Timber iQ February - March 2019 // Issue: 42 | Page 9

NEWS
streams in South Africa and we have gene editing
potentially making the world a safer place by curing
disease and providing a valuable tool to produce more
from less.”
All this made possible from the humble tree.
BIOTECH BOON
“The forest product sector is entering a remarkably
exciting era, especially in tree breeding and wood
science research and exploring the use of wood as a
renewable, low carbon material in the bio-economy,”
she says.
“As a sector, we have to respond with considerable
urgency to the challenges and opportunities that we
are currently experiencing, and to this end there has
been significant development in innovative
biotechnologies that facilitate faster, more precise
and efficient tree breeding.”
The forest and paper sectors face increasing pressure
to meet demand. Issues such as vulnerability to pests
and disease, along with competing uses for natural
resources, require accelerated adaptation to climate
change effects. There is also a need to improve the
quality and quantity of products.
A number of interventions are being developed
around the world to:
• Increase yields while retaining environmental
integrity.
• Promote climate adaptation to optimise resource
use and increase resistance to pests and diseases.
• Limit the growth of invasive tree species outside
controlled plantation areas.
• Optimise downstream value chains and
reduce wastage.
• Increase food security.
• Educate landowners and wider communities
about the benefits of tree planting.
PLANTED TREES FIND THEIR PLACE
While timber plantations represent only 7% of the
planet’s forest area, they provide half of the wood for
industrial purposes. There is the global transition
towards a bio-based industry that uses renewable
materials to replace finite, petroleum-derived products.
“The forestry sector is well-placed to serve this
transition, not only at research level but also on the
ground,” says Molony.
With the formal timber sector employing about
13.7 million workers globally and generating a gross
value add of more than USD600-billion each year, it is a
key contributor to the economy of many countries. It is
also an important component in terms of giving effect to
the Climate Change Paris Agreement through carbon
sequestration, while the goods and services provided
by forests make significant contributions towards the
achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The ICFPA meeting heard presentations on health
and safety and a chain-of-custody standard for wood
and wood products being finalised by the International
Organisation for Standardisation (ISO).
// FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019
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