WoodCentral

🎥 Meet the Aussie Banker Now Building Island Resorts Out of Wood! 🏝️ Who would have thought you could develop two luxury tropical island resorts built entirely of Indonesian timber? In this WoodCentral special feature, Ken Hickson Hickson interviews Andrew Dixon, a former investment banker turned “accidental hotelier,” who has done just that with Nikoi and Cempadak resorts. 🔍 Why This Matters: 1️⃣ Sustainable Construction: Dixon insisted on using local materials such as bamboo, driftwood, laminated rubber wood, and recycled teak for the construction and furnishing of the resorts. This approach showcases a commitment to eco tourism. 2️⃣ Eco-Friendly Practices: The resorts conserve native rainforests, beaches, and coral reefs while catering to a limited number of guests. Energy needs are met primarily through solar PV panels, and buildings are designed to utilise sea breezes and ceiling fans instead of air conditioning. 3️⃣ Community Impact: Dixon established The Island Foundation in 2010 to improve educational opportunities for children in the Bintan Regency, Riau Islands. The foundation focuses on learning centres, local teacher training, and community engagement. 🌐Andrew Dixon is a member of The Long Run organisation, which promotes sustainable tourism globally. He's exploring innovative solutions like electric battery-powered flying boats and biodiesel from used cooking oil to reduce transportation emissions. 🔗 Learn more about Andrew Dixon’s sustainable island resorts and his contributions to responsible tourism: https://lnkd.in/g8FA5Zdh 🗣️ #questionforgroup: How can the principles of sustainable resort development seen in Nikoi and Cempadak be applied to other tourism projects globally? Share your insights! #sustainableresorts #ecotourism #timberconstruction #responsibletourism #sustainabledevelopment #architecture #communityimpact #islandresorts #environmentalstewardship #hotels #recycledmaterials #renewableenergy #sustainableliving #tourisminnovation

🪵 Russia’s Timber Squeeze as Transport Firms Brace for End to Sanctions! 📈 Recent reports indicate that Russian lumber prices have surged by 11-14%, primarily due to rising raw material costs, a warm winter, and labor shortages. As transport companies prepare for the potential return of Western firms to the Russian market, the timber supply chain faces significant challenges. 🔎 **Key Highlights:** 1️⃣ Rising Transport Costs: Increased transportation expenses to key markets such as China (up 16%), Uzbekistan (up 18%), and Japan (7%) are further squeezing Russian lumber prices. The ongoing decline of Russia's housing market, which has now fallen for four consecutive months, adds to the complexity of the situation. 2️⃣ Shift in Market Focus: With more than one-third of its export markets lost due to sanctions following the Ukraine conflict, Russian timber producers have turned inward, focusing on domestic supply. However, there are signs that transport companies are adjusting their pricing strategies in anticipation of a potential easing of sanctions should a ceasefire be agreed upon. 3️⃣ Long-Term Market Outlook: While immediate price increases are a concern, research suggests that the long-term impact of the Ukraine invasion on global forest product markets may stabilize. The majority of forest-based products are expected to return to pre-invasion levels within the next 10-30 years, with countries like the U.S., Canada, and China poised to fill the gap left by Russian exports. 🔗 To learn more about the current state of the Russian timber market and the implications of potential sanctions relief, click here: https://lnkd.in/gj-UziUz 🤔 #questionforgroup: How do you see the potential easing of sanctions impacting the global timber market? What strategies should companies adopt to navigate these changes effectively? #timber #lumber #supplychain #russia #woodcentral #woodcentralau1 #sanctions #ukrainewar #war #wood #forestry #forests

📈 Expect Price Hikes — US Taxes on Canadian Lumber Could Hit 50% As the U.S. prepares to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian softwood lumber, new developments from the U.S. Department of Commerce indicate that duties could escalate to over 27%. This could lead to a staggering total tax of more than 50% on Canadian lumber, which supplies over 70% of the lumber used in U.S. housing construction. 🔎 **Key Highlights:** 1️⃣ Impact on Canadian Lumber Industry: The looming increase in tariffs has raised alarms, particularly from British Columbia’s Premier David Eby, who warns that these anti-dumping duties represent a "massive threat" to the province's forest products industry. The new preliminary dumping rate is more than triple what it was just three years ago. 2️⃣ Challenges Compounding: The Canadian lumber industry is already grappling with significant challenges due to ongoing tariff threats and a separate investigation into imported forest products. Peter Navarro, White House trade advisor, has singled out Canada along with Germany and Brazil for allegedly "dumping" lumber into U.S. markets, further complicating the landscape for Canadian suppliers. 3️⃣ Declining Market Share: The escalation of the softwood lumber dispute, particularly since 2017, has seen Canada’s share of the U.S. lumber market drop from 33% in 2016 to only 24% this year. The American South has now emerged as the dominant supplier, replacing Canadian Spruce-Pine-Fir (SPF) with local Southern Yellow Pine (SYP). 🇺🇸 As the U.S. construction industry braces for potential price hikes, the implications of these tariffs could ripple through the market, affecting everything from housing costs to the availability of lumber. Stakeholders will need to navigate these changes carefully in the months ahead. 🔗 To read more about the potential impact of these tariffs on the lumber market, click here: https://lnkd.in/gRP7Uy7W 🗣️ #questionforgroup: How do you foresee these tariffs influencing the construction industry and housing market in the U.S.? What strategies can be implemented to mitigate the impact of rising lumber costs? #timber #lumber #construction #tariffs #woodcentral #woodcentralau1 #wood #forestry #canada #usa #potus #trump #commerce

