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Association News

08/02/2012: 66th Appita Conference & Exhibition
The 66th Appita Conference & Exhibition, will be held 15 - 18 April, at Melbourne Park, Melbourne.

06/02/2012: Important meeting for ATDG members
The Australasian Timber Drying Group (ATDG) will hold its next meeting at The Downtowner, 66 Lygon Street, Carlton, from 9.30am on 20 February.

06/02/2012: Hoo Hoo Club AGM
Sydney Hoo Hoo Club 215, will hold its annual general meeting at Heritage Profiles, 7 Kerr Road, Ingleburn, from 7pm on 22 February.

Association News, Events

Association News, Health & Safety

Australian Forestry News

16/05/2012: Brown votes against his conscience
Former Australian Greens leader Senator Bob Brown voted against his own opinion on forest regeneration. Source: Timberbiz

16/05/2012: New GM to trade at Danks
A strategic re-alignment of Danks' business model and its vision for the trade sector has seen the hardware company appoint a general manager for its trade market. Source: Franchising

16/05/2012: NSW new pest inspection Code of Practice
A new Code of Practice has been launched designed to protect property buyers from being eaten out of house and home, by setting stringent standards for pre-purchase pest inspections. Source: Timberbiz

16/05/2012: Trade mission to UAE & Turkey for TES
The Victorian Government is leading a trade mission to the United Arab Emirates and Turkey in May, which includes Bruce Bell managing director of Timber Engineered Structures (TES). Source: Timberbiz

16/05/2012: No jobs lost in Heyfield hardwood mill sale
A contract for the sale of Gunns’ Heyfield hardwood sawn timber business for $28 million is expected to be completed later this month. Source: Timberbiz

16/05/2012: Queensland manufacturers prepare for skills-led revolution
The manufacturing sector is vital to the Queensland economy as it underpins the resources boom and major infrastructure program supporting the growth of the mining and gas sectors and the 2012 Manufacturing Skills Conference, to be held in Brisbane on 18 May, aims to start a skills-led revolution to ensure that the sector is positioned to meet the future economic growth of Queensland. Source: Timberbiz

15/05/2012: Ta Ann Tasmania sets the record straight
In a sourced story that appeared in Daily Timber News on 8 May 2012 from the Star On Line, the summary referred to Ta Ann’s ecofriendly line being from its plantations in Tasmania. Source: Timberbiz

15/05/2012: Forests NSW one step removed from government
NSW Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson announced that the NSW Government is to make Forests NSW a state owned corporation (SOC). In NSW there are 540 state forests covering an area of around 2.2 million hectares. Sources: Timberbiz, ABC North Coast NSW, The Sydney Morning Herald

15/05/2012: Greens not as green as they seem
A north coast timber mill owner has accused Labor of hypocrisy and the Greens of trying to shut down the native hardwood industry. Source: ABC Mid North Coast

15/05/2012: Supply-demand conference on woodchips
DANA Ltd has secured notable industry speakers for its one-day conference which is on 7 June 2012 and titled “Pacific Rim Woodchip Trade Supply and Demand Trends – A Focus on Australia and its Competitors”. Source: Timberbiz

15/05/2012: WA’s Forest Management Plan meets opposition
The Conservation Commission of WA’s Forest Management Plan 2014–2023 Environmental Scoping Document is meeting with opposition from academic and environmental groups. Of major concern is the expansion of native forest logging. Source: Science Network WA

15/05/2012: Two NT mahogany plantations for sale
Administrators have put up Theyona and Blackbull, two Northern Territory mahogany plantations totalling around 14,342 hectares, for sale. Source: Property Observer

10/05/2012: Australian high standards for review
The Australian Forestry Standard Ltd (AFS Ltd) has announced that the first public comment period for the review the “Australian Forestry Standard (AS4708)” ends on 18 May 2012. Source: Timberbiz

10/05/2012: Logging Bill not on the horizon
Now that the focus is on the Federal Budget and the impending carbon tax it is unlikely that the Gillard Government’s Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill 2011 will see the light of day before the end of this year. Source: Timber and Design International

10/05/2012: Comfort sought in SE SA forest sale
State Treasury officials and Crown law solicitors have handed over a document detailing the sale conditions of southeast South Australian forests. Source: ABC News

10/05/2012: Doom, boom or bust for NZ timber
The New Zealand forest industry has been called on to move away from its boom-and bust export log trade and to avoid destructive behaviour in international markets. Source: Timber and Design International

10/05/2012: Canker killing Marri trees
Murdoch University researchers and international scientists are warning that thousands of Marri trees throughout the South West, including in the winery regions, are dying or are already dead. Disease and drought are threatening Warrup, Yabberup, Arcacia and Kingston-Perup. Source: Indymedia

10/05/2012: Pryda specification guide for floor and rafter trusses
Pryda has released its latest specification guide for floor and rafter trusses – an extensive design manual developed specifically for design and construction audiences. Source: Timberbiz

