Australian timber industry news

All guests are welcome at Ponsse’s Vieremä factory in Finland. Customers always come first, but the company also tries to find a suitable visit time for other groups, said Petri Rissanen, who is responsible for visits. Source: Timberbiz “A visit always includes at least a company presentation and a factory tour. The visit program is organized according to the group of visitors and their schedule. “In practice, for example, foreign customer groups spend several days in Finland, during which the guests can visit, for example, the test farm, the Iisalmi logistics and maintenance service center, and Einari’s former home in Mäkelä. In addition, there can be a variety of other activities, from snowmobiling to hunting,” Mr Rissanen said. The guests stay at the Ponsse Club next to the factory. The club has accommodation for 25 people, a smoke sauna, its own kitchen and a large dining room. Three people take care of the meals and maintenance of the club, and one property manager, who heats the smoke sauna, does snow removal and keeps the building in good condition. “We do not have full-time leaders, but groups are hosted by a team in accordance with the Ponsse spirit. It is interesting for customers to get to talk to Ponsse employees working in different jobs, and it is valuable for employees to meet customers and hear their feedback. Often, the company’s management or owners also meet guest groups,” Mr Rissanen said. The factory receives around 4,000 – 6,000 visitors annually. This figure does not include subcontractors, for example. Last year, visitors came from around 30 countries. “We are probably one of the busiest attractions in Upper Savo in terms of visitor numbers,” Mr Rissanen said. “When guests come from far away to Vieremä, we want to give them time and a good impression. “Ponsse is a family company, as are often the companies of dealers, service entrepreneurs and forest machinery contractors. We are interested in similar things, we have the same hobbies, and we share the same values about life and work. I hope that a visit here would feel like visiting a good friend.”  

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US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L Rollins has announced the US Forest Service is awarding US$80 million in Wood Innovation Grants to spur wood products manufacturing, expand active forest management, and accelerate energy innovation across America’s timber-producing communities. Source: Timberbiz “The United States is blessed with a bounty of natural resources that we must properly manage to sustain our future economy and boost rural communities. Proper forest use and management lowers our reliance on foreign products and is inherently aligned with President Trump’s America First agenda,” said Secretary Rollins. “We’re investing in innovation that ensures a steady, sustainable supply of American wood that not only supports jobs and fuels economies, it protects the people and communities we serve, as well as the forest resources they depend on to survive and thrive.” This investment delivers on President Trump’s commitment to unleashing America’s abundant natural resources by tearing down unnecessary barriers that have kept forests dangerously overstocked and unhealthy, putting communities at risk from wildfire and other threats. It also follows through on Secretary Rollins’ memorandums to the Forest Service (PDF, 2.9 MB) to carry out efforts to make forests more productive, $200 million timber investment in May, part of a broader strategy to advance economic opportunity and ensure long-term forest resilience through regulatory streamlining and expedited project approvals.

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In the run up to COP30, 18 forest sector companies, stewarding more than 24 million hectares (almost 60 million acres) in 21 countries, have announced a world first project led by the International Sustainable Forestry Coalition. Source: Timberbiz The companies are coming together to pilot test the application of emerging Natural Capital Accounting (NCA) principles and reporting formats given their shared acknowledgement of their stewardship of forestry assets as natural capital. The participants will use a consistent frame of reference for approaching the vast nature assets which they steward on their estates. These assets are often called ‘Natural Capital’ and provide vital ‘ecosystem services’ to business and society. The participating companies and entities are: Aurora Sustainable Lands Arauco CapMan Climate Asset Management France Valley Forestry England Forest Investment Associates Green Diamond Resource Company Gresham House Mercer International Mitsui & Co. New Forests Nippon Paper Industries Oji Holdings PotlatchDeltic Rayonier Stora Enso Sumitomo Forestry “The world must begin to increase investments with positive impacts on both climate and nature. However, if we are to attract the scale of funding required these investments must also make economic sense. The global forestry sector can deliver sustainable, renewable materials as well as positive outcomes for climate and nature. Central to this is understanding and standardising the approach to how we value the vast natural capital assets managed by these companies,” Independent Chair of the ISFC, Dr. David Brand said. Mark Gough, Chief Executive Officer of Capitals Coalition said that the contribution that the forestry sector can make to nature and climate goals has often been undervalued. “The ISFC is stepping up to address this by working with the Capitals Coalition and TNFD to grapple with this challenging issue of measuring and reporting on the natural capital which is inherently a part of their landscape wide holdings,” he said. Directly managing the project will be Rayne van den Berg, Chief Value Officer at Value Australia and former CFO of leading Australian forestry company, FORICO. “Many individual companies and thought leaders have worked for years to develop frameworks and methodologies to quantify and value Natural Capital with the aim of providing better information for more informed decision-making. This project will be a ‘game-changer’ as, for the first time, a group of forestry companies will share insights about pilot testing of natural capital accounting to understand the ecosystem services which they steward alongside their timber and fibre,” Mr van den Berg said. Tony Goldner, Chief Executive Officer of the Taskforce for Nature Related Financial Disclosures said that TNFD was pleased to support this global sector effort to apply natural capital accounting. Aligned with the TNFD’s open innovation and pilot testing approach to scaling practical action, ISFC has been able to bring together an impressive range of forestry sector players prepared to share insights from practical experience for the good of nature and climate outcomes. “The TNFD framework, and the LEAP process, being adopted by enterprises all over the world, provides the frame of reference for this project. The missing piece of that puzzle has been the valuation of ecosystem services, which must occur if we are to pivot globally away from nature destructive investments to nature enhancing capital flows. TNFD will utilise the learnings from this project to help inform its guidance and to demonstrate the link between TNFD nature-related assessments and natural capital accounting for valuation and to support corporate reporting,” he said.  

