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Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) scholar Juliet Swinea and her SMART mentor, Pete Stynoski PhD, both individually accomplished researchers, have joined forces through the SMART Program to revolutionize the US Department of Defense (DoD) ballistic design standards. Sources: DVIDS, Timberbiz The pair is being acknowledged for their ground-breaking research and collaboration evaluating the properties of western hemlock cross-laminated timber (CLT), a potential alternate construction material. Together, Swinea and Stynoski assessed the performance of CLT and its resilience against ballistic impacts. CLT is a sustainable type of wood that could be very useful for making temporary housing quickly during military operations and disaster response. “Ms. Swinea’s research on the fundamental behaviour and properties of CLT is contributing directly to the widespread use of this new class of construction materials in the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the DoD, advancing our force protection mission,” said David W. Pittman, PhD, senior executive service director of the US Army Engineer and Research Development Centre (ERDC). The pair’s research has been published in the International Journal of Impact Engineering and a Ecoengineering and Construction Bulletin, which disseminates critical information about emerging construction practices to USACE engineers. Additionally, Swinea presented their research at the 6th International Conference on Protective Structures, an international platform for discussing the integration of sustainable materials into DoD construction. Currently, they are drafting a Criteria Change Request (CCR) along with partners at Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory and USACE Protective Design Centre. In the military, a CCR is a formal process where individuals propose modifications or updates to existing DoD standards, guidelines, or criteria that govern various aspects of military operations, equipment procedures, or policies. The current standard for wood ballistic design equations date back to 1966. Swinea and Stynoski began evaluating whether the current standards were valid for wood composites like CLT, which is a relatively new building material with limited experimental data. They discovered that the existing methods for measuring wood properties didn’t fully account for how well CLT absorbs energy or handles fractures. The CCR rectifies and modernizes the official guidance communicated by the DoD-wide standard.

This month, Red Dot Design Museum plays host to a showcase of the next generation of design talent. A curation of designs from the original London Exhibition, Discovered Singapore presents a visionary group of young creatives in an extraordinary display of furniture, objects and sculptural works in wood. Source: Timberbiz Conceived by the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), Discovered Singapore provides a platform for new creatives and an opportunity for talented emerging designers to show their work to the public and the industry at Singapore’s premier design venue. Selected from the original global line up of 20, the 10 designers exhibiting in Singapore this May worked alongside design mentors and AHEC’s global manufacturing partners to each develop an object made from their choice of four sustainable hardwoods: American red oak, cherry and hard and soft maple. Throughout the project, designers were supported by AHEC’s technical experts, and mentored by established designers Nathan Yong (Singapore) and Adam Markowitz (Australia). This collaboration has resulted in a highly diverse selection of objects, ranging from functional furniture such as cabinets, tables and seats to more abstract, sculptural works that inspire reflection. Taken as a whole, Discovered represents how experiences of a changing world have impacted each designer’s personal and creative journeys. Discovered Singapore will be held from 16-22 May at the Red Dot Design Museum. The 10 designers are: Nong Chotipatoomwan, Kodai Iwamoto, Mew Mungnatee, Trang Nguyen, Taiho Shin, Ivana Taylor, Yunhan Wang, Tan Wei Xiang, Duncan Young, and Vivienne Wong.  

Czechia is allocating 750,000 euros (approx US$809,000) to the support and improvement of Ukraine’s forest monitoring systems, Viktor Smal, the head of the State Forest Resources Agency, announced on 10 May. Source: The Kyiv Independent The funds are part of a broader initiative known as “Strengthening Ukraine’s Forest Monitoring Capacity to Align with EU Standards.” Mr Smal met with Czech Forestry Institute Director Marek Mlkusek to discuss the details of the project. “The goal of this project is to support the quality and comprehensiveness of the forest monitoring system in Ukraine and thus contribute to improving the quality of data,” Mr Smal said. One of the project’s aims is to develop software for data collection during forest management using remote sensing and data processing methods, such as Copernicus and Landsat satellite data. Other goals include providing computer equipment and training for specialists and creating updated training modules. According to Mr Smal, the next step in the project is to sign a memorandum of understanding between the State Forest Resources Agency, the HM Vysotsky Ukrainian Research Institute of Forestry and Agricultural Reclamation, the State Forest Management Planning Association, the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences, and the Czech Forestry Institute. The State Forest Resources Agency estimates that almost 30% of Ukraine’s forests have suffered some kind of damage due to Russia’s full-scale invasion. The war has destroyed more than 60,000 hectares of forests, with the cost of damages amounting to at least US$360 million, according to an investigation by NGL Media.

