Friday Offcuts – 8 November 2024
Click to Subscribe - It's FREE! Welcome to this week's edition of Friday Offcuts.This week, the forestry industry is grappling with a range of challenges and opportunities. As Victoria gears up for a potentially severe fire season, investments in AI-powered fire detection and risk management systems are crucial. Microsoft's innovative use of timber in its datacenters reflects the growing demand for sustainable building materials, and a recent field trip showcased the production of sustainable timber in Tasmania, offering valuable insights for architects, builders, and designers. The global forestry market continues to evolve. The recent trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council opens up new markets for New Zealand wood products in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the latest NZ Commodity Price Index indicates steady demand for logs in Asia. However, a new report highlights the inherent risks faced by manual tree- fallers in New Zealand forests and this remains a significant concern. Forestry technology is advancing rapidly, as evidenced by this month’s ForestTECH 2024 technology event series. Experts from around the globe will gather to discuss the latest innovations in AI, blockchain, VR, LiDAR, autonomous tree planting, and much more. This event promises to shape the future of forestry, offering solutions to some of the industry's most pressing challenges. View the website for further details. Read these and more in another packed edition of Friday Offcuts. Enjoy.
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This week we have for you:
Victorian forestry growers brace for dire fire season
The Victorian Forest Products Association (VFPA) has
warned the outlook for the fire season in Victoria,
particularly in western Victoria, is looking particularly dire, with
record low rainfall and low soil moisture readings creating
ideal conditions for bushfires.“All the Bureau of Meteorology’s predictors in the western part of Victoria are showing a drier than usual lead up to the fire season, with soil moisture low, and a high fuel load ringing alarm bells for the next few months,” said Andrew White, CEO of the VFPA. “Record low rainfall in the western part of Victoria combined with dry conditions in winter, means we have a ‘green drought’ in some areas, where the risk to our plantations and Victoria’s vital timber assets used to build new homes and create export income for local communities is extremely high,” Mr White said. “Our terrestrial AI-powered fire cameras in the western part of the state help with early detection, but there is still ‘blind spots’ where we don’t have funding to put cameras in place. Our members are particularly worried about the potential impact on these vital community assets, as plantations are vital supply lines for timber going into Victorian homes and exported plantation products create employment for local staff and contractors,” Mr White said. “The forestry industry has funded its own specialist brigades which have already been actively working with DEECA and the CFA to conduct prescribed burns and preparative activities that will help protect the local community, as well as these vital community assets,” Mr White said. VFPA is the peak industry body representing the forest products value chain in Victoria, from those producing our sustainable wood to those processing wood fibre into an extensive range of value-added products used by Victorians every day. Victoria is the home of plantation forestry, with more timber plantations than any other state. “Last season, the AI-powered fire cameras operated by the Green Triangle Fire Alliance detected 40 unplanned fires- 21 on private land, 11 on public, and 8 in plantations. The cameras were the first point of detection in various scenarios, detecting fire in some cases up to six minutes before another source,” Mr White said. More >> Source: Victorian Forest Products Association ForestTECH 2024 - highlighting international innovationOn-site and virtual registrations to this year’s annual ForestTECH 2024 event continue to flow in. A truly international line-up of presenters, both for the New Zealand and Australian leg of this year’s technology series, are involved. Speakers involved in the upcoming ForestTECH 2024 series can be viewed via this link.Presenters this year include; Simon Elisha, Chief Technologist - Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Amazon Web Services, Australia  Simon Elisha is a visionary technology leader known for his ability to transform technology innovation into tangible business advantages. With over three decades of experience encompassing hands-on development and influential business leadership, his unwavering commitment to innovation is demonstrated by his nine cloud technology patents, establishing him as a trailblazer in the field. Simon is a captivating communicator, challenging conventional thinking and empowering organizations to drive real change through technology. As a global technology personality, Simon founded and hosts The Official AWS Podcast, attracting a global audience with over 22 million downloads and five million listening hours to date. Simon's career includes senior positions at organisations, such as Pivotal Software, Cisco, and Hitachi Data Systems. As part of ForestTECH 2024, Simon will detail the huge strides being made in AI, and opportunities for capturing and integrating this technology into forest operations. Henry Ines, CEO, Chainparency, USA  Henry Ines is the CEO and co-founder of Chainparency, a leading software and data solutions company that utilises blockchain technology in global supply chains. Henry has more than two decades of experience in enterprise solutions, venture, and tech as a C-level executive, trusted advisor, and entrepreneur. He routinely speaks on digital innovation and the opportunities for emerging technologies like blockchain to empower individuals and communities and transform industries and economies globally. In addition to his work at Chainparency, Henry serves on the Steering Committee for the GoChain Foundation, which develops GoChain blockchain protocol. He is an expert resource on enterprise blockchain solutions for the Asia Productivity Organization (APO), and represents Chainparency on the Leadership Council for the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities’ ForesTrust Network. This network has a growing consortium of leading enterprises utilising blockchain technology in forestry and wood product value chains. He is also a co-founder of Generation, a consultancy focused on public and private sector digital modernization strategies and solutions. Henry will be presenting on pioneering transparency in the forest supply chain, a new block chain-based data management system enabling real-time collection, recording, sharing and auditing of data across the supply chain. Note: Programme & speaker details and further event information can be found on the event website; ForestTECH 2024. The annual forest technology series begins in Rotorua, New Zealand on 20-21 November and then runs again in Melbourne, Australia on 26-27 November 2024.  Microsoft builds first datacenters with wood
Tucked beside a northern Virginia suburb, an experiment is
underway to see if one of the oldest building materials on the planet
can help Microsoft meet its ambitious climate goals.Microsoft is building its first datacenters made with superstrong ultra-lightweight wood in a bid to slash the use of steel and concrete, which are among the most significant sources of carbon emissions. A wood datacenter may sound strangely old-fashioned, if not improbable. But Microsoft engineers have developed a hybrid approach using cross-laminated timber, or CLT, a fire-resistant prefabricated wood material that will enable the company to reduce the use of steel and concrete. The hybrid mass timber, steel and concrete construction model is estimated to significantly reduce the embodied carbon footprint of two new datacenters by 35 percent compared to conventional steel construction, and 65 percent compared to typical precast concrete. Microsoft’s hybrid datacenters are the latest examples of how it is working to decarbonise its datacenter and construction operations. In 2020, Microsoft unveiled ambitious sustainability goals: By 2030, it would be “carbon negative” – meaning it would take more carbon out of the atmosphere than it emits. And by 2050 it would remove from the atmosphere the equivalent of all the carbon the company has emitted since its founding in 1975. Four years later, there has been meaningful progress. In May, Microsoft announced it had achieved a 6.3 percent reduction in direct emissions over three years. But indirect emissions increased 30.9 percent, driven by the growth of datacenters and the hardware housed inside. Indirect emissions are particularly difficult to manage since they include carbon emitted during extraction, processing, manufacturing and even transportation of materials, and so are outside Microsoft’s direct control. In response, Microsoft has mobilized a company-wide effort to accelerate decarbonisation. “It’s an all-hands-on-deck task,” says Jim Hanna, who leads sustainability for Microsoft’s datacenter engineering team. While no single action will close the gap between 2030 goals and current trends, Microsoft has multiple levers to pull. Contract language is being updated to accelerate decarbonisation by including low-carbon requirements for materials and equipment used in datacenter construction. Select high-volume suppliers will be required to use 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2030. Investments in low-carbon building materials – from concrete that permanently traps carbon dioxide to hydrogen-powered steel production – are being ramped up in a bid to accelerate commercial supply. And cross-laminated timber, a staple of low-carbon building in the European Union that has only recently begun to catch on in the U.S., is being put to the test in what Microsoft believes is one of the first hyperscale examples of engineered wood in a U.S. datacenter. More >> Source & image credit: Microsoft  WPMA welcome Gulf Cooperation Council Trade Agreement
The successful conclusion of negotiations on a trade agreement
with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is welcomed by New Zealand wood
product exporters.From a New Zealand basis, we currently export around NZ$35 million in value added wood products to the GCC, including panels, paper and planed timber. The removal of all tariffs over a 5-year period and the inclusion of provisions in the trade agreement, such as streamlined customs processes and reduced non-tariff barriers, will provide further encouragement to develop this export market for wood products. ‘GCC countries are motivated towards sustainable construction using mass timber’, said Mark Ross, Chief Executive of the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association. ‘The adoption of mass timber and wood in construction aligns with the regions vision for sustainable development and green building practices, offering a future market growth opportunity for New Zealand wood product exporters.’ The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members include Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain. Within the GCC timber represents a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity, making it a versatile choice for various structures. ‘Wood processing provides multiple benefits to New Zealand, and it is positive to see the government removing unnecessary barriers and implementing new trade agreements of future benefit to our industry'. We thank Trade Minister, Todd McClay and his officials for the successful conclusion of the GCC trade deal. Source: WPMA  Showcasing forest certification in Tasmania
In the interests of building connection with design and construction
professionals, Forico jointly hosted a field trip by architects,
builders and designers to showcase the production of sustainable timber
in Tasmania and its certification by Responsible Wood.A party of around thirty spent the morning near Four Springs Lake in the state’s north, visiting a Sustainable Timber Tasmania native forest coupe and a Forico-managed radiata pine plantation. The afternoon continued at Timberlink’s state-of-the-art processing facility in the East Tamar, where the company manufactures engineered wood and mass timber building products. The visit was organised by Responsible Wood and the Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood (CSAW) at the University of Tasmania. It was held in collaboration with Sustainable Timber Tasmania (STT), Timberlink, Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) and the Tasmanian Forest Products Association (TFPA). Sustainability from the ground up The purpose of the visit was to showcase examples of certified sustainable forest management and ethical timber supply chains. It placed a spotlight on Responsible Wood’s certification standards, which ensure responsible forestry practices and sustainable outcomes. ‘Bringing architects, builders and designers into the heart of our industry is essential for fostering sustainable construction practices in Australia,’ said Matt de Jongh, Responsible Wood’s Sustainability Manager. ‘This experience allowed them to see how timber is certified and can be responsibly sourced, giving a deeper appreciation of its environmental and social benefits.’ Sustainable Plantation Products Since its launch in 2014, Forico has emerged as a proud leader in certified forest management and the production of plantation timber certified by both Responsible Wood and the Forest Stewardship Council®. At present, the greater part of the company’s harvested timber is processed into woodchips and exported to customers in Asia, for the manufacture of essential renewable products relied on by consumers worldwide: paper, tissue and cardboard products. However, a percentage of Forico’s timber is sold as roundwood logs for use in the Tasmanian construction industry. The company has sought to diversify in recent years, building in resilience and protecting its future and that of its Tasmanian workforce, said Jim Wilson, General Manager of Enterprise Performance. ‘As growers of globally certified plantation timber, we are keen to explore different markets for our product. Sustainably grown, certified timber will play an essential role in providing the building materials of the future, replacing the carbon-heavy alternatives we’ve relied on to date. Our forests and timber provide the double assurance of being climate friendly in their growth phase and continuing to bank carbon for their lifetime. Wood and the products it is used to manufacture are the ‘ultimate renewable.’ Built-in Integrity Forico’s Sustainability Manager Simon Cook works with Responsible Wood to manage the company’s accreditation processes and says the certification is important in assuring customers of the product’s integrity. ‘Our certification is absolutely central to the integrity of our product and is sought after by our customers,’ he said. ‘We were keen to take part in this event to showcase certified forest management and enable those present to understand the importance of certification in the supply chain. Our hope is that they will seek out certified timber for their projects, advocate more strongly for the production of Australian timber and help drive the development of the domestic supply chain.’ More >> Source: Forico Image credit: FWPA The world is running low on cheap wood
Shrinking global log supply could be good for lumber producers
in the coming years.As a global wood market expert, Russ Taylor is often asked: “Are we running out of wood?” The answer is "no, but…" The world is not running out of timber, per se, he said at the Global Wood Summit. “Absolutely, we’re running out of cheap wood,” he added. “Really, there’s not many places left in the world for new logs or low-cost logs.” Log and lumber markets are also in a complex and tumultuous cycle, as well, driven by supply disruptions, changing trade policies, macroeconomics, and a decline in China’s economy, which has had a major impact on log and lumber demand there. Climate change produced a bonanza of cheap wood in B.C. and Europe through beetle infestations, which resulted in an increased supply of cheap logs and lumber for export, Taylor said. More >> Source: Business Intelligence For BC Image credit: Russ Taylor Global TreeTools near realtime drone inventory for post thinning QC
Interpine’s TreeTools Near
Realtime Drone Inventory tool has been developed for
foresters to assess stocking in Post Thin stands. This is an early test
version release for Windows operating systems, and the project is still
