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A record-breaking summer that saw more than 1,000 wildfires has torched some 540,000 hectares of land across the European Union since mid-June, according to official data – an area more than twice the size of Luxembourg. Source: AFP France Multiple back-to-back heatwaves fuelled by climate change scorched Europe, causing more than 30,000 excess deaths, widespread drought and devastating wildfires that forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes, particularly in Spain and France. Temperature records across the continent were smashed, triggering dangerous blazes even in normally cool, wet areas such as Belgium and Scotland. The total area affected by fire between June 18 and September 2 is well above the average for the previous 20 years, according to data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS). But it remains below the record set in 2025, when fires consumed more than 800,000 hectares between those dates. Four of the EU’s 15 largest fires of the last 10 years occurred this summer, according to EFFIS data. Fires that broke out between July 16 and 22 consumed nearly 190,000 hectares of forest, the most for that week-long period since at least 2006, according to harmonised weekly data from EFFIS. Three massive fires erupted in succession during this period: two in Spain and one in France. One in the Spanish province of Avila, near Madrid, broke out on July 22 and went on to destroy more than 42,000 hectares. Thousands of people were forced to evacuate their homes, and the Spanish government said it considered the blaze the worst in the country’s modern history. Another fire in the Andalusia region of southern Spain in July led to more than a dozen deaths. Before the end of July, France had already broken its record for the total area burned in a single year since records began. Meanwhile, Spain has been hovering near its cumulative record for the same point in the year for weeks – briefly surpassing it in mid-August before dropping back below. Greece, Portugal and Italy are among the other southern EU nations that experienced an active fire season, a common summer phenomenon in the region. Further north, Belgium faced its worst wildfire in over a century in August, a blaze that consumed thousands of hectares in the east of the country. This single fire caused the country to break its record for the total area burned in a year since at least 2006. EFFIS figures only include fires covering a minimum of 30 hectares. The figures may differ from reported national data due to methodological differences, and the totals are subject to change as new satellite imagery becomes available.

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Kesla’s new grapple has been engineered to meet the needs of professional timber crane operators who require a robust attachment capable of efficient loading, unloading, and timber sorting in all working conditions. Source: Timberbiz As forestry operations continue to prioritise productivity, durability and efficient handling of increasingly larger timber assortments, the demand for robust and high-capacity grapples has grown. Developed in response to these market needs, the KESLA proG60 offers enhanced strength, wear resistance and ease of maintenance for intensive everyday use. At the heart of the KESLA proG60 is a wider and reinforced grapple frame, providing excellent durability and stability when handling large timber. The grapple also features a connector rod made from cut-to-shape steel, enhancing structural strength and ensuring long service life under heavy use. Durability has been further increased through the use of 20 mm thick wear-resistant Hardox steel grapple jaws. The strong jaw construction ensures reliable performance and resistance to wear, even in intensive daily operations. Ease of maintenance has also been a key design priority. The lubrication points are clearly visible and easily accessible when the grapple is in the closed position, helping operators carry out routine maintenance quickly and efficiently. The proG60’s carefully rounded grapple jaws are designed to penetrate wood stacks smoothly and efficiently, improving timber handling performance and making loading operations faster and more productive. “Today’s timber handling professionals need equipment that not only delivers high performance but also stands up to demanding conditions year after year. The KESLA proG60 has been designed to meet these expectations with a reinforced structure, premium wear-resistant materials and practical maintenance solutions,” said Jouni Kainulainen, Kesla’s Truck and Stationary Cranes Product Manager. Key Features of the KESLA proG60 Designed specifically for large logs and pulpwood Wider and reinforced grapple frame for increased durability Connector rod manufactured from cut-to-shape steel 20 mm thick wear-resistant Hardox grapple jaws Clearly visible lubrication points in closed position for easy maintenance Carefully rounded grapple jaws for efficient penetration into wood stacks.