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A rare New Zealand species on the brink of extinction is on its way to recovery thanks to the incredible work of those determined to save it. There are just four known native forget-me-not (Myosotis petiolata) plants left in the wild and work has begun to save the species, which only grows in very niche environments in Hawke’s Bay. Source: Timberbiz One such place is at Rock Station, a property owned by Pan Pac that includes a QEII-covenanted remnant native forest area. On 10 July 2025, eight Myosotis petiolata were blessed with Karakia by Kaumatua Matiu Eru and planted at the Rock Garden, a protected area of Rock Station. These eight will be joined by about 92 more this winter with another 100 also being planted at a neighbouring forest, owned by Matariki Forests. The plants were grown from cuttings from the original four wild plants by Plant Hawke’s Bay. Over the past two years, the team at the wholesale native plant nursery have lovingly propagated over 700 new Myosotis petiolata plants. The work to secure this precious species has been a collaborative effort, in which the Department of Conservation has worked with landowners to maintain the health of the four wild plants, while Plant Hawke’s Bay, Matariki Forests, Pan Pac, Hineuru Iwi Trust, Maungaharuru Tangitū, Mana Ahuriri, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, and Whirika Consulting have been involved in delivering the re-introduction projects.  

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OneFortyOne is celebrating the community groups supported by their PINE Community Grants Program over the past financial year in the Green Triangle. Source: Timberbiz Throughout the past year, the forestry and sawmilling company has provided more than $100,000 in grants to a diverse range of organisations, including schools, environmental groups, and social services. OneFortyOne Corporate Affairs Manager Charlene Riley said the program has provided support to local organisations that are doing a lot with a little. “The community groups we support continue to amaze us with their dedication and resourcefulness,” Ms Riley said. “We can provide a small boost, but it’s the people that drive these projects that make a big impact in our community.” OneFortyOne’s Guidelines for Giving also outline that projects should involve partnerships and leverage financial and/or in-kind contributions. “We want to support programs that have the potential to become self-sustaining,” Ms Riley said. As part of the application process, organisations must describe which PINE (people, ideas, nature, education) objective their project most aligns with. Ms Riley noted that most applications they receive fit into the people and education categories. “We’re also looking to be a part of more nature-based projects, so if you have something in mind, check out our website for more information and the application form,” Ms Riley said. The OneFortyOne PINE Community Grants program is open year-round, with applications reviewed every couple of months, aligning with the South East Seasonal Calendar. 2025 Financial Year PINE Community Grant recipients: 48 Army Cadet Unit Mount Gambier Handheld radio upgrade $3,000 Blue Lake Gymnastics Club Energy efficiency project $5,000 Burrandies Aboriginal Corporation NAIDOC Week family day $4,000 Connect FM – Tatiara Community FM Transmitter replacement $5,000 Glencoe Primary Garden and playground redevelopment $4,500 Grant High School Rock and Water Program $7,000 Empowered Women in Trades Schools experience $5,000 Holdfast Project Local identification brochures $2,000 Limestone Coast Multicultural Network Event catering kit $2,500 McDonald Park Primary School Breakfast club toaster $900 McDonald Park Primary School Sensory pathway $1,000 Millicent Cancer Support Group Gamma probe $5,000 Millicent High School Creation story circle $5,000 Mount Benson Hall Committee Automated External Defibrillator $1,600 Mount Gambier High School Woodworking program $2,500 Mount Gambier History Group Modernising processes $5,000 Naracoorte High School Indigenous Garden $5,000 Naracoorte South Primary School Inclusive playground $3,900 Newbery Park Primary School Community kitchen $5,000 Port Macdonnell Offshore Angling Club Club renovation $5,000 Portland Surf Life Saving Club Cadet development $5,000 Rendelsham CFS Primary water refilling point for truck $3,500 Rendelsham Primary and Preschool Vegetable garden revamp $2,200 Tenison Woods College Communication boards $2,000 The Nurtured Village Monthly hampers project $5,000 WRAD Health Women Supporting Women in Recovery $5,000 Yahl CFS Brigade Automated External Defibrillator $1,600

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The NZTIF survey for the June 2025 quarter indicates a rising sense of optimism 12 months out compared with the March survey.  Even over the shorter three-month time frame respondents have suggested an improved outlook than in the previous quarter. Source: Timberbiz In the March survey no respondents believed that there would be any improvement in business conditions in the three months ahead whereas in our June survey 30% of respondents believe there will be improved business conditions three months ahead. In terms of the expected conditions in 12 months’ time, a full 90% of respondents believe business conditions will be better compared with 75% in the previous quarter. There were no respondents expecting conditions to have worsened compared with 17% in the March survey. Looking back over the previous 12 months, 40% of respondents reported a fall in sales volumes and an equal proportion reported improved sales volumes, but 70% reported reduced selling prices, 30% no change and none reported any increase in timber selling prices.  Production costs continued to rise for 40% of respondents. The majority of respondents (80%) expect sales volumes to rise in the 12 months ahead and a similar proportion expect selling prices to remain unchanged or to even achieve a modest increase.  As a result, the majority expect profitability to remain unchanged or slightly improve. Respondents remain committed to investment with 60% looking to have increased investment in the 12 months.  

