Australasia's home for timber news and information

Wooden bleachers conceal student hub in Tokyo

A sloped roof lined with wooden bleachers and plants conceals the student hub that Japanese studio Kengo Kuma and Associates has created for the Tokyo Institute of Technology. Sources: Kengo Kuma, Dezeen Named the Hisao & Hiroko Taki Plaza, the building sits partially below ground
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EU turns to WTO about Russia trade restrictions

The EU is requesting consultations with Russia at the World Trade Organization (WTO) concerning export restrictions placed by Russia on wood products. The export restrictions consist of significantly increased export duties on certain wood products and a drastic reduction in the numbe
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Lumber rallying again with increase in housing

Lumber prices are rallying again as housing demand remains hot and supply-chain disruptions continue to drag on. A recent survey of home builders revealed that many expect lumber prices to continue to go up in 2022. Source: Business Insider Currently, the commodity is worth US$1,188 p
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China wood conference highlights development of CLBT from bamboo

Engineered wood products (EWPs), including cross-laminated timber (CLT), are in increasing demand in China’s ancient building renovation or pseudo-classic building construction markets. These activities are related to China’s cultural tourism promotion. In addition, EWPs are used in d
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Bowens Timber investing to reduce its carbon footprint

Bowens, a fourth-generation, family-owned Australian business and market leader in supplying timber and building supplies in Australia, is investing over more than $1.2M to reduce their carbon footprint with newly installed Power Factor Correction Units and Solar Modules across their
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NZ has high and rich diversity in urban trees

New Zealand has encouragingly “high” and “rich” diversity among its urban trees and Canterbury maybe leading the way, a new study has found. A snapshot of New Zealand plant nurseries showed 863 different tree species were listed for sale, according to the study led by Dr Justin Morgen
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WA’s sandalwood regeneration program benefits from wet weather

A year of above average rainfall in drought-affected rangeland areas has stimulated a mass germination of new wild sandalwood seedlings planted by the Forest Products Commission. The FPC’s wild sandalwood regeneration program is reaping the benefits of a wet winter, with seed that has
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Detached homes on the rise

More detached homes commenced construction in the 12 months to September 2021 than in any previous period. Lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne resulted in a sharp contraction in new detached home starts in the September quarter, with a 16.5% contraction compared to the record high of th
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PFT Trees on Farms Grants’ program extensions

Due to overwhelming interest, Private Forests Tasmania’s Trees on Farms Grants Program has extended the closing date for applications to 11.59pm on Monday 7 February 2022. Source: Timberbiz The program, which was developed to assist farmers with upfront establishment costs of co
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PhDs in forestry achieved with the help of Forico and ARC

  Forestry PhD graduates Michelle Balasso and Vilius Gendvilas obtained their PhD degrees from the University of Tasmania last year after being supported by Forico and other partners in their studies at the ARC Training Centre for Forest Value. Source: Timberbiz The Centre for Fo
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