05/07/2010:

Association News

31/03/2010: New secretary for Gottstein Trust
Peter Gunnersen, Chairman of the J. W. Gottstein Memorial Trust Fund, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Silvia Pongracic as the incoming Secretary of the Trust, following the resignation of the current Secretary, Dr Adrian Wallis.

08/02/2010: Change of name for major Victorian organisation
A change of name for one of Victoria’s peak forestry and cartage bodies will help it gain more relevance, member appeal and strength.

Australian Forestry News

01/09/2010: Seeking expressions of interest for harvesting and haulage services in the Green Triangle region
In order to develop the necessary harvesting and haulage capacity, ABP is seeking expressions of interest (EOI) for the provision of harvesting and transport services.

01/09/2010: Number of dwelling units approved rose 2.3% in July 2010
ABS Building Approvals show that the total number of dwellings approved rose in July 2010 following falls in the previous three months in seasonally adjusted terms.

01/09/2010: Future domestic plantation and native forest supplies will struggle to meet demand
Australia’s National Plantation Strategy Coordinator David Thompson recently made presentations to the WA Minister for Forestry, Terry Redman, the WA Forest Products Commission and industry representatives regarding future wood supplies and plantation investment mechanisms. In part, this was in response to commentary that Australia is facing a ‘wood glut’ under current forestry MIS arrangements, and that there is no need to expand the plantation estate.

30/08/2010: Fire Services Levy reforms a step in the right direction
The Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) notes the release of the State Government's final response to the report of the Bushfire Royal Commission.

25/08/2010: Forests go digital with mapping technology
A new mapping technology using digital data captured from aerial surveys will be trialled in State forests, Forest Resources Minister, Paul McLeay announced last week.

25/08/2010: Make your summer jobs work better for you (and the industry)
FWPA is putting together a national summer jobs marketing campaign for this summer. The campaign is targeting science, agriculture and environment students across 10 universities and they are looking for the industry to promote their summer jobs and provide students with their ‘first taste’ of the forest and wood products industry.

20/08/2010: TFCA congratulate Minister Burke on $20m commitment
The Tasmanian Forest Contractors Association congratulate Minister Burke and Shadow Minister Richard Colbeck, for their commitments of $20 million towards the first stage of the overdue restructuring of the forest contracting sector of the Tasmanian hardwood forest industry.

20/08/2010: NAFI welcomes bipartisan support for forest industry
As the ALP and Coalition have each announced their forest policies this election campaign, Australia’s peak forest industry body has welcomed the support shown by both major parties.

20/08/2010: Labor creates a $20 million forestry black-hole
Labor and part-time Forestry Minister Burke must today explain the black-hole it has created in its own budget following the panic release of $20 million in funding to match a Coalition forest contractors commitment.

20/08/2010: Say NO to the environmental mafia
The Institute of Foresters of Australia (IFA) is an organisation with members who are focused on improving the management of forests in Australia and internationally.

20/08/2010: Labor matches coalition forestry commitment
The Gillard Labor Government today committed $20 million to help Tasmanian contractors and their employees respond to the challenges facing the Tasmanian forest industry.

20/08/2010: Coalition's Real Action Plan for Forestry
Coalition Spokesperson for Forestry Senator Richard Colbeck released the Coalition's Plan for Real Action to invest in Australia’s forest and forest products industry.

20/08/2010: Special pre-election edition of Daily Timber News
With Australia going to the polls tomorrow, this special edition of Daily Timber News brings you the latest on what the major parties are offering the forest and timber industry.

11/08/2010: Quality timbers to go under the hammer
The Forest Products Commission is expecting spirited bidding from woodcraft enthusiasts at the next quarterly log auction.

09/08/2010: Moving ‘For-wood’: Essential to a sustainable future
In the lead-up to the Federal Election, Australia’s peak forest industry body announced its new Forest Industry Growth Plan in Hobart, with the key message that a growing forest industry is essential in building a sustainable and low emissions future for Australia.

04/08/2010: 75 jobs to go in FPC restructure
Up to 75 staff at the Forest Products Commission in West Australia are to be offered voluntary redundancies as part of a restructure plan, following big losses at the forestry agency. Forestry Minister Terry Redman said most of the staff cuts would occur over the next two years, and would bring the organisation back to a sound financial position.

04/08/2010: 3.8 million trees for the central west
Planting has begun of more than 3.8m seedlings in the Central West in State Forests near Bathurst, Lithgow, Orange and Oberon.

02/08/2010: NAFI to launch Forest Industries Growth Plan
The National Association of Forest Industries (NAFI) is on the verge of unveiling a plan that could generate $19 billion in new industry investment by 2020 and create thousands of new jobs.

02/08/2010: The timber seats to watch
While the recent media focus has been the ongoing discussion over the future of the Tasmanian forest industry, National Association of Forest Industries (NAFI) has also identified several marginal Lower House seats that will play a strong role in the race for the Lodge in 2010 in mainland States.

02/08/2010: ForestrySA welcomes new Enterprise Agreement
ForestrySA has welcomed the news that its employees have voted in favour of the new Enterprise Agreement.

28/07/2010: Farmers to benefit from white paper actions
Victoria’s farming and forestry industries will be able to play a major role in tackling climate change through the establishment of the Victorian Carbon Exchange, Premier John Brumby announced on Monday.

28/07/2010: National Management Group agrees to Myrtle rust interim response plan
The National Management Group has agreed to an interim response plan to continue to suppress Uredo rangelii (Myrtle rust) with a view to the eradication of the disease.

26/07/2010: New England pine destined for China
China has become a new market for pine logs from Walcha and Nundle, Minister for Forest Resources Paul McLeay said. “We have recently signed a contract worth $11.5 million with exporters MTX Australia for logs from Pinus Radiata plantations in the Walcha and Nundle area,” Mr McLeay said.

26/07/2010: Armidale State Forest work nearly complete
Forests NSW and the Armidale Pine Forest Committee are on track to close the Armidale State Forest to vehicles from August 1.

