Monthly Archives: March 2019

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Today’s Takeaway

Ontario favours mill reopening but Resolute rejects Repap offer

March 19, 2019
Category: Today's Takeaway

Ontario has thrown its support behind the reopening of the Fort Frances pulp and paper mill, but Resolute rejects Repap’s bid, says it will proceed to redevelop the site. In other Company news: Paper Excellence completes purchase of Catalyst’s mills in BC; Georgia Pacific upgrades its Rome, Georgia dimension mill; and Interfor releases its 2018 corporate sustainability report.

In other news: North American lumber production edged up due to US output gains; global lumber trade fell 7% in 2018; Brazil’s indigenous leaders battle to save their land; and Oregon’s new Wildfire Response Council to determine adequacy of current prevention efforts.

Finally, March 21st is International Day of Forest. How will you mark the day?

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

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Cement Industry says BC premature, tall wood building safety not proven

March 18, 2019
Category: Today's Takeaway

Calling for a freeze on permits, the Canadian Cement Industry says BC’s decision to preempt the national building code and allow 12-storey wood buildings is premature and unsafe. In related news: Kalesnikoff starts construction on mass timber mill; Structurlam touts CLT prefabrication benefits; Minnesota looks to lure a CLT manufacturer; and a tour through Stora Enso’s plant in Grums, Sweden.

In other news: Repap submits offer for Resolute’s Fort Frances mill; Columbia Forest Products hopes to re-open its Rutherglen North Bay mill; and Roseburg is under investigation for potential use of illegal okoumé wood. Elsewhere: insurance companies use artificial intelligence to assess wildfire risk, while wildfire preparations are underway in Nova Scotia and Alberta.

Finally, wolf cull isn’t a caribou solution for a former conservation officer.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

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Business & Politics

Canada’s forest sector applauds investments in skills and innovation

Forest Products Association of Canada
March 19, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada

Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) applauds the federal government’s commitment to skills development and innovation in Canada’s forest products sector. Today’s budget commits more than $250M in funding to bolster Canada’s forest products industry, which employs more than 230,000 Canadians. “Today the government signaled that it recognizes and supports the transformation taking place in Canada’s forestry communities, noted Derek Nighbor, FPAC’s President and CEO. “Substantial investments dedicated to accelerating research and development, improving market access, and advancing product innovations demonstrate that the government understands where our industry is heading. We look forward to continuing our work with the federal government on these priorities for forestry workers and their families across Canada.”

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2019 Federal Budget Supports Forestry Innovation, New Products and Markets

FPInnovations
March 20, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada

Montreal – FPInnovations’ President and CEO Stéphane Renou, today welcomed Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s commitment to continue investing in the competitiveness of the Canadian forest industry by allocating $251.3-million over three years beginning in 2020-21 to encourage the forest sector to continue growing and develop new technologies. In his budget, Minister Morneau announced that the funds will extend existing innovation, markets, and product diversification programs. More specifically, Minister Morneau announced $91.8-million for the Forest Innovation Program covering the same time frame.

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Western Canadian resource sectors a federal budget focus

By Warren Frey
The Daily Commercial News
March 19, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada

OTTAWA – While pharmacare, housing and skills training took top billing, the 2019 federal budget also focused on western Canadian resource development and the move to a green economy. …The budget proposes an investment of $251.3 million over three years to NRCan starting in 2020-2021 to extend existing innovation and diversification programs for the forestry sector. The investments would include up to $91.8 million over three years for the Forest Innovation Program supporting pre-commercial research and development and up to $82.9 million for the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation program, to support industrial commercialization and innovation in technology and processes. Up to $64 million is proposed for the Expanding Market Opportunities program, which is designed to increase and diversify market opportunity for Canadian forest products in offshore markets and expand wood use in non-residential and mid-rise construction within and outside of Canada. A total of $12.6 million would go to the Indigenous Forestry Initiative which supports forest-based economic development.

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Random Lengths Lumber and Panel Market Report

Random Lengths
March 15, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

Framing lumber trading developed a stronger pulse for those serving markets graced with warmer and drier weather. …Structural panel prices shifted mildly amid measured trading. Price trends were mixed in OSB. …For the first time in years, harsh winter weather has slowed consumption of wood products across the vast majority of Canada and the U.S. With the official start of spring slated for next week, traders are openly wondering whether pent-up demand will lead to a surge of business. …North American lumber production edged up 0.8% in 2018 to 62.3 billion board feet, with U.S. output driving the uptick. U.S. production of 34.9 bbf represented a 3.3% increase over 2017. Canadian production fell 2.3% to 27.4 bbf. …Trader’s Notebook: Last year’s record price volatility and anomalous trends will remain fresh in softwood lumber traders’ minds as they assess second-quarter prospects.

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Global softwood lumber trade fell 7% in 2018, US lumber prices took a roller coaster ride and China’s wood demand slowed in the 2H/18

By Hakan Ekstrom
Wood Resources International LLC
March 19, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

In 2018, global trade of lumber fell for the first time in five years, with total trade down 7% year-over-year. The four largest importing countries, the US (-18%), China (-5%), the United Kingdom (-13%) and Japan (-6%) all imported less in 2018 than in the previous year. Much of the decline was the result of weaker economic prospects and reduced housing starts. US lumber prices have gone through a historical roller-coaster ride over the past 12 months. Random Lengths’ composite index for southern yellow pine was at $420/m3 in January 2018, peaked at $554/m3 in June and fell to $372/m3 in January 2019. 2018 softwood lumber exports from Canada were down 5% from 2017, with the biggest decline being in shipments to China. A three-year high of 80% of total exports were destined for the US market in the 3Q/18 despite efforts by Canada’s lumber industry to diversify its export shipments. China’s share has fallen from 13% in 2017 to 12% in 2018. The average export price from Canada declined by 28% this fall.

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Premier on hand as Paper Excellence finalizes Catalyst Paper purchase

BC Local News
March 18, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

The addition of Catalyst Paper to the company puts the “paper” in Paper Excellence Canada, said PEP CEO Brian Baarda. Baarda was joined by B.C. Premier John Horgan, North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring, MLA Doug Routley… to celebrate the completion of the deal that adds Catalyst Paper’s Crofton mill, as well as its two mills in Port Alberni and Powell River, to PEC’s’s assets. Horgan said… “Last year, we stepped up to protect pensions for Catalyst employees and stood up against unfair U.S. trade tariffs because when forestry is successful, B.C. is successful,” Horgan said. …The B.C.-based Paper Excellence, which had five operating mills in Canada and two mills in France before its acquisition of Catalyst Paper and its three mills, has quickly grown to be one of the largest pulp producers in North America.

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Paper Excellence finalizes deal to acquire Crofton’s Catalyst Paper

By Robert Barron
Cowichan Valley Citizen
March 18, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

The addition of Catalyst Paper to the company puts the “paper” in Paper Excellence Canada, said PEP CEO Brian Baarda. Baarda was joined by B.C. Premier John Horgan, North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring, MLA Doug Routley and other dignitaries and company officials …to celebrate the completion of the deal that adds Catalyst Paper’s Crofton mill, as well as its two mills in Port Alberni and Powell River, to PEC’s’s assets. …Baarda said the acquisition of Catalyst is a continued step towards PEC’s long-term growth plan within Canada’s pulp and paper industry and clearly demonstrates its commitment to B.C. “Together, these combined operations will improve efficiency and sustainability in the forest industry in B.C. and Canada,” he said. “We also look forward to being an integral part of the community here in Crofton and the Cowichan Valley, as well as in Port Alberni and Powell River…”

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Interfor Publishes 2018 Corporate Sustainability Report

Interfor Corporation
March 18, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

INTERFOR CORPORATION—announced today that it has published its 2018 corporate sustainability report; it can be viewed online. The report highlights Interfor’s continuing commitment to making quality lumber products, managing forests sustainably, providing meaningful and safe jobs for employees, investing in its facilities, operating to strict environmental parameters and supporting local and First Nations communities. In addition, a new chapter was added on climate change to highlight the work done by the Company to mitigate environmental impacts and promote the environmental benefits of building with wood.

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Done deal – Paper Excellence owns Catalyst

By Nelson Bennett
Business in Vancouver
March 18, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Richmond based Paper Excellence now owns three pulp and paper mills owned by Catalyst Paper. The formal transfer of ownership was marked Monday March 18 in Crofton, where one of the three Catalyst mills is located. The acquisition also includes Catalyst’s distribution centre in Surrey, and mills in Port Alberni and Powell River. Paper Excellence has not divulged how much it paid to acquire Catalyst, which has struggled financially for a decade, thanks in part of declining demand for newsprint and other paper products in the digital age. Catalyst, previously a publicly traded company, nearly went bankrupt in 2012, when it sought creditor protection, and emerged from that experience as a private company. …Catalyst employs 1,600 workers in B.C. and is Crofton’s largest employer, so the mill’s closure would be a major blow to to the community.

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Combo heat and power plant proposed for Thunder Bay generating station

By Gary Rinne
The Thunder Bay News Watch
March 19, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

THUNDER BAY — A group of Thunder Bay residents believes the shuttered Ontario Power Generation plant on Mission Island holds the potential to generate hundreds of new jobs. The members of the volunteer group have developed a plan to repurpose the station as a combined heat and power plant, creating spinoff jobs in greenhouse operations and the manufacturing of residential and industrial wood pellets. …McLeod’s group, however, feels… “The proposal is for a combined heat and power station that would be central to supporting a bio reactor, bio refinery, merchandising yard, greenhouses for locally grown food, [Resolute] paper and kraft mill, Confederation College’s education biomass program, city sewer, city recycle and city water facility while enhancing and supporting the forest industry to produce biomass white (residential) and black advanced (industrial) wood pellets”.

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Rickford says Fort Frances mill remains ‘viable’

By Gary Rinne
The Thunder Bay News Watch
March 19, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

Greg Rickford

FORT FRANCES, ON — The MPP for Kenora-Rainy River, Greg Rickford, says he feels there’s still a chance to re-start the Fort Frances pulp and paper mill under new ownership. Rickford posted his reaction on social media Monday, after Resolute Forest Products announced it had rejected a bid by Repap Resources to buy the idled mill. Resolute stated that Repap’s proposal fell short of what was needed: They failed to provide the required financial deposit, did not mark up the asset purchase agreement, did not address our key requirement to perform environmental remediation, and did not produce sufficient, committed financing to move forward. In addition, their refusal to agree to treat Resolute’s information on a confidential basis prevented them from accessing sufficient information to inform their bid and put forward a responsive offer.

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Disappointed but not surprised, Fort Frances councillor says of rejected mill bid

By Matt Prokopchuk
CBC News
March 19, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

Local and provincial politicians say they’re disappointed that a deal that promised to reopen the shuttered paper mill in Fort Frances, Ont., fell through and that the company that owns the site appears to be focussed on demolishing the plant. Resolute Forest Products informed municipal leaders in Fort Frances on Monday that it rejected a bid submitted by Repap Resources Group. Repap had said it would reopen the mill, which has been idle since 2014, if it could acquire it, and said between 600 and 700 jobs would be created. …”We’re not necessarily surprised by this outcome — Resolute has certainly reflected a disinclination … to sell the property to a buyer that would operate it,” Coun. Douglas Judson told CBC News. 

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Fort Frances Profoundly Disappointed by Resolute Forest Products

By the Town of Fort Frances
The Net News Ledger
March 19, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

FORT FRANCES – The Town of Fort Frances is profoundly disappointed and disillusioned by the announcement yesterday by Resolute that they will not entertain the offer to Rainy River Packaging Inc. (formerly Repap LLC). We remain committed to attempting to transition the mill to an operational entity and will work with all parties toward that goal. We have met with Rainy River Packaging Inc. and Minister Rickford and will reach out to both the potential buyer and to Resolute to enter into discussions to continue our mission to broker a deal. …The Town is preparing for all eventualities for the future of the mill property but continues to work toward an operational future for this key economic asset.

