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My first professional experiences related to the forestry sector occurred during the early years of college, in the internship period. I was 18 years old, and I quickly realized that it wouldn’t be easy, starting with the commute to the workplace. Harassment was present on the bus, on the subway. I also had the opportunity to intern outside of Brazil, in the United States. And there, it was no different. Being a young woman, different from the profile of others in the same environment, seemed to condone any inappropriate behavior from colleagues.

Now, I am completing 15 years in the forestry market, and what I can confirm is that these instances of prejudice and harassment do not reflect the stance of a particular company or region but rather of individuals. I also perceive that this is something that is becoming a thing of the past. Today, we see female executives not only in the forestry sector but also in other areas. As the new generations take on leadership roles, the environment becomes more inclusive. Men assist women in combating harassment, understanding that opportunities should be given equally.

When I entered college, my class was almost 50% male and 50% female. However, in the workplace throughout my career, on average, only 5% were women, with rare exceptions in leadership positions.

Over the years, we have witnessed changes. We see women taking on roles of greater responsibility with great competence. I feel well-represented by the women who are reaching these positions. I feel honored, as a woman, to be in the executive direction of the Paulista Association of Producers, Suppliers, and Consumers of Planted Forests, an entity that brings together 11 important companies in the sector in São Paulo.

I can mention other women who are doing fantastic work, such as Tatiana Kalman, Senior Vice President and General Manager in Latin America at Sylvamo; Mariana Lisboa, responsible for the Corporate Relations department at Suzano and also president of the Bahian Association of Forest-Based Companies; Adriana Maugeri, CEO of the Minas Gerais Forestry Industry Association.

According to the Gender Panorama report from the Forestry Women’s Network, in 2021, only 4% of women held leadership positions in the Brazilian forestry sector. Last year, this number increased to 7%.

In an ideal scenario, the issue of gender equity wouldn’t need to be discussed. It could be something natural, where recruitment and decisions are made based on the professional and technical capacity of each person, regardless of gender. Questions directed at women about marriage, children, or family dynamics wouldn’t need to be part of a selection interview.

Much is changing, and women entering the workforce now find an environment less tainted than previous generations encountered. The persistence of women (and men) in seeking equality is yielding results, and I am optimistic that this will continue to evolve.

photo: Fernanda Abílio  Executive director Florestar São Paulo

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In 2022, Nova Scotia’s forestry sector generated $1.8 billion in economic impact, according to a new report authored by Gardner Pinfold.

The Forestry Economic Task Force – a collaboration of forestry sector stakeholders whose purpose is to design and implement a strategic economic roadmap for Nova Scotia,  commissioned the report with funding from the Forestry Innovation Transition Trust.

“Even after all the challenges our sector faced, it generates nearly $2 billion of economic impact every year,” said Forest Nova Scotia executive director Stephen Moore. “This shows that the forestry sector is still part of Nova Scotia’s engine.”

“We can generate this kind of economic impact while being the province’s greenest sector – we take more carbon out of the environment than we emit.”

Forestry employs over 6,400 Nova Scotians – 2,700 direct full-time positions and 3,700 spinoff jobs, including about 900 in wood supply and support services. These jobs generate $380 million in income:

• The direct employees at the mills are well-paid, with an average income of $66,500.
• The average income for those employed in indirect activities, including forestry and support services, is $58,200.
• Nova Scotia’s average income is just over $43,000.

Additionally, the sector generates $171 million in tax revenue for the provincial and federal governments – $84 million provincially and $87 million federally.

“We employ thousands of people and pay them well above the provincial average,” said Moore. “The average pay cheque is $43,000 in Nova Scotia. We pay as much as 54 percent more than that.”

Northern Pulps’s closure in 2020 carried a substantial impact, resulting in multiple cases of job loss and financial hardship to those most closely tied to the mill’s operation.

“The closure of Northern Pulp was hard on many forestry families,” said Moore. “It also cost people their jobs, families their livelihoods, and the province revenue.”

Between 2018 and 2022, the sector’s GDP declined by 15 percent, exports by 18 percent, and employment by 14 percent.

“500 families lost their jobs and income because of the mill’s closure,” said Moore.

The Forestry Economic Task Force has created an economic roadmap that looks to sustain and unlock the significant growth potential of the forestry sector.

“We believe the forestry sector has immense potential for sustainable growth,” said the Forestry Economic Task Force executive director Harvey Gray. “Building upon the strength of our foundational manufacturing segments and supply chain, we are focused on finding and capitalizing on growth opportunities that will create green jobs and prosperity for generations.”

“An economic contribution that approaches $3 billion annually is within reach.”

The task force has identified several opportunities, including:

• The replacement of petroleum-based products with wood-based products, including bio-fuels, bio-chemicals, and bio-coal, and
• The expansion of residential, commercial, and industrial construction using mass timber

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Carbotech Group recently expanded its business with the acquisition of the Sawquip, a manufacturing company specializing in the design and manufacture of sawmill equipment for the primary and secondary breakdown of logs into lumber. Carbotech Group plans to further broaden its expand with the fresh inclusion of the range of products that came with the integration of the Sawquip’s products and services into its own.

An enhnaced product range

Sawquip’s innovative products include log turners and optimized log infeeds, chipping canters, twin and quad circular saw modules, as well as positive cant turners to allow for controlled curve sawing, among others. This strategic step of acquisition by Carbotech Group allows addition of new field of expertise, providing customers with innovative new solutions for lumber production.

To standardize procedures and presentation, Sawquip equipment will now be part of the Carbotech brand.

“Uniting Sawquip’s knowledge and products with our own will strengthen our expertise and allow us to expand our log solutions,” says Luc Houde, Executive Vice President of the Carbotech Group.

High-quality expertise

Sawquip has 35 years of experience and is a North American pioneer in the manufacture of curve sawing equipment. Carbotech’s facilities in Plessisville, Quebec will now help to manufacture the equipment for Sawquip. To ensure the continuity of this proven expertise, Carbotech Group has also appointed Pierre Lafond, Carbotech’s Vice President, Operations, to lead the transition and integration. Mr. Lafond already has extensive experience in manufacturing equipment similar to that produced by Sawquip. After-sales service and support will also be provided by Carbotech’s dedicated team.

“We are delighted to have concluded this transaction, which will undoubtedly result in a winning synergy that will drive Carbotech Group’s continued growth. On our end, this sale will allow us to devote 100% of our resources to Cardinal’s development and activities,” mentions Pascal Labranche, President of former Sawquip owner Équipements Cardinal Inc.

Carbotech Group

Carbotech Group was born of Carbotech’s acquisition of Autolog. Along with their new plant in the southern United States, the two specialists in their fields boast over 70 years of experience in comprehensive sawmill solutions for the wood industry.

To read other Carbotech Group related posts click here.

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MiCROTEC is presenting its best at the ongoing EUROBOIS. The company is present at booth 5E36 from February 6-9. MiCROTEC is presenting its wide multi-sensor quality scanner for softwood (Goldeneye) and hardwood (Woodeye).

Goldeneye is one of the trusted multi-sensor quality scanner for softwood. The Goldeneye multi-sensor quality scanner family allows one to recognize wood features and defects reliably and accurately to automate, streamline and optimize your production. Combining lasers, cameras, X-ray technology, and Artificial Intelligence increases yield and achieves the most accurate scanning results assuring high and constant quality.

Woodeye that is also displayed in the ongoing event is the other trusted multi-sensor quality scanner for hardwood. Woodeye recognises wood defects reliably and accurately in order to automate, streamline and optimise production. The grading and optimising software considers customer specific grading, chopping and sorting rules to increase yield and final product quality.

Visitors can also experience MiCROTEC’s revolutionary Logeye Stereo stereoscopic imaging system and our quality control tool QC Assist.

Logeye Stereo is a revolutionary transverse stereoscopic real-shape scanner for logsMiCROTEC’s Logeye Stereo stereoscopic imaging system is the only worldwide scanner that provides a full 360-degree scan of a log as it’s rolling into your Carriage, Headrig, End Dogger, or from a transverse to lineal conveyor. Since the scanning takes place as it’s transferred into the position, the log is already fully optimised and ready for sawing the instant it is dogged or sent through a sawline.

QC Assist is a Quality control tool to maximize grading accuracy & recovery. QC Assist lumber evaluation and reporting system supports overall grading performance by improving the efficiency and quality of lumber evaluations. QC Assist’s software provides seamless communication with the scanner system from anywhere in the scanner’s vicinity, allowing users to easily verify and document boards of interest during the QC process.

The specialised sales team is present at the booth to initiate interesting conversations about scanning and optimising solutions. MiCROTEC is making the best use of the opportunity to come closer to its customers while rendering more insights to all.

To read more MiCROTEC posts click here.

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