To ensure timely and high-quality forest tending and restoration, JSC “Latvia’s State Forests” (LVM) announces an open tender for forest planting, maintenance of young stands, agro–technical tending and protection of restored areas in 2021–2023. The tender is open to workers with or without forestry experience. Proposals should be submitted in the Electronic Procurement System (EIS) by 22 September; 12.00.

“We cooperate with responsible workers who wish to work and grow professionally. We are pleased that we have acquired reliable and knowledgeable cooperation partners in the regions of Latvia, who apply for forestry work every year. For the majority of these people, work in the forest is a permanent source of income, but for others – an opportunity to earn additional income,” says Lauris Ropājs, LVM Forestry Quality Manager.

Interested contractors are offered to enter into a one- or three-year contract for forestry works in an area of 94 325 hectares. Within the framework of the tender, it is planned to perform six types of forestry works: forest planting in an area of 7 950 ha; replenishment of restored forest areas in an area of  2 410 ha; agro–technical tending of restored forest areas in an area of 26 985 ha; tending of young stands in an area of 30 445 ha; protection of restored forest areas in an area of 17 620 ha; protection of young trunks in an area of 8 915 ha.

 Thanks to forest maintenance works, LVM offers additional job opportunities for local residents in the regions. These are both seasonal jobs that can be planned by contractors in parallel with their daily work, as well as various permanent jobs. A brush cutter and chainsaw operator’s certificate are required for agro–technical and young stand tending works.

Detailed planning and sequential work are a must to create the most suitable growing conditions for stands. Depending on the growing conditions, an appropriate tree species is planted and care is taken depending on the average tree height of the dominant tree species. Timely tending of young stands reduces the risk of possible damage caused by wind, snow and insects.

Animals that are found in Latvian forests use young trees as feed, and in order to avoid possible damage, it is necessary to use various means of protection. Protection work requires responsible workers who are knowledgeable or willing to acquire new skills.

JSC “Latvia’s State Forests” (LVM) has already prepared soil in more than 3 000 hectares to carry out the forest restoration works planned for next year in an area of 10 500 hectares.

“Preparation of soil or planting sites in felling areas is a key prerequisite for successful reforestation by planting young trees. It is best to do it in late summer or autumn of the previous year, and before planting trees in the spring. This year, there are several positive developments in the forest soil preparation sector.

The range of service providers has increased; the forest machinery park has been supplemented and upgraded. Two new John Deere skidders, as well as several Bracke and one UOT tillage unit have been purchased in Latvia.

It is worth mentioning that in addition to the skidders used for transporting trees, several new tillage units will be powered by John Deere, Ponnse and Komatsu forest machines, which have already proven themselves in forestry,” says Edmunds Linde, LVM Forestry Planning Manager.

Soil preparation in the territory managed by LVM has been performed by seven service providers so far, but the new changes have facilitated the involvement of three new cooperation partners with relatively new sets of equipment. “It gives hope that work will be much smoother this season,” says Edmunds Linde.

Since its foundation in 1999, LVM has paid more than one billion euros to state and local government budgets. Company’s economic activities are carried out by maintaining and recovering forests, taking care of nature conservation, recreation opportunities and increasing timber volumes, as well as by investing in expanding the forestland and developing forest infrastructure – renovation of drainage systems and forest road construction. The volume of timber in the forests managed by LVM increases by 12 million cubic metres annually.

A nationwide plan to tackle more than 800,000 hectares of wilding pine infestations over the next year will generate up to 550 new jobs and help prevent future wild fires, say Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor and Civil Defence Minister Peeni Henare.

“We’re ramping up our wilding control activity in areas where jobs are needed most,” Damien O’Connor said.

“Budget 2020 included $100 million for wilding pine control through the Jobs for Nature programme. Over $36 million of that funding will be spent in the next 12 months as part of our four-year programme. That extends our work from 19 to 58 sites across New Zealand.”