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Province favours Fort Frances mill reopening

By Ian Ross
Northern Ontario Business
March 18, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

Provincial cabinet minister Greg Rickford has thrown his support behind the reopening of the former Fort Frances pulp and paper mill under potential new ownership. Rickford, Ontario’s energy and Northern development and mines minister, is backing the Town of Fort Frances’ efforts to gain control of local wood rights from Resolute Forest Products and save the mill buildings from demolition. “We will work with any successful bidder on securing wood supply for the Fort Frances facility,” said Rickford in a statement released one day before Resolute’s March 15 deadline to take bids on the property. “I stand behind the people of Fort Frances, and I am very focused on seeing this important asset reopen, and bring good jobs back to northwestern Ontario.” …The town’s efforts to save the mill and encourage a new operator has drawn support from other communities, First Nations leadership, business groups and organized labour. 

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Resolute rejects Repap Resources’ bid for Fort Frances mill, says it will proceed with redevelopment

By Matt Prokopchuk
CBC News
March 18, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

Resolute Forest Products has rejected a bid from a private investment group interested in purchasing the shuttered paper mill in Fort Frances, Ont., and says it will turn its attention to redeveloping the site. That was communicated in a letter sent by the forestry giant to Fort Frances mayor June Caul on Monday. Repap Resources Group said on Friday that it had submitted a “multi-million dollar” offer to purchase the mill and its assets. Resolute closed the plant in 2014; the company said Repap’s offer “fell short on multiple fronts.” Resolute had already signed an agreement with a company that specializes in redeveloping industrial sites in January, according to the letter to the town from Resolute president and chief executive officer Yves Laflamme, but entertained interest from other parties, including Repap. Laflamme’s letter said that Repap was the only party to actually submit a bid.

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Boise Cascade reaches agreement to acquire American Lumber Distributors

By Boise Cascade
Global Newswire
March 19, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States

BOISE, Idaho – Boise Cascade Company announced today an agreement to acquire American Lumber Distributors and Brokers, Inc., headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. American Lumber is a wholesale distributor of top quality lumber as well as plywood, oriented strand board, James Hardie® Siding and engineered wood products.  “American Lumber is an exceptional supplier of many building products,” said Nick Stokes, executive vice president, Boise Cascade. “With their experienced and knowledgeable team, they will be a great addition to our nationwide distribution network and will enhance our service capacity in the Southeast.”

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Georgia-Pacific to invest $30 million in Rome Lumber facility

By Georgia Pacific
Lesprom Network
March 18, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US East

Georgia-Pacific to invest $30 million in its Rome Lumber mill in Georgia, US. The dimensional lumber facility, which currently employs 163 people, will use the investment to purchase and install new equipment in the coming months. This new equipment includes a new planer, grader and trimmer. Along with a new sorter that will serve 65 bays, a significant increase from the current 26 bays. …Preparations for new structures and equipment is beginning now, with concrete work to be underway by June. …The facility will then shut down briefly to initiate and test the new equipment with plans to reopen in early December. This is the largest investment since Georgia-Pacific acquired the facility in 2013 as part of the purchase of International Paper’s Temple-Inland Building Products division. 

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Wood, Paper & Green Building

Québec City to host Woodrise 2019, an international congress on mid- and high-rise wood buildings

Cision Newswire
March 19, 2019
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada

QUÉBEC – The Québec City Convention Centre, in collaboration with the City of Québec, is pleased to announce that the second World Congress on Mid- and High-rise Wood Buildings will be held in Québec City in the fall of 2019. From September 30 to October 4, Woodrise 2019 will bring together wood construction stakeholders, decision-makers, and professionals to share their knowledge and strengths in order to position wood as a leading construction material for tomorrow’s sustainable cities. …The event is expected to attract over 1,000 international attendees, including some 20 delegations. …The theme for Woodrise 2019 is “Building our cities for future generations” and has been jointly organized by FPInnovations and Institut technologique FCBA (France). 