🥇 Brisbane Olympics Can Lead World with Timber Use — But It Needs Smarter Design! 🚧 As Queensland prepares for the 2032 Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, there lies a unique opportunity to set a global standard for sustainable construction through innovative timber use and design. Professor Keith Crews - chair of the World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE 2025) emphasises that the legacy of these Games can extend far beyond the event itself. 🔎 **Key Highlights:** 1️⃣ Maximizing Timber Resources: Professor Crews advocates for the careful design and application of timber products, such as cross-laminated timber and frame timber. He stresses the importance of using resources efficiently to ensure they can be repurposed in the future, rather than being wasted. 2️⃣ Long-Term Vision for Infrastructure: The Athletes Village is set to be built using mass timber, with a vision for the structures to be transformed into high-value apartments after the Games. This approach not only creates a sustainable business model but also ensures that the infrastructure serves a purpose for decades, rather than just during the event. 3️⃣ Global Timber Supply Considerations: To achieve widespread timber use, it’s crucial to look beyond Queensland and even Australia for timber supplies. Professor Crews warns that the demands of Olympic infrastructure should not disrupt the existing housing market, and emphasises the need for a thoughtful approach to sourcing materials. ♻️ The potential for repurposing infrastructure after the Games is immense. Smaller buildings can be converted into community centers or libraries, demonstrating the versatility of timber and the importance of clever design from the outset. This forward-thinking approach can lead to significant benefits for local communities long after the Olympics conclude. 🔗 To dive deeper into the vision for timber use in the Brisbane Olympics and its implications for sustainable construction, click here: https://lnkd.in/guXwKYhz 🗣️ #questionforgroup: How can we ensure that the legacy of the Brisbane Olympics inspires future events to prioritise sustainable construction practices? The University of Queensland Queensland Government Timber Queensland Australian Government Brisbane City Council Mass Timber Focus Group Arnie Didier Clifford (Craig) Rawlings International Mass Timber Conference #timber #sustainability #brisbaneolympics #construction #woodcentral #wcte #masstimber #australia

Thanks for share AE Gibson & Sons Pty Ltd 👏👏👏

Well said Kate Studholme 👏👏👏

Once-in-a-Lifetime Woodhenge Has ‘Strong Ties’ to Stonehenge! 🕰️ Archaeologists have discovered a 4,000-year-old wooden structure, dubbed "Woodhenge," that shares a connection with Stonehenge in Britain. This significant find may provide insights into mass migration across Europe during the late Neolithic period. 🔎 **Key Highlights:** 1️⃣ Unique Discovery: Archaeologists uncovered 45 wooden posts arranged in a slightly oval pattern in Aars, Denmark. Sidsel Wåhlin, curator at the Vesthimmerland Museum, described it as “a once-in-a-lifetime discovery.” 2️⃣ Cultural Significance: Both stone and wooden henges served as ritual centers for ancient European communities, focusing on sun worship and agriculture-related ceremonies. This discovery adds to existing knowledge of henges in Britain, Ireland, and other parts of Europe, highlighting their role in unifying early farming communities during significant migrations. 3️⃣ Ongoing Excavation: Wåhlin and her team are now conducting further excavations to explore the site's lifespan and function. They aim to find ritual deposits, such as flint arrowheads and scythes, while implementing a comprehensive sampling strategy to understand the interior circle better. 🔗 To learn more about this extraordinary discovery and its implications, click here: https://lnkd.in/gNiwiErC 🤔 #questionforgroup: What do you think this discovery reveals about the cultural practices of early European communities? How can archaeological findings shape our understanding of historical migration patterns? #archaeology #history #neolithic #culturalheritage #woodcentral #woodcentralau1