10/05/2012: Clean tech competition opens for business
Parliamentary Secretary for Industry and Innovation, Mark Dreyfus, has opened the 2012 Australian Clean Technologies Competition for nominations. Source: Timberbiz

08/05/2012: CSAW podcasts timber education and skills
The University of Tasmania’s Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood (CSAW) is offering free podcasts covering many of the fundamental aspects of using or producing timber and wood products. Source: Timberman

08/05/2012: MAF now MPI in NZ
The name of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has changed to the Ministry for Primary Industries. Source: Timberman

08/05/2012: Build & Design Queensland expo opens
The Build and Design Queensland expo will open its doors to the design, architecture, building, construction and property development industry for the first time on Wednesday 9 May. Source: Timberman

08/05/2012: More funds for Dryland Forests
The Dryland Forests Initiative is seeking more funding to continue its development of a New Zealand-grown hardwood timber industry. Source: Radio New Zealand

08/05/2012: Bioenergy project manager position
The Wimmera and Central Highlands Bioenergy Project is seeking a Bioenergy Project Manager to be a conduit between the Project Control Group, Reference Group members and project partners. Source: Timberman

08/05/2012: Parliamentary Committee to examine Prof West's claims
The Report of Chairman Professor Jonathan West, as part of the Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement Independent Verification Group, is to come under scrutiny by a Legislative Council Committee Inquiry. Source: Timberman

03/05/2012: No peace yet in Tassie forests
It has been revealed negotiations to finalise the boundaries of new native forest reserves under Tasmania's peace deal have not started yet, despite a June 2012 deadline. Source: ABC News

03/05/2012: NZ Super out to purchase Kaingaroa forest
The New Zealand Superannuation Fund confirmed that it and global investment firm GMO Renewable Resources were in discussions with Harvard Management Company over the possible purchase of Harvard’s majority stake in the Kaingaroa forest estate. Sources: Timberman, Television New Zealand

03/05/2012: Kangaroo island to burn bluegums
Residents of Kangaroo Island in South Australia say a managed investment scheme disaster could be salvaged by burning bluegums for energy and harvesting them for sawn timber. Source: The Weekly Times

03/05/2012: Tassie outlook bleak and worse without Gunns
Tasmania remains Australiaʼs worst performing state in terms of construction and the outlook for property industry capital growth and should Gunns pulp mill not proceed virtually no growth in overall civil construction activity is slated to occur over the next three years. Source: DesignBuild Source

03/05/2012: Industry welcomes increased threatened species surveys
The Victorian Association of Forest Industries (VAFI) has welcomed the announcement by the Victorian Government that a $1.86 million project is being undertaken to collect new information on threatened species. Source: Timberman

03/05/2012: Building materials & paper tops manufacturing
It was a good sign that the building materials sub-sector has set a scorching pace to the top of the manufacturing table in April and also heartening that the only other sector to experience expanded manufacturing activity was paper, printing and publishing. Sources: Timberman, DesignBuild Source

01/05/2012: Ballarat earmarked as bioenergy centre
Ballarat City Council in Victoria has voted on sending its public spaces and environment manager Ian Rossiter to the World BioEnergy 2012 conference in Sweden this month. Sources: Ballarat Courier, Timberman

01/05/2012: National carpenter award nominations
The National Carpenter of the Year and National Apprentice Carpenter of the Year awards are now open for nominations. Source Timberman

01/05/2012: FTMA national awards
The FTMA Australia National Awards for the Australian frame industry provide members with an opportunity to have their business audited by independent judges against a set criterion and receive a detailed report identifying strengths and opportunities for improvement. Source: Timberman

01/05/2012: Forest & timber feature event a definite winner
“I’ve been involved in events like this for many years, all over the world and AUSTimber 2012 is the best I have experienced.” That quote from Robert Sanders, Market Development Engineer/Demo Operator, Caterpillar, summed it all up for the four-yearly feature event of the forest and timber industry, held on a specially designed site about 22km from Mount Gambier (the forestry capital of South Australia). Source: Timberman

01/05/2012: Gunns raising $400 million
Gunns Ltd has said that it is in confidential discussions with institutional investors about a $400 million capital-raising venture. Sources: ABC, The Mercury Tasmania

25/04/2012: Christchurch plans cardboard cathedral
Wood and timber products in buildings are usually not of the cardboard and paper type, but in Christchurch, New Zealand a temporary cardboard cathedral will be built at a cost of NZ$5 million ($3.9 million). Sources: New Zealand Herald, Sydney Morning Herald

25/04/2012: Caring, now sharing on natural resource management
The final report on the review of the Caring for our Country natural resource management initiative found that it is on track to meet its goals and support the community in protecting and conserving the environment and increase the adoption of sustainable land management practices. Source: Timberman

25/04/2012: Forests are different AFPA tells MDBA
The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) is concerned that the Murray Darling Basin Authority’s (MDBA) draft plan groups plantation forestry alongside mining and coal seam gas. Source: Timberman

