The spread of the deadly fungus threatening British ash trees cannot be stopped, a leading Government scientist has said, and Britain’s woods and forests will have to undergo major change as a result. Source: The Independent

The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) is asking the federal government to use Budget 2013 to continue to build on the existing momentum of innovation and transformation in the job-rich forest sector. Source: Sacramento Bee

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union wants the Federal Government to pass its logging legislation, or more jobs will be lost at timber mills in the New South Wales south east. Sources: Hardwood Floors News, ABC News

The HIA Trades Report for the September quarter provides a profile of skilled labour availability consistent with very weak residential construction activity in 2012, said the Housing Industry Association. Source: Timberbiz

Gympie Mayor Ron Dyne is opposed to timber plantations being used as a way to revive the Mary Valley in south-east Queensland. The State Government is trying to sell hundreds of properties acquired for the failed Traveston Crossing dam project. Source: ABC News

A Victorian timber company has increased the volume of timber it is harvesting in south-west Victoria in a bid to stay internationally competitive. AKD Softwoods said that it generally harvests more from the Green Triangle region at this time of year because its plantation in the Otwa

Koppers Wood Products a subsidiary of Koppers Holdings said it would acquire Western Poles, an Australian utility pole company. The deal is expected to close by the end of November. Source: Timberbiz, Pittsburgh Business Times, RTT News

The Forest Industries Association has put forward a new plan to achieve peace in Tasmania's forests. The association recently withdrew from informal negotiations with environmentalists, saying it will now only speak to government. Sources: ABC, The Australian