The South African economy has significantly underperformed its peers for at least a decade. Low GDP growth rates, increasing unemployment, low levels of investment, burgeoning Government debt, the fall out from the State Capture project and the increasing likelihood of a further ratings downgrade. Despite this, the Government seems incapable of making the necessary structural reforms needed to improve growth for fear of upsetting its alliance partners. It would appear that there is no end in sight and that these unfavourable conditions will prevail throughout 2020. / Forestry in South Africa

The Victorian Government is in talks to sell its $61 million share in the Heyfield mill in Gippsland. The State Government bought a minority share in the privately-owned Heyfield mill in 2017 after the then-owner threatened to close its doors. / Timberbiz

Simply increasing fertilization would enable Finnish forestry to increase its carbon sinks by an amount equalling the emissions from passenger cars in Finland. Other effective means of increasing forest carbon sinks are soil manipulation, choosing the appropriate method of silviculture, effective management of seedling stands and the genetic improvement of trees. / Finnish Forest Association

The total area forest owners notified for final felling in January continues the last months general decline and was 27 per cent lower compared to the same period last year. The largest decline was in region Northern Sweden where it decreased by 40 per cent. / Swedish Forest Agency