it comes to bushfire risk in Victoria. Source: Timberbiz The department says its people have undertaken an enormous amount of work improving systems and processes since 2020. The Victorian Auditor-General’s Office Follow-up: Reducing Bushfire Risks report acknowledges this with 21 of the 29 recommendations complete. DEECA now has accepted in part or in full four new recommendations from the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office. The new recommendations form part of the Reducing Bushfire Risks report, which reviews FFMVic and CFA progress towards recommendations set out in its 2020 audit of the same name. The report reflects DEECA’s program of work to improve how it manages bushfire risk, including improving risk-modelling tools, datasets and statewide bushfire management planning. FFMVic Chief Fire Officer Chris Hardman says the report illustrates progress, while demonstrating the complexity of bushfire management. Hotter, drier and longer fire seasons driven by climate change are increasing bushfire risk in Victoria. In the 2020 audit Reducing Bushfire Risks it looked at whether the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (now the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, or the department) and the Country Fire Authority (CFA) were effectively working together to reduce Victoria’s bushfire risk. Recommendations were made about how they measure, plan and deliver actions to reduce bushfire fuel. The Reducing Bushfire Risks report can be found at https://www.audit.vic.gov.au/report/follow-reducing-bushfire-risks

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Matariki Forests is celebrating its first shipment of logs from Bluff to India since 2020. Following the signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in April, improved access to the Indian market is already providing New Zealand’s forestry sector with new opportunities. Source: Timberbiz Hamish Fitzgerald, Matariki Forests Southland Regional Manager, says the shipment represents a significant re-opening of the market for the lower South Island. “Southland is home to Matariki Forests’ largest estate, and the wider Southland-Otago region is New Zealand’s second-largest forestry region,” he said. “Over 95% of forestry exports will become tariff-free once the agreement enters into force.  The removal of typical 5%-11% tariffs will improve returns to forest owners, helping to ease financial pressures currently facing the industry. “This shipment represents an important step in re-establishing supply chains and relationships with our Indian customers.  There is positive momentum with suppliers and customers working to rebuild the trade lane ahead of the anticipated FTA ratification by the New Zealand government.” With an estimated sustainable harvest of around four million cubic metres annually, local processors continue to invest in capability and play a critical role in the forestry value chain.  Export markets are also essential to the sector, helping balance supply and demand, maximising utilisation of the resource, and support regional employment and economic activity. The total shipment is approximately 44,000 tonnes of logs with 40% of the cargo sourced from Southland (18,000 tonnes) and the balance will then be loaded at Tauranga Port, before heading to Kandla Port in India. “South Port is pleased to support the first loading of logs to India from the region since 2020 and looks forward to continuing its support of this export opportunity,” said Geoff Finnerty, Interim CEO, South Port. The logs will be processed into a wide range of products including plywood, construction timber, furniture, such as tables and cabinetry, and interior applications such as doors and wall panels. Wood and wood products are New Zealand’s largest goods export to India worth NZ$134 million in the year to June 2025. NZ Institute of Economic Research estimates that forestry and wood processing directly employs around 1,950 people in the Otago and Southland regions and supports many more jobs, including transport, port operations and construction.  In total, the sector directly contributes around $348 million to regional GDP.

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Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Darren Chester has slammed the ABC for its ‘one-sided coverage’ of the Australian timber industry. Source: Timberbiz Mr Chester said the Four Corners program, which aired on Monday night, was another example of biased reporting focused on environmental activism. “From the first sentence of the program, it was obvious the ABC wasn’t going to be interested in presenting a balanced view of our world-class and environmentally sustainable native hardwood timber industry,” Mr Chester said. “There was no attempt to include the views of some of Australia’s leading forest scientists who support the hardwood timber industry, as the ABC dragged out the same old activists. “Instead of objective reporting, we were exposed to taxpayer-funded propaganda for the Labor-Greens, who have demonstrated complete and utter contempt for the forest industry in Australia for several decades. “Driven by his desperate need to secure Green preferences in the city, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sold out blue-collar workers in regional communities. “Thousands of jobs have already been lost, communities have been destroyed, and the regions are less safe because we have lost the equipment and the skilled workforce which we’ve always relied on during major bushfire events. “We’ve already seen the Labor Party in Victoria, Western Australia, and New South Wales capitulate to the Greens and the Federal Government’s EPBC Act changes just make it harder to source Australian-grown fibre and result in more imported timber products.” Australian Forest Products Association CEO Richard Hyett said the Four Corners program was not interested in accurately reflecting the latest science, environmental credentials, and economic importance of Australia’s innovative forestry industry. “The story was not balanced, accurate or fair, and blatantly prioritised activism over credible journalism,” Mr Hyett said. “The program ignored the evidence supporting Australia’s world-leading forest management systems and failed to present a balanced assessment of a sustainable industry that provides renewable products, regional jobs and significant environmental benefits.” Mr Chester said the ABC had completely ignored the consequences of Labor Party policies to shut down the native timber industry. “When it comes to timber, governments have two choices. You either harvest your own in an environmentally sustainable manner, or you take someone else’s,” Mr Chester said. “Australia has a trade deficit in timber products, and our dependence on countries like Brazil and Indonesia will only grow in the future if we shut down our own industry. “It’s an insult to hard-working Australians in the timber industry throughout regional Australia that our national broadcaster shows no regard for the social and economic consequences of Labor-Greens policies which target the timber industry.”