Minister O’Connor says this includes a range of long-term projects led by regional councils, and smaller-scale community partnerships.

“We’ll see significant work throughout most of New Zealand – in Northland, across the Central North Island, in Marlborough, Nelson/Tasman, Queenstown, Otago and Southland.”

“More than $17 million of work is allocated over 400,000 hectares of wilding infestations in Canterbury alone, including extensive infestations in Craigieburn and the Mackenzie.”

Civil Defence Minister Peeni Henare was in the Mackenzie District last week to survey the fire damage near Lake Pukaki, the spread of which has in part been attributed to wilding pines.

“I saw the devastation first-hand, and heard concerns from locals that the wilding pines are a pest, and play a dangerous part in helping to spread fires.

“This Government investment will help prevent fires like this in years to come,” said Peeni Henare.

Minister O’Connor says wilding pine control is part of the Government’s commitment to provide economic support for people, with a significant environmental benefit.

“This is not necessarily about putting people into new careers. It is about finding work for people now, while their sectors recover from Covid-19.”

“Wilding control is largely seasonal work, with some year-round operations. This will allow companies to employ new people – and to keep on existing staff.”

Minister O’Connor says New Zealanders can expect to see significant changes to the landscape as control activity increases.

“In many areas, like Queenstown and the Mackenzie basin, we’ll be removing longstanding infestations that have become a familiar part of the landscape. People are inclined to think any tree has some value. But the recent fires near Lake Pukaki, only a few years after the devastating fires in Flock Hill, have shown that wilding pines threaten the ecosystem, the economy – and the community.

Preparations for LIGNA ’21 are already in full swing. The world’s top international wood-industry trade show is enjoying strong industry support despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheduled opening day is a good eight months away, but demand for exhibition space is already strong. “The event will once again fill ten halls as well as the open-air site booked. All the big industry players are on board. It seems that after many weeks of social distancing, lockdowns, online-only events and video conferencing from home, the industry is really looking forward to meeting up face-to-face,” said Christian Pfeiffer, Deutsche Messe’s Global Director LIGNA & Woodworking Shows. “Businesses in the wood industry are keen to resume normal production and sales. They want to be able to advise and inform their customers in person. So, we’re doing everything we can to provide a safe and effective marketplace where the wood industry can meet, showcase new products and developments, and get business moving again.”

LIGNA is the flagship fair of the global wood industry and serves as a marketplace for woodworking and wood processing plants, machinery and tools as well as a platform for exploring and debating hot topics set to shape the future of the industry. At the upcoming show, the following three topics will feature prominently: Woodworking Transformation, Prefab Building Processes and Green Material Processing. Exhibitors will be highlighting these topics at their stands, and they will also be featured across various forums and special displays.

“LIGNA will present the pioneering developments and visionary ideas that will be shaping wood-industry production and business processes just a few years from now,” remarked Dr. Bernhard Dirr, director of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA). “LIGNA is our window onto the future, and that’s more important than ever given the COVID-19 pandemic. If we manage to showcase our industry in a way that people can physically explore, experience and engage with, then I think we can call LIGNA 2021 a success, regardless of the visitor and exhibitor turnout,” Dirr said.

“Obviously, we all hope that the worst of the pandemic will be over by May,” Pfeiffer commented, “but it’s impossible to say when case numbers might start to drop off or when a vaccine might become available. So we have to be realistic. The global travel restrictions alone suggest that we are will have fewer international visitors than at LIGNA 2019. The virus is likely to be with us for some time to come, so we need to find new ways of enabling businesses to engage with their markets. We need LIGNA ’21.”

