Friday Offcuts – 26 July 2024
Click to Subscribe - It's FREE! Welcome to this week's edition of Friday Offcuts.Our lead story is FAO's latest report, "The State of the World's Forests 2024," which highlights how climate change is increasing the vulnerability of forests to stressors like wildfires and pests. The report underscores the necessity of innovative solutions to ensure sustainability in the forestry sector. In a compelling segment on Australia’s Channel 10 ‘Planet Shapers,’ New Forests and Timberlink discuss sustainable forestry practices from seedling to sawmill, showcasing the vital role of timber in climate change mitigation. We also celebrate the University of Tasmania’s Forestry Building, which won an award for its innovative design, and congratulate Professor Tripti Singh of Australia for her international recognition in wood science. The programme for the upcoming NZ Carbon Forestry 2024 event is now available and covers topics such as policy stability, investment certainty, and the effectiveness of the ETS in climate change mitigation. Early bird rates end today (Friday, 26 July). Additionally, we cover WorkSafe NZ's adoption of an AI- driven pedestrian detection system for forklifts, ForestTECH 2024’s tech-driven advancements in planting and silviculture, the increased use of drones and AI for combating forest fires, an in-depth report on Australian urban bushfire preparedness, cost pressures facing the road freight industry, and the future of sustainable packaging. Read these and more in another packed edition of Friday Offcuts. Enjoy.
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This week we have for you:
The state of the world’s forests 2024
Climate change is increasing the susceptibility of the
world's forests to stressors such as wildfires and
pests, according to a new flagship publication by the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) that emphasises the
role of innovation in achieving a sustainable future for the forestry
sector.The report, titled “The State of the World’s Forests 2024: Forest- sector innovations towards a more sustainable future,” was released on Monday at the 27th session of the Committee on Forestry (COFO), which is being held at FAO’s headquarters in Rome until Friday. COFO is FAO’s top forestry governing body, tasked with identifying emerging policy and technical issues, seeking solutions, and advising FAO on appropriate action. This year’s meeting is themed “Accelerating forest solutions through innovatio n.” The State of the World’s Forests 2024 (SOFO 2024) report says there’s evidence to suggest that climate change is making forests more vulnerable to stressors such as wildfires and pests. Wildfire intensity and frequency are increasing, including in areas not previously affected, with fires in 2023 releasing an estimated 6,687 megatonnes of carbon dioxide globally. Boreal fire was previously responsible for about 10 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. In 2021, such fires reached a new high, mainly driven by extended drought causing an increase in fire severity and fuel consumption, and accounted for nearly one-quarter of total wildfire emissions. Climate change also makes forests more vulnerable to invasive species, with insects, pests and disease pathogens threatening tree growth and survival. Pine wood nematode has already caused significant damage to native pine forests in some countries in Asia, and areas of North America are projected to experience devastating damage due to insects and disease by 2027. Global wood production, meanwhile, remains at record levels. After a brief dip during the COVID-19 pandemic, production is back at about 4 billion cubic meters yearly. More >> Source and image credit: FAO Key carbon forestry issues to be discussed in August event
The programme for the upcoming Carbon Forestry 2024 event in Rotorua, New Zealand,
has been released. The event continues to grow due to the
importance of forestry in New Zealand’s response to climate
change.Within the programme, the panel session is one of the highlights of the annual investor event. Carbon investors are in the market for the long haul, so they seek certainty for their investments. Here’s what the players and analysts are saying: Carbon Match: “The Government has until the end of September to respond whether it thinks that the Commission recommendations should become regulations, or to come up with an alternative set of settings. And whilst we let the ETS do the heavy lifting, work is being done on the second Emissions Reductions Plan, the detail of which might yet improve market sentiment over the back end of the year - let's see.” Climate Forestry Association: “At Fieldays in June, both Forestry Minister Todd McClay and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts restated the Government’s commitment to climate action and recognised that a strong and stable ETS is our most effective tool for achieving our climate targets,” says Andrew Cushen, adding, “It is widely recognised that the market is currently significantly undervalued. Consistent policy settings and a long-term commitment to stability – like that signalled by the Government – are needed to bring back confidence in the sector and certainty in the market.” Mr Cushen said despite the Government’s signals, it could reinforce the recent assurances by clearing up some areas that have created confusion in the market, saying “The suggestion of a lowering price floor in the latest Ministry for the Environment consultation as presented without any obvious rationale, was not at all helpful for the market and the broader sector,” Looking to other key matters in relation to NZUs, the government accounts benefit from NZU sales. They rank second (alongside ACC levies) behind the tax take. In 2022 the ETS generated almost $2 billion for the Government. But right now the secondary market price is lower than auction pricing. A number of scenarios are still to play out between now and September's auction. Carbon Forestry 2024 runs on 20-21 August 2024 in Rotorua, New Zealand. Attendees are encouraged to book early, as the 2022 and 2023 events sold out, and early bird ends Friday 26 July. For more details, visit the event website. Source: Innovatek  UTas Forestry Building wins WAFX award
