US housing starts plunged 22 per cent in March, as builder confidence experienced its largest drop in the history of its measurement (35 years). In other COVID-19 related news: two Ontario sawmills are poised to restart as lumber prices steady; Nova Scotia’s forest producers are pushed to the brink; forest conservation can help forestall pandemics; and more on the potential cancellation of BC’s planting season.

In other unhappy news: an out-of-control fire prompts evacuations in BC’s Squamish valley; a New Brunswick sawmill is destroyed by fire; and a Maine paper mill digester explodes. Meanwhile, forest cover can benefit from wood biomass use; and woody biomass jobs are up in the US.

Finally, the Canadian Bioeconomy Conference and RISI join our (long) list of forestry events impacted by COVID-19. 

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor