Australasia's home for timber news and information

BC struggling with massive downturn in forestry

Canada’s British Columbia is struggling to come to terms with a massive downturn in forestry which is not only affecting mills but sending ripple affects right though the industry. Workers are being laid off, shifts cut and contractors are struggling. Over the past few weeks four sawm
Continue Reading →

Viscose fibre uses timber pulp and recycled cotton

Chinese viscose producer Tangshan Sanyou has produced a new viscose fibre mixing FSC-certified dissolving pulp and recycled cotton. This new fibre represents a key milestone in the transition initiated by the fashion industry towards a circular economy. Source: Timberbiz Every year, 2
Continue Reading →

Belgium blocks timber from Gabon after suspected Chinese violations

Belgian authorities announced that they have temporarily blocked timber from Gabon in the Port of Antwerp, due to concerns of illegality. The importer is now under investigation for suspected violations of the European Timber Regulation, which prohibits the import of illegal wood into
Continue Reading →

Trees Outside Forests – certification for small scale forestry

Low density trees on agricultural and settlement lands can be now assessed as part of the PEFC Trees Outside Forests approach. For small scale forestry, the Trees Outside Forests initiative provides practical and affordable forest certification options for farmers and other land manag
Continue Reading →

First home buyers push Victoria to top housing

First home buyers have kept Victoria at the top of the rankings in the HIA’s Housing Scorecard according to the HIA’s Chief Economist, Tim Reardon. The HIA Housing Scorecard report presents analysis which ranks each of the eight states and territories based on the performance of 12 ke
Continue Reading →

Endangered bandicoots gain protection by ForestrySA

ForestrySA is working to protect endangered bandicoots living within the Kuitpo Forest Reserve as part of an eco-education collaboration with local school students. Source: Timberbiz The nationally endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obseulus) was rediscovered living in the f
Continue Reading →

Log exports lead NZ rise in commodities trade

In June 2019, exports of logs and wood led the rise in New Zealand’s exports, up 16% or NZ$65 million from June 2018 to NZ$472 million in June 2019. These commodities are the third-largest goods export group, behind milk powder, butter, and cheese (NZ$1.1 billion) and meat and e
Continue Reading →

VAFI calls on Vic Government to confirm survey to close industry

The VAFI has called on the Victorian State Government to provide answers to allegations that a partly funded State Government market survey campaign sought feedback on the hypothetical closure of the Victorian native timber industry. Source: Timberbiz The VAFI said that the line of qu
Continue Reading →

VALE: Ian Ferguson, Professor Emeritus of Forest Science


Melbourne University and the local and international forestry industry lost an outstanding leader in forest science with the death of Ian Ferguson. Professor Ferguson was born in December 1935 in Melbourne, Australia. Source: Timberbiz Professor Ferguson initially studied for a Bachel
Continue Reading →

Hancock’s headwinds for Australasia’s timberland strategy

The Australian forestry market remains attractive to international investors despite a few headwinds, according to Hancock’s Australasian chief, Bill McCallum, who also signalled that an integrated timberland/farmland investment strategy expanded the opportunities for investors. Sourc
Continue Reading →