The University of Tasmania Forestry Building receives
WAFX award for Building Technology, demonstrating
industry-leading design solutions to today’s most pertinent social
and environmental issues.The WAFX award recognises the world’s most forward-looking architectural concepts, presented to future projects that identify key challenges that architects will need to address in the coming years. Winners have been selected for their demonstration of excellence in addressing the issues facing architecture, society and the planet more broadly. Designed by Woods Bagot, the University of Tasmania Forestry Building has won the WAFX award in the Building Technology category, demonstrating cutting-edge design solutions to issues of climate change and community resilience. “We strived to create a campus – not a building – through a masterplan that features a collection of diverse and rich interstitial spaces to meet the disparate needs of the university,” says Woods Bagot Director, Bruno Mendes, who leads the project. “Working with ‘found conditions’, we have strived to emphasise the existing and let that drive the conceptual direction of the new.” “In designing this campus, we’ve considered how it will endure and evolve over time to respond to the ever-changing landscape of learning and teaching spaces,” continues Mendes. “To cater for this, we have created a large, free-spanning waffle timber structure to allow for spaces to flex and adapt. Partitions can be removed and modular furniture systems can be reconfigured to meet changing needs and ensure the building’s ongoing relevance and adaptability.” As an example of mass timber construction, adaptive reuse, and the largest commercial use of hempcrete in Australia, the new campus combines a number of innovative and experimental approaches to resilient and sustainable design while restoring and reviving an iconic piece of local heritage. More >> Source and image credit: Woods Bagot New Forests & Timberlink partner in 'Wood for Good' videoNew Forests and Timberlink joined forces to showcase the entire lifecycle of sustainable forestry, from seedling to sawmill, and the creation of eco-friendly products like CLT and GLT. This partnership was featured on Channel 10’s ‘Planet Shapers’ program, which celebrates positive sustainability stories.A core message of the segment was the critical role of land use in combating climate change. Sarah Clawson, New Forests’ Global Head of Investor Relations, visited Mt Gambier in South Australia to explain the process, from nursery to mill, and emphasized timber and land’s vital part in mitigating climate change. She highlighted that the land use sector can contribute up to 30% of the solution. “As we shift towards a low-carbon future, wood will replace carbon-intensive materials like cement and steel in construction. It’s the ultimate renewable resource,” said Clawson. Timberlink’s Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Simon Angove, and NeXTimber Brand Manager, Georgia Coutsodimitropoulos, also appeared in the video, discussing the mill’s innovative processes and the development of engineered wood products that capture and store carbon. Source: New Forests Tech-driven planting and silviculture
The eagerly awaited 2024 ForestTECH programme is now out. It’s live.
Details on the content and coverage for the 20-21 November Rotorua,
New Zealand event and 26-27 November 2024 event running in
Melbourne, Australia the week after, can now be found on the
ForestTECH 2024 website. The annual end-of-year forest technology series every year, continues to draw in foresters, resource managers and forest contractors from across Australasia. Over the last few years, well over 300 delegates have been involved. As evidenced by recent growth and turnouts of delegates, both live and virtual, from over 15 counties, it has a well- deserved and now truly international standing amongst the global forest community. As well as the integration of remote sensing, forest data capture and inventory management technologies into forest operations, machine automation is increasingly being integrated into silvicultural operations so new innovations around tree crop management, automated silviculture (including mechanised planting, thinning and pruning operations) and forest establishment are being built into the November series. The economics in New Zealand are now starting to stack up for mechanised or automated operations for both planting and silviculture. The technology addresses the growing issue of labour shortages being faced by forest companies over the planting season and with thinning and pruning operations. As well as New Zealand and Australia, mechanised planting is already successfully being used across Scandinavia, Brazil, Chile, the USA and Canada. As detailed at recent ForestTECH events by forest companies and planting contractors, operational trials have successfully been undertaken with commercial planting already underway in New Zealand in the central North Island (CNI), Hawkes Bay and top of the South Island, and in Victoria, NSW, Queensland and Western Australia in Australia. At this year’s ForestTECH 2024 event, presentations around mechanised planting and automated silviculture include; 1. Taking the M-Planter South. Mechanised planting operations in forest sites of up to 30 degrees. How’s it performed outside the central North Island, NZ? 2. Leveraging the Experience of Mechanised Forest Harvesting and Technologies Developed for Agriculture into Forest Silviculture. Trials and early results from Brazilian forests for John Deere’s new mechanised planter. 