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The Wood Awards has announced the 34-strong shortlist for 2026, showcasing the UK’s most ambitious and innovative work in wood across architecture, furniture and product design. Source: Timberbiz Selected from more than 200 entries, the shortlist comprises 20 buildings and 14 furniture and object projects. Together, they demonstrate the creativity, environmental responsibility and technical ingenuity of designers and fabricators working with wood today. Among the 20 shortlisted building projects, six are London-based, including a landmark CLT and steel commercial scheme; a six-storey glulam extension to the Old Vic theatre; a timber-hemp addition to a home in Hackney; a series of pavilions for a sustainability centre; a helical timber staircase; and a research showcase of prototype structures and products using a variety of English-grown species. Three university projects have also been shortlisted: a timber and straw kit-of-parts pavilion for Manchester Metropolitan University’s Fashion Institute; a glulam-roofed extension for the Liverpool School of Architecture; and a vast new, publicly accessible cultural hub for Oxford University. Elsewhere in Oxford, a circular cycle pavilion brings timber into the public realm, while in Sussex, the Camber Sands Welcome Centre creates a welcoming gateway to one of the UK’s busiest beaches. Yorkshire-based projects include the Heritage Quad, a new setting for heritage crafts within the precinct surrounding the Grade I-listed cathedral in York, and Tesco’s first fully timber low-carbon superstore, in Harrogate. Two projects demonstrate the potential of timber-led retrofit to transform existing agricultural buildings. At Home Farm Evenlode, two barns have been converted into a new headquarters for a finance company, while another has been adapted to create a public exhibition and workshop space for the Henry Moore Foundation. In Cardiff and Winchester are two very different examples of timber design within educational settings. A traditionally joined solid timber pavilion for a Welsh primary school offers a calm sanctuary for children’s wellbeing, while a new swimming pool roof for Winchester College pushes the structural capabilities of CLT. The 14 shortlisted Furniture & Object projects also demonstrate the diverse applications of different timber species and products in contemporary design and making. Three items have been shortlisted in the Bespoke category: a carved ash mantelpiece; a prototype table made from green oak branches; and a cabinet and wall mirror inspired by forms found in roots and branches. Four Production furniture pieces include a collection of five-legged ash stools; a mirror crafted from hazel stems; a pine resin table lamp; and a furniture family made from No. 1 grade cherry wood. The three Sculpted Objects include a circular sycamore table designed to house 200 amulets; an artistic intervention into three sections of wind-blown Scots pine; and a composition of bog oak veneer, carbon-dated to 2500BC. The four Student projects feature a lightweight bench utilising industry oak offcuts; a shelf that reinterprets the butterfly joint at an architectural scale; an iconographic folding screen; and a collection of ultra-low-carbon chestnut and oak stools. Each shortlisted project will be reviewed in person by the Wood Awards judging panels, making the awards a uniquely rigorous competition. The Wood Awards buildings jury is led by architect Jim Greaves, and includes fellow architects Kirsten Haggart, Jonas Lencer, Sasha Bhavan and David Morley, structural engineers Andrew Lawrence, Nathan Wheatley and Andrew Trotman, architectural journalist Ruth Slavid and sustainability expert Neil Smith. The furniture and objects jury is led by designer and maker Sebastian Cox RDI and includes design consultant Caroline Till, curator Hugo Macdonald, woodworker Sophie Sellu and Ercol chairman Henry Tadros. Short listed Buildings: Camber Sands Welcome Centre, Camber, by DK-CM Backstage at The Old Vic, London, by Haworth Tompkins Heritage Quad: York Minster Centre of Excellence, York, by Tonkin Liu Liverpool University, School of Architecture, Liverpool, by O’Donnell + Tuomey Rammed Earth House, Wiltshire, by Tuckey Design Studio Winchester College Swimming Pool Roof, Winchester, by Design Engine Architects Hemp House, London, by Sanchez Benton Architects Metropolis, London, by AHMM Bronwen’s Sanctuary, Cardiff, by Studio Propolis The Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, University of Oxford, Oxford, by Hopkins Architects Tesco Low-Carbon Concept Store, Harrogate, by S+SA Architects The House of Quiet Light Staircase, London, by Robert Hirschfield Architects The Yard OmVed Gardens, London, by Smerin Architects Sheep Field Barn, Henry Moore Studios & Gardens, Hertfordshire, by DSDHA Pebble Ceiling, by Matthew Burt Home Farm Evenlode, Gloucestershire, by Charlie Luxton Design Building from Forests, London, by dRMM House in the Surrey Hills, Surrey, by Sanchez Benton Architects Robotics Living Lab, Work in Progress Pavilion, Manchester, by Bennetts Associates Oxford North Cycle Pavilion, Oxford, by Fletcher Priest Architects   Shortlisted Furniture & Objects: Portal of Seedlings by Filippo Muzi Falconi BespOak by Students and Staff of the Design + Make Course, Architectural Association Kontur Series by Anna Maria Øfstedal Eng Wattle Mirror by Jacob Marks Patchwork Pina Lamp by Jacob Marks Black House Stools by Ashen Co Common Room by Daniel Schofield Studio Afterlife by Zeller & Moye / Katie Paterson Hollow Bodies by Max Bainbridge A Drop in Time by Olly Fathers Dagwood Bench by Lewis Duckworth Butterfly Shelf by Jack Allfrey The Ocean Screen by Eleanor Pickin Our Grandchildren’s World by Henry Chantler  