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The Tasmanian Forest Products Association has criticised the ABC’s Four Corners program on native timber harvesting for presenting a one-sided and misleading portrayal of Australia’s sustainable native forestry sector while ignoring the science, regulation and sustainability standards that underpin modern forest management. Source: Timberbiz “Tasmania’s forestry sector operates under one of the most highly regulated forest management systems in the world,” he said. “It is independently certified to internationally recognised standards and is specifically designed to deliver ecologically sustainable forest management, strong environmental outcomes and a long-term supply of renewable timber products,” Mr Steel said. “The program failed to acknowledge the significant environmental, economic and social benefits delivered by sustainable forestry, as well as the consequences of reducing domestic timber supply.” Mr Steel said demand for timber has not disappeared. Australia still needed timber for housing, construction and manufacturing. When governments reduced domestic supply, those products are sourced from overseas instead. “Recent decisions to end native forestry in Victoria and Western Australia have increased reliance on imported timber, often from countries that do not operate under Australia’s world-leading forest management standards,” he said. “Restricting domestic production does not reduce demand but simply shifts environmental impacts offshore. “If we stop producing sustainably sourced timber in Australia, we risk increasing pressure on forests in other parts of the world while undermining regional jobs, investment and manufacturing capability at home.” Mr Steel said Tasmania had demonstrated that sustainable timber production and environmental protection can coexist. “Forestry and environmental outcomes are not mutually exclusive. Tasmania has shown that renewable timber production, biodiversity conservation and responsible forest management can work together,” he said. “Rather than attacking a sustainable industry that produces essential products Australians use every day, the focus should be on supporting evidence-based policy and investing in a renewable resource that delivers environmental, economic and community benefits.” Forestry Australia President Dr Michelle Freeman echoed Mr Steel’s view that just because Victoria banned native forest harvesting the demand for timber had not vanished when the harvesting stopped. “I must admit, I’m rather bemused by all the reporting that’s been coming out about this recently, because it’s not surprising at all,” she told 3AW Mornings host Tom Elliott in Melbourne. “Stopping timber harvesting in one area doesn’t magically make demand for that timber go away. Australians want and need timber products, and they should.” She argued the real-world alternative to homegrown timber is rarely no timber at all, but a switch to materials with a heavier environmental footprint. “If we’re not sourcing timber from our own backyard, we have to get it from elsewhere, or substitute it with other products that are almost always non-renewable, like steel, concrete or plastic,” Dr Freeman said, noting timber’s role as a renewable, carbon-storing material with proven health benefits for the people who live and work around it. Pressed by Elliott on suggestions that Tasmanian logs are reaching Victorian mills through a regulatory loophole, Dr Freeman declined to comment on the specifics of the legislation but defended the integrity of the supply chain. “Harvesting in Australia is highly regulated and independently certified,” she said. “I’m confident that whatever is happening is in line with the rules and regulations, because the oversight is strong and there’s such high scrutiny on these operations, particularly from environmental groups. They really can’t be getting away with doing anything untoward.” Her most pertinent warning was reserved for what happens when domestic supply is wound back and Australia leans harder on imports it cannot always trace. She pointed to a timber trade deficit running at around $2 billion a year, “a significant proportion” of it sourced from what she called high-risk countries: “those where the sustainability, environmental and social credentials are hard to verify.” That, she said, includes conflict timber from Russia entering Australia via China. “So, Australia really needs to decide what it wants,” Dr Freeman said. “For me personally, I would much rather we sourced our timber needs locally, from our own forests, where we know where it’s come from and we can verify it.” Mr Steel said that Tasmania’s forestry sector operates under one of the most highly regulated forest management systems in the world. “It is independently certified to internationally recognised standards and is specifically designed to deliver ecologically sustainable forest management, strong environmental outcomes and a long-term supply of renewable timber products. “The program failed to acknowledge the significant environmental, economic and social benefits delivered by sustainable forestry, as well as the consequences of reducing domestic timber supply.” Mr Steel said demand for timber has not disappeared. Australia still needs timber for housing, construction and manufacturing. When governments reduce domestic supply, those products are sourced from overseas instead. “Recent decisions to end native forestry in Victoria and Western Australia have increased reliance on imported timber, often from countries that do not operate under Australia’s world-leading forest management standards,” he said. “Restricting domestic production does not reduce demand but simply shifts environmental impacts offshore. “If we stop producing sustainably sourced timber in Australia, we risk increasing pressure on forests in other parts of the world while undermining regional jobs, investment and manufacturing capability at home.” Mr Steel said Tasmania demonstrates that sustainable timber production and environmental protection can coexist. “Forestry and environmental outcomes are not mutually exclusive. Tasmania has shown that renewable timber production, biodiversity conservation and responsible forest management can work together. “Rather than attacking a sustainable industry that produces essential products Australians use every day, the focus should be on supporting evidence-based policy and investing in a renewable resource that delivers environmental, economic and community benefits.”

