What is the impact of Deforestation in climate change and what role does REDD+ play?

Understanding deforestation Deforestation refers to the process of clearing or removing forests or woodlands, typically done for more agricultural land, or urban expansion. It involves the permanent destruction of trees and the conversion of forested areas into non-forested land.  A key distinction to note is that deforestation occurs when a forested area of land is cleared and the land use…

Is Wood Recyclable?

Is Wood Recyclable? The term “recycling” describes the process of converting “waste” into new materials or goods. Recycling is simply the process of converting waste into something useful.   Recycling keeps potentially hazardous chemicals out of the environment and eliminates the need to employ new resources to make new things, as opposed to tossing rubbish away. By using fewer resources,…

Simon Dorries presents the 2023 Timber Design Award for Australian Certified Timber

Timber Design Awards 2023 – Showcasing Certified Timber

Bendigo’s new GovHub, Galkangu wins Award for Australian Certified Timber As sponsors of the “Australian Certified Timber” category at the Timber Development Association’s Australian Timber Design Awards (TDA), we at Responsible Wood are delighted to recognise the well-deserved winner in this category – Bendigo’s new GovHub, Galkangu. The Awards, hosted at The Cargo Hall, in Melbourne, celebrated outstanding timber design…

Lights, camera, action! Design studio ‘directs’ the goals and aspirations of clients to produce prize-winning projects

Creating enjoyable environments for work and relaxation… THE creation of architecture involves many people and disciplines to produce a successful project. Architects themselves seem to imitate the role of the movie director, controlling and coaxing the core message, continuously assessing and subtly directing the process to achieve the final solution. No one is more aware of this than James Fitzpatrick, who…

Innovative work space focusing on sustainability and flexibility for Macquarie University

The Macquarie University Incubator is one of the latest additions to the Macquarie University campus in New South Wales, Australia, providing a vibrant and accessible space for students to research and develop ideas. Sustainability, flexibility, and a short construction time were key priorities in the development of the project. 105 m³ of PEFC-certified glulam, supplied by Binderholz, and 2,500 m² solid wood panels, were processed during…

Bird monitoring program supports forest plantations

A successful bird monitoring program supported by Responsible Wood Community Grants and undertaken by Birdlife Australia at the request of PF Olsen Australia has dispelled the notion that forest plantations are ‘biological deserts’ In 2015, BirdLife Australia began monitoring bird populations annually in hardwood plantations in western Victoria and have done similar work in Western Australia since 2017.  The Responsible…

Call for Entry – 2022 Australian Timber Design Awards are bigger than ever!

Judging of the 2022 Australian Timber Design Awards has commenced with submissions closing Friday, July 29th 2022. Responsible Wood, Australia’s largest forest certification scheme, is proud to announce the continuation of its long running involvement in the Australian Timber Design Awards. Now in their 23rd year, the Awards are distinguished by a proud heritage of innovation and achievement. The Awards…

Going local, slow and carbon low in the 21st century updating of the drop slab hut

Covered by Gib Wetteenhall, Secretary of Ballarat Region Treegrowers (BRT)  The Drop Slab Hut was supported by the Responsible Wood Community Grants Program. For more information about the Responsible Wood Community Grants Program please visit the Responsible Wood website. The ImLal drop slab hut provides a practical and attractive example of how we might deploy eucalypts, wattles and other native…

The ‘radical’ re-built timber home inspired by nature

A clear vision to create a structure that emulated its rocky surrounds… AN award-winning architect inspired by nature has used cross-laminated timber and glulam in a Victorian re-build project that blends with its surrounding rocky landscape. From the remnants of an old property outside Geelong, Melbourne-based Level Architekture, together with Vistek Structural Engineers, Responsible Wood-certified Hyne Timber and XLam, ticked…

Berlinovo apartment building – hybrid construction with PEFC-certified timber

As featured by PEFC International Berlin has a new residential complex for students, realized as a timber hybrid construction. PEFC-certified timber in the load-bearing elements has a beneficial effect on the speed of construction, the quality of living and the building’s ecological footprint. Living space is rare in Germany’s capital, making the search for housing a challenge, especially for students. Berlinovo…