3. Commercial Trials of Mechanised Planting Operations. Lessons from the first planting season in Queensland forests (Araucaria & Southern Pine). 4. Autonomous Tree Planting. Technology developments and trial results with the new Swedish BraSatt soil preparation and planting machine 5. Mechanisation of Pruning Operations. Insights into the latest automated tree pruning developments from European equipment and technology providers ForestTECH 2024 we’ll be bringing the local industry some truly innovative approaches that have been or are being developed from technology providers and users from across New Zealand, Australia, Finland, Sweden, USA, Canada and South Africa. Full details on the programme can be found on the event website, www.foresttech.events 
Australia's town bushfire threat: A deep dive
Australian towns and cities remain dangerously unprepared for the increasing threat of bushfires. A new report by retired forester, firefighter and environmental manager, John O'Donnell, provides a stark assessment of our vulnerabilities.'Town and city bushfire disaster review, case studies and lessons across Australia', examines 19 case studies from across the country, highlighting critical lessons from past fires. The report emphasises that the problem is not new, tracing its roots back to European settlement and the cessation of Indigenous land burning practices. O'Donnell's research reveals a consistent pattern of inadequate bushfire preparedness and mitigation, resulting in catastrophic fires with devastating impacts on communities, infrastructure, and the environment. The report calls for urgent action to implement evidence-based strategies for bushfire prevention, mitigation, and response. Key areas addressed in the report include:
Click here for report Source and image credit: John O'Donnell AI is making forklifts safer
After a worker in the kiwifruit industry was traumatically injured,
WorkSafe NZ has accepted a commitment from his
employer to an enforceable undertaking centered around using Artificial
Intelligence (AI).AI technology to sense pedestrians around forklifts is the centrepiece of a new safety commitment WorkSafe has accepted from a major player in the kiwifruit industry. The commitment, known as an enforceable undertaking, was put forward by Trevelyan’s Pack and Cool Limited in Te Puke, where a worker was traumatically injured in April 2022. Trevelyan’s is New Zealand’s largest single-site kiwifruit and avocado packhouse. The man was struck while walking behind a reversing forklift, and had his left leg and foot run over. When the driver moved the forklift forward, he ran over the victim’s foot a second time. Ultimately, the victim’s lower left leg could not be saved, and it was amputated below the knee. More >> Source and image credit: Industrial Safety News  Prof Tripti Singh recognised for contribution to wood science
The Director of the Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life, has
been recognised by The Society of Wood Science and
Technology (SWST) for her contribution to wood science
and her renowned research excellence.The Centre is a FWPA-supported initiative that aims to be a global leader in timber durability and design life research, by creating coordinated exploration into timber durability and encouraging and educating a new generation of research scientists to continue this work across the country. Professor Tripti Singh joined the Centre as Director in August 2023. FWPA CEO, Andrew Leighton said the award was further recognition of the Centre’s important work and Professor Singh’s leadership. “Since its inception, the Centre has made important progress to ensure Australia has access to the world’s leading research, building strong links between industry, academia and customers, ” said Mr Leighton. “Professor Singh’s reputation for research and collaboration makes her the ideal leader for this innovative work. We are very proud to see her recognised on the world stage, raising the profile of her work, the Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life and the Australian timber industry as a whole.” Reflecting on the award, Professor Singh said, “I am deeply honoured to be recognised as a Woman Ambassador and join 22 other remarkable women included last year. I extend my heartfelt thanks to colleagues from Australia for the nomination.” Professor Tripti Singh joins the ranks of SWST’s ‘Women Ambassadors Creating the Future of Wood Science,’ and was formally recognised in a ceremony in Portoroz, Slovenia this month. Kyra Wood from University of Tasmania was one of the recipients of the award in 2023. Adding new members each year, the Women Ambassadors program produces a travelling exhibition sponsored by SWST, designed to showcase the work and accomplishments of women in wood science around the world. Following the ceremony in Slovenia, the Women Ambassadors exhibition will now travel the world, culminating in the 2025 SWST Convention in Fort Collins, Colorado. Source: FWPA Road transport cost pressures keep rising
The road freight industry is grappling with escalating costs, with
repairs, maintenance, financing, insurance, and wages all climbing in
the March quarter, according to Transporting New Zealand's
