More than 100 forest managers, researchers, policymakers, foresters, forest owners, industry officials and others will meet in Duluth this week to see whether there are new ways to increase forest productivity -- to grow and cut more trees on the same amount of land. There's competition from around the world, not just for finished products like lumber and paper, but even for the raw materials, trees and pulp. Forest Industry Seeks to Boost Productivity - Science - RedOrbit. Those issues...

Land owners, timber producers and sawmills are suffering as prices for pine saw timber declined dramatically in 2006; consumers are enjoying the best lumber prices from their local hardware stores in more than 18 months. Land Owners, Timber Producers and Sawmill Owners Caught in Squeeze; Consumers Benefit - Yahoo! News Travel. At the same time, the data shows that consumers are enjoying the best lumber prices from their local hardware stores in more than 18 months, according to...

Although the international market is hurting the state's timber industry, it is a necessary aspect of the business, said Gregory Cook, assistant state forester. It was only a little more than a year ago that the state's timber industry was setting new production records. But the shift from oak to other kinds of wood is just one factor affecting the state's timbering industry today, Dye said. A final factor is that one of the state industry's primary market has shifted in recent years, Dye said.

Nation Monday April 16, 2007 DPM refutes allegations Malaysia killing orangutans to clear forests for plantations. KUALA LUMPUR: The motive behind the accusation by Western environmental activists that Malaysia and Indonesia killed thousands of orangutans to clear forest for oil palm plantations is merely to jeopardise the industry, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said. DPM refutes allegations Malaysia killing orangutans to clear forests for plantations. KUALA LUMPUR: The...

Steve Powney, news editor of the industry publication Timber Trades Journal, said supplies could still be obtained but firms needed to be prepared to wait longer than usual for shipments. Home improvement chain B&Q said there had been an industry-wide "short-term shortage of timber for this type of fencing" and a rise in customer demand after the storms. The UK is experiencing a shortage of traditional lap fencing panels just as the busy spring season gets under way, a trade organisation...