Endowment lands, described by Idaho's Land Board as a 'sacred trust,' are constitutionally mandated to maximize revenue for schools, writes James Lea.

This report provides a concise, updated quantitative snapshot of Wales’ small sawmilling sector in 2025. Wales is at a turning point for its timber industry, yet the picture we have of our sawmilling sector is incomplete. National figures show broad trends, but they are not broken down for Wales which has a small number of […]

And how this affects multiple groups using forests

Semi-domesticated reindeer avoid winter habitats with exotic lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), introduced from Northern America. Reduced food supply and dense stands probably contribute to the reindeer...

At a May 26 commission meeting, the DNR reported certified expenditures related to forest management totaled $19.9 million in fiscal 2025 while qualifying revenues were $12.7 million, leaving no return to the permanent school fund corpus for that year. Officials cited weak timber markets, inflation and changed accounting practices.

Carinthian forest owners are calling for long-term strategies to protect forests and the timber industry from climate change, ORF reported. Forest management and timber use were the focus of Saturday’s state forest farmers’ conference at the timber trade fair in Klagenfurt. Forests generate 2.9 b…

In the context of Kazakhstan’s strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, assessing transport-related CO₂ emissions associated with imported timber supply has become increasingly important. For…

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 22 (Bernama) — Malaysia’s timber industry needs to shift from volume-based production to producing high-value products to increase competitiveness and build a Malaysian brand with its own identity, said Plantations and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad. She said this was important as Malaysian timber products had penetrated major markets including the United States, Japan, China, Europe, the Middle East, Australia and Asian countries. “The future of this industry cannot depend solely on production volume. “We need to move towards producing higher-value products, improving designs, adopting technology and building distinctive Malaysian brands that can compete globally,” […]

Prosecutor General Armīns Meisters has asked Latvia’s Constitutional Court to annul two government protocol decisions linked to the so-called timber industry case, LSM reported. Meisters submitted the application on August 20, the Prosecutor’s Office said. He is asking the court to declare the tw…

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Columbia River was the backbone of the Pacific Northwest's timber industry. Moving massive old-growth timber from inland forests to coastal sawmills and eventually to Southern California required innovative maritime solutions. Initially, loggers used simple river driving techniques, organizing logs into flat booms for transport. However, these methods failed in open oceans due to harsh conditions. Lumber magnate Simon Benson revolutionized the industry in 1906 by designing the Benson rafts—giant cigar-shaped structures capable of withstanding the 1,100-mile Pacific voyage. These rafts, built near Clatskanie, Oregon, and Stella, Washington, featured overlapping log layers and reinforced chains to prevent damage. Between 1906 and 1941, 120 rafts successfully delivered timber to San Diego, fueling major Southern California landmarks. Despite their success, the practice declined due to fire risks, saltwater damage, and the rise of railroads and trucking. The Benson rafts remain a testament to 19th-century engineering and the resourcefulness of the timber industry.

KUCHING (May 20): Sarawak’s timber industry recorded a decline of 10 per cent in export value in the first quarter of 2026 at RM564 million compared to RM624 million in the same period last year, said...

Official disputes federal rule limiting timber thinning in roadless areas amid wildfire crisis.

Committee members and state forestry officials said expanding Good Neighbor Authority staffing and flexibility would help clear fuels, restart timber supply chains and reduce wildfire risk; committee reported the amended bill removing caps on Good Neighbor Authority positions and funding flexibility as ready to finish.

The Senate Finance subcommittee voted to report S682 favorably after hearing from timber industry and the bill’s sponsor. The bill would create a credit for timber casualty losses from Hurricane Helene, capped at $25 million and administered by DOR with forestry certification requirements.

KUCHING (Nov 26): Ta Ann Holdings Bhd (Ta Ann) posted a core profit of RM168 million for the first nine months of FY2025 (9MFY25), marking a 3.8 per cent year-on-year (yoy) increase that beat both analysts’ and market expectations. Public Investment Bank Bhd (PublicInvest Research) noted that the oil palm division remained the main earnings driver, while the timber segment returned to the black. Core profit for the third quarter (3QFY25) rose 2 per cent yoy to RM74 million, supported by improved timber performance despite weaker contributions from palm oil. Palm oil earnings slipped 5.2 per cent yoy, while earnings […]

Witnesses, including local timber operators and the citizens advisory committee, urged the House State Affairs Committee to pass HB 218 to add parcels to the Tanana Valley State Forest, arguing the change would reduce conflicting uses, support local markets and wildfire response, and provide long-term certainty for the timber industry.