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US Green Building Council Releases New Timber Traceability LEED Credit

US Green Building Council
March 19, 2019
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States

Washington, DC – The U.S. Green Building Council announced a new LEED pilot credit designed to increase transparency in timber supply chains and reduce the risk of illegally harvested wood entering the buildings industry supply chain. The Timber Traceability LEED pilot credit is designed to up efforts to eliminate the use of illegal wood in buildings. …Mahesh Ramanujam, president & CEO… “Forests play an incredibly important part of a healthy functioning planet and this pilot credit enables LEED, which typically rewards performance that demonstrates leadership, to catalyze market activity focused on curbing illegal activity in the buildings industry.” The development of the pilot credit was led by a team… including the Environmental Investigation Agency and World Wildlife Fund. Major wood products importing countries have adopted legislation… examples include the U.S. Lacey Act and the European Union Timber Regulation. 

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CNC machining debut for CLT wood building construction

By Bill Esler
Woodworking Network
March 18, 2019
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States, US West

PORTLAND, Ore. – At the International Mass Timber Conference, SCM is outlining its state-of-the-art technological solutions, including a new CNC machining center for the timber construction industry. SCM says it has been working within this sector over the past 10 years… This has led to state-of-the-art technological solutions, says SCM, including Oikos X, a new CNC machining center for manufacturing structural beams, X-lam/CLT wall panels, and insulating panels. During that time its technology has matured for wood construction as it gained an in-depth knowledge of industry demands, and carried on intense R&D work. …The technology will be unveiled at the International Mass Timber Conference, which runs March 19-21 in Portland, Oregon to examine the new face of mass timber construction.

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Swinerton Announces New Swinerton Mass Timber Business Group

By Swinterton
PR Newswire in Benzinga
March 18, 2019
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States, US West

SAN FRANCISCO — Swinerton is proud to announce that it has officially launched Swinerton Mass Timber, a new business unit dedicated to building projects using mass timber technology. The Swinerton Mass Timber team will pursue new projects that are being developed with mass timber, and the team will evaluate other project opportunities to determine mass timber solutions. Swinerton Mass Timber experts will shape the paths for delivering financially-viable mass timber structures, working with project teams and key partners across the nation to develop, design and deliver mass timber buildings. “Swinerton Mass Timber represents our commitment to shaping the future of building. Utilizing this technology, we know mass timber will help us build more quickly, more safely, and deliver the most cost-efficient structures in markets nationwide,” said CEO Jeff Hoopes.

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Study sees potential for area to profit from new type of wood construction

International Falls Journal
March 18, 2019
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States, US West

Minnesota’s strong commercial market, accessibility to supply chain and opportunities for economic impact are highlighted in a recently completed study, “The Economic Feasibility of Mass Timber Manufacturing in Minnesota.” The study, commissioned by the Area Partnership for Economic Expansion, or APEX, …suggests that Minnesota has great potential to introduce mass timber manufacturing in the Arrowhead region. …The study also examined Minnesota’s capacity to build a mass timber manufacturing facility in the Arrowhead Region. Study results show that building a mid-sized manufacturing facility in northern Minnesota would bring: 50 new (direct) jobs, $11.7M in industry sales, $6.2M in labor income, 45 new (indirect) jobs, Total Output: $20.3M. Every mass timber manufacturing job in the state of Minnesota would support 0.9 jobs in related industries, potentially creating a total of 45 new jobs.

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New Arup report advocates use of timber to help tackle climate change

By Andy Walker
Infrastructure Intelligence
March 19, 2019
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: International

Arup has launched its Rethinking Timber Buildings report aimed at accelerating the construction industry’s response to reducing global emissions and achieving net zero carbon buildings by using sustainable materials.  The report, which highlights the time and efficiency savings that can result from the use of mass timber as a sustainable and safe alternative to more commonly used materials, says that architects, developers, planners and corporate organisations should consider mass timber when designing low and mid-rise buildings.   The move could form a vital step towards tackling some of the challenges that the construction industry faces when designing and building cities amid rapid levels of urbanisation and human population growth. …Andrew Lawrence, timber specialist at Arup, said: “Timber is our only 100% renewable building material. …We know that more can be done to embed sustainable practices into design and construction and our approach can help both our clients and Arup to deliver on this.”