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FSC Australia and New Zealand is seeking nominations for an economic chamber vacancy on the Standards Development Group (SDG), which is responsible for revising the FSC Forest Stewardship Standard for Australia. Source: Timberbiz This vacancy follows the departure of Simon Cook, who has stepped down from the SDG after his recent appointment to the Board of FSC ANZ. FSC is seeking a candidate who can broadly represent the interests of the economic chamber, which includes individuals or organisations with a commercial interest in the forest sector. The draft revised Standard is now open for public consultation until 31 August 2025, marking a critical milestone in ensuring the Standard continues to promote best-practice responsible forest management and remains fit for purpose. The replacement process will be identical to when the SDG was originally constituted. Upon publication of this call for expressions of interest, applications will be open for four weeks, closing on 18 August 2025 whereafter the FSC ANZ Board will consider applications and appoint the successful candidate. Standards Development Group members are chosen for their experience and ability to represent key interest areas that are important for the revision and FSC’s values and policies. Eligibility for the Standards Development Group requires that applications include and demonstrate: Membership of FSC ANZ. Or submission and approval of an FSC ANZ membership application as part of the expression of interest process. Up-to-date knowledge of FSC’s systems and procedures. Representation of points of view from the economic chamber. An understanding of the impact of the standard on affected stakeholders. An understanding of and commitment to FSC’s mission and vision. A desire to seek and reach consensus on complex or contested issues. An ability to actively participate in the process until final approval of the revised standard. Support from two members of the corresponding chamber in the form of letters of support. Expert knowledge of and/or experience in the development, implementation and/or analysis of standards will be highly regarded. For more information on the Standards Development Group and the process for appointment, please get in touch with Stefan Jensen, FSC ANZ’s Senior Policy Manager at s.jensen@au.fsc.org To submit an expression of interest, email a letter outlining how you meet the eligibility criteria outlined above, your CV and two letters of support from members of the economic chamber to info@au.fsc.org by close of business 22 August 2025.

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Mercer Mass Timber (MMT), a leading manufacturer of sustainable timber building materials and a subsidiary of Mercer International has announced a strategic partnership with CLT Toolbox, a structural design software platform built specifically for mass timber buildings. Source: Timberbiz The collaboration marks a major step toward making mass timber a mainstream construction material by connecting advanced digital workflows with real-world manufacturing capabilities. By embedding product-specific, code-compliant design tools into a digital platform accessible to structural engineers worldwide, the partnership removes long-standing barriers that have historically slowed the adoption of mass timber as a mainstream building solution. “Our collaboration with CLT Toolbox is about facilitating digital design in the realities of mass timber fabrication,” said Ricardo Brites Director of Engineering & VDC at Mercer Mass Timber. “It’s a smart, integrated and accessible approach and exactly the kind of alignment the industry needs.” This is one of the first integrations of its kind in North America and signals a broader shift toward digitized, scalable mass timber construction. By simplifying design, manufacturing, and installation, MMT and CLT Toolbox are using advanced technology to remove complexity from workflows and accelerate the transition to low-carbon building systems. This integration provides benefits throughout the building lifecycle: For engineers: It offers calibrated, best-practice design tools that reduce guesswork, enhance design confidence, and streamline approvals. For architects and developers: It ensures cost predictability, constructability, and compliance are addressed early, improving timelines and reducing downstream rework. For the industry at large: It represents a leap forward in the digitization and scalability of mass timber construction. “The world is ready for low-carbon construction, but technical bottlenecks are holding us back,” said Adam Jones, CEO and Founder of CLT Toolbox. “Once we remove those, mass timber has everything it needs to lead the future of building.”  

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Forestry Corporation’s Sales and Planning teams have welcomed heritage timber bridge restoration experts from Placemaking NSW, Transport for NSW and Broockmann Water Advisory to the North Coast for a guided tour of native hardwood production forests. Source: Timberbiz The visit offered a rare opportunity for the NSW Government’s bridge team to see first-hand where the high-quality, naturally durable timbers essential to their restoration work are sourced. “This was a fantastic opportunity to connect the dots between sustainable forest management and heritage timber bridge preservation,” Carl Broockmann said. “It’s great to see how our work in the forest directly supports the longevity of some of the state’s most treasured landmarks and most important public infrastructure.” Placemaking NSW manages Pyrmont Bridge, the oldest continuously operated electric swing span bridge in the world. The bridge, constructed in 1902, has two steel spans and 12 timber spans built with over 900 tons of renewal hardwood timber sourced from the north coast of NSW. The NSW Government has announced a contribution of $59.6million dollars to the restoration of Pyrmont Bridge timber trusses over the coming 10 years. This work is important to keep the vital pedestrian and cycleway route open between Pyrmont and the Sydney CBD. “High quality and durable timbers of large diameter with specific strength and durability requirements are needed for the Pyrmont Bridge restoration that are only available in NSW native forests,” David Glasson said. The Transport for NSW Bridge team is also responsible for maintaining 27 timber bridges of historical and engineering significance across NSW. Alan Pottie of TfNSW said ‘many of these bridges will require restoration over the coming 10 years and will require a steady supply of hardwood timber sourced from the north coast region’. “These structures require premium-grade timbers such as Ironbark, Tallowwood, and Blackbutt, species native to NSW and not available anywhere else in the world,” he said. During the tour, FCNSW staff showcased their sustainable harvesting practices and planning processes that ensure the long-term viability of these valuable timber resources. The visit also allowed FCNSW teams to gain insight into the end uses of their products and the critical role they play in preserving NSW’s infrastructure heritage. The tour highlighted the importance of collaboration between forestry and infrastructure teams and reinforced FCNSW’s commitment to responsible resource management.