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A faint signal emitted during photosynthesis may reveal physiological stress well before tree mortality appears in aerial surveys, potentially giving forest managers more time to prepare before mortality becomes widespread. Source: Timberbiz Satellite measurements detected declining photosynthetic activity in Western US forests two years before bark-beetle mortality appeared in aerial detection surveys, according to new University of Utah-led research. The first-of-its-kind study suggests that satellite-observed chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF), a measure of plant photosynthesis, could provide an early warning of forest stress. As drought, wildfire and insect outbreaks occur with increasing frequency across the American West, the technology could also help scientists understand how these disturbances affect forests’ ability to absorb and store carbon from the atmosphere. “I don’t know of any other tool that can detect this type of signal before tree mortality becomes obvious at a scale large enough to assess the health of entire forests,” said lead author Lewis Kunik, who recently completed his doctorate. Mr Kunik’s doctorate was jointly advised by study co-authors and professors John Lin in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences and David Bowling in the School of Biological Sciences. “The ultimate goal isn’t to predict the exact tree that will die. Rather, the technology could identify areas of concern early enough for land managers to investigate, mobilize crews, allocate funding or otherwise prepare before mortality becomes widespread.” The study is online ahead of its publication in the October issue of Remote Sensing of Environment. Many satellites monitor forest health using signals such as greenness and canopy structure because some when some trees become stressed, they might wilt or drop their leaves. But pines, spruces, firs and other evergreen trees present challenges for satellite monitoring: they can keep their needles even while photosynthetically dormant, such as during winter or under other high-stress conditions. This matters for Western US forests, which are largely dominated by evergreens. Fortunately, several next-generation satellites carry specialized instruments which detect a faint red glow that plants emit during photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert sunlight into energy. This signal is known as solar-induced fluorescence (SIF), when a leaf’s chlorophyll molecules absorb radiation, some radiation re-emits at longer, red wavelengths known as fluorescence. When plants get stressed, they absorb more light than they can use, reducing their efficiency and dimming their red glow. By tracking SIF relative to the amount of light absorbed over time, the researchers could identify subtle physiological changes in in evergreen trees that conventional satellite metrics can miss. The authors used SIF observations from TROPOMI, the instrument on the European Sentinel-5P satellite, to compare changes in fluorescence patterns in forests affected by wildfire- and insect-caused tree mortality with non-affected control areas with similar biogeographic characteristics in forests across the American West. In forests that would later experience bark-beetle mortality, the researchers detected a significant SIF decline roughly two years before mortality was seen in aerial surveys conducted by the USDA Forest Service. Drought stress alone couldn’t explain the signal. While nearby healthy forests experienced similar levels of drought, the decline in SIF from healthy forests was 10-20% less severe than the decline in the bark beetle-infested forests. SIF can change for many reasons, including drought, insect infestation, canopy dieback, changes to seasonal timing of growth, reduced sunlight and changes in the mix of plants growing from the forest floor to the top of the canopy. The researchers accounted for these factors, but the complexity of forest ecosystems makes year-to-year changes in SIF difficult to interpret. In this case, however, their analysis revealed a clear pattern. The findings suggest that SIF signal could provide an early warning of forest stress that precedes widespread tree mortality. The researchers validated their approach using wildfire mortality as a testbed for detecting SIF changes from a wide range of mortality severities. They saw declines in SIF that scaled proportionally with the amount of vegetation lost due to fire. “Wildfire mortality has more