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World’s first mass plywood panel approved for 18-story buildings

By Drew Zeiba
The Architects Newspaper
March 19, 2019
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building

Located in Lyons, Oregon, Freres Lumber has been in business for nearly a century. After starting out producing standard lumber projects, the company moved into wood veneers some 60 years ago and in 1998 purchased a plywood plant. Now, its made another step: getting U.S. and Canadian patents on its mass plywood panel, the first veneer-based mass timber panel in the world, and fire approvals to build up to 18 stories high with the panel. …The mass plywood panel has already been put to the test on a smaller scale. …The company has also seen its product used in larger projects. Oregon State University’s new Peavy Hall, a forestry science center designed by Michael Green Architecture, featured Freres Lumber’s product on the roof, while the nearby A.A. “Red” Emmerson Advanced Wood Products Laboratory shows off the panels on its interior and exterior walls. 

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Forestry

Squamish councillor remembers Ethiopian Airlines crash victim

By Steven Chua
The Squamish Chief
March 18, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada

Peter deMarsh

A local councillor is paying tribute to a victim of the Ethiopian Airlines crash who he said had an influence on Squamish’s forestry sector. Peter deMarsh, of New Brunswick, died in the Boeing 737 Max crash in Ethiopia on March 10, along with the 156 others aboard the plane. Coun. Eric Andersen said that he knew deMarsh, who was a lifelong advocate of the Canadian forest sector and woodlot owners. “This guy’s achieved so much in organizing people from the grassroots through goodwill,” he said. Andersen said that deMarsh’s advocacy for small-time woodlot owners in New Brunswick served as a blueprint for many communities across Canada, including Squamish. “It has been an inspiration well beyond Eastern Canada,” said Andersen.

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Canada’s forests are thriving

Letter by Derek Nighbor, President, Forest Products Association of Canada
The Star Phoenix
March 18, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada

Derek Nighbor

Re: U.S. plush toilet paper use wiping out Canada’s forests, flushing away the future: report (NP, Feb. 26). On behalf of Canada’s forest sector, I am responding to false statements made in the story on toilet paper use in America and the impact on forests. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) report used words like “devastating” to describe how American toilet paper use is affecting Canada’s forests. Nothing could be further from the truth. Canada plants over 615 million trees annually and has professional foresters who manage our forests to ensure wildlife, biodiversity and water protection. It is concerning that NRDC suggests alternative sources that are more carbon intensive or sourced from countries with lower forest management, labour and human rights standards. …Canada’s approach to forest management brings environmental, social, and economic benefits to our country. We plan to keep it that way.

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B.C. prepares for wildfire season as residents urged to protect property

The Canadian Press in the Times-Colonist
March 19, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Doug Donaldson

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — British Columbia’s forests minister says the province is preparing for the wildfire season with some new strategies and people living near forested areas should also do their part by safeguarding property against potential blazes. Doug Donaldson says a $101-million budget, up from $64 million last year, will allow for a more comprehensive prescribed burning program and new technology including night vision goggles to help with early detection of fires will be piloted this summer. He says firefighters will also have more access to computers and iPads in the field and drones will assist with fire mapping and infrared scanning. Donaldson says a program established last September is expected to fund fuel management work on Crown and private land by helping local governments and First Nations lower wildfire risks.