25/04/2012: Weak home building becoming weaker
Latest residential land updates signal persistent weakness in new home building in 2012 . The HIA-RP Data Residential Land Report provided by the Housing Industry Association and RP Data showed land sales hitting a new low and median land values rising further in the December 2011 quarter. Source: Timberman

25/04/2012: EIA petitions US government on illegal logging
The non-profit Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has formally petitioned the US Government to take action under the US-Peru Free Trade Agreement to investigate and verify the legal origin of shipments from at least two Peruvian companies and to audit dozens more. Source: Timberman

25/04/2012: Master stroke by Woolworths
Newly established hardware chain, Masters Home Improvement, which is a joint venture between Woolworths and US hardware giant Lowe’s, is a hit with shoppers according to its chief executive Don Stallings. Source: The Australian

24/04/2012: Timber investment by QIC
Australian institutional investor QIC's Alternative Beta Fund has invested in US timberland specialist Molpus Woodlands Group according to a report in The Australian.

24/04/2012: Collie concerns aired over forestry practices
Western Australia’s opposition leader Mark McGowan said he would follow up conservationists’ concerns about logging and poisoning of non-jarrah trees in the Arcadia and Yabberup forests after a recent visit to the area. Source: Collie Mail

24/04/2012: Gunns losses court bid and says ignore financial information
Gunns has lost its court bid to have the Tasmanian Conservation Trust pay upfront for its legal costs in its challenge against the Tamar Valley pulp mill. The company has also told investors to ignore financial information it provided about the Bell Bay pulp mill. Sources: The Mercury, The ABC

24/04/2012: Make durability durable in Tasmania
Any durability clause agreed to as part of the Tasmanian forest negotiations must be committed to by all anti-forestry groups, not just those inside the talks, Coalition Forestry Spokesman Richard Colbeck said. Source: Timberman

19/04/2012: Weak housing quarter continues
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures confirm a very weak quarter in new housing and major alterations during December 2011. Source: Timbernews

19/04/2012: Elders sells forestry interests
Elders will sell most of its forestry assets in the Green Triangle, Albany and Bunbury for more than $45 million. Source: Adelaide Now

19/04/2012: NZ proposal for levy on logs
The New Zealand Forest Owners Association (NZFOA) is developing a proposal for a commodity levy on harvested logs to support industry activities. Source: Bay of Plenty Times

19/04/2012: Timber Queensland wants native forest access
Queensland's timber industry has asked the new LNP state government to consider allowing harvesters back into some native forests. Source: ABC Rural

19/04/2012: Integrity Commission powerless with Gunns
Comments made by Tasmania’s anti-corruption watchdog saying it is a toothless tiger lacking sufficient powers to properly investigate the Lennon government’s possible collusion with Gunns to fast-track its pulp mill were reported by The Australian. Source: The Australian

17/04/2012: Dieback in Arcadia forest.
The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) in Western Australia has been accused of breaching dieback rules. Dieback is a plant disease that has been found in some parts of the Arcadia forest. Source: ABC News

17/04/2012: Speakers and topics for Frame Australia 2012
Speakers and topics for Frame Australia 2012 A growing interest in pre-fabricated panellised buildings and new concept engineered wood construction systems developed both in Australia and overseas are just two of a comprehensive range of topics to be presented at the Frame Australia 2012 conference and exhibition. Source: Timbernews

17/04/2012: Commercial looting in Victorian forests
Commercial looting from firewood collection areas is putting the plantation industry out of business according to the Bendigo Advertiser. Source: Bendigo Advertiser

17/04/2012: WA fire risk up with less controlled burns
WA’s Department of Environment and Conservation has a new ban on controlled burns near towns but that raises the fear of increased fire risks. Source: The West Australian.

15/03/2012: How other countries are using advanced precision technology to increase profitability
The AUSTimber 2012 Forestworks’ Conference 29 March has a theme ‘precision forestry in action’. Organisers have secured speakers from around the world prepared to share their experiences applying precision technology to businesses and forestry agencies in a variety of different countries.

15/03/2012: Supreme Court rules on logging resumption
The Victorian Supreme Court has ruled that logging could resume in the region's Gun Barrel forest coupe, and has dismissed claims that proposed logging projects in two further coupes posed a threat to the environment.

15/03/2012: Appointment of new executive director of Ta Ann Tasmania
Evan Rolley, a former managing director of Forestry Tasmania, has been appointed an executive director of Ta Ann Tasmania Pty Ltd.

15/03/2012: Everyone seems to agree to disagree!
Disagreements and conflict over the future of Tasmania’s forestry industry continue to dominate the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) process.

15/03/2012: “Transformations” - Wood Sculpture Exhibition at the Riddoch Art Gallery
In 2004 the Riddoch Art Gallery launched its first wood sculpture competition, with ForestrySA becoming the major sponsor. Four exhibitions later and ForestrySA is still proud to be the sponsor of this event. The exhibition promotes the beauty and uses of wood, and assists in the cultural development of one of Australia’s most significant timber producing areas, the South East of South Australia.