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With just six weeks before the 2025 Gottstein Understanding Wood Science Course commences industry participants are encouraged register and not miss out on this excellent development opportunity. The Gottstein Understanding Wood Science Course is held just every second year. Source: Timberbiz As an example, Sustainable Timber Tasmania personnel, including non-executive directors, have and continue to gain a great deal from Gottstein courses. And to make it that bit easier for companies, the fee for the course has remained unchanged since it first began in 2023. Starting with registration followed by dinner and a course briefing on the evening of Sunday 7 September the course runs through to lunchtime Friday 12 September The course program is at https://gottsteintrust.org/upload/documents/WSCProgram_2025-07Preliminary.pdf The event starts at Albury, close to the three manufacturing operations which will be visited on the field trip component of the course. The group is then taken by coach to Canberra where they spend the rest of the week, including for a full day of learning at the Australian National University. This course has a contemporary edge with an emphasis on the engineered wood sector as it continues to grow. It’s a very good chance to get up to date on the wood processing sector, including research and development, as well as learning the fundamentals about the biological characteristics of wood. One of the great benefits of a Gottstein course is people spending five days as a group with time to network with others from different parts of the industry and different places. It’s motivating and opens eyes to how many different types of operations are within the Australian forest products value chain. The inspiring list of accomplished guest presenters offers a rare opportunity for participants. To register go to https://gottsteintrust.org/grants-courses/understanding-wood-science-course/registration or for more information consult https://gottsteintrust.org/grants-courses/understanding-wood-science-course or contact team@gottsteintrust.org

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A University of Oregon-led initiative to revolutionize the mass timber sector in the Pacific Northwest has been selected as a semifinalist in the highly competitive National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines program. Source: Timberbiz The NSF Engine: Oregon Mass Timber Innovation Engine, led by principal investigator Judith Sheine, professor of architecture in the UO College of Design and director of design of the TallWood Design Institute, is among just 29 semifinalist teams nationally. The announcement builds on the project’s momentum from a US$1 million NSF Engine strategic planning award granted in 2023 and the work of the TallWood Design Institute, a joint initiative of the UO and Oregon State University. “This exciting next step affirms our region’s potential to lead a national transformation of our construction industries,” Ms Sheine said. The mass timber initiative “leverages Oregon’s world-class strengths in timber R&D, abundant forest resources, and manufacturing capacity to build a thriving and resilient mass timber ecosystem.” The initiative targets three pressing national and regional challenges: rural economic resilience, forest health and affordable housing. By advancing technologies across smart forestry, advanced manufacturing and resilient building systems, it aims to revitalize and modernize Oregon’s legacy timber industry and generate high-wage, future-ready jobs in both rural and urban communities. Mass timber, an engineered wood product, can be made from small-diameter logs and underutilized timber species, providing commercial markets for logs thinned from forests to reduce wildfire risk and promote forest health. It provides an alternative to steel and concrete in construction. Due to its ability to be prefabricated in factories, the method speeds production, in housing in particular, and reduces waste and carbon emissions. The new terminal at the Portland International Airport is a visually stunning testament to mass timber’s diverse uses. The initiative proposes to amplify R&D and commercialization in: Smart forestry: high-tech harvesting, fibre supply mapping and assistive technology for loggers Advanced manufacturing and building products: new bio-based materials, robotic fabrication and product innovation Resilient building systems: modular housing, retrofits for seismic and climate resilience and design-for-disassembly strategies The 2023 NSF Engine strategic planning grant allowed the UO to build a regional coalition of more than 90 collaborators — including industry, accelerators, tribal nations, higher education, workforce and career mentoring organizations, and investment firms, including key partners Timberlab, Freres Engineered Wood, the Port of Portland, Oregon State University, Washington State University and Portland Community College — to develop a blueprint for scaling innovation and translation to commercialization. Ms Sheine said the project is a comprehensive strategy to reimagine forest management, revitalize rural communities and strengthen the domestic construction supply chain while creating scalable housing solutions and resilient building systems. “The Oregon Mass Timber Innovation Engine is an extraordinary opportunity to harness use-inspired research and translate innovation into real-world practice,” said Anshuman “AR” Razdan, vice president for research and innovation at the University of Oregon. “The proposed efforts leverage the world-class research and innovation capacity from our state’s R1 research intensive institutions while driving workforce and economic growth for Oregonians, particularly those in rural areas.” The NSF Engines program, launched in 2022, is designed to supercharge regional innovation ecosystems and foster economic growth in critical technology areas. The program has already yielded a tenfold return on federal investment through public-private and philanthropic commitments nationwide.    