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Tsawout councillor visits Saturna to meet logging protestors

By Nick Murray
BC Local News
March 18, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Mavis Underwood, a respected councillor from the Tsawout First Nation has travelled to Saturna Island to talk to three community members who are disrupting logging operations there, amid an acrimonious land-use dispute. The Tsawout First Nation has 955 registered members, with more than half living on a small reserve near Central Saanich. Part of Saturna Island is reserve land where members can exercise their traditional practices of hunting, fishing and collecting medicinal plants. Underwood is an elected Tsawout Councillor and she acknowledges that poor communication about the logging plan has led to unhappiness in some quarters. “Some people have good reason to be concerned,” she says. “In hindsight, communication hasn’t been the best and we should have done better.”

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Forests in Horsefly watershed targeted for harvest

By Bruce MacLeod
The Williams Lake Tribune
March 18, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

On April 15, 2010 John Youds and Rob Doligan, who were representing the Ministry of the Environment, presented a 33-page outline to the Horsefly River Roundtable regarding why the Horsefly River watershed should be declared a “Fisheries Sensitive Watershed,” which made a whole lot of sense to those of us who were present. …Since that time it seems the logging industry has been putting a concerted effort to harvest the area’s trees before the designation comes into effect in the summer of 2020. …The Horsefly sockeye run was once considered the largest in B.C., supplying over 50 per cent of the sockeye caught by fishers in the province. …There doesn’t seem to be any sense to the Ministry of Forest’s logging plan, if in fact there is one at all.

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Can Ontario’s Endangered Wildlife Survive Doug Ford?

By Reykia Fick, Greenpeace Forest campaigner
The Huff
March 19, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada East

Humanity has caused populations of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles to decline by 60 per cent since 1970. …Here in Ontario, Premier Doug Ford… is preparing to change the province’s Endangered Species Act, the legislation created to protect our most at-risk plants and animals. But Ford’s review doesn’t have a goal to reverse the startling drop in Ontario’s animal and plant species, or to better enforce the law. Instead, the review’s discussion paper describes the supposed inconvenience of the legislation itself, stating that “authorization processes can create significant administrative burdens and delays.” …Specific logging and other industrial projects have enjoyed sweeping exemptions from the ESA’s strict requirements since 2013. …Yet rather than close loopholes for big businesses, Ford looks to be preparing to further weaken the rules for industry.

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American Trucking Associations, FPInnovations Unveil 2019 Collaborative Research Program

The American Trucking Associations
Cision Newswire
March 17, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: United States

ATLANTA — American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council and PIT Group of FPInnovations, announced the organizations will be conducting joint research projects on fuel savings and emerging braking technologies. …The two groups announced in September 2018 they had formed a strategic partnership to advance innovation in trucking through field-testing and truck engineering. The first two projects they will collaborate on will be developing a fuel-saving calculator and exploring electromagnetic braking systems. …This calculator is an interactive mathematical tool that’s used by equipment operators to evaluate the potential fuel and economic savings of an aerodynamic device based on test data. 

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Gov. Brown convenes Wildfire Response Council

KTVZ.COM
March 18, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, US West

Kate Brown

PORTLAND, Ore. – Governor Kate Brown on Monday launched Oregon’s Wildfire Response Council, which met for the first time in Portland. The council is tasked to review Oregon’s current model for wildfire prevention, preparedness, and response, analyzing whether or not the current model is sustainable given our increasing wildfire risks in the face of changes in climate.  “Every fire season since I first became governor has been a historic fire season, and each season, we’ve seen unprecedented damage to our homes, livelihoods, and Oregon’s natural environment,” Brown said.  “We need to be prepared and proactive to get ahead of this threat, which is why I have convened this council on wildfire response. We need to make sure we are doing everything we can, employing best practices, and investing in new tools, technology, and people power.” 

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Forest Service plans largest sale of Alaska old-growth timber in years

Associated Press in Anchorage Daily News
March 18, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, US West

JUNEAU – The U.S. Forest Service is planning the largest sale of Southeast Alaska old-growth timber in years. The Prince of Wales Island Landscape Level Analysis project will harvest as much as 225 million board feet of old-growth lumber from Prince of Wales Island in Tongass National Forest, KTOO reported Saturday. The service said the process will be gradual because it will not allow more than 100 acres of clear cutting at one time from the region. Owen Graham, executive director of the logging industry group Alaska Forest Association, said young-growth timber might employ seasonal lumberjacks but it’s the older trees that will keep remaining mills open. “The old-growth portion will provide mill jobs and the young-growth portion will almost exclusively end up getting shipped overseas,” Graham said. “But it’s providing jobs, those are good jobs.”