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Sustainable Timber Tasmania says it has substantially completed the development of new long-term wood supply arrangements that will guide timber supply through to 2040, replacing existing agreements due to expire in 2027. Source: Timberbiz It says a key feature of the new contracts is a requirement that logs sourced from Tasmania’s public production forests are processed in Tasmania. STT says new wood supply contracts would additionally result in future sawlog supply reflecting the increasing role of Tasmania’s maturing plantation resource, while sustainably managing native forests. STT CEO Dean Kearney said the new arrangements supported both the future evolution of Tasmania’s wood supply mix and continued investment in local processing. “The future of Tasmania’s wood supply is increasingly about the right mix of plantation and native forest resources, backed by local processing, local investment and long-term certainty for industry,” he said. “Tasmania’s sawmilling sector is continuing to invest in new technology, new products and expanded processing capability. These contract changes recognise that investment and support the continued growth of local processing and value-adding.” The new on island processing requirement is intended to support local jobs, encourage further investment and ensure more of the value generated from Tasmania’s public forest resource remains within the State. “Our responsibility is to manage Tasmania’s public forest resource for the benefit of Tasmania. By strengthening on-island processing, we can support local businesses, local jobs and the next generation of investment in Tasmania’s wood processing sector,” Mr Kearney said. The on-island processing requirement forms part of STT’s broader long-term wood supply arrangements, which are designed to provide certainty for customers while supporting sustainable industry development and economic outcomes for Tasmania.