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UPM is deepening its over 15-year collaboration with the Baltic Sea Action Group (BSAG) by developing forestry water protection. The new commitment focuses on research into sustainable forestry and the development of new practices in peatlands, among other areas. Source: Timberbiz “As part of our Forest Action forest responsibility program, we want to be at the forefront of promoting sustainable practices in forestry water protection. A lack of clear, research-backed information in certain areas is still holding back the development of effective practices. We want to offer research plots that can be used to find concrete ways to reduce environmental impacts on water and climate emissions in forests, for example,” says Tuomas Kara, Environmental Manager at UPM Forest. “Research supported by companies can be a significant step forward in finding and mainstreaming more sustainable practices,” says Jussi Heinonsalo, Professor of Forest Sciences at the University of Helsinki.The plots will be integrated into a wider network of plots coordinated by the University of Helsinki, which is open to all researchers to conduct scientific studies. “According to studies, the impacts of forestry on water quality and carbon balance are significant, which supports the promotion of better practices. We will have the opportunity to explore with researchers, in particular open questions related to the regulation of groundwater level and to the carbon cycle, as well as impacts on water bodies,” says Taina Ihaksi, Director of the BSAG Forest Project. New operating models for water protection in forest management In addition to research, practical forestry measures are also being developed as part of the collaboration. New guidelines are being drawn up for water protection in forestry, both for UPM’s own forests and privately owned forests. UPM is also committed to communicating the new operating models and guidelines to its forest owner customers. “We aim to give greater attention to water bodies affected by forest management and to take into account their special characteristics. The impacts of forestry on water bodies are addressed through everyday decisions: Which type of regeneration or soil preparation methods are chosen? When to harvest? What kind of machines are used and where? “This is already a part of everyday activities in forestry. However, there is still plenty of room for improvement in preventing environmental harm, and for that, we need more science-based information. Small changes in forest management methods can also help restore water conditions in forests towards a more natural state. Implementing research results requires commitment and continuous training of personnel,” says Ihaksi. Long-term collaboration for the protection of the Baltic Sea will continue. “The collaboration between UPM and BSAG is a great example of long-term and multidimensional work that has succeeded in developing operating methods and finding new solutions. The commitments have covered topics that are central to the Baltic Sea, ranging from harmful chemicals to nutrient recycling and maritime emissions. It’s only natural that the next theme was found in the forest sector,” says Sami Lundgren, Vice President, Responsibility, UPM. Among others, UPM was the first Finnish shipper to commit to BSAG’s Ship Waste Action initiative and to discharge its sewage from sea transport to land for recovery from spring 2022.

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For nearly a century, Washington’s timber industry produced everything from paper and two-by-fours to the massive wood beams that hold up the Tacoma Dome. Lumber mills were the backbone of logging towns throughout the Northwest. Source: Oregon Public Broadcasting But the industry has been on a long decline since the 1990s. Now, President Donald Trump wants to reduce foreign competition and increase U.S. logging to bring back those jobs. The timber industry is not immune from layoffs. In June, a plywood mill along the Columbia River closed and laid off all of its workers. And another one is laying off 112 people. Those layoffs are part of this bigger trend that’s been happening for decades. Today, the state has about 100,000 timber-related jobs, including mills. That means Washington has lost about a quarter of its timber jobs in the last 30 years. The loss has been devastating to rural communities built around those sawmills, like Morton, Washington. Morton lies about an hour’s drive southeast from Seattle. It’s a sleepy little town, with a population of just over 1,000, and a big wooden statue of a lumberjack as you drive in. But back in the 1950s, it was known as the “railroad tie capital of the world.” The Hampton Mill is still the economic heart of the community today. It’s survived the waves of closures over the years. Inside, the first thing that hits you is the strong, sappy smell of freshly cut wood. The mill itself is like a giant machine. It looks highly automated, with just a few dozen people managing it all. Back in the old days, there would have been a lot more people doing these jobs. Today, this mill produces enough lumber each day to frame 70 houses. You see logs in all stages of being cut apart, flying around on conveyor belts. Some chutes carry the wood like a log ride at the fair. Once they’re cut down to studs, it becomes more like a really fast merry-go-round. It feels a little like a carnival — one where it’s easy to get your fingers cut off. “Obviously, keep your hands inside the rides at all times,” warned mill manager Aaron Poquette. The Hampton Mill is still the economic heart of the community today. It’s survived the waves of closures over the years. Inside, the first thing that hits you is the strong, sappy smell of freshly cut wood. The mill itself is like a giant machine. It looks highly automated, with just a few dozen people managing it all. Back in the old days, there would have been a lot more people doing these jobs. Plus, lumber from Canada is so much cheaper — because of its vast timber lands and the Canadian government’s involvement in setting prices on its lumber. The U.S. currently imports a third of its wood from Canada. There’s a lot for small communities to gain by bringing back sawmill jobs. They’re good jobs in rural communities, where jobs like that are hard to come by. Dennis Barnes, a mill worker in Morton who plans to retire soon, is in favour of increasing timber jobs. He started as an entry level worker, but now, he’s in charge of quality control. He monitors a huge computer system that keeps track of every single board as it moves through the mill. He plans out maintenance schedules for the saws, some of which must be sharpened several times a day. “It’s been a good job,” he said. “I’ve been here 26 years. Lots of change. We’ve had some rough times, but, overall, it’s supported my family, and it’s been a good living.” Barnes’ career path illustrates how, over time, mill jobs are becoming more highly skilled and valuable. Now, with AI technologies entering the mill, doing things like visually grading the quality of each board, that transition continues. Poquette says it’s difficult to convince workers to move or commute to Morton, so his company has been training existing entry-level workers for those more technical jobs. At the end of his career, Dennis Barnes has a nice 401(k), and plans to stick around Morton after retiring. “I’ve lived here all my life, and I plan on staying here,” he said. The economies of small towns like Morton depend on mill jobs. Over the decades, Morton has already lost half of its timber jobs, and people there don’t want to lose any more. At the same time, many small rural communities also depend on tourism, tied to the area’s natural beauty. But that industry could be harmed by more logging. In some ways, this feels like a very Pacific Northwest story — it involves lumberjacks, after all. But in others, it’s a story playing out in rural communities across the country. Industrial jobs used to anchor them, and now that the anchor is gone, a lot of these towns are adrift. It’s a story that’s driving the political moment right now. And when small towns lose mills, it’s not just the jobs that go away. It’s the whole infrastructure for producing wood products. Without that production capacity, it makes us reliant on non-local sources of all the wood products we need. And we need a lot of them. Seattle is a city built out of wood. It’s hidden in the walls of our homes and apartment buildings. It’s in the paper we use and the particle board in our furniture. Without this industry, Seattle and other cities like it would have to import a lot of those things from somewhere else. In many ways it’s about self-sufficiency. Mill operators say the Northwest has this valuable local resource that we could be managing, using, and selling with good local jobs. Or, we can pay other people in other places to import the same resource — and those people might not have the same values we have in terms of protecting the environment. Blue collar sawmill jobs seem like exactly the type of thing President Trump wants to […]