26/07/2010: Federal climate policy courtesy of Sir Humphrey Appleby?
By Andrew Grant. CEO:2 CO2 Group Ltd As leader of Australia’s largest carbon offset company, I believe it’s timely to make some pointed and public observations on climate policy options before the Federal election. They are ‘pointed’ because, quite frankly, the twists and turns and bizarre politics of Australian climate policy mean it’s impossible for any company to commit to a business model or for the public to believe anything tangible is planned.

26/07/2010: Both global forest certification schemes to speak side by side at industry conference
IN A major coup for the Australian Forest, Wood, Paper and Timber Products industry, the Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) have committed members of their global leadership teams to speak at the industry conference in Melbourne on 9 September.

26/07/2010: Queensland hardwood industry ready for self-analysis
Peak industry body Timber Queensland says it is time for the State’s hardwood industry to look inwards, assessing if true market potential is being maximised.

21/07/2010: ATTA annual workshop to be held in Tasmania
THE AUSTRALIAN Timber Trainers Association annual workshop will be held in Hobart next week (26-29 July).

21/07/2010: Labor must explain forestry deals with Greens
THE ANNOUNCEMENT by Prime Minister Gillard of a preference swap deal with the Greens is a disaster for Tasmania's forestry industry.

21/07/2010: Business accepts the need for action on climate change, but confusion reigns when it comes to the Australian Government’s response
MATTHEW TUKAKI, the CEO of SansGov, has released the first in a series of business surveys dealing with climate change policies and how they impact business. Conducted over a period of two weeks with a total number of 692 respondents, the survey shows significant gaps between proposed Government policies and on the ground implementation.

21/07/2010: Penola pulp mill still on the cards
A PROPOSED $1.5 billion pulp mill at Penola is close to being finalized and it is thought construction will start early next year.

21/07/2010: CO2 Group Expands into New Zealand
AUSTRALIAN ENVIRONMENTAL services company CO2 Group Limited expanded into New Zealand in June, the company’s first overseas venture.

21/07/2010: $2.4 million to develop small business knowledge and skills
The Australian Government will commit $2.4 million over the next six months to fund more than 300 knowledge and skill development seminars and workshops targeted at small to medium businesses throughout Australia.

21/07/2010: Strong ties remain intact
A3P AND the Australian Forest Growers (AFG) have signed their fourth two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which formalizes the strategic alliance between the parties.

19/07/2010: Forestry photos featured
A BRAND new photographic competition designed to showcase Tasmania’s state forests has been launched by Forestry Tasmania. The inaugural Moods of the Forest photographic competition, organised by Forestry Tasmania’s Adventure Forests tourism sites, will encourage Tasmanians to experience Tasmania’s vibrant State forests and capture their experiences on film.

19/07/2010: Foresters and loggers combine for the first time to bring international conference to Australia
THE AUSTRALIAN Forest Contractors’ Association of Australia (AFCA) and the Institute of Foresters of Australia (IFA) will be collaborating to ensure the success of the AUSTimber 2012 ‘Precision Forestry’ conference. This will be the first time the organisations have worked together, with both recognising the importance each other’s membership bases bring to the sustainability and continuous improvement of the forestry industry in Australia.

12/07/2010: Wood Manufacturing 2010 attracting keen interest across Australasia
THE CONCEPT is simple. The feedback and input to the design of the new wood technology show and expo from across Australasia has been outstanding. Wood Manufacturing 2010 has been set up by the Forest Industry Engineering Association (FIEA) to cover all wood processing and manufacturing operations in the Drymill – or stand-alone wood manufacturing operations.

12/07/2010: 4.4 MILLION NEW TREES FOR SOUTH WEST SLOPES
Planting has begun of 4.4 million seedlings in the South West Slopes of NSW around Tumut, Batlow and Tumbarumba.

12/07/2010: Briefings and client meetings continue
The paper - part of every day team continues to provide campaign briefings and to participate in client meetings and industry educational seminars and workshops.

12/07/2010: Forest management company achieves Australian Forest Certification
Leading private forest management company SFM Forest Products (SFM) has received certification for Sustainable Forest Management (AS-4708) under the Australian Forest Certification Scheme (AFS). This means SFM is able to offer cost-effective certification of private forests to landowners in Tasmania.

12/07/2010: Certification system takes quantum leap forward
By Barry Chipman TCA Tasmania Last week there was the launch of the Australian first achievement of FSC certification for natural forest by Peter & Ann Downie for their Central Highlands property Lagoon of Islands. TCA welcomes this great achievement as it provides a big confidence boost for timber families, as it demonstrates that FSC certification is an achievable goal for all involved in the management of Tasmania’s forest and tree farm estate.

12/07/2010: Forests NSW region meets world best safety record
Forests NSW has reached world industry safety standards with only one reportable incident in the last financial year in its Central Region, regional manager Kathy Jones said. The region extends from Morisset to Kempsey on the North Coast.

07/07/2010: The winds of change are blowing!
THE WINDS of change are blowing … politically and industry-wise. The newly-appointed Prime Minister Julia Gillard wants to take her credentials to the people and let them decide if she is THE candidate for the job. She’s no stranger to making her presence felt and, with reasoned and factual backing in her arguments, Gillard’s approach to rectifying the mining tax was just another tick on the positive side of the ledger. That same reasoned approach augurs well for the forestry industry.

07/07/2010: Willmott suspension allows time for review
Willmott Forests has been granted a suspension of its securities from official quotation by the Australian Securities Exchange to allow it time to complete a review and then be in a position to inform shareholders of the results and likely impacts of this process on the company

05/07/2010: No forest certification without fair harvest contracts
JOHN WITHEROW, newly inaugurated Life Member in the Contractors Hall of Fame, recalled an old mate and sparring partner when he told a newly appointed chief executive of a major timber mill that he’d rather die on his feet than on his knees. That was in response to the timber mill CEO’s threat to tear up their existing contract and start again from a lower rate – a threat given strength in the CEO’s mind due to the level of investment John’s company had in harvesting and haulage equipment and the CEO’s perception that John would accept less money simply to keep the payments up on his machinery.