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Monday’s Four Corners investigation into Australia’s native forestry sector has been described as flawed, one-sided, unbalanced and lacked important scientific evidence and industry context. Source: Timberbiz AFPA Acting CEO Richard Hyett said the misleading program was not interested in accurately reflecting the latest science, environmental credentials and economic importance of Australia’s innovative forestry industry. “(The) story was not balanced, accurate or fair, and blatantly prioritised activism over credible journalism,” Mr Hyett said. According to the ABC, after Victoria banned native forest logging in 2024, questions were repeatedly asked in Tasmania about whether logs were crossing Bass Strait to be processed by Victorian sawmills in receipt of compensation payouts. The Four Corners investigation showed that this was the case, resulting in state-owned logging company Sustainable Timber Tasmania updating an answer it had given in parliament. Tasmanian sawmill operator James Neville-Smith confirmed to Four Corners that some logs had been sent to Victoria, where processors had received compensation from the Victorian government as part of its industry shutdown. Mr Neville-Smith told the program the decision was due to retooling a sawmill to be plantation-only, meaning that hardwood logs needed to be processed elsewhere. The ABC conceded that contracts with sawmillers did not include an explicit requirement for logs to be processed in Tasmania, but that it would be included in contracts under negotiation to cover 2027 to 2040. But Mr Hyett said the program had ignored the evidence supporting Australia’s world-leading forest management systems and failed to present a balanced assessment of a sustainable industry that provides renewable products, regional jobs and significant environmental benefits. “Disappointingly, Four Corners revoked an opportunity for AFPA – the peak national body for forestry – to provide an industry response, despite inviting our spokesperson to speak in April. “We were one of many industry representatives who were ignored or misrepresented by Four Corners.” Mr Hyett said the program also failed to acknowledge the real-world consequences of the short-sighted decisions to end native forestry in Victoria and Western Australia. “Evidence-based research shows domestic demand for timber and wood products does not stop – and these shutdowns only increase our reliance on imported hardwood products, sourced from Indonesia and Brazil that don’t operate under Australia’s world-class forest management systems,” Mr Hyett said. “Native bans in Victoria and WA have also had devastating impacts on regional jobs and communities, local economies and long-term investment in Australia’s sixth-largest manufacturing sector. “Rather than slamming an industry contributing more than $24 billion a year to the economy, Four Corners should have focused on the need to invest in sustainable forestry and support essential Australian-made products used every day, including flooring, decking, furniture, pallets, packaging, paper and power poles. “The 80,000 Australians employed in forestry in many regional communities would also take offence to working for a ‘zombie industry’, as one academic incorrectly claimed in the story. “No wonder the One Nation vote is soaring in Australia, given this type of baseless rhetoric from our national broadcaster. “We can’t afford to weaken our sovereign manufacturing capability or continue outsourcing timber production overseas.  Sustainable native forestry has an important role to play in Australia’s economic and environmental future.” The ABC reported that on Saturday, Sustainable Timber Tasmania chief executive officer Dean Kearney wrote to a government business scrutiny committee to update an answer given in parliament in November. “STT’s acting chief executive officer advised that all sawlogs delivered by STT to its customers were processed in Tasmania,” he wrote. “That advice was understood to be correct at the time, and it was provided in good faith. “STT has since become aware that a small quantity of sawlogs delivered by STT to Tasmanian customers were on sold and processed interstate. “STT was not informed of these arrangements at the time.” In an interview with Four Corners, Resources Minister Felix Ellis said all logs from public forests were provided to mills in Tasmania. He was later made aware that some were being on sold to interstate processors. Mr Ellis described that as “disappointing”.

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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has selected 60 Young Forest Champions for 2026 to lead action on forest conservation, restoration and sustainable use underpinned by innovative monitoring approaches across six countries. Source: Timberbiz The new cohort, all aged 18-30, were selected from more than 1,700 applications from Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Peru, Uganda and Zambia, underscoring rising interest among young people in tackling forest and climate challenges. The forest champions represent a diverse group of students, young researchers, Indigenous leaders and community organizers. Many of those selected are already leading initiatives in areas such as mangrove restoration, agroforestry, biodiversity conservation and environmental education. “Young people are not only the future of forestry but are already leading change on the ground,” said Zhimin Wu, FAO Assistant Director-General and Director of the Forestry Division. “These 60 Young Forest Champions bring energy, innovation and local knowledge essential to protecting and sustainably managing forests and strengthening climate resilience.” Through the UK-FAO partnership on forest monitoring, AIM4Forests, this year’s Young Forest Champions will be equipped with the innovative technical approaches and solutions they need to scale up their impact. Participants will benefit from mentorship, technical training and peer learning focused on forest monitoring, remote sensing, geospatial technologies and digital data collection. By combining cutting-edge technology with local knowledge, the initiative supports more effective and inclusive forest management. It also aims to strengthen the role of young people, especially women, Indigenous Peoples and rural communities, in government decision-making processes that shape the management and future of forests. The Young Forest Champions initiative is linked to the Global Youth Network for Forest Monitoring, launched in October 2025 as a collaborative platform for young people passionate about forests, sustainability and climate action. The network promotes knowledge exchange, mentorship and peer learning among youth worldwide, creating opportunities to share experiences, innovative ideas and learning resources related to forest monitoring, restoration and conservation. Operating primarily through WhatsApp for active engagement and LinkedIn for professional networking, the network connects young leaders across regions and strengthens their collective role in protecting, restoring and monitoring forests for future generations.