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A lignin-derived phenolic resin provides wood with intrinsic flame retardancy while acting as a robust bio-based adhesive and coating. Source: Timberbiz Researchers have developed a phosphorus-free and formaldehyde-free lignin-derived phenolic resin that combines intrinsic flame retardancy, robust adhesion and effective fire protection when applied as a coating on wood. The material offers a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based phenolic resins. Conventional petroleum-derived phenolic resins face growing scrutiny due to sustainability concerns, inherent flammability and limited adhesion durability. In response, a recent study introduces a lignin-derived phenolic resin, designated SALG-PR, that is both phosphorus-free and formaldehyde-free. The material was synthesised through taurine grafting via Mannich chemistry combined with glyoxal-mediated cross-linking, delivering a fully bio-based network with multifunctional performance. The resin exhibits notable intrinsic flame retardancy, reaching a UL-94 V-0 rating and a limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 62.4 %, values comparable to established petroleum-based resins and to previously reported bio-based flame-retardant materials. Direct exposure to a butane torch for 300 s did not lead to burn-through, and infrared thermography confirmed effective localisation of heat within the flame-impinged region, indicating a strong barrier effect. Beyond flame retardancy, SALG-PR displayed robust adhesion to both wood and aluminium substrates, with bond strengths of 3.78 MPa and 3.42 MPa, respectively. The adhesive performance remained stable after exposure to extreme temperatures, organic solvents and acidic or alkaline environments. The authors also report potential for underwater repair applications, further extending the material’s application scope. When applied as a fire-safe coating on wood, SALG-PR increased the LOI of the treated substrate to 42.5 % and prevented burn-through during 300 s of direct torch exposure. Thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectrometry (TG-MS) confirmed that SALG-PR releases only trace amounts of formaldehyde compared with commercial phenolic resins, addressing a persistent health and regulatory concern for indoor applications. The work outlines a lignin upcycling strategy for the development of high-performance bio-based adhesives, intrinsically flame-retardant materials and eco-friendly fire-safe coatings, with particular relevance for wood protection. Source: Tan, W. et al., Sustainable lignin upcycling into formaldehyde-free bio-based phenolic networks: intrinsic flame retardancy, robust adhesion and fire-safe coating performance. Green Chem. 28, 13894–13912 (2026).

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Established at Wilks Avenue Park on an open urban space on the eastern side of Willans Hill in Kooringal, the Tiny Forests are a small, densely packed patch of bushland that establishes 10 times quicker than a traditional forest. Source: Timberbiz The compact space encourages plant competition and accelerates the establishment of beneficial soil fungi which supports rapid plant growth. Council’s Natural Resource Management Officer Catherine Conroy said Tiny Forests help create cooler, greener urban spaces, with trees and vegetation reducing temperatures by providing shade and cooling benefits as much as 6°C on hot days. “The growth over the last year has been wonderful, especially after such a dry summer,” Ms Conroy said. “Even after experiencing several days above 40°C, the tube stock has grown four-to-five times their original height. “And because it’s been such a mild winter, the little bit of rain we’ve had over the last few weeks has seen around 25 per cent growth.” Just over 500 plants of 21 different native species were originally planted in the two garden beds, which are each around 500m2 in size. Ms Conroy said the forests had been well received by the local community. The Tiny Forest on the side of Willans Hill, where the original seedlings have grown four-fold over the last 12 months. “We placed a bench seat in the forest, and I’ve seen residents using it. It gives a great view over east Wagga. “When we held a working bee to do some weeding and mulching back in May, over 20 people turned up to help out for a couple of hours, and it was great hearing them talking about where they lived in relation to the forest and each other. “We have another working bee coming up on 12 September, mainly for some weeding and replacing some of the plants – about 5% of the total – that didn’t make it through the year. “We invite members of the community to visit the Tiny Forest, and while they enjoy the space, maybe take some water from the bucket provided and spend a few minutes watering a few of the plants.” It is hoped that after three years the forests will be self-sustaining. “We’d like to see more Tiny Forests, but we want to make them community-driven projects as happens in other cities like Canberra,” Ms Conroy said. Tiny Forests are a positive initiative that help address the objectives of both the Wagga Wagga Urban Cooling Strategy 2022-2052 and the Wagga Wagga Biodiversity Strategy 2030: Maldhangilanha.

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