15/03/2012: ForestrySA School Photography Competition – AUSTimber People’s Choice Award!
ForestrySA and the Riddoch Art Gallery invite you to view a small exhibition at Moumt Gambier’s Riddoch Art Gallery showcasing the local talent of the Limestone Coast’s junior photographers.

13/03/2012: Biomass lifts off in WA
Representatives from major international companies were in Western Australia this week to inspect biomass developments as the state continues plans to create a viable renewable energy sector.

28/02/2012: Value adding our landscape – Media Release
With more than 50 hectares in the ground and another 35 hectares in the preparation stages, the Re-forest.net project is well on its way to establishing 180 hectares of commercial plantation in south east Queensland by June 2013.

28/02/2012: Queensland Government fails flood-hit businesses
The CEO of peak industry body Timber Queensland has blamed the Queensland Government for failing to provide adequate support for flood-hit businesses in the state.

23/02/2012: trial effort
This is just a trial

22/02/2012: New mill back on track for completion this year
WORK ON a new timber mill in New South Wales has recommenced after a temporary halt. The December halt was caused by an administrative issue. However, Tasco’s managing director Bart Crawley said the Bombala Mill was on track for completion in December 2012.

22/02/2012: McKay okay: A mill, a will and a way
By Steve Holland Down but not out, McKay Timber - the largest family-owned sawmilling business in Tasmania’s south - is back online.

22/02/2012: Government facing up to challenges facing forest industry
After meeting woodchip buyers in Singapore this morning the Deputy Premier Bryan Green said the facts were irrefutable over the challenges facing Tasmania’s forest industry.

22/02/2012: Regeneration program changes
Minimising smoke nuisance in populated areas will again be the number one priority for this year’s regeneration burning program. Forestry Tasmania’s key concern is to ensure it does not cause any breach of the national air quality standard.

22/02/2012: New FWPA director brings supply chain focus
The Board of Forest and Wood Products Australia Limited (FWPA) has invited John Simon, CEO of Simmonds Lumber Group, to fill a casual vacancy following the resignation of Jim Snelson.

22/02/2012: Cuts to forest rotations denied by Government
The Minister for Forests says the South Australian Government has not said it will slash forest rotations in the south-east.

20/02/2012: New Forests announces launch of forest carbon partners: investment fund to supply Californian carbon market
Sydney-based New Forests Inc. has announced the launch of Forest Carbon Partners, L.P. – an investment vehicle for California-compliant forest carbon offset projects – and the close of the fund’s first two transactions.

20/02/2012: Moderation needed in forest debate
Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings has called for moderation and calm from all parties involved in the forest debate. She said compromise and goodwill were needed to allow for a resolution that ensures the industry can remain on a sustainable footing while delivering improved environmental outcomes.

20/02/2012: Time for Premier Giddings to stand up to Nick McKim
The Tasmanian Premier must not allow Nick McKim as a member of her cabinet go overseas on a mission to destroy Tasmania's reputation.

20/02/2012: Information sessions on illegal logging bill
The Australian Government will be holding public information sessions around the country to inform industry and other interested parties on the Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill 2011 that was introduced into Parliament on 23 November 2011.

20/02/2012: Government urged to retain support for biofuels
The Bioenergy Association of New Zealand (BANZ) says that it is urging the Government to renew its commitment to supporting biofuels as a way of providing the nation’s transport fleet with alternative energy supplies and maintaining New Zealand’s adherence to a low carbon environment.

20/02/2012: Exit packages for 61 in the forestry and timber industry
The Tasmanian Forest Contractors Association has welcomed the announcement by Federal Minister Senator Joe Ludwig of the completion of the assessment and approval of 61 successful applicants under the IGA Contractor Exit Assistance Program. Successful applicants can expect to be made offers over the next few days.

15/02/2012: Industry dismay over job losses
The Australian Forest Products Association has joined the chorus of anger and dismay felt by Tasmania’s community and industry leaders following the news of recent job losses in the forest industry. These lost jobs are a direct result of market sabotage by green groups with a distinct lack of goodwill toward the Forest Agreement process.

13/02/2012: Ta Ann latest victim of Labor-Green sham
Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings must take full responsibility for the loss of business and jobs announced at Ta Ann’s Tasmanian mills today, Coalition Forestry Spokesman Richard Colbeck said.

13/02/2012: Welcome function to raise funds for local kids
The official AUSTimber Welcome function will be held on Thursday 29 March 2012 at the prestigious Barn Steak House in Mount Gambier and hold a charity auction to raise funds for local disadvantaged children.

13/02/2012: Investment coup as Melbourne wins world leading training centre
Melbourne is home to a world-leading simulation training centre, the Executive Director of the Master Builders Association of Victoria (Master Builders), Brian Welch, said.

13/02/2012: Common sense decision for renewable energy
The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) has welcomed a decision by New South Wales independent MPs Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor to pass a motion to disallow recent regulations that ban native forest wood waste for renewable energy.