05/07/2010: A once in 100 years event!
THE UNIVERSITY of Melbourne’s Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science is hosting the celebration of 100 years of Forestry education in Australia. The Future of Forestry and Forest Science Conference offers past and present students, scientists, researchers, forestry and environmental professionals, and government policy makers an open forum to reflect on the development of forest science and forestry education over the past century and consider the future of forest science in order to meet the needs of future generations.

30/06/2010: Tasmanian logging move myth-managed by Greens
The Tasmanian Forest Contractors Association is astounded at the credence that uninformed comment has been granted in the comments about the forthcoming export of low grade pine logs from northern and north-western Tasmania.

30/06/2010: Australia has increased chip exports of both eucalyptus and pine in 2010, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly
Export of wood chips from Australia is on the rebound, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. After last year’s 10-year low, shipments so far in 2010 are up 38% for pine chips and 12% for eucalyptus chips. In addition, an estimated 100,000 tons of wood pellets will be shipped to Europe this year.

23/06/2010: Talks commence on the conflict over forests in Tasmania
The National Association of Forest Industries (NAFI) CEO, Allan Hansard, has released a statement on behalf of NAFI and confirmed that in any discussions about the future of Tasmania’s forest industries they will work to ensure the views of all sectors of the forest industry in Tasmania are heard and understood.

23/06/2010: Green’s ‘same old’ forest policy is irresponsible
The National Association of Forest Industries (NAFI) is concerned over recent media announcements by the Greens that reconfirms their approach to forest policy is outdated and lacks economic, social and environmental responsibility.

16/06/2010: Trees offer more than shade and shelter
A Rutherglen farm has demonstrated that farm forestry can offset all the emissions from their prime lamb production. Running 500 crossbred ewes on 120 hectares of pasture, the farm has established trees in every corner and crevice of the property, including along fence lines and irrigation check banks and on blocks in unproductive areas.

15/06/2010: Picture perfect in every sense!
FORESTS NSW is encouraging amateur photographers with a passion and flair for forests and forest products to enter its 2010 photography competition.

09/06/2010: Education needed to overcome ignorance
Forest and Wood Products Australia has its work cut out trying to get the balance right in the way people think of the industry. Ric Sinclair, managing director of FWPA, told the Australian Forest Contractors Association annual conference in Coffs Harbour of the work his organization was doing and gave insights into Australian market perceptions of wood, wood products and the sustainability of forestry.

09/06/2010: A decade of achievement for biosecurity body
Plant Health Australia (PHA), the national coordinating body for plant health in Australia working in partnership with Government, industry, researchers and others to improve biosecurity policy and practice, has just celebrated a decade of being a driving force in its field.

09/06/2010: Aussie agribusinesses to explore China markets
The Federal Government will provide support for six agricultural delegations to visit China to explore market opportunities for products including timber, wild and farmed eels, mangoes, livestock, grapes and Chinese red dates or jujube.

09/06/2010: Project to look at improved marketing of Australian forest products
The National Association of Forest Industries (NAFI) received funding from the Australian Government to improve marketing strategies for forest products both domestically and for key export markets.

26/05/2010: “That’s the biggest load of bunkum I’ve ever heard”
Glenn Britton doesn't mince words when talking about the pressure being applied by environmental groups in Tasmania to move the State's forestry industry entirely to plantation timber.

17/05/2010: FPC to celebrate Arbor Day with free seedlings
The Forest Products Commission plans to grow the benefits of native trees by celebrating Arbor Day 2010 with a give-away of thousands of seedlings.

12/04/2010: Applications now open for the FWPA Denis Cullity Fellowship program
Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA) is pleased to announce funding for up to two international collaborative research projects in 2010 for leading Australian forest and wood product scientists, through its annual Denis Cullity Fellowship program.

22/03/2010: Workshops to delve into LiDAR advances
THE CRC for Forestry will be conducting workshop to present recent advances in LiDAR data acquisition and processing for forest applications at the University of Tasmania on 20-21April. The workshop will run as an open forum on 21 April, while the workshop on 22 April will be aimed at CRC members.

Australian Forestry News, Overseas Forestry News

26/10/2009: Will your date show up?
If you have any event coming up in 2010 you wish to have considered for inclusion in the 2010 Australian Timberman Wall Planner, let us know!

13/05/2009: New machines, new heads and a new thinning concept
Three new machines and two new heads. Komatsu Forest is launching five unique world premieres at Elmia Wood 3-6 June 2009.

Events

18/08/2010: Both global forest certification schemes to speak side by side at industry conference
In a major coup for the Australian forest, wood, paper and timber products industry, the Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) have committed members of their global leadership teams to speak at the industry conference in Melbourne on 9 September.

16/08/2010: MTC Global WoodMart 2010
The Malaysian Timber Council’s (MTC) inaugural Global WoodMart 2010 (MGW 2010) is set to take place on 19 - 20 October 2010 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).

11/08/2010: Timber Industry Annual Dinner
The TABMA ANNUAL DINNER is the premier industry event in Australia, recognising excellence, innovation and commitment to our industry, and will be held on 29th October in Sydney, NSW.

09/08/2010: Forestry Tasmania plays major part in National Science Week
During National Science Week this month, school children will have the opportunity to find out about the science of growing trees at Forestry Tasmania’s Warra Long-Term Ecological Research Site and the Tahune AirWalk.

02/08/2010: Industry Hardwood Workshop
To rally the industry and map out the future, Timber Queensland is holding a one–day workshop “The future of Queensland Hardwoods, aligning growth, processing and sales for success” at The Pavilion Conference Centre, Gympie on 20 August.

30/06/2010: CRC Forestry Harvesting and Operations Workshop: managing mechanised forest operations
The CRC Forestry Harvesting and Operations Workshop is being held on 7-8 July to discuss techniques and methods to manage increasingly mechanised forest harvesting.