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Waratah Forestry Equipment has introduced all-new, patented machined, no-shank saw teeth designed to maintain performance through dirt contact and rocky environments. Source: Timberbiz “Waratah’s no shank saw teeth are engineered to strike the right balance between cutting-edge performance and durability,” said Brent Fisher, product marketing manager for Waratah. “The patented machined tip helps reduce chipping from impacts and assists in supporting long-lasting cutting performance in tough, abrasive conditions. For operators who seek Waratah quality down to every part, the new saw teeth deliver.” Where other teeth may wear quickly or crack, Waratah’s are designed to perform through tough timber environments to help provide dependable durability and performance. With three tooth kerfs available (2 5/16”, 2 7/16” and 2 1/2”), they’re compatible with competitive wide kerf no shank (shankless) tooth enabled blades using 1” bolts and will be sold in kits of 18 or 20 pieces. “When operators see a product with the Waratah name on it, they can trust it was proven and built with performance in mind,” Mr Fisher said. “When it comes to keeping machines running, every part matters. Staying sharp, even through dirt contact, is what we set out to achieve and what our operators can expect with these new saw teeth.” The hardened no-shank saw teeth join an extensive offering of genuine Waratah parts. As with all Waratah parts and products, the saw teeth also come with easily accessible support for dealers and customers.

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Metsä Group’s impact on the Finnish economy is significant: the company’s value-added impact amounts to approximately EUR 3.4 billion per year, and its operations employ more than 30,000 people in Finland. The figures are based on an assessment by KPMG Oy Ab of Metsä’s economic impact in 2023–2025. Source: Timberbiz The results highlight the key role of the forest industry in the Finnish economy at a time when growth has been slow and the economic outlook remains uncertain. Metsä’s total output – its overall impact on the Finnish economy, amounts to EUR 10,060 million per year. This is generated not only by the company’s own revenue but also by its extensive domestic value chain, including procurement, investments and wages, as well as the economic activity they create across different industries. Metsä’s operations generate an estimated EUR 930 million in annual tax revenues in Finland. This is a scale that translates concretely into Finnish society, for example in the funding of public services. The amount corresponds to the annual salaries of more than 20,000 nurses in Finland. During the review period, Metsä directly employed an average of 5,750 people in Finland. Procurement, investments, and the spending of wages by directly and indirectly employed people generate an additional nearly 25,000 jobs. In total, the employment impact amounts to approximately 30,800 people, roughly equivalent to the entire employed population of a city. Metsä’s value-added impact, the economic value generated in Finland in the form of wages, profits and taxes, is approximately EUR 3.4 billion, a significant contribution to Finland’s GDP. The impacts extend widely across business sectors and regions: work carried out in forests, logistics and industry is reflected throughout society and the economy nationwide. Investments made in Finland create long-term effects on employment, business activity and public finances. The assessment demonstrates the extensive impact that forestry and the forest industry have on employment, economic growth and public finances in Finland. Value is created from Finnish forests and refined into a broad domestic value chain that provides jobs and generates wellbeing across the country. “In the current environment, it is particularly important that Finland does not, through national decisions, weaken the operating conditions for forestry and the forest industry, but instead supports their renewal, efficiency and international competitiveness,” said Jussi Vanhanen, President and CEO of Metsä Group. The assessment conducted by KPMG is based on data provided by Metsä for 2023–2025 as well as Statistics Finland data. The analysis was carried out using an input–output model and covers the company’s direct, indirect and induced effects, including the impacts generated by the spending of wages of directly and indirectly employed people in Finland.