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Online game to boost forest advocacy

By Catherine Teves
Republic of the Philippines News Agency
March 19, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: International

MANILA — An online game offering a PHP100,000 prize aims to help promote knowledge and activities that will benefit forests nationwide. Local app-based trivia game show, “Paydro Live”, will feature this Thursday (March 21) questions on the country’s forests so people can learn more about these ecosystems, noted forest management specialist Hubert Riña from the Forest Management Bureau (FMB) which is sponsoring the contest. “We’re encouraging those who’ll join the game show to prepare by learning as much as they can about our forests,” he said. He also urged the game’s prospective players to learn about the annual International Day of Forests (IDF) which countries worldwide observe on March 21. Anyone, anywhere can join the game, Riña said. FMB continues its advocacy to help prevent further loss of the forest ecosystem. Among the forests’ benefits are providing food, water and raw materials, FMB said.

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International Day of Forests 2019

UN Food and Agriculture Organization
March 19, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: International

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 March the International Day of Forests in 2012. The Day celebrates and raises awareness of the importance of all types of forests. On each International Day of Forests, countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organize activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns. The theme for each International Day of Forests is chosen by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests. The theme for 2019 is Forests and Education. How will you mark the day?

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Who Will Save the Rain Forest?

By Carol Giacomo
The New York Times
March 19, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: International

The indigenous peoples of the Amazon rain forest are the shock troops in the struggle against climate change. “We are the first ones to be affected,” says Sônia Guajajara, one of Brazil’s best known indigenous leaders. “We’re seeing floods that last longer, we’re seeing droughts that are longe… It also affects our culture.” …Although long imperiled, the forest is at greater threat now under the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro. …Mr. Bolsonaro moved quickly to undermine protections for the environment, indigenous land rights, nongovernmental organizations. …Lands that are formally recognized as “collective lands” are owned by the government but guaranteed under the Constitution for the exclusive use of indigenous groups. Mr. Bolsonaro says he wants those lands made “more productive.” …The Bolsonaro election also calls into question the fate of a proposal… to create a rain forest sanctuary the size of Mexico.

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Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy

Canadian biomass delegation seeking Swedish export partners

Northern Ontario Business
March 18, 2019
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada, Canada East

A Canadian delegation of innovators in the biomass market will search out new export partners during a trip to Sweden this April. Biomass North Development Centre, based in North Bay, will lead the envoy, which will first attend the World Bio Markets forum in Amsterdam, April 1-3. This year’s conference is focused on the theme Commercializing the Bio-Based Value Chain. The delegation will continue on to Stockholm, Sweden, to participate in business-to-business meetings with potential export partners on April 4, followed by a day of site tours on April 5. “We are eager to bring Canadian innovation to the global market,” said Dawn Lambe, executive director of Biomass North Development Centre, in a March 18 news release.

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Health & Safety

Wood stoves largest contributor to air quality issues in Houston

Houston Today
March 20, 2019
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada, Canada West

Wood stoves are the largest contributor to air quality issues in Houston, according to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. …A Wood Stove Exchange Program introduced in Houston last year offered residents a rebate if they swapped their wood-burning stove for a more energy-efficient appliance, but the program had no usage, said Gerald Pinchbeck, Houston’s chief administrative officer. …The ministry said Canfor and its pellet plant, which is run in partnership with Pinnacle Renewable Energy, are “generally in compliance” with their permit, which sets out limits for emissions. …Michelle Ward, a spokesperson for Canfor, said their Houston mill passed both inspections conducted by the ministry in 2018 with no deficiencies. …When asked if the curtailment of mill operations is advised during air quality advisories, the ministry said not necessarily, as curtailment can sometimes lead to increased emissions.

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