Social distancing and safety at LIGNA

The LIGNA 2021 format incorporates a public hygiene strategy that Deutsche Messe has developed in consultation with the relevant authorities. The show will have comprehensive measures in place to protect the health and safety of exhibitors and visitors in all areas of the venue. Hannover’s hospitality sector is also ready for the new tradeshow normal. “For us, facilitating business and protecting health go hand in hand,” explained Pfeiffer. “To protect exhibitors and visitors, we will ensure that LIGNA ’21 meets the highest standards of hygiene, safety and healthcare. This will entail hygiene and distancing measures at the entrances and exits to the venue as well as for in-hall aisleways, exhibition stands, on-site restaurants and even local hotels.” Click here for information on the hygiene and infection-prevention measures implemented by Deutsche Messe for events held at the Hannover Exhibition Center.

Deutsche Messe’s LIGNA team is currently developing a digital participation option that will be offered alongside the show’s trusted in-person format. It will make the show available to exhibitors and visitors from key markets who may be unable to travel to Hannover.

Further information about LIGNA is available at www.ligna.de .

Bioenergy sector supports obtaining greater value from New Zealand’s wood residues – The Bioenergy Association welcomes the release by Te Uru Rakau of the Wood Fibre Futures report but also wants greater focus by government on the immediate use of forest harvest and processing residues for replacing coal.

Brian Cox, Executive Officer of the Bioenergy Association said “It’s encouraging to see government supporting efforts to obtain greater value from forest harvest residues which are generally left as waste. Wood waste from forestry is a valuable resource which we squander because we don’t have a priority for using it to create regional economic opportunities, including additional employment.”

Mr Cox said that “The wood processing sector already use process residues for heat but there has been little interest in expanding the use of this proven technology to replace coal for other manufacturing process heat. Wood is a fully renewable natural resource which is carbon neutral. The Wood Fibre Futures report investigates many new investment opportunities but ignores the opportunities to grow the sector by first encouraging investment in existing proven technologies. This would provide a strong foundation for expanding additional sources of forestry residues into these new emerging investments.”

The BioenergyAssociation has identified that 1.8Mt CO2-e of greenhouse gases could be reduced if coal was replaced by use of biomass fuels.

Mr Cox said that “it is great that the Government has recognised that using wood waste to produce energy and other products is good for business and communities, and that proactive climate change policies can have a very positive upside to communities and the economy. We just need to have a greater sense of urgency by initially focusing on what can be achieved by 2030 while we investigate the longer term investments outlined in the Wood Fibre Futures report. ”

Photo: Brian Cox, Executive Officer of the Bioenergy Association

Big opportunities for a high-value, low-carbon forestry future – A New Zealand wood fibre futures stage one report published last week identifies key wood processing technologies that could help drive a high-value and low-carbon economy.

Te Uru Rākau (Forestry New Zealand) director sector investment Jason Wilson said the report, by an international consortium led by BioPacific Partners, focused on how New Zealand could build on the forestry industry’s current strengths to create a low-carbon future.

The report identified possible alternatives to concrete and steel, and biofuels made from woody biomass.

“We know forests have a big role to play in carbon mitigation, but forestry can play an even bigger role in both the economy and meeting environmental goals if it is used to create new and innovative high-value, low-carbon products including liquid fuels and replacements for coal,” said Mr Wilson.

“The questions for New Zealand are what products do we need the most, what technologies are available to help us create these, and, importantly, how do we attract investment to make it happen?”

“New Zealand is considered one of the best places in the world to do business and we have a large amount of Pinus radiata which gives us a comparative advantage, but we need to start working with technology investors to produce high-value, low-carbon products.”

Mr Wilson said the report identified 15 technologies out of 108 found globally that New Zealand could prioritise and laid out ways to attract investors.

“Both biocrude and liquid biofuels are favoured by investors, have the most potential for export, and are being actively developed globally by high-tech firms.”

Mr Wilson said the report represented the culmination of stage 1 of the project and Te Uru Rākau was now progressing with stage 2.

“Stage 2 focuses on building an attractive investment case and undertaking a detailed feasibility study for the priority technologies. It will involve discussions with key industry partners, including those in forestry, transport, construction, and energy. We are also working closely with other agencies, including the Ministry of Transport and MBIE, to identify policy tools to incentivise investment.”