predictable impacts to forest productivity than bark beetle mortality. There is also a lot more wildfire-affected land to study, and we can use established tools to estimate the severity of those events. Testing our method on wildfires really helped build confidence in our bark beetle assessment,”Mr Kunik said. The researchers were also able to use SIF to monitor how the ecosystem recovered from wildfire, highlighting the technology’s potential for tracking how disturbances alter forest productivity and carbon cycling over time. Because forests store massive amounts of carbon, tracking these changes will help scientists better understand how disturbances affect the carbon balance of western forests. “SIF is an emerging tool that Earth scientists can use to show the fingerprint of plant CO2 uptake at regional or global scales,” said Mr Kunik. “Drought, wildfire and bark beetle outbreaks can weaken a forests’ ability to absorb carbon and may release the carbon stored in the trees. Tracking these changes will help us understand whether these disturbances potentially turn forests from carbon absorbers to carbon sources.” While other SIF-observing satellites exist, the authors used data collected by TROPOMI due to its coverage and sampling frequency. The study tested the sensitivity of SIF measurements against several forest-health and vegetation-productivity remote-sensing measures. These included other frequently used satellite signals like land surface temperature, as well as vegetation indices like the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). While other SIF-observing satellites exist, the authors used data collected by TROPOMI due to its coverage and sampling frequency. The study tested the sensitivity of SIF measurements against several forest-health and vegetation-productivity remote-sensing measures. These included other frequently used satellite signals like land surface temperature, as well as vegetation indices like the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The publication: is Kunik, Lewis et al. (2026). Characterizing effects of tree mortality from wildfire and bark beetles using satellite observations of solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence. Remote Sensing of Environment, 334 (October special issue), 10.1016/j.rse.2026.115550.  

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JP Morgan Asset Management has announced the rebrand of Campbell Global, a leading global investment manager focused on forestland and nature-based assets, to JP Morgan Natural Capital. This reflects the evolution of the business and the growing importance of nature-based assets in institutional portfolios. Source: Timberbiz Five years ago, JP Morgan Asset Management acquired Campbell Global, expanding its alternatives platform with a pioneer in sustainable timberland investing. Since then, the platform has grown in size, scale, and client reach, positioning itself to capitalize on broader investment opportunities across land, carbon, biodiversity, and other nature-related investments. “This is more than a new name. It reflects who we are today and the direction we believe the asset class is moving,” said Angie Davis, CEO, JP Morgan Natural Capital. “Our roots in sustainable forestry remain central to who we are, but our mandate has expanded to the broader role nature-based assets can play in creating long-term value for clients.” The company says the rebrand underscores JP Morgan Asset Management’s commitment to building a disciplined natural capital investment platform. The team leverages robust in-house capabilities, rigorous data and measurement infrastructure, and embedded governance and risk controls to deliver scalable climate and nature-based solutions for investors globally. “As institutional demand for nature-based and climate solutions accelerates, our platform provides access to unique opportunities for both financial returns and sustainability benefits,” said Jed Laskowitz, Global Head of Private Markets, JP Morgan Asset Management. “The evolution to JP Morgan Natural Capital enables us to unlock new opportunities and deliver innovative solutions across the natural capital asset class.” With over four decades of experience, JP Morgan Natural Capital manages more than 1.5 million acres globally for pension funds, foundations, family offices, and other institutional investors. As of December 31, 2025, the platform oversaw approximately $11 billion in assets under supervision, supported by approximately 150 employees across 15 US states, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Latin America. The team has also demonstrated meaningful fundraising scale, including the close of one of the largest funds raised to date in the natural capital asset class. The rebrand builds on Campbell Global’s more than four-decade legacy as a pioneer in sustainable timberland investing while reflecting the broader opportunity now emerging across natural capital. As JP Morgan Natural Capital, the team will continue applying its forestry expertise, stewardship approach, and investment discipline to help investors access the long-term value of nature-based assets.

