Friday Offcuts – 21 August 2009
ForestTECH 2009 which will run for both New Zealand and Australian forestry companies in mid November will be detailing the very latest tools that have been developed for forest data capture, inventory, mapping and remote sensing, forest management information systems, forest estate modelling and wood quality measurement. In addition to an overview of new and developing technologies, foresters who have been assessing and trialling some of these new tools operationally will be discussing how they've performed and if successful, how they've been integrated into their forest management and planning. Further details on the new programme can be seen in the lead story below. Programme flyers will be sent out shortly. The full programmes can also now be downloaded from the event website, www.foresttechevents.com In new wood technologies, saw and sawing technologies are being unveiled to sawmilling companies on both sides of the Tasman in just three weeks as part of the long awaited SawTech 2009 series. In another story in this week's issue we outline Medium Density Particleboard, an innovative new product that's making its debut in the Chilean market. One of the larger Chilean forest products companies, MASISA, after building a US$140 million pilot operation with production (750,000 m3 a year capacity) rolling off the presses less than two months ago, is already constructing another new US$55 million MDP operation. Not bad in the current environment. Finally, at the other end of the technology scale, check out the short story this week on the Chinese farmer who has built his own flying machine, a helicopter, and it's made out of wood and a few steel pipes. Subscribe a friend
This week we have for you:
Innovative forest inventory and mapping tools showcased
Precision forestry incorporates a range of integrated tools such as satellite navigation systems, GIS and digital data capture. In particular, the latest generation of high-resolution remote sensing tools are having a major impact on forest planning and how today's forests are being managed. The growing availability and reduced pricing of remote sensing tools has led to a rapid expansion in forestry applications world-wide. Forest managers in Australia and New Zealand are all now evaluating airborne optical sensors, satellite optical sensors and airborne laser scanners for applications like forest change detection, catchment hydrology studies, infrastructure mapping, biomass and carbon accounting, weed infestation assessment and forest health monitoring. The forest technology series ForestTECH 2009 planned for November in both New Zealand and Australia will be detailing what remote sensing tools are commercially available, how they can be best used and practical management and operational considerations in applying the new technologies. Forestry Tasmania, Forests NSW and other forestry companies and technology providers will be presenting results from recent trials on their forest estates. Forestry Tasmania has just completed a major LiDAR feasibility study that's looked at the technical and financial feasibility of applying (airborne laser scanners) LiDAR across its entire forest estate, some 300 square km of native forest and plantations. It's been used to assist in a wide range of roading, harvesting and other operations over a two-year period. Forests NSW is trialling the use of LiDAR to estimate current wood resources in their softwood plantations. The PARIA study covers 5,000ha of radiata pine plantation in Green Hills State Forest, 20 km north of Tumarumba, in southern NSW. The remote sensing trial utilises various methods to automatically detect individual tree crowns and extract height values to predict stem volume. Key findings from the study will be presented as well as recommendations for future operational applications. ForestTECH 2009 will include an integrated series of presentations, managed exhibitions, demonstrations and field visits. It runs in Albury for Australian forestry companies on 16-18 November and before this, in New Zealand on 10-12 November. Full details on ForestTECH 2009 - including the full programmes, can now be downloaded off www.foresttechevents.com
Australian Senate rejects CPRS legislation
As expected, the Senate yesterday rejected the Rudd Government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) legislation. While no surprise, the rejection crystalises for Australian businesses a period of uncertainty, perhaps as long as a year. There are several scenarios that could play out over the coming months.
Tree planting tough with NZ Government's announcement
KFA spokesman, Roger Dickie, said the new policy made a mockery of the National Party's pledge, in its 2008 forestry policy, to see 600,000 to 800,000 hectares of eroding land planted with new forests. Mr Dickie said the policy was particularly perverse given the Government had made it clear that its recently announced emissions reduction targets of 10% to 20% are dependent on significant new areas of forestry being planted. The Government's announcement that it plans to cap carbon prices and ban international trade will guarantee that forest investors will avoid the industry and the much needed forest plantings will not happen. Mr Dickie said it seems that Government wants the forest industry to receive artificially low carbon returns and in doing so will force the industry to subsidise the emitting power generators and oil companies. "With such a draconian policy envisaged, forest investors will simply vote with their feet and stay out of the industry," he said. Mr Dickie said the prospect of a ban on international trading was in direct contradiction to the statement made by New Zealand's Ambassador for Climate Change
Support service for exposed NZ timber workers
A consultation document has been released today setting out ideas for a possible support service for former timber workers who were historically exposed to pentachlorophenol (PCP), a timber preservative used in the 1950s to 1980s.
Leaky homes bill likely to top $11.5 billion
The NZ Herald this week reported that the cost of leaky homes in New Zealand is up to NZ$11.5 billion - far more than the previous $3.5bn estimate. Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson met six metro city mayors on Monday to discuss options on the costs of leaky homes. Rodney Mayor Penny Webster said that a review of leaky buildings had found that the national bill was likely to top $11.5 billion, with the vast majority of this cost expected in the metro Auckland area. Mr Williamson received a report on the size of the leaky building disaster some weeks ago but to date hasn't released its findings.