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In 2025, the WIDE Trust supported an innovative step forward in architectural education, helping equip future designers with the skills needed to respond to one of the most urgent challenges of our time: the climate crisis. Source: Timberbiz Through a grant of NZ$13,000, the Trust supported the University of Auckland School of Architecture & Planning to deliver a hands-on timber design and fabrication program to 124 second-year architecture students. Led by Professor Andrew Barrie, the initiative forms part of a reimagined curriculum focused on designing with timber, particularly mass timber, which is rapidly emerging as a sustainable solution in modern construction. The 2025 course introduced a refreshed structure, with 25% of teaching delivered through all-of-cohort sessions. These sessions connected students directly with leading voices in New Zealand architecture, offering insights into some of the country’s most significant recent timber projects. Guest speakers included: Dr Jeremy Smith (Irving Smith Architects) – Bioeconomy Science Institute Andrew Barrie – Cathedral Grammar Junior School Ewan Brown (Tennant Brown Architects) – Ngā Mokopuna Richard Naish (RTA Studio) – Fisher & Paykel Global Headquarters Maria Chan (Jasmax) – Tukutuku, AUT Divya Purushotham (Warren & Mahoney) – 90 Devonport Road, Tauranga.   Students also took part in technical workshops covering the Building Code, structural solutions, and timber engineering, including a specialist session with Professor Pierre Quenneville. At the heart of the WIDE Trust’s contribution was a practical fabrication project: designing and producing a timber stool using the school’s state-of-the-art CNC milling machine, also funded by the Trust. This hands-on exercise guided students through the full design-to-production process: Prototyping concepts with scaled laser-cut models Testing critical joints for precision and tolerance Producing shop drawings and digital fabrication files CNC milling final designs Hand-finishing and oiling completed pieces   Throughout the process, students engaged in peer reviews, refining their designs while developing a deeper understanding of material performance, craftsmanship, and production efficiency. The impact of the project was immediate and tangible. Students not only developed technical fabrication skills but also gained a strong appreciation for the precision required in digital manufacturing. Feedback from participants highlighted the value of the experience: “The stool task was a very cool opportunity… it was really cool to get to take home a stool out of it.” “It taught me how important it is to get it right the first time, otherwise it’s very time-consuming and costly to fix.” “I’d never done fabrication before, so I learnt a lot from that.” Beyond the classroom, the project also received recognition in the Faculty of Engineering and Design’s newsletter, reflecting its broader significance within the university. The WIDE Trust’s investment in this initiative goes beyond funding, it is helping shape a new generation of architects who are better equipped to design sustainably, think innovatively, and contribute meaningfully to the future of the built environment. The Trust’s continued support plays a vital role in enabling bold, forward-thinking education, and its impact will be seen not just in classrooms, but in the buildings and communities of tomorrow.

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Some of New Zealand’s wilding conifer challenges stem from well-intentioned decisions of the past. Species like lodgepole pine, originally introduced for erosion control and wood production in high country environments, have since spread aggressively. Without effective management, the consequences are significant. Source: Timberbiz Over the next 25 to 30 years, wilding conifers could spread across large parts of the country, affecting up to a quarter of New Zealand’s land. The impacts are wide-ranging: Loss of productive land Reduced hydroelectric generation Threats to native species and ecosystems Transformation of iconic New Zealand landscapes.   These invasions also affect cultural heritage and whenua. At places like Mount Tarawera, wilding conifers have been spreading since the 1960s and 1970s. Ruawahia 2B Trust, has worked tirelessly to manage the problem, but ongoing pressure highlights just how persistent and dynamic these invasions can be. Wilding conifers don’t respect boundaries, and neither can the response. If control efforts succeed in one area but fail in another, reinvasion pressure will continue to spread. This makes collaboration essential. Researchers at the Bioeconomy Science Institute work closely with the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme and the Wilding Pine Network, sharing knowledge, aligning approaches, and contributing to continuous improvement. This partnership approach ensures that: Research is translated into real-world action Control methods evolve as new knowledge emerges Communities and organisations stay connected and informed   Over the past decade, research has already delivered tangible improvements that are close to becoming implemented. For example, new spray technologies and formulations are predicted to reduce the cost of managing dense infestations by around 30%. But stopping the spread is only the first step. Today, the focus is shifting to a more complex challenge: How do we prevent reinvasion? This means looking beyond tree removal to better land management practices, restoring and strengthening ecosystems, and increasing resilience to future invasions. Addressing wilding conifers as an ecological problem requires collaboration across disciplines and borders. The Viva la Resistance program brings together expertise from: Lincoln University University of Canterbury Australian National University National Centre for Atmospheric Research (USA)   Together, researchers are working to answer key questions about invasion dynamics, ecosystem recovery, and long-term resilience. Ultimately, managing wilding conifers is not a challenge any single organisation, community, or sector can solve alone. It requires: Research and innovation Strong partnerships Coordinated action Long-term investment The goal of Viva la Resistance is clear: optimise wilding conifer management for the long term by minimising reinvasion and maximising resilience. It’s a complex problem but with a collective approach, it’s one New Zealand can tackle together. To learn more visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEq28-aFFkw