Reflecting on New Zealand’s softwood log exports to China in 2023, ResourceWise data indicates a 5% increase compared with 2022. However, a closer look at the numbers reveals a 4% decrease from 2021, highlighting exporters’ challenges in adapting to a weakened Chinese economy. Source: ResourceWise China has consistently been a significant player in New Zealand’s softwood log exports. Therefore, the nation’s changing economy has impacted New Zealand’s log export volume. While China still maintains a robust import relationship with New Zealand, recent figures indicate a slight dip in volume. The decrease in China’s imports of logs from New Zealand since 2021 aligns with the overall trend of declining log and lumber imports in China. The majority of the trend has been driven by a decrease in demand for forest products. According to a report from Wood Market Prices from ResourceWise in January, China’s combined annual imports of logs and lumber in 2023 were at their lowest in 12 years, with log imports experiencing the most significant drop. The current state of China’s forest products sector plays a pivotal role in understanding the dynamics of New Zealand’s softwood log exports. In recent years, China has experienced a shift in its economic activities, with a particular impact on its construction and manufacturing industries. These industries are significant consumers of forest products such as softwood logs for construction and furniture manufacturing, among others. Economic slowdowns and policy changes have led to fluctuations in demand within China’s forest product sector. Further exacerbating these trends are global environmental policies and China’s own reforestation e!orts aimed at achieving sustainability and reducing reliance on imports. This complex interplay of economic shifts and policy initiatives directly influences the demand for imported softwood logs, reflecting on trade relations with countries like New Zealand. ResourceWise’s latest Market Insights report takes a close look at historical and current figures relating to New Zealand’s softwood log export market. This includes pine sawlog export prices, import numbers from China and South Korea, and New Zealand’s export figures to diverse regions. Readers can also gain valuable insight into the future projections for the trajectory of New Zealand’s softwood log exports.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has released a public consultation paper seeking feedback on the first Data Interoperability Framework. Source: Timberbiz Data interoperability means you can exchange data between different systems and organisations efficiently. The draft framework was created as part of a $5 million grant awarded to test data-enabled traceability concepts and facilitate industry and government alignment on data standards. The department is seeking feedback on the draft to verify it’s recommended approaches and gain insight on potential barriers or areas for improvement prior to introduction. Assistant Secretary of Agricultural Traceability, Kieran Macdonell said the release of the public consultation paper was a milestone for industry and government collaboration on data standards, encouraging and empowering farmers to securely capture, reuse and share data. “The Data Interoperability Framework will help to increase the adoption of data-enabled traceability, bringing transparency and rigor to reduce the risk of greenwashing and increase cross commodity uptake of enhanced traceability systems,” Mr Macdonell said. “It will also streamline commercial and government regulatory systems to improve data accuracy and reduce the time, effort, and cost of industry compliance. “Having a transparent, traceable supply chain means consumers in overseas markets can be reassured that Australian agriculture is clean, green, and sustainable. “I encourage all interested stakeholders to look at the discussion paper and provide your views and ideas on how we can improve data interoperability across Australia’s farming supply chains.” Submit your feedback by 4 pm (AEST), 14 June. For more information https://haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au/agricultural-traceability

  A report by New Zealand’s Forest Service provides the provisional estimates of the sales of tree stocks and the areas of commercial forest planted in 2023. It also provides an estimate of mānuka seedling sales, and the area planted. Source: Timberbiz Following the main winter planting season, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) undertakes an annual survey of tree stocks sold by commercial forestry nurseries. The results are aggregated to produce estimates of total national sales, and then modelled to estimate the total area of planting by species and species group. In 2023, 32 commercial nurseries completed the survey of which 12 supplied bulk sales of mānuka as their primary activity or in combination with sales of seedlings from plantation establishment. Tree stock sales reported in 2023 totalled 119 million seedlings, compared with 120 million sold in 2022. The main decrease was in radiata pine where sales decreased by 0.8 million seedlings (1%). Sales of Douglas-fir showed a modest increase, while sales of other exotic softwood tree stocks decreased by 3% from 2022. The total area of forest planting in the winter of 2023 is provisionally estimated from the nursery survey data and associated modelling to be 113,000 hectares. The modelling generated national average stocking rates for radiata pine of 1,019 stems per hectare for open pollinated plus Stand Select, and 965 stems per hectare for control pollinated plus cuttings and clones. The national average for 2023 was 1,003 stems per hectare. The 2023 nursery survey asked commercial forestry nursery managers about anticipated sale levels in 2024. All nurseries responded. Their estimates indicate that total seedlings sales may increase to 122 million seedlings in 2024. The nursery survey and the associated modelling are only intended to provide early approximations of the areas of total planting and planting by species or species groups for the year. These are subsequently revised as necessary when data are received directly from forest owners through the annual survey for the National Exotic Forest Description (NEFD). This is the eighth year that MPI has gathered information on mānuka seedling sales to estimate the area planted. Twelve nurseries provided sales information on bulk sales of mānuka.It is estimated that 4.2 million mānuka seedlings were sold, mostly for the honey industry, some for revegetation and some for research on mānuka oil production. This is a decrease in sales compared with 2022 (5.2 million seedlings).

