New global forest legality alliance

“A platform from which we can all work together to enhance the world’s forests by building sustainable trading partnerships around the globe,” is how the International Wood Products Assn (IWPA) describes the formation of a new international alliance on forest legality.

Major US timber groups have backed the new Forest Legality Alliance (FLA) – a global multi-stakeholder initiative created to support private sector efforts and public policies to reduce trade in illegally harvested wood. It is funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

IWPA executive vice president Brent McClendon says increased trade in forest products is one of the most successful strategies to reduce deforestation and forest destruction caused by land conversion practices.

“The concept is very simple and time-tested. When we create economic incentives, we encourage communities to manage their forests. This leads to their long-term conservation and protection.” (Read more)

Implications in surge by Greens

Rising public dissatisfaction with the Federal Government and the Opposition coalition in Australia has set the clock ticking faster on the potential for a ban on native forest logging across the country. (Read why)

Historic flask to Berg

This publication once described Peter Berg as “the quiet achiever behind New Zealand forestry’s salvage job” – a reference to his abilities as president of the country’s strongest forestry association, among others. Last week he received the NZ Institute of Forestry’s most prestigious award.

The NZIF presented the Kirk Horn Award to Peter Berg of Auckland, noting the list of organisations he contributes to span the country and include: the forestry profession, training, indigenous forestry, conservation and plantation forest growing.

The award consists of a medal and temporary possession of a 133 year-old drinking horn. The Kirk Horn Flask is the most historically valuable award in all New Zealand science.

Future Forests Research Ltd chief executive Russell Dale received the institute’s Forester of the Year Award.

Lifting the skill base

The Australian forest products industry is on the brink of one of the biggest increases in employee training numbers in its history.

Federal employment and workplace relations minister Julia Gillard is soon expected to confirm a $6 million budget for an extra 700 trainees to be added to a surprisingly small pool of career and skills advancement programmes in the country’s forestry and wood processing sectors. (Read the rest)

Trash to treasure

Queensland could soon have a world-class national parks system after the State Budget handed down $56 million for acquisition of new parks to save threatened wildlife, and $38 million to buy koala habitat.

Both deals will be funded out of a levy imposed on commercial waste dumped in landfills. (Read more)

FSC backs standards for PNG and Chile

Papua New Guinea and Chile will each have fully functioning FSC-backed National Forestry Standard by September 1 this year.

The FSC director general delivered a positive approval decisions for both countries earlier this month.

(Read more)

Finishing and coating feature

The design and build industry is becoming increasingly lairy of so-called ‘pre-primed’ timber and would prefer fully pre-finished products.

This is among a number of important findings from a recent survey of specifiers and builders who were asked to identify aspects of finishing and maintenance where the wood and coatings sectors could provide improvements.

Timber finishing and maintenance issues will be subjects of special attention in the Winter (July) edition of timberDESIGN Australasia. Don't miss out – Subscribe now

Big USD jump in Brazil’s fibre costs

Continuing a global trend of higher prices for most log and lumber species against the US dollar, eucalyptus log prices in Brazil have increased 25% in the past year.

Although eucalyptus pulp log prices in Brazil have been stable in the local currency (hardly changing since 2006), in US dollar terms wood fibre costs have been forced up by a strengthening Brazilian real. (Read more)