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FSC has revised its core standard setting general requirements for certification bodies, FSC-STD-20-001, and published a new version (V5-0) on 1 April 2025. Source: Timberbiz The transition period for implementation will run until FSC invites stakeholders to join a public webinar introducing the revised standard to support them in understanding and applying the updated requirements. This session will provide a clear and practical overview of the key changes and new concepts introduced in FSC-STD-20-001 V5-0 General requirements for certification bodies, as well as their implications for implementation. The webinar will also include a live Q&A session, giving participants the opportunity to raise questions and gain clarity on practical application and compliance expectations. Key topics Overview of FSC STD 20 001 V5 0 revision process Major changes compared to previous versions New concepts and requirements for certification bodies Implementation considerations and timelines Interactive Q&A session This public webinar is open to all interested stakeholders, including certificate holders, certification bodies, FSC members, FSC network partner staff, and other relevant stakeholders seeking clarity and guidance on the revised standard. The webinar is on 30 June 2026, 18:00 – 19:30 AEST/20:00 – 21:30 NZST Register at: https://fsc-int.zoom.us/meeting/register/X22iPqJqQKO_Y31b2XdjkA#/registration

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The New Zealand government’s review of how Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) is funded should be accompanied by a wider examination of whether FENZ is delivering for rural communities, forest owners say. Source: Timberbiz The New Zealand Forest Owners Association (NZFOA) and Federated Farmers wrote to Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden last week, calling for an independent review just 10 years after FENZ was first established. The Minister has since confirmed a review of the insurance-based levy which provides most of FENZ’s funding. NZFOA chief executive Dr Elizabeth Heeg says the review presents an opportunity to assess whether the 2017 fire services reform has achieved its intention of delivering improved fire capabilities and protection for rural communities. “Rural landowners carry substantial cost and risk under the current system, with limited evidence of delivering the efficiencies, transparency and service improvements that were originally expected,” Dr Heeg said. “For example, has the merger of urban and rural fire services delivered the efficiencies and benefits originally intended when FENZ was established? “Examining whether rural communities are receiving fair and effective fire and emergency services, relative to the risks they face, should be a central part of the review’s scope.” NZFOA fire spokesperson Sean McBride says the forestry sector plays a critical role in managing fire risk. “Forest owners and farmers are at the frontline of rural fire prevention and control,” he says. “The capacity and expertise that our people bring to fire management is a critical extension of our country’s response network.” Strengthening collaboration with FENZ during large-scale incidents, where local expertise is often essential for effective suppression, will be critical to ensuring this capability is fully utilised. “With climate pressures increasing the frequency and scale of fire risk, the industry needs confidence that FENZ has the specialist knowledge, capability and focus needed to manage large-scale vegetation and landscape fires,” Mr McBride said. “Spending decisions and performance measures must also reflect the very different risks and operating environments across rural New Zealand.” NZFOA’s priority is to ensure New Zealand’s fire response system adequately supports frontline response, training and capability. “Forest owners understand risk and responsibility better than most,” Dr Heeg said. “We are not asking for concessions. We are asking for a system that is transparent, evidence-based, and clearly demonstrates it is delivering the fire protection and capability it is funded to provide.” She says the call for a wider review is consistent with questions being raised across the primary sector about whether expected gains from structural reform have been fully realised. “Reviewing whether FENZ is delivering for levy payers is not a criticism of frontline firefighters or volunteers, who continue to do outstanding work,” Dr Heeg said. “ It’s about giving landowners and rural communities assurances that the organisation supporting them is efficient, accountable and aligned to the risks it is designed to manage. “As FENZ enters its second decade, it is appropriate to ensure those expectations are being met.”

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WorkSafe New Zealand has provided practical safety guidance to hundreds of wood manufacturing businesses, as part of a significant proactive focus on one of the country’s most dangerous sectors. Source: Timberbiz WorkSafe’s health and safety inspectors visited 657 businesses between January and March, from toy makers to joiners and wood processors, sharing education and guidance material with 83% of them. “Many businesses were committed to improving safety and welcomed the chance to talk through their health and safety practices,” said WorkSafe’s project lead Savio Valladares. “These visits are about helping businesses get it right, not catching them out.” However, the assessments also revealed persistent safety gaps. About half the businesses visited were required to make prompt changes to help prevent harm. The most common issues were inadequate machine guarding, missing or out-of-date hazardous substances inventories, and workers exposed to wood dust without effective controls such as ventilation and protective equipment. “Manufacturing workers deserve to go home healthy and safe at the end of every day. These visits are about helping businesses and workers understand what good looks like – and most were receptive to that. While we can see progress is being made, too many are still missing safety essentials,” said Savio Valladares. The findings reinforce why the sector is a priority focus for WorkSafe. Manufacturing has the highest rate and number of injuries resulting in more than a week off work of any sector – around 200 machinery-related injuries occur each year. An average of four to five manufacturing workers are killed at work each year, roughly two thirds of fatalities occur in food, wood, and metal product manufacturing. WorkSafe will continue proactive visits to manufacturing businesses. From July to September, the focus shifts to food manufacturing. WorkSafe’s role is to influence businesses and workers to meet their responsibilities and keep people healthy and safe.  