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Some of New Zealand’s brightest students have competed in a 72-hour ‘design-athon’ event to create resilient housing that can withstand multiple disasters. Source: Timberbiz The BRANZ (Building Research Association of New Zealand) event called ArchEngBuild featured 40 final-year students from across the country in architecture, engineering, construction management, landscape architecture, and sustainable engineering. The students met for the first time at the University of Auckland and were split into 10 teams to compete for the $12,000 cash prize. This year’s brief was to design a resilient, sustainable and affordable community building concept that safeguards people from hazards like flooding, earthquakes, fire and high winds. It also needed to be adaptable to different family needs and quickly reinstated if disaster struck. The hypothetical site for the development was at the bottom of the Auckland Domain, an area hit hard by the Auckland Anniversary flooding in 2023. Flood-resilience was a strong feature of the winning team’s design which included water retention ponds and timber buildings on stilts. However, it was the focus on community that stood out for the judges. The winners developed a housing concept called Rauhītia, which means to gather, shelter and care for collectively. The largely modular design featured a mixture of townhouses, apartments and standalone homes as well as a community facility and childcare centre to encourage multigenerational living and togetherness. The winning students are: Enoch Shi, University of Auckland architecture student Beatrice Hong, Otago Polytechnic, construction management Bella Mercardo – Victoria University of Wellington, sustainable engineering Shivam Bansal University of Auckland, structural engineering The winners were announced by BRANZ Board Chair Nigel Smith at a prize giving event at the University of Auckland. “This event wasn’t just about meeting a brief-it was about reimagining the future of resilience in our built environment. “The competition challenged students to work collaboratively to push the boundaries of what’s possible in designing buildings that don’t just withstand disaster but adapt and thrive in the face of New Zealand’s unique environmental challenges. “This focus is critical-not for some distant future, but for projects that urgently demand fresh thinking today,” said Nigel Smith. Architecture student Enoch Shi contributed the winning result to strong teamwork and a clear focus on community at the core of their concept. “When we started the project, we asked ourselves, what does resilience mean to us? It can mean different things, but for us it really meant creating communities that protect and serve each other. Research shows the communities that are more bonded together are much more prepared in the face of disaster,” Enoch said. The judges were impressed by the strong interdisciplinary collaboration under intense time-pressure pressure. “The main theme this year was resilience. It was about building for hazards, but the winning team understood that it is about community at its heart. Their project provided a great base for a diverse population and a healthy community a mixture of housing technologies like medium density and townhouses,” said Ferdinand Oswald, Senior Lecturer of Architectural Technology, University of Auckland. Overall, the judges were impressed with all of the students’ optimism and creativity in solving some of today’s biggest challenges – including resilience, sustainability and affordability in our buildings. These are key focus areas for BRANZ through its independent research and testing to support better buildings in Aotearoa New Zealand. “These students are going to change the building industry,” said BRANZ Chief Executive Claire Falck. “They are hitting the real world with the right attitude and focus on collaboration and innovation to overcome the significant challenges facing our industry and communities.” BRANZ is proud to fund ArchEngBuild, through the Building Research Levy, along with industry sponsorship from: Concrete New Zealand Metals New Zealand The Timber Design Society, Southbase New sponsors this year: The Sustainable Steel Council.   The 2025 judging panel included: Ferdinand Oswald – Senior Lecturer of Architectural Technology at The University of Auckland Craig Hopkins – CEO of Generation Homes Ana Petrovic – Senior Structural Engineer at AECOM Anne Carrington – Senior Associate with Warren & Mahoney Architects, and Andrew Norriss – Landscape Architect Director – HoneStudio.

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Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, is calling on Queensland-based small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) working across agriculture, food and related technologies to apply for its next Innovate to Grow program. Source: Timberbiz Delivered as part of the Queensland Government-funded Regional University Industry Collaboration (RUIC) program, this research and development (R&D) training program guides businesses through developing and implementing research strategies with support from experienced researchers and industry mentors. Dr George Feast, CSIRO’s Director for SME Connect Programs, said Queensland businesses are brimming with fresh ideas, but turning those concepts into market-ready innovations requires the right mix of expertise, networks and funding. “We’re helping SMEs with a pathway from concept to commercialisation, with access to world-class researchers at regional Queensland universities, and matched R&D support – as well as support from our specialist team of facilitators,” Dr Feast said. A recent CSIRO report found collaborations with universities and research institutions helps SMEs develop new products and services, increase speed to market and address challenges and opportunities specific to their industry. Lloyd Tailby from Erkmark Australia completed CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow in 2025. “The program was a big help in guiding me to refine the problem and progress with collaboration,” Mr Tailby said. “This is a valuable program for any small business with good ideas who want to explore R&D opportunities.” CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow: Agriculture, Food & Technology – Queensland is open to SMEs developing or supplying solutions in: Agriculture technology (agritech) Food and beverage manufacturing Crop innovation Livestock and aquaculture Alternative proteins Packaging, handling and storage Transport, logistics and provenance Other For more information and to apply visit https://www.csiro.au/en/work-with-us/funding-programs/SME/Innovate-to-Grow/Agrifood-and-Technology-QLD/Apply