23/06/2010: Fire awareness awards recognise fire ready efforts
People and organisations who are helping to protect Victoria from fires are invited to have their hard work recognised and rewarded in Victoria’s prestigious 2010 Fire Awareness Awards.

16/06/2010: Rotorua Forestry and Wood Industries Festival to target RWC 2011 visitors
New Zealand's forestry and wood products sector is set to come to the fore during Rugby World Cup 2011, with a Forestry and Wood Industries Festival planned in Rotorua to showcase the sector to Government officials, companies and visitors from around the world.

07/06/2010: Managing mechanised forest operations
As forest operations have become more and more mechanised over the last decade they have also become more capital intensive and more complex to manage. This, in combination with increased pressure on the forest industry to keep costs down to remain competitive, means that the management of mechanised harvesting is critical for success to both forest owners and machine owners.

12/05/2010: Hall of Fame function
The AFCA Conference and Hall of Fame dinner is fast approaching and if you haven’t already registered to attend, time is running out!

10/05/2010: Frame Australia 2010 Conference
The theme of this year’s Frame Australia 2010 conference is ‘Housing Construction and Sustainability’ with the program including housing industry participation by Mirvac Design, Henley Properties Group, HIA and MBA Victoria.

03/05/2010: Euroforest brings out the best in the industry
Euroforest, one of the leading forestry equipment shows in Europe, will be held in Burgundy, France, on 18-19 June. An initiative of the Burgundy ‘interprofession’, Aprovalbois and the Burgundy-Limousin forestry cooperative, the event boasts a 150ha open air demo theatre in the Charolles hills.

03/05/2010: Harvest & Haul Conference a major milestone for forestry contractors
The Australian Forest Contractors Association Harvest & Haul Conference and Trade Expo on 3 June at Coffs Harbour is being touted as one of the best events ever organized by the association.

21/04/2010: TIS Workshops
The Department of Primary Industries is inviting you to attend upcoming Timber Industry Strategy workshops, facilitated by Trees Victoria, coming to various regions around the state.

12/04/2010: Trial by fire: testing a ‘bushfire-proof’ house design
Weather permitting, CSIRO scientists will ‘flame-test’ a steel-framed house near Mogo on the NSW south coast ON FRIDAY, 16 APRIL, to see how the structure withstands realistic bushfire conditions.

17/03/2010: National Carpeners Day - Entries closing soon
Following the success of the inaugural event in 2009, the second National Carpenters Day promises to reach an even wider audience with new activities and participants.

17/03/2010: Optimising the wood supply chain
Forest products companies, logistics specialists and researchers have been working closely with FIEA to design a practical technology program, Wood Supply Chain Optimisation 2010. It will be profiling new tools along with successful strategies that have been adopted to improve planning, logistics and operations through the wood supply chain. This new technology series runs in Melbourne on 19-20 May and again in Rotorua on 24-25 May.

10/03/2010: Workshop for three major organisations
The 2010 ATTA/ForestWorks/FIAPS workshop will be held in Hobart from 26-29 July. Like last year, the workshop program for 2010 has been combined with the ForestWorks and FIAPS annual conference so attendees will be able to get the most out of their time away from normal work schedules.

01/03/2010: Now every carpenter has their day
Following the success of the inaugural event in 2009, the second National Carpenters Day promises to reach an even wider audience with new activities and participants.

22/02/2010: Frame Australia 2010 Conference
The construction and operation of buildings is one of the single biggest contributors of emissions influencing global climate change according to an OECD report, which is currently leading to governments worldwide introducing regulations to reduce carbon emissions by buildings.

17/02/2010: Timber Trade Cup golf day at Muirfield - reminder
A reminder to get your entries in as soon as possible for the Timber Trade Cup golf day at Muirfield Golf club, being held to raise funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

15/02/2010: Finance sector to get insider view at Australian Forestry Conference
Key Finance company leaders and risk specialists are going to be treated to a unique and insightful view of the Australian forestry sector in early March at a national forestry finance event.

10/02/2010: Forestry Education Centenary Celebration
One hundred years of forest education in Australia will be celebrated in 2010 in a series of events throughout Victoria, where it all started.

03/02/2010: Timber Trade Cup golf day at Muirfield
Dozens of weekend golfers will soon be teeing up to help raise funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

03/02/2010: Latest designs in bushfire prevention talked up
On the anniversary of Black Saturday, 7 February, you can find out more about how new designs are helping with fire prevention, emergency response, post-fire regeneration in communities and more, by attending floor talks at Melbourne Museum.

01/02/2010: Get a piece of the road transport action at Trucks in Action
t's on again at Lardner Park, the only working truck show held in the Southern Hemisphere. Running in conjunction with the Civil Works Expo, Trucks In Action will be held at Lardner Park near Warragul in Victoria from 19-21 February.

07/12/2009: Submit your abstracts on the World Bioenergy website
If you are interested in holding a presentation, or exhibiting a poster at the largest bioenergy event in the world you are welcome to visit our website www.worldbioenergy.com and the Conference & Excursions pages.

02/12/2009: Lost and Found: The 1939 "Black Friday" Bushfires Royal Commission Evidence
On Monday 7 December, the University of Melbourne's Crenswick Campus will hold a seminar detailing the evidence found from the 1939 Black Friday Bushfires.

02/12/2009: Lost and Found: The 1939 "Black Friday" Bushfires Royal Commission Evidence
On Monday 7 December, the University of Melbourne's Crenswick Campus will hold a seminar detailing the evidence found from the 1939 Black Friday Bushfires.

18/11/2009: Pioneer in bioenergy crop research to share knowledge in New Zealand
Landowners considering the potential of deriving new income from dedicated bioenergy crops have the opportunity to learn first hand from a leading international expert next month.

11/11/2009: Bioenergy Australia 2009
Australia’s premier bioenergy conference, Bioenergy Australia 2009 will be held at the Radisson Resort Gold Coast, Queensland from 9 - 10 December 2009 with a Technical Tour on 8 December 2009.

09/11/2009: Heartwood Plantations launch and field tour
An invitation has been extended to all to attend the Heartwood Plantations launch and free field tour on 13 November.