08/02/2012: Bid to win State seat at coming elections
Simon Dorries, chief executive of the EWPAA, believes it’s time for him to try and make a difference in the political field and will be standing as a CanDo Candidate for seat of Woodridge in Queensland’s State elections on 24 March.

08/02/2012: Forestry conference will highlight importance of China
China is now the world’s largest importer of softwood logs and lumber, as reported by Wood Resources International. The importance of China to forestry’s export earnings will be a key focus at the Future Forestry Finance conference series.

08/02/2012: Leading industry print magazines now online
Following 21 years as the major Australian forests and timber industry magazine and in line with current publishing trends, Australian Forests & Timber News is now available in both print and online on the forest and timber industries’ leading web portal, www.timberbiz.com.au.

06/02/2012: Online education and training can change the game for wood products industry
Associate Professor Greg Nolan, Director of the University of Tasmania’s Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood (CSAW), predicts that online education and training can change the game for the Australian and New Zealand timber and wood products industry.

06/02/2012: Forestry saga drags on
By Senator Richard Colbeck When is enough enough? An Interim Conservation Agreement was signed last month between the State and Commonwealth Governments and didn't it produce a commotion!

06/02/2012: Forestry Tasmania would prefer to be developing new value added opportunities
By Bob Gordon Managing Director, Forestry Tasmania I note the Tasmanian Government's decision to release the first stage of the Strategic Review of Forestry Tasmania by consultants URS. Given that the timber industry in Tasmania is in the grip of a crisis, solutions can only be found if clear factual information is made readily available to the Tasmanian community, and it is my sincere hope the release of this report will go some way to achieving that outcome. I will not pretend that I agree completely with every line of the report, but in general terms it provides a useful synopsis of the challenges facing Forestry Tasmania and the wider Tasmanian timber industry.

06/02/2012: Sandalwood plantations on the rise
TFS Corporation Ltd has entered into a contract to buy another property as it attempts to expand its Sandalwood plantations.

06/02/2012: Weekend programs teach forest facts to families
Forests NSW has launched a new program of weekend and school holiday activities at Cumberland State Forest at West Pennant Hills to encourage people to learn more about forests. Activities will be run in school holidays and every Sunday morning.

06/02/2012: Tasmanian Premier taken to task over ‘lack of action’
Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings has been taken to task for her seeming lack of action over attacks on Ta Ann.

06/02/2012: Space scientist to speak at timber conference
An internationally renowned, award winning space scientist will be speaking at the AUSTimber 2012 Forestworks’ conference in Mount Gambier, 29 March 2012.

01/02/2012: Victorian Native Hardwood Residual Timber - Request for Proposals
VicForests is seeking markets for approximately 837,000 tonnes per annum of residual log material, available from Victoria's commercial native forest estate.

01/02/2012: The Native Forest Biomass for Bio-energy Forum
Timber Communities Australia has issued an invitation to attend the ‘Native forest biomass for bio-energy forum; social, environmental and economic considerations’ on 7 March.

01/02/2012: Illegal logging information sessions
The Australian Government will be holding public information sessions around the country to inform industry and other interested parties on the Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill 2011 that was introduced into Parliament on 23 November 2011.

01/02/2012: US bid for ForestrySA
The Future Fund is helping to finance a move by United States timber investment manager The Campbell Group in a A$600 million offer for South Australian forestry assets.

01/02/2012: Banks give Gunns respite
THE ANZ Bank and nine other banks have extended Gunns Limited's $340 million senior debt and $200 million working capital facility until December 31, 2012, according to Nick Clark writing in The Mercury.

01/02/2012: Softwood joint venture sale approved
On a more positive note, we are pleased to advise that the sale of the softwood joint venture plantations was finalised today. The Deputy Premier Bryan Green and Forestry Tasmania's chairman Adrian Kloeden announced back in early December that Taswood Growers had reached agreement to sell rights to the plantation estate to Sydney based firm New Forests for $156m. The sale process, which included Foreign Investment Review Board approval, was finalised today, and our share of the proceeds will be used to retire debt.

01/02/2012: Mill staff stood down
McKay's Timber, the largest family-owned sawmill in Tasmania’s south, has stood down 30 of its workers - about a third its staff.

01/02/2012: Forestry Tasmania comes out fighting
Forestry Tasmania has come out swinging in the latest round of the fight with anti-forestry activists. FT managing director Bob Gordon landed some heavy blows when he released a report entitled Forest management in Tasmania - the Truth.

25/01/2012: Tasmania’s sham forest deal should be torn up, says Senator
“THE CURRENT debate over who should be doing what, if anything, in 430,000ha of possible High Conservation Value Tasmanian forest actually highlights a much more serious issue with the Tasmanian forests agreements– it’s a sham deal and it should be torn up,” says Coalition Forestry Spokesman Senator Richard Colbeck.

25/01/2012: New light on the opportunities for precision forestry
The AUSTimber 2012 Forestworks’ conference ‘Precision Forestry in action’ intends to be hard hitting and controversial, casting new light on the opportunities for precision forestry in action.