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RTA Studio’s housing system, set to launch next month, uses pre-cut cross-laminated timber panels to deliver a three-bedroom home, from factory to installation, in just six weeks. Source: Jason Ross, Woodcentral One of New Zealand’s top architects is days away from launching a new flat-pack housing system that could help solve the squeeze not just in New Zealand’s built-up cities but could be exported into global markets. Today, Wood Central spoke to Richard Naish, founder of RTA Studio, who presented the case for the Living House to the world’s top timber engineers at the World Conference on Timber Engineering in Brisbane. Naish—who is behind Scion House, one of the world’s most beautiful buildings and the new Fisher and Paykel headquarters, said the system consists of 36 pre-cut cross-laminated timber modules (supplied by Red Stag’s Timberlab operation. the country’s sole cross-laminated timber fabricator) and can be assembled by crews with little experience in cross-laminated timber: “The only specialist required is the crane operator.” Speaking to Wood Central from the sidelines, Naish said the 85-square-metre, three-bedroom house is carbon-zero, can be built in six weeks, and costs just $300,000 (including GST): “We have a nationwide building consent,” he said, “which allows us to ramp up delivery given New Zealand is home to one of the world’s least affordable housing markets.” According to Habitat for Humanity, 300,000 families in New Zealand live in less-than-adequate conditions. Around 4000 children wake up in a motel room every morning, and 27,000 are on the waiting list for Government housing and first-time home buyers, making the Living House a potential game changer for public and affordable housing. “Our system is pre-cut to site and has services mounted, which allows us to slash the labour costs dramatically,” Naish told the conference, making the installation costs much more affordable than traditional construction. “We also ran the numbers on timber frame cassettes and opted for cross-laminated timber given superior carbon sequestration.” Wood Central understands that the 3-bedroom home system optimises materials, streamlines suppliers, and requires a team of three for fast, straightforward assembly saving time, effort, and resources. Beyond finding an appropriate site, choosing a licensed builder and applying for site-specific permits and certifications, developers need to purchase a detailed design package from RTA Studios, decide on design pallets and appliances and order the modules. Naish’s presentation was one of dozens delivered on the fourth day of WCTE 2025, which featured keynote discussions from Katharina Lehmann, CEO of Blumer Lehmann, Ralph Belperio, Major Projects Director at Aurecon, and Harry Mills, from Built by Nature. Wrapping up tomorrow, more than 950 delegates will hear from Phillip Tondl, Design and Innovation Manager from Lipman, Guy Gardiner, founding director of Gardiner Vaughn and Gerald Epp, mass timber pioneer and founder of Structurecraft.

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Buildxact, a global software as a service (SaaS) company that provides a simple solution for small-to-medium sized residential builders and renovators to better manage and grow their business, launched an enhanced version of its platform. Source: Timberbiz Buildxact now includes three powerful AI-assisted features to empower small-to-medium residential home builders, renovators and contractors, to manage jobs more efficiently and to earn more profit. These features are delivered by Blu, Buildxact’s new AI-powered building assistant, and include Blu: Takeoff Assistant, Blu: Estimate Generator, Blu: Estimate Reviewer, and Blu: Recipe/Assembly Assistant. Blu: Takeoff Assistant allows the user to upload plans that can be automatically scaled in an instant. Additionally, the tool automatically names the pages based on information from the uploaded plan and includes the precise area of the project. The tool then provides a hands-free measurement of the spaces by drawing around the perimeters to capture the total square footage. In addition, new “point add” and “point edit” functionality allows a user to edit individual areas of the takeoff where needed, rather than the time-consuming task of deleting and starting over again. Blu: Estimate Generator gives the user the capability to generate labour and building items based on local data. The feature pulls pricing from supplier catalogues, including partners such as Dahlsens, Mitre 10, and Bunnings, to name a few. The first iteration of the feature can generate kitchen and bath renovation estimates, with expanded options such as whole-of-house builds, common extensions, and other common renovation type estimates launching in coming months. The new Blu: Estimate Reviewer feature can audit an estimate, giving suggestions on any missed items along with recommendations on how to improve an estimate. The user can enter important details like room types, environmental factors, and energy ratings to get detailed and accurate input. Blu will create a task checklist for any potential improvements, providing a list of suggestions from insurance to energy compliance. The user can mark items complete on the checklist as they are addressed. “AI is giving our users unprecedented control,” said Chris Rennie, chief product officer at Buildxact. “With these new features, users will win more quotes and keep projects running on time and on budget. The Blu: Estimate Reviewer is like sending an estimate to your own personal estimator to get feedback on items missing and other areas of concern, breaking through the ongoing challenge of too much work and not enough support.” Buildxact also is launching a customizable pricing structure to be more accessible to more of the industry that helps users grow at their own pace. Initial pricing gives them basic tools and allows for instant upgrades as their business necessitates and grows. Plus, each plan offers unlimited users and customer training and support. “Unlike rigid, one-size-fits-all software, we listen to our customers and build solutions for their real-world challenges, and we aren’t afraid to challenge ourselves to do that,” said Steve Yates, CEO at Buildxact. “We now offer unlimited users so an entire team can see the benefits without the extra cost. Plus, we’re offering industry-first, AI estimating that speeds up workflows and does the work for the user, without sacrificing accuracy.” In addition to these new AI features, Buildxact’s platform is boosted with the addition of digital signatures, timesheets, task lists, and enhanced client selections. The digital signatures feature allows users to sign quotes and variations quickly online for speed and better coordination with customers. Timesheet updates allow onsite crew to record time on each project by category and item level using the Buildxact Onsite app also automatically generating a work order to connect work hours and costs to the right project, category and item. Finally, enhanced client selections improve communications with the homeowner and empower them to make decisions quickly online so the project can be efficient and there is transparency choice by choice.