Australia needs to get serious about using woody biomass
"The current legislation fails to fully include the use of biomass from forestry wood waste for electricity generation effectively ruling out a resource that could reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by 3 million tonnes each year," said NAFI CEO Allan Hansard. "We have heard a lot about the potential of wind, solar and even coal seam methane as renewable sources of energy but what has been missing or ignored in this debate so far is the key role wood biomass from Australia's sustainably managed native forests and plantations can play in assisting Australia to meet its renewable energy target and place the economy on a low emissions path." "Australia already lags behind many other developed nations in terms of using renewable wood waste for energy generation. The European Union, Canada and USA generate a significant amount of electricity and heat from renewable resources; in Europe over two-thirds of this comes from biomass, most of which is wood waste from forestry." "Wood-waste based renewable energy could provide as much as 7 percent of the Australian Government's 2020 renewable energy target and generate an estimated $800 million in direct investment and create 2300 sustainable jobs, many of which will be in rural and regional communities". The full release from NAFI can be seen here
New wood products appointment
Automation & Electronics has announced the appointment of Tracy Goss as President of A&E USA LLC. Tracy has had a long background in sawmilling starting out as an apprentice Saw Doctor at Tachikawa Forest Products in Rotorua, a Saw Doctor and Technical Supervisor at Waipa Sawmill, Sawmill Manager at Claymark Industries, Katikati and more recently, as the General Manager at Australian Solar Timbers' Kempsey sawmill. Tracy will commence his role based in Ruston Louisiana in early October this year.
Applications are open for the 2010 Max Jacobs Grants
The late Dr Max Jacobs was one of Australia's most distinguished foresters. At the time of his retirement in 1970 he was the Director-General of the Forestry and Timber Bureau, having worked in the public service for 44 years. He died in Canberra in 1979.
Extra AU$45 M funding secured by MIS receivers
The group already owes about AU$380 million but the banks have agreed to lend a further AU$45 million, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. The money will be used to ensure that Great Southern's receivers have sufficient funding to protect and maintain the group's timber, almond, olive and vineyard investment schemes until the middle of next year. Great Southern's receivers have no funds to pay rent for the land the crops are on, or for crop maintenance activities including fertilization, pest control, road maintenance and harvesting, the court was told. Paying the group's employees is expected to cost more than AU$6 million this year. In a separate development, an AU$20 million rescue package has been offered to growers in six of Great Southern's failed plantation projects, Australian news service ABC Rural reported on 17 August. The package is being offered by Coogee Chemicals chairman Gordon Martin, who plans to provide working capital for the forestry schemes to bring them to harvest through another company that he chairs, Pulpwood Plantations. Source: www.forestweb.com
Getting the best out of your advertising dollar
News came out recently that print advertising revenues are taking another hit. In the US, advertising revenues are projected to decline by 14% this year and drop until an economic recovery drives an upturn near the end of 2010. The ad-buying division of Interpublic Group (IPG) of Cos. projected revenues to fall to US$161.4 billion this year after declining 7.5% to US$189 billion in 2008.
Innovative new board mill planned for Chile
MASISA's Board of Directors have approved the investment in a medium density particleboard (MDP) mill in Cabrero, Chile. The construction of this new MDP mill with cutting-edge technology entails an investment of US$55 million. It will have a production capacity of 280,000 m3 of MDP a year, aimed at the domestic and export markets.
Update on NZS 3604 timber-framed buildings standard
As advised in December 2008, Timber-framed buildings NZS 3604:1999, the foremost Standard in New Zealand for the building and construction industry in New Zealand, is being revised. The project is now well underway. The draft revised Standard is planned for public comment release in late 2009. Publication is scheduled for late 2010/early 2011.
AbitibiBowater reducing capacity by 1 million tonnesAbitibiBowater Inc. plans to reduce its annual production capacity in Canada by one-third, or 1 million tonnes, the union representing workers said on 6 August reported The Globe and Mail. AbitibiBowater CEO David Paterson, however, declined to confirm the state
Chinese MacGyver builds working helicopter out of wood
Well, sure looks like things worked out. His single-seater conveyance has blades made from the wood of an Elm tree, a frame reinforced with steel pipes and uses an engine from a motorcycle - all for around $1,600. Wu claims the 'copter can get him as high as 2,600 feet, though it seems he's grounded for the time being as the Chinese government has forbid him to fly because of safety reasons. Wu, whose father pegs him as a gadget lover who would always take things apart, says that he "had this dream from childhood of not needing to climb mountains anymore. I wanted to go to school in my own flying machine." Source: TreeFrog Daily Forestry News
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...and one to end the week on...Dear God
There was a man who worked for the Post Office whose job was to process all the mail that had illegible addresses. And on that short note, have a great weekend. Cheers. We welcome comments and contributions on Friday Offcuts. For details on advertising for positions within the forest products industry or for products and services, either within the weekly newsletter or on this web page, please contact us.
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