This next phase of work will come under the umbrella of the Forest and Wood Products Industry Transformation Plan, and as part of the broader Fit for a Better World initiative.

“A high-value low-carbon future for the forestry sector that will deliver economically and environmentally is an exciting prospect and I am looking forward to working with New Zealand industries to achieve this.”

To download the report click here.

Photo:Te Uru Rākau (Forestry New Zealand) director sector investment Jason Wilson

The FinnMETKO 2020 annual professional exhibition for the heavy machinery industry attracted 9,950 visitors over its three exhibition days. 

• Thanks to all participants, visitors, exhibitors and the volunteers who helped to organize the exhibition. Together we achieved a successful event in good spirits amid this unprecedented situation, which required special arrangements, says Markku Suominen, Chair of the exhibition management group.
• The feedback from participants has been positive. Exhibitors said that they had reached their target audiences and had traded well at the exhibition, Suominen adds.

Teemu Sillanpää wins the Ykköskuski competition

Teemu Sillanpää came first at the Ykköskuski Finnish championships for earthmoving machinery drivers, organized on the last day of the exhibition. Jaakko Hannula took second place and Kim Lehkonen came in third.

The competition tested the drivers’ skills with two earthmoving machines: a front loader and an excavator. The winner was decided based on a total score. The competition was organized by GRADIA Jyväskylä.

The FinnMETKO exhibition is organized every two years. FinnMETKO 2022 will be held from 1.–3.9.2022.

The FinnMETKO 2020 professional and sales trade fair is Finland’s main event for the heavy machinery industry. The organizer responsible for FinnMETKO 2020 is Finnmetko Oy. The organizations behind the exhibition are the Trade Association of Finnish Forestry and Earthmoving Contractors and Keski-Suomen Koneyrittäjät ry.

www.finnmetko.fi 

More information is available from:
Chair of the exhibition management group Markku Suominen, tel. +358 (0)44 079 4977

The newly formed Victorian Forest Products Association (VFPA) yesterday announced 23 foundation members and elected its Interim Governing Council. The new Association will span Victoria’s forest industry value chain including plantations, native forestry operators, sawmills and pulp and paper making.

The eight members of the Interim Governing Council are:

• Sarah Harvie: Opal Group
• Rob Hescock: Hancock Victorian Plantations
• Paul Heubner: Allied Natural Wood Exports
• Mike Lawson: SFM Environmental Solutions
• Phil Mason: New Forests
• Darren Sheldon: Australian Bluegum Plantations
• Tony Price: Midway Limited
• Owen Trumper: AKD Softwoods

The Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Forest Products Association Ross Hampton said, “Forest industries employ thousands of men and women in Victoria. At a time when so many jobs are being lost, our industries can play a big role in Victoria’s post – pandemic economic recovery if they are enabled to.”

“This new body will turbo-charge representation for all our industries and help make the case to policy makers that now more than ever our sustainable, renewable forest industries should be backed to deliver vital growth and prosperity.”

The Chair of the Victorian Association of Forest Industries inc (VAFI) Craig Dunn said, “We are entering a new era for the Victorian forest products industry. VAFI has been the voice of the industry for many years. This new peak body is being formed on the strong foundation laid by VAFI through the perseverance of its members”.

“The VFPA will bring a new approach and broader industry representation during these challenging times. VAFI will continue to operate in parallel until the VFPA is up and running to ensure a seamless transition,” Mr Dunn concluded.

Source: AFPA

Kiwi Lumber is to set up permanent operations following the successful trial of a sawmill at Matawhero, Gisborne. The operation will create 50 jobs and pave the way for NZ$15 million of capital investment over the next three years and a substantial investment in systems and teams.

Kiwi Lumber managing director Adam Gresham is confident the Matawhero mill can be highly successful. “Kiwi Lumber wouldn’t take this site on unless we were confident we could make a go of it,” Mr Gresham said.