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AFPA has made a submission on the Federal Government’s proposed amendments to the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Collection Act 2024, broadly supporting the objective of improving the effectiveness and flexibility of the levy system. Source: Timberbiz The submission relates to the public consultation on the policy changes the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is considering in relation to the Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Act 2024. AFPA says the Australian forestry industry welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed amendments to the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Collection Act 2024. It broadly supports the department’s intent to enhance the effectiveness of the levies system through improved data use and administrative flexibility. According to the submission the reforms have the potential to strengthen evidence-based policy, improve research quality, and support system integrity. However, inclusion of robust safeguards, clear limits on scope, and strong transparency and accountability mechanisms are needed to ensure ongoing effective implementation. AFPA supports, in principle, the ability of DAFF to share information with trusted third-party providers for intended uses and supports the proposed powers for the Secretary to make rules under the Act that enable the collection of levy/charge payer and collection agent personal information for the establishment and maintenance of levy payer registers. AFPA also supports the proposal to enable the use and disclosure of levy payer and collection agent personal information for research, policy development and data analysis purposes, including by ABARES. Improved data quality and survey capability represent important public benefits. However, for industry to properly understand the scope and implications of these changes, and to ensure adequate data privacy and there are no unintended consequences, the exact legislative wording outlining the circumstances under which information sharing may occur must be clearly, transparently, and explicitly articulated in the primary legislation or accompanying rules. AFPA’s recommendations: Define data sharing purpose limitation Explicit data access provisions for Industry Representative Bodies Legislative clarity Third-party data controls De-identification by default Transparency measures Opt-out mechanisms where feasible Independent oversight and audit Data breach protocols   The submission can be downloaded at https://ausfpa.com.au/publications/submission-on-proposed-levy-collection-reforms/

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While Senator Pauline Hanson was telling the National Press Club that, “From its chairman down, the ABC has proven itself to be completely in denial about its profoundly transparent political bias and the activists in its ranks.” The ABC was doing its best to prove her correct according to Timber NSW chief executive Maree McCaskill. Source: Timberbiz “Any pretence that the ABC Four Corners ‘journalists’ are anything more than activists disappears when they describe one of their interviewees, in an email, as a ‘formidable opponent’,” said Ms McCaskill. “This latest stitch-up of the sustainable forestry industry which has harvested trees for generations, and re-grown forests for generations is based entirely on a fiction being spread by the national broadcaster. “Forestry policy needs to be based on science not opinion and yet, sadly, ABC Four Corners prioritises uneducated opinion over evidence-based science when it comes to the timber industry. “Activists at the national broadcaster are working tirelessly to shut down the forestry industry in NSW and the rest of Australia as quickly as they can based on conjecture and opinion expressed by unnamed environmental groups from “down south” to quote the Four Corners journalist during a lengthy interview with Andrew Hurford, the head of a multi-generational timber industry group. “Four Corners is attempting to portray the forest products industry as immoral by making false allegations that parts of the industry have been paid compensation when they haven’t suffered loss of contracted timber supply. “In addition, the ABC activists essentially debunk scientific evidence used by the CSIRO by giving equal weighting to opinion and conjecture from unnamed environmental groups. “Four Corners interviewed Andrew Hurford in a part of a forest that had been harvested only two years earlier, yet they refused to acknowledge that fact because it didn’t show the devastation that they were looking for. “In audio recordings of the interview the birdsong is almost too intrusive to conduct an interview, reflective of a very healthy ecosystem. “Their attempt to sway public opinion against the forestry industry even goes as far as showing footage of a timber haulage truck arriving at a mill complete with feigned gasps of horror without acknowledging that the timber was from private land, not a public forest and that it was the only delivery of large logs in a nearly a year. “There must be a limit to the lengths that ABC activists will go to in order to destroy a viable, sustainable forestry industry in NSW,” Ms McCaskill said. Timber NSW was established in 1906 as the representative organisation of the timber and forest products industry in NSW. Its mission is to work with members, stakeholders and the broader industry to build an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable timber industry in New South Wales. Tonight, on the ABC’s Four Corners program, the station is broadcasting an investigation titled “Timber Turmoil“.  The episode, reported by Jessica Longbottom, investigates the current state of Australia’s native forest logging industry.

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