25/01/2012: Wood chip exports from Latin America reached a record high in 2011
Wood chip exports from Latin America are on track to reach a record high of almost eight million tons in 2011, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly.

25/01/2012: Scholarships & Prizes – applications still open
FWPA has three Scholarships and Prizes that remain open for application until 31 January 2012.

23/01/2012: Scientists help tackle forest pests with genomics
SIMON FRASER University Beedie School of Business professor Jeremy Hall is leading the social science research component in a new project dedicated to significantly reducing forest pests in Canada, and ultimately globally.

23/01/2012: Winning by cooperation
THE MOST important international meeting of the forestry sector in 2012 is calling for Australian and Kiwi forest industry people to get involved.

23/01/2012: Further land acquisitions
TFS Corporation has entered into a contract to purchase the farming property known as “Midway Station” in the Katherine region of the Northern Territory for $4,450,000.

23/01/2012: Put yourself in the driver’s seat
LITA TRAINING has committed to a number of exciting career development opportunities at AUSTimber 2012.

23/01/2012: The latest in forestry and logging on show
FOREXPO, THE European forestry and logging show, will take place at the heart of the largest European reforestation project, Mimizan, in the Landes, from 6 - 8 June 2012.

18/01/2012: Chips become new income-generating source
IN THE tapioca business, Sang Thai Bangpakong is second to none in terms of sales, volume and its more than four decades of service and it uses the same facilities to process and export wood chips. Source: Timberbiz

18/01/2012: World’s largest sandalwood plantation established in Western Australia
PERTH-BASED company WA Sandalwood Plantations has established what is believed to be the world’s largest single sandalwood plantation east of Perth in the State’s central wheatbelt. With site preparation work completed in April, more than five million trees have been planted on 2200 hectares.

18/01/2012: Parlay with Marlay
Just prior to Christmas, David Marlay completed a long and successful career with Hyne - for the last several years as General Manager, Marketing . Does that mean he's going to go fishing for ever? Oh no! With many good memories of his experiences and of the special friends made in the timber industry over the past 35 years, it may come as no surprise that he's not hanging out the ‘retired‘ shingle just yet. Source: TPAA

18/01/2012: The CFA Young Forester Award
The Commonwealth Forestry Association (CFA) has launched the Young Forester Award 2012.

16/01/2012: FWPA Scholarship applications closing 31 January 2012.
Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) is offering a number of opportunities to students to support their studies in the forest and wood products sector in 2012. These programs have been developed as part of FWPA’s commitment to building skills capacity to promote careers in the forest and wood products industry.

16/01/2012: Industry supply must continue following Conservation Agreement
The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) says the signing of the Conservation Agreement between the Federal and Tasmanian State Governments today was a step forward, but reiterated the importance that the supply of logs to industry be guaranteed.

16/01/2012: MILESTONE IN TASMANIAN FORESTRY AGREEMENT
The signing of an interim Conservation Agreement is another major milestone for the Tasmanian Forests Agreement that will provide certainty to industry while protecting high conservation value forests, the Minister for Energy and Resources, Bryan Green said.

11/01/2012: Winning by cooperation
THE MOST important international meeting of the forestry sector in 2012 is calling for Australian and Kiwi forest industry people to get involved.

11/01/2012: Help us keep you safe in State forests
With warm temperatures and fire conditions starting to pick up again across south-east NSW, Forests NSW is reminding visitors and the local community to take care in State forests. Source: Timberbiz

Australian Forestry News, Association News

Australian Forestry News, Events

Australian Forestry News, Health & Safety

Australian Forestry News, Overseas Forestry News

Events

01/03/2012: Materials handling solutions for the timber industry
FOR THE first time Combilift Australia coupled with Adaptalift Hyster will be exhibiting at AUSTimber 2012 in Mount Gambier, 29-31 March. Visit Combilift Australia on stand S19 in the outdoor area where there will be various products on show designed and built specifically for the timber industries needs and applications in mind.

28/02/2012: Perfect balance on World Forestry Day
World Forestry day has been a major event on the forestry calendar since the concept emerged at the General Assembly of the European Confederation of Agriculture in 1971.

20/02/2012: Planet Ark announces winners of national ‘Snap Some Wood’ photo competition
Photographs of a former asylum in Queensland, a picturesque jetty in Albany and a magical Tasmanian gorge have been named winners of Planet Ark’s national photography competition ‘Snap Some Wood’.

20/02/2012: Australian and world record holder will inspire at AUSTimber Welcome Function charity auction
AUSTimber 2012 organisers are excited to announce that Michael Milton – world and Australian record holder, Australia’s fastest skier ever, cyclist, trekker, triathlete, Paralympian, Olympian - will be the speaker for the AUSTimber Welcome Function charity auction on 29 March.

15/02/2012: Part of a critically important chain
“Each time we choose to build in wood, we are part of a critically important chain of responsibility that will see the elegance of the living tree through to a new life in a building.” That’s the way Jim Taggart, Dipl. Arch., M.A.,FRAIC, sees it and he will be a keynote speaker at NZIF 2012 Conference "Engineering Value Growing & Harvesting Forests for Novel Wood Structures" to be held in Christchurch from 1-4 July.