latest cost index.Prepared by Grant Thornton, the index reveals a 6.03% surge in road freight costs over the past year, outpacing the overall consumer price index (CPI) at 4.02%. Transporting NZ interim chief executive Dom Kalasih warns that the perfect storm of rising costs and declining demand, evidenced by a 2.3% drop in the ANZ Truckometer Heavy Transport Index in May, is placing immense pressure on trucking businesses. Kalasih emphasizes the critical need for freight operators to closely monitor their pricing, profit margins, and customer relationships to navigate these challenging conditions. More >> Source: Transport Talk  Istanbul deploys AI and drones to combat forest fires
Istanbul regional director of forestry at the General
Directorate of Forestry, Celal Pir, announced that they are
employing camera-equipped fire towers, drones, and an
AI-supported meteorological monitoring
system to prevent and combat forest fires in Istanbul.During the forest fire that broke out recently in Aydos Forest in Pendik, Istanbul, approximately 4 hectares were damaged. The fire broke out near a residential area, allowing residents to report it to authorities quickly. Teams arrived shortly after to bring the fire under control; the General Directorate of Forestry's technological infrastructure operates 24/7 to protect the forests across the city. In an interview with Anadolu Agency (AA), Celal Pir mentioned that, with global warming, it is now possible to encounter fires in any season, but they occur more frequently from May to November. Regarding the technology used in the Istanbul Regional Directorate of Forestry, Pir mentioned that, besides fire towers, they have 14 UAVs assigned by the General Directorate of Forestry, which monitor fire-prone areas across Türkiye. These UAVs report any fire sightings to the nearest fire action center, and efforts are made to extinguish the fire. More >> Source: Daily Sabah Image credit: Anadolu Agency  New West Coast forestry partnership for Ngai Tahu Holdings
Ngāi Tahu Holdings is pleased to announce it has agreed to sell
a 35-year cutting right of its West Coast Plantations to a new
joint venture comprising Fiera Comox (85 percent) and Ngai Tahu
(15 percent). The whenua is not included in the sale,
which is only for a single rotation of cutting rights, whereafter the
forests return fully to Ngāi Tahu ownership.The investment marks the initial acquisition by Fiera Comox’s Global Sustainable Timberland Strategy, which invests in high-quality, private forests globally. The Timberland Strategy is led by a team of highly experienced professionals who have acquired over two million acres of timberland in transactions representing several billion dollars in value. Both organisations say the move is positive for the region, with Fiera Comox bringing global expertise to a significant industry for Te Tai o Poutini (the West Coast). Ngāi Tahu Holdings Chief Executive, Todd Moyle, welcomes the partnership. “We’re looking forward to building a successful long-term relationship with Fiera Comox, which has an established track record of working with Indigenous groups in both Aotearoa and Canada.” Antoine Bisson-McLernon, Partner and CEO, Fiera Comox, commented. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to partner with Ngāi Tahu in one of the most attractive and globally competitive softwood producing regions in the world." More >> Source and image credit: Ngāi Tahu Holdings via Scoop The future of paper-based packaging
Packaging has evolved from mere product protection to a
powerful branding tool. With growing
environmental concerns, the industry is undergoing a
transformative shift towards sustainable solutions. Paper
packaging, once overlooked, is now at the
forefront of this revolution. Its biodegradability,
recyclability, and versatility make it a compelling alternative to
environmentally harmful plastics.Consumer demand for eco-friendly products is surging, driving businesses to adopt sustainable packaging practices. Additionally, stringent regulations on plastic waste are accelerating the transition to paper-based alternatives. The paper packaging industry is responding with innovative solutions, developing stronger, more durable materials and exploring new design possibilities. From fast-moving consumer goods to luxury products, paper packaging is proving its adaptability. Its potential to be customised and printed upon offers brands unique opportunities for creative packaging designs that resonate with environmentally conscious consumers. As the world becomes increasingly aware of the plastic crisis, paper packaging is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping a more sustainable future. More >> Source and image credit: Pulp and Paper Technology  Timber buildings outperforming steel & concrete
Two of the biggest developers in real estate said this week that
buildings constructed using mass timber are leasing up faster
and commanding premium rents compared with those solely using
standard building materials.Directors from Hines and Howard Hughes Holdings told the audience at the National Association of Real Estate Editors conference in Austin that the cost of mass timber buildings is also coming down and that the amount of carbon used in construction is significantly less than with buildings developed using more concrete and steel. More >> Source: Bisnow Jobs
Buy and Sell
... and one to end the week on…workplace fails
Check out this compilation of workplace mishaps. No injuries, just some unfortunate equipment. The video is pretty long, so start with the first two minutes and skip ahead to another as 16:12 for a good laugh.  And on that note, enjoy your weekend. Cheers. Brand PartnersOur Partners & Sponsors Friday Offcuts is made possible through the generous support of the following companies.
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