‘Bust’ at last report; ‘boom’ this time. That is how quickly the radiata pine log trade can change. And this one is a real beauty - the biggest jump for 10 years. But don’t bet your house on it lasting.

There is no point in denying it - market conditions for manufacturers of steel building frames, and all other non-wood building components, have never been better. Elizabeth Howarth reports on this trend, and whether the wood industry is using the right tactics to defend its market share.

Behind its ‘Wild West’ image, large-scale illegal logging, corruption and all-pervasive influence of the World Bank, there are positive forces quietly developing sustainable forestry in Papua New Guinea

With the market’s aversion to tropical plywood mounting, we asked Philippa Jones to talk to designers and furniture manufacturers about the opportunities this is creating for sustainably grown softwoods like radiata pine.

There are so many forest industry associations in Australia that noboy knows the actual number. But, as John Halkett reports, a major cull is starting to produce dividends.

China has opened the door for the use of radiata pine as a building material - a development of great potential significance across the Southern Hemisphere. But, as Liz Light reports, the journey is just beginning.

With a strong emphasis now on air pollution control in most parts of the world, attention is being drawn to dust emissions from wood processing operations - as Colin Zeff reports.

Second-hand wood processing machinery from the Northern Hemisphere might be cheap, but it can also be nasty. Technology expert Colin Zeff has some good advice that will improve the odds of success.