Import:Export Wood Purchasing News - February/March 2018

Business Trends Abroad Continued from page 28
is applicable to forest operations seeking FSC certification in the country.
The standard’s primary aims are to promote, disseminate and support
responsible forest management at the national level and enhance forest
functions from environmental, social and economic viewpoints. The NFSS
applies to all forest types, including non-timber forest products (NTFP) and
ecosystem services.
The development of the Italian standard began in January 2015, when a
national approach was adopted to develop a forest management standard
for all the different types of Italian forest.
More than 80 countries are currently transferring their national standards
from version 4 to version 5 of the Principles and Criteria. Ten countries
have finished or are near finishing changing standards. Of the remaining 70
countries, about 40 countries have a chamber-balanced standard development
group, which is usually supported by an FSC national or regional
office. In the 30 countries where there is no FSC presence, certification
bodies are developing interim national standards.
Forested areas cover about one-third of the country, or 9.2 million hectares.
Only 93,000 hectares are classified as primary forests, and 8.5 million
hectares are considered naturally regenerated forests. Almost 0.64 million
hectares are forest plantations, mostly Poplar.
Sixty-five percent of Italy’s forests are in mountainous regions, and sit
above 500 meters altitude. About 42 percent of the country’s forests are
managed as coppices, 36 percent are stand (high) forests and the rest
consist of riparian and rupicolous forests and shrubs. Coppice forests are
primarily in central southern Italy, while most of the productive high forests
are main coniferous located in the northeast. The main coniferous species
are Pine, Spruce and Larch. Broadleaved species, such as Beech, Oak,
Poplar and Chestnut make up two-thirds of the national growing stock.
NORWAY— Moelven Industrier ASA will build the world’s largest timber
building in Mjøstårnet. It will stand more than 80 meters tall, more than 30
meters taller than the current record-holder in Vancouver, Canada.
The building will have more than 18 floors and include apartments, an
indoor swimming pool, a hotel, offices, a restaurant and several common
areas. Moelven, a Scandinavian industrial group, will supply the timber
from local spruce forests. The record-breaking building will sit on the edge
of the northeastern tip of Norway’s largest lake, Mjøsa, in the small town of
Brumunddal, an hour and half north of Oslo.
Construction is slated for completion in December.
Arthur Buchardt, an investor and contracting client working with the
project, said the building exemplifies “world-class engineering,” and despite
its height, will be done without external scaffolding. Buchardt said they will
primarily use cranes, supplementing with lifts as needed. At the time of
publication, 33 meters of the building were completed.
Moelven Industrier ASA is an industrial group that supplies products and
services to the Scandinavian construction market. The group’s businesses
employ more than 3,600 people and has an annual turnover of NOK 11
billion. The group’s production units are organized into timber, wood and
building divisions.
UNITED KINGDOM—More than £111 million of forestry was sold here in
2017, 40 percent more than 2016, according to forestry investment reports.
The report is based on commercial forest properties sales between Oct.
1, 2016 and Sept. 30, 2017, demonstrating the market bounced back after a
quieter 2016.
The increase is thanks to a buoyant market, high-value properties and
portfolios, steady demand and an influx of new investors. A total of 87 forest
properties were sold, compared to 67 in 2016, for a total of £111.04 million.
Sales were up £31.8 million from 2016, and were higher than the five-year
average of £104 million annually.
A total of 17,272 hectares were traded, 78 percent in Scotland. Forestry
in England accounted for 18 percent of the market, and just 4 percent in
Wales.
The report backs up MSCI IPD index findings that the industry is in good
shape with strong annual returns. While demand for large-scale commercial
plantations was strong, supply was decreasing. With some exceptions, no
commercial plantations have been established for almost 30 years, as many
of the larger private plantations are now owned by collective funds and
portfolios.
Experts say in the changing world of Brexit, generational succession will
play a big role in the forestry market. Also, new afforestation opportunities
may arise as a result of existing farmland owners planting areas, or from
changed ownership to forestry investors. Engaging in afforestation and
promoting the need to plant trees will help safeguard the British forestry
industry. ■
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Import/Export Wood Purchasing News February/March 2018 Page 29