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The founder of Australia’s newest and, to date, its most ambitious build-to-rent developer will headline Timber Construct – the country’s only dedicated timber-in-construction conference.  Source: Timberbiz Andrew Dunn, organiser of the 13-14 October conference and exhibition, revealed that Rory Hunter, Australian entrepreneur and CEO of MODEL, will be the first keynote to address, “Building Beyond Convention – a Developer’s Timber Awakening.” “Rory’s MODEL is Australia’s first purpose-first build-to-rent development group, now using mass timber-led solutions to ‘flip the script on old ways of living and being,” Mr Dunn said. “His company is already planning to build 700 highly sustainable build-to-rent apartments (using mass timber) and recently secured a $250 million regeneration decarbonisation fund to build sustainable built-to-rent projects across Melbourne and the east coast.” Last year, Timber Construct revealed that MODEL, which announced plans to build two build-to-rent towers in Melbourne’s inner north, the first, a 17-storey 200-apartment tower in Abbotsford and a second, a nine-storey, 180-apartment scheme over the 1880s Schweppes Cordial factory, was looking to build up to 5,000 build-to-rent units over the coming years. “Build-to-rent projects are a major growth industry for mass timber-based construction, with mid-rise and high-rise residential buildings the new sweet spot for hybrid timber systems,” according to Mr Dunn, who said Georgia Coutsodimitropoulous will chair the session, Timberlink’s Marketing and Brand Manager, who, through NeXTimber, operates Australia’s first cross-laminated timber and glulam plant. In addition, Mr Dunn said the first day will also feature a panel discussion looking at the role of timber framing in solving Australia’s housing crisis. “Frame and truss are affordable, dependable and reliable, with Nick Hewson, the CEO of Aboralis, Barry Brunton from Legacy Engineering, and Dr Louise Wallis, from the University of Tasmania, looking at ways that we can use modern methods of construction to scale up production.” Mr Dunn said tickets for this year’s event are now on sale, with organisers expecting a larger turnout than in past years – both from Australians and visitors overseas: “As one of just three mass timber and timber frame focused industry conferences, our primary focus is on commercial-ready applications of timber technology,” he said, “with a focus on materials, design, prefabrication and building techniques.”  

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The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences has released its Agricultural Commodities Report for the June quarter of 2025, providing updated estimates and forecasts for key sectors, including the forestry industry, for the financial years 2024–25 and 2025–26. Source: Timberbiz The report presents an updated estimation for the total value of agricultural commodities, which includes farm outputs (crops and livestock), fisheries, and forestry products. For FY2024–25, the total value was estimated at $99.7 billion, representing a 6% increase from the previous estimate of $94.3 billion released in December 2024. Despite this upward revision, the total value is forecast to decline slightly in FY2025–26 to $97.5 billion, a 2% decrease, largely driven by expected declines in the export values of livestock, livestock products, and crops (see Figure 1). Figure 1: Total agricultural values in billion AUD Upward Trend of Forestry Product Value Focusing on the forestry sector, the report shows a positive trend. The total value of forestry products, which includes both softwood and hardwood, is now estimated at $2.5 billion for FY2024–25, marking an 8% increase from the previous forecast in December 2024. Looking ahead, the value is projected to rise further to $2.7 billion in FY 2025–26, reflecting a 9% year-on-year increase. If realised, this would bring the total forestry value close to the sector’s peak of $2.8 billion in FY2018–19, the highest annual value recorded over the decade between 2010 and 2020 (see Figure 2). These revised figures highlight the continued importance and resilience of the forestry industry within the broader agricultural sector, particularly in the face of changing economic conditions and current dynamics in the global trade environment. Figure 2: Total forestry values in billion AUD   Link to the report: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/research-topics/agricultural-outlook/june-2025  

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The US Department of Agriculture Forest Service and the US Department of the Interior announced Federal wildland firefighters and dispatchers now have access to expanded mental health support through a network of licensed providers. As mandated by Congress, the new therapy service is designed to address the unique needs of those in emergency management positions. Source: Timberbiz Wildland firefighters and support staff work in dangerous, high-stress environments that can expose them to trauma and cumulative stress, increasing their risk of mental health challenges. The new service provides a network of licensed providers, who have expertise in addressing the mental health needs of emergency responders. “Firefighters and first responders put their lives on the line to protect us, our resources and our communities. We are so grateful for their service, and we are happy to provide them with more support if they need it,” said US Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke L Rollins. “As we approach peak fire season, access to mental health services for our firefighters and first responders will now be easier and more convenient so we can continue to have the best wildland firefighting force in the world.” This service is just one of the resources available through the Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Program to support the mental and physical health of wildland fire personnel. Jointly led by the Agriculture and Interior departments, the program seeks to improve our understanding of the short- and long-term mental and physical health effects of working in wildland fire, and to position the departments to better address these health risks. “Through the dedication and perseverance of our wildland firefighters and dispatchers, the Interior Department continues to protect communities, critical infrastructure, and natural resources from the threat of wildfires,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “By providing essential tools to bolster their resilience, we are strengthening our wildland fire workforce so we can better defend against the growing threat of wildfires across the United States.” The new therapy service includes year-round access to confidential therapy sessions with licensed mental health professionals who understand the demands of emergency response work. Providers will be available in every state. The service is offered to permanent, temporary, seasonal, and year-round wildland firefighters and dispatchers with the USDA Forest Service and the Interior Department’s Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The new service is part of a broader effort by the federal government to improve recruitment and retention across the wildland fire workforce and position the Nation to more effectively respond to wildfires and mitigate future risk.

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