15/02/2012: State of Origin extra for Wood Preservation 2012
Details of the Wood Preservation 2012 event have been circulated now to industry. Last run in April 2009, the 2012 program runs in Melbourne on 23-24 May 2012. As an extra for those attending the Wood Preservation 2012 event this year the organisers in conjunction with local industry have added a bonus to the two-day program.

13/02/2012: Wood Preservation 2012 programs confirmed
Three years have passed since the last Australasian wood preservation event ran for local wood treatment operations. “In 2009, we had over 200 delegates participating in the Forest Industry Engineering (FIEA) technology series” says Brent Apthorp, FIEA Director.

General Industry News

Health & Safety

Overseas Forestry News

16/05/2012: Pacific Island forestry chases Chinese market
How the Pacific region’s agriculture and forestry industries can gain access to the booming Chinese economy and its growing need for food and timber is what the European Union-funded Facilitating Agricultural Commodity Trade (FACT) project is examining. Source: Islands Business

16/05/2012: Scotland's forests need restructure says minister
The Forestry Commission Scotland has released a new publication to address growing business and environmental challenges that may be posed to forests in the future. Source: Farming UK

15/05/2012: Wood for Good and for UK planning authorities
Wood for Good, the UK timber industry's sustainability campaign has launched its 2012 campaign: "Wood First" that calls for the introduction of a "Wood First" rule in local authority planning guidance. Source: Confor

15/05/2012: Vietnam sua timber illegally logged
Forest rangers seized another 300kg of valuable sua timber after seizing the first 366kg lot of sua timber in the protected Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in early May. Source: Viet Nam News

10/05/2012: Sino-Forest CDS payout determined, asset value still unknown
Investors and speculators on the receiving end of Sino-Forest’s credit default swaps, which act as insurance on the company’s bonds, will be paid 71 cents on the dollar for their holdings. Source: Globe and Mail

10/05/2012: Asia report on wood panel demand
Asia’s dominant position in the global panel demand and supply cannot be challenged, but in the future the real game changes will be raw material supply security, uncertain and high cost energy, access to the state-of-art technology and best-in-class industry practices. Source: Timberbiz

08/05/2012: Combat illegal logging using DNA
A new strategy aimed at monitoring the supply chain of timber products using genetic and stable isotope markers will play a vital role in international efforts to combat illegal logging. Source: CIFOR Forests Blog

08/05/2012: New drying method for veneers
A new type of contact drying method has been developed by Aalto University in Finland, the research was reported in the International Wood Products Journal. Source: Ingentaconnect

08/05/2012: Ghana to import logs from Cameroon
Ghana will import logs from Cameroon after losing its forest cover, which stood at 8.2 million hectares a little over a century ago. The imports will feed mills in Ghana. Source: IHB

08/05/2012: Ta Ann to produce hybrid acacia plywood
Ta Ann Holdings in Malaysia is increasing the harvest of its plantation logs to produce hybrid plywood and started planting acacia trees last year to fulfill this plan as it is a fast growing commercial timber. Source: The Star

03/05/2012: UK Government bioenergy strategy report
Up to half of the UK government’s 2020 renewable energy target could be met by energy crops, wood and other forms of biomass according to a recent government report. Source: Farmers Weekly

03/05/2012: Indonesia chases EU with SVLK
Indonesia's trade minister, Gita Wirjawan, will travel to Europe to press the case for more timber trade with all member states of the European Union with the support of Indonesia’s forestry sector. Source European Voice

03/05/2012: Measuring the impact of forest fires
A team of scientists from the USDA Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Research Station and the University of Córdoba in Spain recently developed a new methodology that measures the economic impact of forest fires on timber resources. Source: Timberman

01/05/2012: US sells more to China, NZ sells less
Over the past decade, China’s fast expanding economy and boom in housing lifted the country to being the world’s largest importer of sawlogs and the second largest importer of softwood lumber after the U.S. Source: Troy Media www.troymedia.com

01/05/2012: EU rules offence to sell illegal timber products
New European Union Timber Regulations coming into force on 3 March 2013 will affect all British retailers. This means that from this date it will be an offence to sell products that contain timber that has been harvested illegally within the EU. Source: Bdaily Business Network

01/05/2012: Green Timberland has Greenheart for China
The Greenheart Group Limited of Hong Kong has appointed Green Timberland Development Limited, a New Zealand incorporated company specializing in softwood sales in China, as its non-exclusive sales agent for the sales and marketing of New Zealand softwood for Greenheart in China. Source: Timberman

25/04/2012: Dual prize in timber for London Olympics
The entire London 2012 Olympic Park development has achieved dual Project Certification from the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) schemes for its timber usage —the first dual Project Certification in the world. Source: Timberman

25/04/2012: Green case for tall buildings
Michael Green, principal at Michael Green Architecture has made available his 200+ page book looking at the case for tall wood buildings which shows how safe, economical and environmentally friendly this solution is for the building industry. Sources: WoodSolutions, Arch Daily