04/11/2009: Much sought after timber goes under the hammer
The Forest Products Commission (FPC) is expecting a large crowd of wood enthusiasts and spirited interest from bidders who attend a log auction to be held in Harvey, WA next week.

21/10/2009: All aspects of bioenergy under the microscope
Australia’s premier bioenergy conference, Bioenergy Australia 2009, will be held at the Radisson Gold Coast, Queensland on 9 - 10 December, with a technical tour on 8 December.

14/10/2009: Conference to address the future of jobs in forestry
This year's Forest Industries Conference is setting its attention on innovation, investment and jobs. Michael Hartman, chief executive officer of ForestWorks, said that with the impact of the global economic recession being felt in the forest, wood, paper and timber products industry, these were the topics that demanded attention.

14/10/2009: The Koondrook-Barham Redgum Showcase
On Sunday 1 November, Koondrook in Victoria will host the 2009 Redgum Showcase.

21/09/2009: Identifying the silver linings
The New Zealand Pine Manufacturers Association presents Wood Industry Conference 2009 at the Holiday Inn, Wellington, on 8-9 October. Under the theme, “Global Storm Clouds – Identifying The Silver Linings”, the conference will look at major economies with which NZ trades, focusing on likely challenges and trends for NZ exporters.

16/09/2009: NSW Rural Fire Service address to Hoo Hoo Club
Sydney Hoo Hoo Club 215 has organised a special dinner meeting later this month during which timber usage for building in bushfire-prone areas will be the main topic for discussion.

15/07/2009: Foresters meet to talk
The Institute of Foresters of Australia will be holding its 2009 National Conference at Caloundra, Queensland, Australia from 6-10 September 2009. The Institute President Dr Peter Volker said it was timely for foresters to meet, when forestry issues are receiving increasing prominence in national politics particularly in relation to its prominent role in climate change.

25/05/2009: Pike & Co. issue early notice for Brazil conference
This is an early notice of the next International Pulpwood Conference - "Global Wood Fibre Trade - Woodchips and Biomass" - which will be held in Sao Paulo, Brazil during the week of March 15, 2010.

27/04/2009: First National Carpenters Day a great success
Hundreds of carpenters from around Australia, nine current serving soldiers in Afghanistan, and celebrity carpenter Tom Williams, celebrated Australia’s first ever National Carpenters Day on Tuesday, April 21.

22/04/2009: Industry throws support behind Queensland Safety Show
Three of Queensland's top industry associations have thrown their support behind the Queensland Safety Show.

16/04/2009: Australasian Forest Genetics Conference
The second Australasian Forest Genetics Conference will be held in Perth Western Australia from 20th – 22nd April 2009 and is in conjunction with the Australasian Forestry Research Working Group 1 (Genetics) (RWG1 18th Meeting).

14/04/2009: Association VBFB of WA Inc General Meeting
The next general meeting of the Association of Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades will be held on Sunday May 3, 2009 at the GS Knight Building 177 Great Eastern Highway, Belmont, Western Australia.

06/04/2009: Double option for LIGNA-lovers
Time is running out to book your seat on Weinig Australia’s Ligna double-header. There is one tour going to the US (and then on to LIGNA) and one straight to Germany with a tour prior to heading to LIGNA.

06/04/2009: ATTA Workshop to be held in Mount Gambier
The Australian Timber Trainers Association (ATTA), ForestWorks and Forest Industry Assessment Plan System (FIAPS) members will hold a combined annual workshop in Mt Gambier on 27-30 July.

General Industry News

Health & Safety

16/08/2010: Moving forward without forklifts
Forklifts and prime ministers don’t mix and prime minister Julia Gillard came dangerously close to finding out why when she visited a Melbourne factory.

28/07/2010: Do your workers speak up about safety?
WorkSafe and the Supply Chain Industry Alliance have joined forces to create a series of resources that encourage workers to speak up about safety. The idea is that a workplace can use the resources to create their own ‘speak up’ campaign.

09/11/2009: Major fines for farmers caught burning rubbish
A reckless act by a Jeetho farmer in South Gippsland has prompted a warning from EPA Victoria to other landowners.

26/10/2009: Could 'Zero Harm' be killing our people?
"Could Zero Harm be killing our people?" Yes, says veteran OHS expert Phillip Byard ahead of his October 29 address to The Safety Conference.

04/05/2009: WorkSafe Victoria Awards 2009 – closing date extended to 8 May
There is still time to enter this year’s WorkSafe Victoria Awards with the closing date for entries extended to 8 May.

15/12/2008: Chainsaws: Having A Sharp Chain Is Vital
With time, depending on the project, your chainsaw may become dull, and the chain will not produce the same precise cut. You will notice that it’s time to reach for your chainsaw sharpener when the cut from the saw is not straight anymore or the edges are uneven. Dull chains also produce fine sawdust when cutting, while a sharp saw produces thicker chips of wood.

01/12/2008: Safety still a key factor despite the economy
SAFETY REMAINS a priority for business even in the face of global economic turmoil. This was borne out by the fact that there were more than 10,000 visits to the Safety Show Sydney this year.

Overseas Forestry News

01/09/2010: Sowing the seeds for climate change benefits
The NZ Government should underwrite the growing of millions of forestry seedlings if it wants to meet its climate change planting goal. Current planting levels are far below the 30,000ha of new forest a year for 10 years needed to meet the country’s greenhouse gas emissions target. Four thousand hectares were planted last year and just 2000ha the year before.

30/08/2010: Free forestry conference puts GIS on the map
A national and international line up of geographical information systems (GIS) experts will be punching Rotorua’s coordinates into their sat-navs in October, as they converge on the city for a unique forestry event.

30/08/2010: Balterio intends to invest €12m by the end of 2010
Balterio intends to invest a total of around €12m in modernising laminate flooring production at the location of Vielsalm in Belgium as well as in product development and additional marketing measures.

30/08/2010: Finland’s lumber exports rose sharply in April and May
Finland’s exports of softwood lumber showed conspicuous growth in April and May 2010, after exports had plummeted by 41% in March.