Housing is one of the most pressing challenges facing the nation and all eyes are on the anticipated packages in the Budget aimed at alleviating the housing crisis. Preannounced efforts to tackle labour shortages stemming from apprentices leaving the construction industry prematurely and regulatory barriers impeding access to skilled international tradespeople are useful, but they alone will not address the broader labour shortages impacting the construction industry’s ability to build new homes and other infrastructure. Source: Timberbiz Australian Constructors Association CEO Jon Davies says there are many factors that discourage people from joining construction in the first place and simply treating the symptoms with short-term measures to plug the skills gap will not suffice. “Long-term solutions are needed, and the government’s Future Made policy presents a chance to make significant productivity gains through Modern methods of construction,” said Mr Davies. “Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) could revolutionise how projects are built, shifting more work to factories. This form of construction is far more productive as it is standardised, takes place in controlled environments and is not subject to site-based risks such as inclement weather. It creates more opportunities for skilled workers in safer environments with increased opportunities for flexible work hours.” MMC also aligns seamlessly with Australia’s ambitions for net-zero emissions. By reducing waste and minimising reliance on fossil fuels, MMC presents a pathway toward decarbonising the construction industry and meeting global emission targets. “The problem is, MMC isn’t widely used due to the significant investment required but government support could change that,” argues Mr Davies. “By optimising project designs for manufacture and assembly and by standardising components of schools, hospitals, metro stations, bridges and other types of infrastructure across jurisdictions, a viable market will be created to support private sector investment in MMC manufacturing facilities. “This investment could be accelerated by matched investment from State and Federal governments and by underwriting demand in the short term. “Given the scale of operations required to maximise efficiency, MMC manufacturing facilities would ideally be located in regional areas between major population centres thus providing secure skilled employment opportunities in areas that need them the most.” The potential economic returns are substantial. Closing the productivity gap between construction and other industries could boost the economy by $56 billion annually. This could fund essential services like the NDIS and build new schools and hospitals nationwide. “Investing in MMC might not be as glamorous as other industries, but it’s vital. It could transform the sector, making it more diverse, sustainable and efficient. This would ensure the country gets the infrastructure it needs, when it needs it, and at an affordable cost.”

Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA) is committing funding to research which will inform an industry-wide decarbonisation plan to lead the sector to achieve a better than carbon neutral outcome by 2050. Source: Timberbiz This pioneering initiative supports Australia’s carbon commitments via the creation of a comprehensive decarbonisation roadmap for the forest and wood products industry. This approach incorporates carbon sequestration within commercial forest estates and includes recommendations for softwood and hardwood plantation forests, wood processing sites, managed native forests, and the paper and packaging manufacturing sector. The roadmap project, which has just commenced, will model industry emissions projections out to 2050. This work will establish baseline projections and identify the most effective avenues for carbon emissions reduction, capture, and storage. The roadmap project is the final element of an industry wide carbon plan endorsed jointly by the FWPA and Australia Forest Products Association (AFPA) Boards in August 2023, that establishes an industry wide strategy that will identify and outline methods to achieve significant carbon reduction targets. Working with the AFPA Climate policy working group, the plan was designed to leverage FWPA’s established strengths that support industry collaboration in research, development and extension. FWPA and AFPA have been working with industry and researchers to develop emissions reduction methodologies, enhance carbon capture, storage, and productivity across plantations, and create strategies to quantify emissions savings from utilising timber-based solutions in commercial building projects. This will potentially allow the construction industry to acquire Australian Carbon Credit Units by using carbon-storing timber and will support paper and packaging use. The plan is underpinned by the ongoing research work led by the forest growers and Grower Research Advisory Committee (GRAC) to define source activities to increase overall plantation area, yield, and productivity as related to carbon sequestration by the commercial forest estate. FWPA will spearhead this initiative, partnering with AFPA and Wood Beca to deliver this crucial roadmap. The project will be funded primarily through grower and processor contributions, with additional financial support from the paper and packaging sector. With such a diverse and expansive industry, Wood Beca will work with FWPA on the development of the plan with considerations for the complexities and challenges such nuance can create. The work will define objectives and set a direction for future scenario modelling which is critical to the success of the study and ensure the modelling represents the position of the industry as well as risks and opportunities to achieve better than net zero by 2050. “This plan is a testament to our commitment to supporting the industry in capturing and storing more carbon. Through research-backed initiatives and strong industry consultation, we aim to lead the way in sustainable practices,” FWPA CEO Andrew Leighton said. The forest and wood products industry is a pivotal player in the global economy and environmental sustainability. The decarbonisation plan will reinforce the industry’s role in contributing to climate goals while managing the resources necessary to build 1.2 million homes over the next five years. “As facilitators of this plan, FWPA is laying the groundwork to future-proof our industry. We are identifying the best paths to manage our carbon-storing resources, mitigating risks, and creating opportunities for our member companies to contribute to a robust and circular Australian economy,” Chris Lafferty, RD&E Manager at FWPA, said.