25/04/2012: Deforestation, biodiversity loss top list of major woes
Massive deforestation and the need to rehabilitate the country’s degraded forests in the face of climate change tops the list of many environmental challenges faced by the Aquino administration. Source: Business Mirror (Philippines)

24/04/2012: Asia hits back against environmental groups
Representatives from Asia's paper and timber industries are gathering in Bangkok amid harsh criticism from western environmental organisations. These groups claim, despite evidence to the contrary, that Asian timber and paper companies are harming the environment. Source: Bangkok Post

24/04/2012: Sanctions dropped against Burma
European Union foreign ministers in Luxembourg agreed to suspend sanctions against Myanmar/Burma for one year, based on wide-ranging democratic reforms over the past year and democratic elections April 1. They are encouraging the government to begin a dialogue with the EU on ways to ensure sustainable management of the forest and harvesting of timber. Source: Environment New Service.

24/04/2012: Bioenergy awards candidates named
Six final candidates have been chosen for the World Bioenergy Award 2012, the winner will be announced on May 29 at the opening of World Bioenergy 2012 in Sweden. This will be just the second time that this award is to be presented. Source: World Bioenergy 2012.

19/04/2012: Bioenergy stories at International Biomass Conference
Reaching the point of ground breaking is no easy task for a bioenergy project developer. Panelists in the second-day general session discussion at the International Biomass Conference & Expo held April 16-19 in Denver, Colo., shared their ground breaking stories with attendees, delivering valuable pieces of advice and a wide breadth of knowledge. Source: Biomass Magazine.

19/04/2012: Africa deforestation must be addressed
Africa will continue to feel the effects of severe climate change but efforts continue to save the continent’s forests. Source: Newstime Africa.

19/04/2012: FSC welcomes European Union proposal
The European Union (EU) has presented a number of proposals that according to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) can combine the need to protect forest biodiversity with social needs and a green economy. Source: Sustainable-timber-action

17/04/2012: Biomass plant for Lincolnshire UK
In the North East Lincolnshire area of the UK the council has approved a biomass-fuelled plant that will be built at a cost of around £130 million. Source: Bioenergy News.

17/04/2012: IBIS update on Australian logging industry
Australia’s logging industry has been affected by the construction cycle with lower construction activity resulting in a decline in revenue which is the reason research company IBISWorld updated its report on Australia’s logging industry. Source: San Francisco Chronicle

17/04/2012: Wood Biomass Boost to New Zealand Economy
New Zealand is looking at the value that may be obtained from wood through bioenergy and it may add NZ$6 billion to the economy according to the New Zealand Bioenergy Association. Source: The Bioenergy Site

17/04/2012: Timber frame market in UK shows growth
The UK’s timber frames market is performing well with the segment expected to grow by around 60 per cent in volume and 80 per cent in value by 2016. Source: DesignBuild Source

17/04/2012: US companies continue importing illegal timber
A multi-year investigative report released by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) says that since 2008 more than 20 US companies have imported illegally logged timber worth millions from the Peruvian Amazon. Source: AlertNet Thomson Reuters

17/04/2012: Vietnam takes lead in world chip exports
Australia has lost its right as the world’s largest supplier of wood chips to pulp mills in Asia. Vietnam has taken over exporting an estimated 5.4 million tons. Source: Wood Resources International

01/03/2012: More efficient timber plantations
RESEARCH FROM Switzerland holds the key to “more efficient” timber plantations, claims research and analysis consultancy, Forestry Research Associates (FRA).

01/03/2012: Furore over forest ownership
SCOTLAND has the smallest amount of forest in public ownership of any country in Europe. The vast majority of forestry in Scotland is in the possession of a small number of landed estates, with many of the owners living abroad.

15/02/2012: Eldorado Brasil makes major investment in forestry equipment
FOREST MACHINE manufacturer Komatsu Forest has signed a major deal with the new Brazilian pulp mill Eldorado Brasil in the state of Mato Grosso. In its entirety, the contract is worth about 1.4 billion Swedish kronor (US$200 million).

01/02/2012: China is now the world’s largest importer of softwood lumber and logs
Importation of softwood logs and lumber to China has increased continuously over the past 15 years, and in 2011 the country was the largest importer of softwood lumber and logs in the world, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly. Total import value equaled almost eight billion US dollars last year, which was an increase of 57 percent from 2010, and up from only 70 million dollars 15 years ago.

25/01/2012: Certification exhibition
An exhibition promoting forest certification by the Forestry Bureau was held in Taipei, teaching the public about the internationally recognized certification mechanisms and how consumers can support a sustainable environment by purchasing certified wood products.

25/01/2012: New video reveals global resistance to forest-ca
Global Forest Coalition and Global Justice Ecology Project have produced a new video entitled A Darker Shade of Green: REDD Alert and the Future of Forests. The 28 minute video, documents opposition around the globe to controversial programs that claim to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) by putting forests into the carbon market.

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