Timber Update July 2023

• The TTJ report on the development of forest technology at Linnaeus University. The Forest 4.0 initiative is currently using artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) with the aim of identifying the forest needs and establishing research groups to reduce climate change, loss of biodiversity, deforestation and forest degradation.
• The Confederation of Timber Industries features the latest report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), ‘Timber Construction: Barriers and Solutions’, which provides a set of policy recommendations to expand low-carbon timber construction in the UK.

To read the full report, click here.

• Södra anticipates a rise in timber demand over summer and autumn, with Spruce and Softwood timber expected to rise in price by 10% and 15% respectively in response.
• Global Wood Markets Info report that the huge decline in log imports from Russia’s war with Ukraine has had a significant and lingering impact on the European trade flow.
• Confor calls for tree planting rates in Scotland to increase quickly after a “truly worrying” dip. This is to ensure Scotland’s rural economy doesn’t suffer and their 2045 target date for net zero emissions of greenhouse gases gets back on track.
• In contrast, the Welsh government have been praised by Confor for doubling their tree planting rate in the last year. They have been encouraged to continue at this rate for lasting benefits for the Welsh government and economy.
• Forestry England are running an exhibition that celebrates ‘The Lumberjills’ of the Second World War, drawing attention to the incredible stories of the Women’s Timber Corps, where up to 18,000 women aged 17-24 left home to take up an axe and assist Britain’s forestry industry.

To learn more about this exhibition, click here.