26/07/2010: Exports of lumber and logs from New Zealand on pace to reach a record in 2010, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly
NEW ZEALAND’S exports of pine logs and lumber increased substantially during the first months of 2010. Unfortunately for the manufacturing sector, log exports have increased much faster than the exports of manufactured products.

30/06/2010: Forestry owners cashing in on carbon credits
New Zealand forestry owners have begun cashing in their carbon credits.

21/06/2010: Scion Chief Executive announces resignation
The Chief Executive of Crown Research Institute Scion, Dr Tom Richardson, has announced he will be resigning after 5 years in the role. Dr Richardson leaves Scion in August to take up the Chief Executive Officer role at Crown Research Institute, AgResearch Limited.

09/06/2010: Improved facilities provide major boost to training
The forestry and wood processing industries will soon benefit from improved facilities at the Waiariki Institute of Technology in Rotorua.

31/03/2010: Forest Products Market Update
Domestic softwood sawlog prices have moved up in Russia in 2009 both in Ruble and in US dollar terms. In the 4Q, the average pine log prices were over 30% higher than in the 1Q/09 (in Ruble terms they were up 15% during the year), as reported in the Wood Resource Quarterly.

31/03/2010: New Zealand timber prices facing pressure
Unprecedented demand for timber, largely from China, is pushing the price higher for local processors, according to the New Zealand Pine Manufacturers Association.

22/03/2010: Pine beetle epidemic to affect lumber supply continent-wide
A new report on the mountain pine beetle epidemic describes it as one of North America's largest natural environmental disasters that will put an estimated 16 major sawmills out of business in B.C. and lead to long-term lumber shortages in the United States.

22/03/2010: AHEC to drive wood product certification and green building debate at ‘Dubai WoodShow 2010’
The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry, is set to discuss key updates on wood product certification and the green building movement at the upcoming ‘Dubai WoodShow 2010’, the Middle East's only wood-focused exhibition of its kind.

01/03/2010: Squeaky clean shoes for scientists
Biosecurity officers at Auckland International Airport won’t need to clean any dirty shoes belonging to a select group of international scientists arriving next week for the 5th International Phytophthora working party meeting.

04/01/2010: Forest Products Market Update
Global sawlog prices jumped almost 8% in the 3Q/09 because of improved lumber markets in the US and Europe, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly.

07/12/2009: Forest Products Market Update
Higher hardwood pulpwood costs in Brazil, Australia, Russia and Sweden pushed the 3Q/09 Global Hardwood Fiber Price Index (HFPI) to the highest level in 12 months, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. The HFPI was over six percent higher than theGlobal Softwood Fiber Price Index (SFPI), the biggest difference in 21 years.

20/07/2009: Forest fire forces evacuation of 6,500 homes in western Canadian
VANCOUVER, July 19 (Xinhua) -- The forest fire in Kelowna, Canada's western province of British Columbia (B.C.), is spreading rapidly, forcing emergency evacuation of 6,500 homes and damaging nine houses, the provincial Ministry of Forests said Sunday.

29/06/2009: € 4.5 million to fight illegal logging
THE EUROPEAN Commission has strengthened its support to the implementation of the EU Action Plan on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) by contributing € 4.5 million to the EU FLEGT Facility at the European Forest Institute (EFI).

24/06/2009: Vietnam’s rapidly expanding plantation resources becoming important supply source
VIETNAM IS NOW one of the most important suppliers of plantation eucalyptus and acacia wood chips to the pulp industry in both Japan and China. The country has expanded shipments gradually over the past six years and is now the world’s fourth largest hardwood chip exporter, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly.

24/06/2009: Footprint free timber flooring
MCKAY FLOORING Ltd now has exclusive rights to storm harvest flooring, a new ‘footprint free’ range of Scottish hardwood products.

22/06/2009: International Pulpwood Conference in Brazil
THE NEXT International Pulpwood Conference ("Global Wood Fibre Trade - Woodchips and Biomass") will be held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, during mid-March 2010.

20/05/2009: New Zealand Forest Expo 2010 postponed
Organizers of the popular four-yearly Forest Industries Expo have made the difficult decision to postpone the 2010 event until the global economic downturn has eased.

18/05/2009: CATERPILLAR launches new 18t and 20t forwarders
Cat Forest Products announces the launch of a new forwarder line with the introduction of two models with 18 metric tonne and 20 metric tonne capacities.

18/05/2009: Hoo Hoo International Convention
The Rameses, with help from Black Bart #181, invite you to join them for the 2009 HHI Convention in Reno, Nevada, 'The Biggest Little City in the World.' Reno and surrounding area is known for its good ol’ western hospitality.

11/05/2009: Foresters mooooving with the times to combat weeds
A visit to Lion Match Forestry’s Clifton estate in Mpumalanga, South Africa, led to a surprise meeting with their new weed control team.

11/05/2009: Volvo sets its sights on the forest industry
Felling and off-road transport are areas Volvo is now focusing on in order to offer a total machinery solution to the forest industry, according to Jukka Moisander, director, global forestry solutions at Volvo.

01/04/2009: Wood chip prices fell in Canada in the 1Q/09
Wood chip prices fell in Canada in the 1Q/09 as pulpmills reduced their operating rates substantially, reports WRI.

01/04/2009: Paper industry giant prioritizes green goals
In 2004, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management awarded the Barton plant a Pollution Prevention Achievement Award for the plant’s good environmental footprint and design. In 2008 SCA established a new carbon-dioxide target of a 20% reduction in emissions from fossil fuels from 2005 through 2020. It has also undertaken to reduce its water consumption by 15% from 2005 through 2010 and to reduce the organic content in its wastewater by 30%.

04/03/2009: Södra offers its members FSC certification
Södra has decided to offer FSC certification to its members.The reason behind the decision is the strong increase in demand for FSC-certified products. FSC certification of forest owners gives Södra greater earnings capability by enabling it to offer products that are FSC certified to pulp and timber customers alike.