ongoing.The purpose of the release is to give stakeholders an opportunity to test and provide feedback, while encouraging them to submit more data. The accuracy of the stocking assessment given depends on multiple factors, including the effectiveness of canopy recognition and the precision of drone altitude maintenance. Our goal is to keep the stocking error below 10% under normal conditions, and user corrections can easily be made to the stocking assessment. The following provides an overview for data capture and a guide to using the software. This project has been developed with funding assistance from the Precision Silviculture Programme, A Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFFF) partnership between MPI and the forest industry led by Forest Growers Research. This freely available during the development funding to provide for industry feedback. More >> Source: Interpine  WoodChat: How data & information are empowering industry
In this episode of the WoodChat podcast, Dr. Erick
Hansnata (Statistics and Economics Program Manager at
FWPA) dives deep into the revamped FWPA Data Dashboard, an essential tool for
the forestry industry that is designed to transform how stakeholders
access and utilise data. This innovative Data Dashboard supports data-driven decisions and fosters industry collaboration by offering unique
insights into market trends, consumer behaviour, and specific data
relevant to various sectors within the forestry industry.The recent updates to the FWPA Data Dashboard have significantly enhanced its interactivity and user-friendliness, making it a crucial asset for strategic planning and promoting growth in key areas such as construction, timber supply chains, and environmental sustainability. Dr. Hansnata articulates the vision behind this tool, stating, “ The key objective of this data dashboard is to provide comprehensive insight and data analysis and to be very versatile. This versatility allows users to tailor the information to their unique needs, ensuring that they can make informed decisions that align with current market dynamics.” During the episode, Erick also discusses planned improvements to the Timber Market Index – a powerful tool for tracking price movements and trends. In addition, hear highlights from FWPA’s three-part online webinar series designed to create understanding and engagement amongst the forestry and construction industries of the market potential of timber as the government continues to work to build new homes to address the gap between supply and demand. This podcast episode emphasises the importance of industry collaboration, where shared data acts as a powerful catalyst for innovation and progress. By pooling resources and insights, industry players can stay informed about evolving trends, challenges, and opportunities, ultimately leading to a more robust forestry sector. This episode is essential for those wanting to use data effectively to navigate the forest and wood products industry complexities and promote sustainable growth. Click here to listen to the podcast Source: FWPA ANZ NZ Commodity Price Index - November 2024 report
ANZ Commodity Price Index for New Zealand was released on 5 November
2024. Here are some selected extracts:The ANZ World Commodity Price Index increased 1.4% m/m in October as stronger prices were recorded for all major sectors excluding meat and fibre. In New Zealand dollar terms, the index lifted 3.4% m/m as the NZD Trade Weighted Index fell by 1.3%. Global shipping prices generally eased in October. The volatile Baltic Dry Index fell 32% during the month, to its lowest level in eight months. The China Containerized Index, which measures the cost of shipping into and out of China, fell 16%. Global demand for ships tends to fall at this time of the year as we have now passed the seasonal peak in demand, and this influences price. From a New Zealand perspective export volumes are growing again as exports of products such as dairy lift, and demand for imports also increases as retail businesses stock up for Christmas. The forestry index lifted 2.0% m/m in October. Log prices in China, our major log market, steadily increased during the month as steady demand outpaced reduced supplies. The market in China is still a little soft, but there is good demand for higher-grade logs that can be used to manufacture furniture. Logs are also being shipped to India but returns in this market have eased and are lower than China. Download Full Report Source & image credit: ANZ The value of responsible forest stewardship for biodiversity_FSC_Bablu_Singh_5_-_250x330.jpg)
During COP15 in Montreal, Canada, FSC together with WWF and IKEA
announced the launch of an initiative to fast-track Biodiversity
Assessments in FSC-certified forests. Now, during COP16 in
Cali, Colombia, the first results are ready to be shared,
taking a further step in demonstrating the value of forest biodiversity
and contributing to the delivery of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity
Framework. These first results indicate promising initial research into
the benefits of responsible forest stewardship for biodiversity.Monitoring and assessing the impacts of human activities on forests and conservation initiatives is increasingly important. FSC certification has a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity across the globe by protecting rare and threatened species and their habitats as required by FSC standards. However, data about this impact is not systematically available. In fact, global biodiversity data is insufficient, not comparable, and, most importantly, does not aim to capture the actual value of nature in society. Eighty percent of global terrestrial biodiversity is found in the world’s forests. Thus, evaluating the outcomes of FSC certification is essential to allow insight-driven improvements of Forest Stewardship Standards (FSS) and be able to communicate the positive outcomes of responsible forest stewardship. This is important for FSC to remain relevant and credible in a changing market where substantiating sustainability impacts is increasingly needed. For this reason, FSC worked with partners including IKEA, Tetra Pak, UPM, Kingfisher, SCA, Essity, and WWF International, to enhance the understanding and monitoring of the effects of FSC certification on biodiversity in Brazil, Finland, and Sweden. First phase completed: What was found? The initiative has two phases towards enhancing the understanding and monitoring of the effects of FSC certification on biodiversity. The first phase, is to evaluate the biodiversity value associated with FSC Forest Management Certification. Evidence from Brazil, Finland, and Sweden shows a promising indication that FSC Forest Management certification contributes to biodiversity conservation, including rare, threatened, and endangered species, in Brazil, Finland, and Sweden. Notably, within the scope of the project:
“Initial results show promising indications of positive impact, but significant limitations in the data point to clear improvements needed. The release of these results at COP16 offers a renewed commitment to ensuring FSC remains fit for purpose and continues to catalyse private sector leadership towards a net-zero and nature positive future,” said Andrei Shchegolev. More >> Source & image credit: Forest Stewardship Council Aus NZ More >> Source: FWPA --(2022)2.jpg) World first in Warrnambool
A world-first engineered wood product made from locally sourced
bluegum timber has been developed in Warrnambool, aiming to address
Australia's structural timber shortage. Created through the
"Splinters to Structures" project, this GL18 laminated product could
reduce reliance on timber imports while supporting local construction
needs.It was developed by WTIBeam and the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub, with support from Forest and Wood Products Australia. The product's potential applications in residential and commercial building were discussed by Victorian officials, underscoring its economic and environmental benefits. “This product has the potential to save thousands of dollars in the construction of a home because you have a smaller beam that can be utilised further because of its strength, reducing the need for other materials,” said WTIBeam owner, Edwina Vulcz. More >> Source: Warrnambool Weekly Image credit: Warrnambool Timber Industries New report on NZ forestry fatalities
An analysis of forestry fatality data over the last decade shows
that manual tree-fallers are estimated to be 300 times more likely to
die at work than the rest of the New Zealand workforce.Between 2013 and 2023, 51 forestry workers died on the job - 24 of them were manual fallers. The increased use of mechanisation led to a reduction in the number of fatalities each year from a peak in 2013. However, a considerable number of forestry workers still put themselves in harm’s way to harvest trees manually. The region with the most tree-faller fatalities was the Southern North Island, with a total of 10 deaths. Across the country, 62% of manual falling fatalities occurred in forests run by corporates and 38% in smaller, woodlot operations. The purpose of the analysis is to help the forestry identify ways to make safety improvements for those who continue to harvest manually. More >> Source: Safetree Image credit: Forest Industry Safety Council  RPBC moves to increase research collaboration
Radiata Pine Breeding Company (RPBC) moves location to further
enhance collaboration and extend its research reach. Radiata Pine Breeding Company (RPBC) is now located within the
School of Forestry, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of
Canterbury.The move is aligned with RPBC’s focus on expanding its collaborations with the University of Canterbury, Lincoln University, and Crown Research Institutes such as AgResearch, in addition to its ongoing collaboration projects and breeding nursery operations contracted with Scion (FRI). “It’s very exciting for us to be able to fully tap into the wide-ranging expertise available within our sector through building closer working relationships with diverse educational and research institutions,” says RPBC General Manager Darrell O’Brien. “At the same time, our new location will enhance our connection with the foresters of the future via our presence in the University of Canterbury School of Forestry, the only University in New Zealand that offers forestry degree programmes. We are grateful to the School of Forestry for offering this co-location opportunity to the RPBC team. “We currently have very exciting joint research collaborations underway with several Universities and a range of institutions, and we look forward to sharing more about those projects in the future. We are confident that our new collaborations, which are aligned with the increased quantity and scope of RPBC research projects, will add further value and resilience to the forestry industry in New Zealand and Australia. “The School of Forestry is delighted to have RPBC co-located in the Forestry Building,” says Professor Bruce Manley, Head of Department of the School of Forestry at the University of Canterbury. “This move supports even greater collaboration, including joint research initiatives and support of our teaching. Our students will benefit from RPBC input into their courses and co-supervision of postgraduates. RPBC also provides opportunities for post-doctoral fellowships and potential career pathways for forestry researchers.” For more information, go to: www.rpbc.co.nz. Source & image credit: Radiata Pine Breeding Company (RPBC) Jobs
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Consumer NZ has revealed five of the most disappointing businesses,
products and services uncovered by its experts this year. The
watchdog’s inaugural Yeah, Nah Awards highlight the worst of the
worst in business to pressure poor-performing companies to up their
game. So, who was bad enough to win?