“Gisborne will be our fourth sawmill site in the North Island. We are pleased with the results of the trial and excited about making our arrangements permanent through a lease with Trust Tairawhiti.”

Trust Tairawhiti chairman Dr Paul Reynolds reinforced the significance of growing wood processing to the region. “The trust invested in local infrastructure to act as a catalyst for growth in the wood processing sector. Tairawhiti currently processes 6 percent of wood, compared to 39 percent nationally.

“Kiwi Lumber will not only employ locals, they will also contribute to a more diverse wood industry and a more resilient Tairawhiti economy,” Dr Reynolds said. Trust Tairawhiti commercial general manager Richard Searle has worked closely with Kiwi Lumber during initial discussions and the trial period.

“Kiwi Lumber are experienced in running very successful timber processing businesses, taking on troubled sites, turning them around and growing them as part of their group,” he said. They have demonstrated 70 percent revenue growth in their sawmilling businesses over the past five years. We welcome that experience and track record to our region.”

Mr Gresham described Kiwi Lumber as a growing, progressive sawmilling company marketing radiata pine to the USA, Australia, Europe, Asia and New Zealand customers. The group consists of sawmills in Masterton, Dannevirke and Putaruru — employing 275 staff — and now Gisborne.

About 50 people will be employed at Kiwi Lumber Gisborne, increasing permanent employment in the region through the creation of a range of roles. Mr Gresham said Kiwi Lumber was pleased to be creating jobs at a time when the impact of Covid-19 was contributing to job losses and a lot of uncertainty in businesses and the workplace.

Source: Gisborne Herald

Global forest innovation competition is being decided 24 September

The What wood you do competition was launched in March to find new solutions that accelerate the transition to a fossil-free society. After more than 50 entries from 10 countries, six finalists have been selected from with ideas ranging from new uses for cellulose to high-tech drone solutions. Read more about the innovations below.

On September 24, the six forest innovations compete for €25,000 and the opportunity to realize their climate-smart business concept. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the final of the ”What wood you do?” innovation competition will now have limited be broadcast live online: https://whatwoodyoudo.eu/thefinal

At the final, the contestants pitch their ideas to the jury, which consists of industry experts representing Paper Province, Gunnar Sundblad Foundation, Business Värmland, Stora Enso and Sveaskog. Watching live online, you’ll see the finalists pitch their forest solutions to accelerate the transition to a fossil-free society. You’ll be able to send in questions, take part in live surveys, and interview the contestants before watching the winner announcement and prize ceremony.

While the finalists are honing their competition pitches, please save the date of September 24th. If you want to participate remotely, you will find the live feed at whatwoodyoudo.eu/thefinal. It is also possible to book individual interviews with the finalists and jury during the day, either on site or online via Zoom.

To book an appointment, get in touch you to a.aman@paperprovince.com.

WHEN: 24 September at 13.00 – 17.00 CET, with a 45-minute break between 15.15 and 16.00 for jury deliberation.

WHERE: Värmland Museum in Karlstad or online via whatwoodyoudo.eu/thefinal

CONTACT: Julian Reisz, innovation manager and final moderator julian@reiszandshine.com, +46731035818

The entries that compete in the final are:

Biosorb: A cellulose-based technology that absorbs fat, bacteria and oil from air and water

Wood Tube: Patented paper studs that can replace steel studs in interior walls – save money, reduces emissions and improves the working environment for carpenters.

FineCell: New technology for producing nanocellulose in the form of a dry powder – easier to integrate and use in packaging and other industries.

Nordluft: A drone-based distribution system for forestry and agriculture, which combines high-capacity drones, a ground truck and AI-powered control system.

Arboair: A forest scanning technology with 4K cameras and color shift analysis to detect infected or stressed trees.

Silvibio: A new bio-based seed coating, which provides a source of moisture and long-lasting nutrition to increase plant germination rate of up to 40 percent in dry conditions.

Read more about the competition and the finalists on whatwoodyoudo.eu