04/03/2009: West Fraser Timber trims lumber production again
VANCOUVER, British Columbia(Reuters): West Fraser Timber Co (WFT.TO) will cut back production at seven of its British Columbia sawmills because of continued weak lumber demand, the company said.

04/03/2009: Wood fibre prices tumble globally
Global wood fibre prices in the 4Q/08 experienced the largest drop in over 20 years, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly.

02/03/2009: Canada breached softwood lumber agreement
Sawmills in four provinces have been ordered to pay an additional 10% export charge in a softwood lumber ruling made by an international arbitration tribunal. The London Court of International Arbitrations ruled last week that Canada breached the softwood lumber agreement by failing to calculate quotas properly during the first six months of 2007.

02/03/2009: International workshop: Forest policy and economics in support of good governance
Registration to an international workshop on forest policy and economics in support of good governance to be held on 3 -4 April 2009, in Dubrovnik, Croatia, is now open.

25/02/2009: International Biomass Conference promises focus on feedstocks
The 2009 International Biomass Conference & Expo, to be hosted by BBI International Inc. in Portland, Ore., on April 28-30, will feature 90 speakers and six feedstock-oriented session tracks to appeal to the most diverse of biomass interests. In addition, 150 exhibitors are expected.

25/02/2009: Combining bio-heat and power with power train technologies and fuels
Two highly acclaimed and reoccurring activities on the international renewable energy events calendar have teamed up for a special combined edition. The organisers behind World Bioenergy respective Clean Vehicles & Fuels will together with the Swedish Energy Agency stage World Bioenergy - Clean Vehicles & Fuels 2009.

25/02/2009: PEFC announces comprehensive revision of core documents
PEFC International, the world's largest forest certification scheme, is calling on all stakeholders to nominate candidates for a working group dedicated to the revision of two of its core documents. The documents deal with PEFC's global criteria for sustainable forest management and its standard setting procedures at national level.

23/02/2009: State will back new paper mills
President Dmitry Medvedev said the Government would support the creation of pulp and paper mills close to the country's borders to export more value-added products.

18/02/2009: MDF firm holds crucial talks
An estimated 100 jobs could be saved after it was revealed a Doncaster company in administration was in talks with other firms regarding a takeover.

18/02/2009: World Bioenergy recruits new manager – and arranges a new event
Elmia has recruited Jakob Hirsmark as project manager for World Bioenergy.

18/02/2009: BlueLinx announces new engineered lumber agreement with Georgia Pacific
Eat for a killer immunity Stocks tumble — Dow ends at lowest since Nov. Obama: Stimulus lets Americans claim destiny BlueLinx Holdings Inc., a leading distributor of building products in North America, has signed a three-year agreement to be the exclusive two-step distributor of Georgia-Pacific's GP LAM(r) laminated veneer lumber; Wood I Beam(tm) joists, including its new XJ 85(r) Wood I Beam(tm); and FiberStrong(r) rim board engineered lumber in the United States and Canada. The products are all designed to help ensure a stronger floor system and structural integrity.

18/02/2009: Metso to rebuild Stora Enso's board machine line
Metso will modernize the BM 4 board machine line at Stora Enso Kaukopää mill in Imatra, Finland. The start-up of the rebuilt line is scheduled for November 2009. The parties have agreed not to disclose the order value. The order is included in Paper and Fiber Technology segment's Q1 orders received.

18/02/2009: Assistant Director for EFI appointed
Dr.Ir. Gert-Jan Nabuurs has been appointed assistant director of the European Forest Institute (EFI). Dr. Nabuurs will start his three-year term, with a possibility of extension, on 1 June 2009.

16/02/2009: Billions of trees to be planted
Early next month — on March 12 to be precise — millions of Chinese people will head out to the countryside to plant trees. This has been happening every year for the last 30 years, with 500 million volunteers participating in National Tree Planting Day in 2007, planting over 2.27 billion trees between them according to official statistics. This is one small part of China’s continual battle against its increasingly arid landscape.

16/02/2009: 40-hour forest fires extinguished in east China
A series of forest fires in China's Fujian Province were finally out after 40 hours and four deaths.A forestry guide was injured when fighting a fire and died after treatment failed.

11/02/2009: Weyerhaeuser's Q4 loss widens on charges
Timber and forest product maker Weyerhaeuser Co has reported a wider fourth-quarter net loss, hit by goodwill and asset impairment charges. On an adjusted basis, the company posted a loss, compared with a profit last year, reflecting the impact of adverse market conditions.

09/02/2009: An important forum in the recession
The forest industry’s economic situation and market conditions have been radically affected in recent months. Despite this, interest in the world’s biggest forestry fair, Elmia Wood 3–6 June, is still high.

07/01/2009: Family Fun at Forest Products EXPO
Mixing some business with a family vacation is the perfect combination for those attending EXPO 2009 – the 30th Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Exposition – to be held June 11-13 in the New Orleans Convention Centre.

07/01/2009: When slash becomes something special
There’s a special pre-show conference at Elmia Wood 2009 and basically it’s for international bioenergy pioneers. Bioenergy is the source of 28% of Sweden’s total energy consumption, including in the transportation sector. Most of this biofuel comes from the forest.

07/01/2009: Atlantic forestry industry's future in biofuels
By John Morrissy OTTAWA — The Atlantic region's struggling forestry industry could reverse its fortunes by taking measures that would place it at the forefront of the renewable-energy economy, says a report Monday by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

07/01/2009: Northpine expansion may create more jobs
A New Zealand business is firing on all cylinders and about to grow, even in these uncertain economic times. Northpine is set to start its $3 million expansion that could in the future add up to 12 new jobs in the small Waipu community.

07/01/2009: Forest biosecurity experts gather in New Zealand
Forest biosecurity experts from around the world will be converging in Rotorua, New Zealand from 16 to 20 March to attend a conference focused on protecting forests from invasive insects, diseases and weeds. As the first international conference on this topic ever to be held, it is being hosted by Crown Research Institute Scion, which is New Zealand’s leading provider of forest biosecurity research.