🪖Trump Orders National Security Probe into Timber Imports 🇺🇸 In a move to strengthen domestic timber, President Trump has formally instructed Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick to investigate the impact of timber imports on national security. This follows the announcement of a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican lumber, hitting over $3 billion worth of lumber imports. 🔎 **Key Highlights:** 1️⃣ National Security Investigation: Utilising Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, this investigation aims to assess how reliance on imported lumber could jeopardize national security. The probe will not only cover lumber but also derivative products such as furniture made from American lumber exported and reimported. 2️⃣ Increased Domestic Timber Production: Alongside the tariff measures, Trump has ordered federal agencies to ramp up timber production within 90 days. This includes streamlining the permitting process for harvesting timber from public lands and enhancing the salvage of fallen trees, which will help boost the domestic supply of lumber. 3️⃣ Addressing Economic Dependence: White House trade adviser Peter Navarro highlighted the need to counteract what he termed "dumping" by big lumber exporters, which he claims threatens both economic prosperity and national security. The aim is to bolster demand for American timber, ensuring the US military and other sectors have reliable access to essential materials. 🔗 To read more about the implications of this national security probe into timber imports, click here: https://lnkd.in/g7PzUk5w 🤔 #questionforgroup: What impact do you think these measures will have on the domestic timber industry? How can the market adapt to changes in import tariffs and regulations? #timber #nationalsecurity #trade #usda #woodcentral #woodcentralau1 #supply #trump #potus #usa

♻️ Can Treated Timber Be Recycled? New Supply Chain Map Shows How! 🪵 Over 60% of Australian timber currently ends up in landfills or is burned as fuel, but a groundbreaking initiative aims to change that. Researchers are working to transform millions of tonnes of treated timber and engineered wood offcuts into valuable recycled products. 🔎 **Key Highlights:** 1️⃣ The Australian Timber Circularity Project: Led by Dr. Pene Mitchell and a team of experts, this project has developed Australia’s first resource map to track timber waste and offcuts. Launched last week, the map identifies locations, types, and amounts of unused timber resources, providing solutions to integrate into a circular economy. 2️⃣ Innovative Solutions for Timber Waste: The geospatial map serves as a powerful tool to repurpose timber waste, reduce disposal costs, and lower environmental impact. For example, CCA-treated timber posts can be reused as agricultural fence products, while frame and truss offcuts can be recycled into glulam beams. 3️⃣ Collaborative Efforts in the Industry: Companies like Megabeam in Queensland are already implementing these practices by collecting frame and truss offcuts as "backloads" during beam deliveries. This not only provides them with free materials but also helps manufacturers avoid disposal costs. The goal is to increase the percentage of offcuts used in new glulam beams, all while promoting sustainability. 🌍 This initiative represents a significant step towards achieving Australia’s circular economy objectives by turning timber waste into valuable resources. With innovative approaches and collaboration across the industry, we can reduce landfill waste and create a more sustainable future for timber products. 🔗 To learn more about the Australian Timber Circularity Project and the new resource map, click here: https://lnkd.in/g6yK7scP 🤔 #questionforgroup: What other innovative strategies can be employed to enhance timber recycling and sustainability in the construction industry? How can we further promote circularity in timber supply chains? Tripti Singh Martin Strandgard University of the Sunshine Coast Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia #timber #recycling #sustainability #circulareconomy #woodcentral #reuse #engineeredwoodproducts #masstimber

🪵 Australia Cracks Down on Illegal Timber – What You Need to Know! The Australian Government is taking significant steps to enhance timber traceability and compliance with the new Illegal Logging Prohibition Amendment Act 2024, set to take effect on March 3, 2025. This update strengthens enforcement and streamline processes for timber importers, ensuring sustainable and legal supply chains for timber products. 🔎 **Key Highlights:** 1️⃣ Streamlined Risk Assessments: The new legislation simplifies the existing compliance framework by consolidating three risk assessment methods into two pathways: one for certified timber and another for non-certified timber. This change is designed to facilitate smoother compliance for businesses. 2️⃣ Enhanced Compliance Measures: Importers and processors will benefit from a repeat due diligence exception, allowing them to rely on previous risk assessments for the same timber or products from the same supplier within a 12-month period, regardless of certification status. Additionally, businesses harvesting their raw logs will no longer need to meet due diligence requirements for those logs. 3️⃣ Investment in Technology and Education: The new laws will empower the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to implement timber testing technologies at the border to verify species and origin claims. During the first six months of implementation, the department will prioritize education and guidance to help businesses adapt to the changes, focusing on support rather than penalties. 🌍 As illegal logging continues to pose a significant challenge to the global timber trade, accounting for 15-30% of all wood traded, Australia's proactive measures reflect a commitment to sustainable forestry practices. The collaboration with World Forest ID to create a comprehensive database for timber regulation further underscores this commitment. 🔗 To learn more about the changes brought by the Illegal Logging Prohibition Amendment Act and its implications for the timber industry, click here: https://lnkd.in/gBkt8XiX 🤔 #questionforgroup: How can the timber industry adapt to these new regulations while promoting sustainability? What additional measures do you think should be implemented to combat illegal logging? Australian Forest Products Association Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry #sustainability #timber #illegallogging #compliance #woodcentral #woodcentralau1