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The New Zealand Institute of Forestry (NZIF) has recognised outstanding achievement, leadership and service to New Zealand forestry at its 2026 Awards Dinner, held at Larnach Castle in Dunedin. Source: Timberbiz The annual awards celebrate forestry professionals whose work is helping to strengthen the profession, advance sustainable forest management and support the future of the sector. This year’s recipients were recognised across four of NZIF’s major awards. The Prince of Wales Sustainability Cup went to Aidan Braid who is a Regional Forest Advisor with Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service for his commitment to sustainable forest management, professional development and community involvement. Mr Braid works across a broad range of forestry and environmental matters including native and exotic forests, biodiversity, pest management and the Emissions Trading Scheme. He also contributes to collaborative environmental initiatives and volunteers extensively in conservation, predator control, biodiversity protection and forest restoration. The award, first presented in 2017, recognises an outstanding young forestry professional who demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability in policy, planning and practice, together with public outreach, knowledge exchange and responsible land stewardship. The award for Forester of the Year went to Peter Casey in recognition of his leadership, service to the forestry profession and contribution to professional standards and accountability. Mr Casey has played a significant role in strengthening the standing of Registered Forestry Professionals at a time of increasing scrutiny around forestry advice, carbon forestry, land use change and professional competence. His career spans senior roles across the private and public sectors, forestry governance, investment and carbon forestry. As Chief Executive Officer of Nateva, he has also led a substantial forestry business while continuing to support the development of emerging forestry professionals, including through the Early Career Development Program and summer internship opportunities. Phil Taylor received the 2026 Kirk Horn Award, one of the most prestigious honours in New Zealand forestry. Presented every two years, the award recognises eminence in forestry and an enduring contribution to the sector. Mr Taylor’s forestry career spans more than four decades and reflects a strong commitment to stewardship, practical leadership and long-term thinking. His contribution has included industry leadership, advocacy, forestry research, climate aligned forestry, workforce sustainability and the development of strong teams and future leaders. He has served on the Forest Growers Levy Trust and the Executive Council of the New Zealand Forest Owners Association, including a period as President. He was also the inaugural Chair of Future Forests Research, now Forest Growers Research Ltd, and has served on the Board of Scion. Mr Taylor has also been a longstanding supporter of NZIF, including chairing the organising committee for two NZIF conferences. NZIF President Adrian Loo said the 2026 recipients reflected the depth of knowledge, leadership and commitment that exists across New Zealand forestry. “These awards recognise people who have made a real and lasting contribution to forestry, whether through professional leadership, sustainable land stewardship, research, industry service or by supporting the next generation. NZIF is proud to acknowledge their achievements and the example they set for the profession.” The FRESTRA Young Forester of the Year Award was presented to Hamish Scown. Now in its third year, the award recognises a young forester who demonstrates strong professional commitment and contribution to the forestry community. The award continues to gain recognition within the sector and reflects the important role emerging forestry professionals play in shaping the future of the profession.

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Responsible Wood CEO Simon Dorries has resigned after more than 11 years of service to Responsible Wood and sustainable forest certification in Australia. Source: Timberbiz Mr Dorries joined the organisation in May 2015 and played an instrumental role in the development and growth of Responsible Wood and the PEFC certification system in Australia. During his time as CEO, Responsible Wood has strengthened its position as Australia’s leading forest certification scheme, while building greater awareness of the importance of sustainably managed forests and responsibly sourced wood and paper products. “Simon has always been much more than simply the CEO of Responsible Wood,” Responsible Wood chairman Dr Tony Bartlett said “He genuinely believes in certification, in the principles behind PEFC, and in the role responsible forest management can play in supporting our forests, our industry and the communities that depend upon them. “His passion, technical knowledge and commitment to Responsible Wood have been evident throughout his leadership. He has represented the organisation nationally and internationally with professionalism and integrity and has built strong relationships across the forest and wood products sector, government, environmental organisations and the broader PEFC network.” Dr Bartlett said Mr Dorries had made the decision to take on a “new professional opportunity” as he begins transitioning towards eventual retirement. “While we are naturally disappointed to see him leave Responsible Wood, the Board fully supports his decision and wishes him every success in this next chapter,” Dr Bartlett said. The Board will shortly commence a recruitment process for the next Chief Executive Officer with the position to be publicly advertised. During this transition, Matt de Jong, Responsible Wood’s Sustainability Manager, will act in the CEO role, ensuring continuity for our members, certificate holders, stakeholders and PEFC partners.

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