05/01/2009: Family Fun at Forest Products EXPO
Mixing some business with a family vacation is the perfect combination for those attending EXPO 2009 – the 30th Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Exposition – to be held June 11-13 in the New Orleans Convention Centre.

05/01/2009: When slash becomes something special
Participants can discover more about how Swedish solutions and systems work – on the spot. The conference is part of the program for the Elmia Wood 2009 forestry show in Jönköping. Together with the show, the conference offers a unique insight into the entire chain from forest to energy user. The special Slash Conference is now being arranged for 2 June in Jönköping.

17/12/2008: When slash becomes something special
There’s a special pre-show conference at Elmia Wood 2009 and basically it’s for international bioenergy pioneers.

17/12/2008: China releases 2009 timber production plan
China’s annual timber production plan for 2009 has been released by the State Forestry Administration

17/12/2008: Cherry, maple popular on furniture
American cherry was the most popular choice for wood furniture at this fall's High Point Market, according to a survey by the Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc. Knowing what happens in the finished goods marketplace helps lumber producers in purchasing tracts of timber for future production, said Tom Inman, president of AHMI, in a press release.

17/12/2008: Cursory coverage for forestry during crucial talks
Here is Fitzpatrick Woods Consulting’s assessment of the hot topics tracked over the course of the United Nations climate change negotiations:-

17/12/2008: Efficient technology on show at WoodMac in China
WoodMac China 2009, the largest and longest running woodworking technology trade event in China, has recorded a 28% growth in area according to the organizers. Scheduled for 17-20 February 2009, WoodMac China and associated events FurniTek China (for hardware) and WoodBuild China (for lumber and wood accessories) will be the largest show in the event’s 10-year history.

15/12/2008: UK invests £12 million in biomass heating
The UK Government has announced £12 million in funding for industry, businesses and community groups investing in biomass-fuelled heating and combined heat and power systems.

15/12/2008: UK invests £12 million in biomass heating
The UK Government has announced £12 million in funding for industry, businesses and community groups investing in biomass-fuelled heating and combined heat and power systems.

15/12/2008: Region's farm forestry on show
Registrations are rolling in for the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association national conference to be held in Gisborne in April next year, writes Debbie Gregory in the Gisborne Herald.

15/12/2008: Online way to report unsafe driving of forestry and logging trucks
A new online tool will improve road safety by making it easier to identify and report unsafe driving of forestry vehicles and logging trucks.

10/12/2008: Selecting survival species
Scientists at a Mount Allison University lab are predicting which tree species will be threatened by climate change in the next century.

10/12/2008: This feller’s in real trouble
KOLKATA: Five months after being charged with felling trees in connivance with hoarding agencies, forest guard Gouranga Chakraborty is about to be penalised.

10/12/2008: More job losses expected in battered manufacturing sector
Canada’s battered manufacturing sector shed 38,000 jobs last month and has lost nearly 400,000 factory jobs since an employment peak in 2002 - a trend expected to intensify over the next year as the North American economic slump deepens and demand for everything from auto parts to newsprint dries up.

10/12/2008: Contracts cancelled over substandard timber
Building materials supplier Placemakers has cut off some of its contractors after finding substandard timber had been used for building homes.

10/12/2008: Ghana's 'miracle': Logging underwater forests for exotic timber
Ghana, which is running short of forests to chop down, is about to turn to the dead trees underneath its Lake Volta as a new source of exotic timber, one of its top export earners.

08/12/2008: Sawdust-powered smoke dryer is very user-friendly
The Wood Industries Training Centre (WITC) of the Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD) in Kumasi has developed a smoke dryer facility that uses sawdust instead of electricity to dry wood products.

08/12/2008: Solidwood exports face worsening prospects
Gazeta Marcantil/Celulose Online has reported that the solidwood industry in Brazil is being crippled by the impact of the United States housing crisis since early this year.

08/12/2008: Legality certification a first for PNG business
James Lau, managing director of Rimbunan Hijau (PNG) Group, said that Saban Enterprises Limited, an RH subsidiary company, was the first forestry company in Papua New Guinea to receive certification that the legality of the timber it uses has been independently verified.

08/12/2008: Timber expo timing couldn’t be better
Timber Expo Southeast, the South’s original live logging equipment demo, is returning to South Georgia (Baxley) in 2009!

08/12/2008: Saw doctoring project to help raise quality
Guyana has collaborated with the Canadian Cooperation Fund (CCF) in the implementation of a project aimed to address the level of efficiency and quality of forest products in Guyana.

08/12/2008: Sawlog prices increase in China in 3Q 2008 as log supply tightens
The domestic sawlog market in China has tightened as a result of reduced log imports from Russia in 2008. The increased competition for logs has pushed log prices upward to record highs in the 3Q 08, according to Wood Resources International.

26/11/2008: Bankruptcy could bring a new beginning
PORTLAND, Maine: A federal bankruptcy judge has approved the sale of the idle Old Town pulp and paper mill to a New York investment group for nearly $19 million. Patriarch Partners plans to reopen the Red Shield Environmental mill Patriarch provided no timetable but said it hopes to get the mill up and running as soon as possible.

24/11/2008: Forest sector CEOs warn against selective bailouts
CHIEF EXECUTIVE officers from 15 of the nation's leading forest companies have warned Ottawa against bailing out the auto and aerospace sectors.The CEOs, who have been struggling to survive a severe downturn in their own industry for the past two years, said in Vancouver that they don't want to see public money going to bailouts for any failing industries, according to Gordon Hamilton writing in the Vancouver Sun.

24/11/2008: Forestry investment bucking the trend
Many leading personal finance blogs in Europe and the US have been buzzing with discussion centred on the question of what are the best alternative investments in the current climate. Why are timber and forestry investments cropping up so often?

24/11/2008: Forestry investment bucks the trend
MANY LEADING personal finance blogs in Europe and the US have been buzzing with discussion centred around the question of what are the best alternative investments in the current climate. Why are timber and forestry investments cropping up so often?