The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) has welcomed the opportunity to provide a submission to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee’s inquiry into the Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Levies Bill 2024 [Provisions] and related bills.
The AFPA and its members remain unequivocally opposed to the introduction of the government’s Biosecurity Protection Levy (BPL) and its enabling legislation. Source: Timberbiz The key reasons for AFPA’s objections to the BPL are listed below, with further reasons and supporting details provided in its submission. Namely the proposed BPL will not result in sustainable funding for biosecurity, as funds collected are not hypothecated to biosecurity (going to consolidated revenue) and may be re-directed to other priorities at any time. does not account for the forest sector already funding biosecurity both as a taxpayer and through existing Agricultural levies. The BPL effectively taxes primary producers again. is a tax as that does not meet fundamental criteria of Agricultural levies. does not reflect “shared responsibility” for biosecurity without levy contributions from importers the public, and thereby governments, are the greatest beneficiaries of a strong biosecurity system as well as significant contributors to biosecurity risks through travel and trade. The AFPA highlights to the committee that it is not the only representative body that holds this position with most of the agriculture peak bodies and  associations opposing the BPL. Public submissions available through Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s “Have your say” consultation platform, voiced serious concerns with the BPL and rejected it as the right funding mechanism to sustain biosecurity. Separate published assessments by the Australian National University, the Productivity Commission, the Office of Impact Analysis and Frontier Economics all similarly have highlighted the BPL’s overall poor design, inefficiency and unfairness. Changes suggested by the government following their initial post-budget consultation process in 2023, such as the BPL being calculated on Gross Value of Production or the government’s commitment to provide greater transparency in spending, have not fundamentally changed the concerns with the BPL raised by the AFPA and other industry representative bodies. The AFPA is conscious of the pressures on resourcing our biosecurity system, we simply do not believe that the BPL represents the right funding model. As a “shared responsibility” the funding of biosecurity should aim to reflect both the benefits derived by all Australians from a strong biosecurity system (not just primary producers) as well as the biosecurity risks created through increasing levels of trade and movement of people into the country. In light of the overwhelming benefits derived by all Australians from free, biosecure travel and trade across our border, adequately resourcing the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s biosecurity responsibilities is clearly a government responsibility. The AFPA reiterates to the committee its opposition to the introduction of the BPL, but as a responsible partner in biosecurity, it emphasizes its willingness to work with government(s) and other stakeholders to resolve how we could further support Australia’s biosecurity system.

Ex-native timber workers are finding new work and opportunities in an expanding Gippsland nursery following a $775,000 grant from the Allan Labor Government’s Forestry Transition Fund. Source: Timberbiz Nationwide Trees at Piedmont in West Gippsland, will use the grant to construct a multi-use production and dispatch shed, helping the business to meet growing demand. “This funding is part of our work to create and deliver job opportunities for timber workers and support Gippsland’s economy and community as our transition work continues,” Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing said. To support the business’ growth, impacted forestry workers and their families are being recruited via the Victorian Forestry Worker Support Program and trained to work in the new facility – tripling the business’ workforce. One former mill employee has already been employed in an administrative role. Nationwide Trees has also employed ex-timber workers to do excavation work on the site in preparation for construction of the dispatch shed. “This grant will greatly assist Nationwide Trees to expand its capacity and operations. We designed this project to maximise the use of local contractors and suppliers during the build and provide employment for former forestry workers and their families,” Managing Director Nationwide Trees Glenn Fenton said. The wholesale nursery supplies a broad range of deciduous and broadleaf seedlings, rootstocks and some conifers to the nursery industry, orchardists, landscapers, local authorities, farm foresters, planting contractors and consultants. The grant works alongside the Noojee Local Development Strategy (LDS) to help develop new local job opportunities and future community development. The Noojee LDS has also received $38,500 from the Forestry Transition Program’s Community Development Fund to progress the town’s strategy work including a feasibility study for a Forestry Therapy Centre. The $36 million Forestry Transition Fund supports job creation and business development in and around the native timber communities in Gippsland and the north-east of the state. For more information visit, www.vic.gov.au/forestry