Malaysia’s government plans to allocate RM3 billion to expand the country's forest plantation by up to 375,000ha by 2020 to ensure a sustainable and guaranteed supply of raw materials for wood related industries. Source: The Star Online

A father and son from Hobart are using timber that has been salvaged from a leaky wooden pipeline to build boats. The wood is King Billy Pine, a timber considered even more rare than Huon Pine. Source: ABC News

Jack Norton, president of the International Research Group (IRG) on Wood Protection, spoke at the Wood Preservation 2012 conference on the outcomes of the recent International Research Group meeting in Malaysia held in early May. Source: Timberbiz

At the Wood Preservation 2012 conference in Melbourne Andrew Harvey, Senior Economist HIA presented his economic opinions for the industry – though he was quick to point out that an economist’s opinions are always nebulous. Source: Timberbiz

The 2-day Wood Preservation 2012 conference run by the Forest Industries Engineering Association (FIEA), which is being held in Melbourne and was held recently in Rotorua, New Zealand, is bringing together the industry and covering more than just processes and technologies. Source: Ti

Finland produced 2.6 million tonnes of paper and paperboard in January-March 2012. The Finnish forest industry's production environment was difficult in the first quarter and demand for several product categories was sluggish in the main market areas. Sources: Lesprom Network, Wood &#

Nationwide housing affordability hit a new record high in the US for a second consecutive quarter in the first three months of this year, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI). Source: Wood & Panel America

World Bioenergy 2012 launched Sustainable Bioenergy Day, dedicating 31 May to the development of a sustainable bioenergy market. Source: World Bioenergy Association