The 2026 Olympics kicks offs in Italy with PEFC-certified forests at the heart of its sustainability aims. In related news: Canada presents bill to support Build Canada Program; UC Berkeley’s mass timber research is decarbonizing construction; wildfire home insurance is under fire in Southern California; New Brunswick minister says no to JD Irving’s land swap idea; and University of BC researchers say wolf reduction boosts caribou survival in rugged terrain areas.

In Business news: New Brunswick’s Susan Holt says no end is in sight for softwood lumber dispute; Canada Wood Group’s Bruce St. John opines on BC’s race to find alternative markets; Cascades exits honeycomb packaging and partition business; Remsoft acquires INFLOR forest management systems; and Metsa Group reports Q4, 2025 net loss. Meanwhile, the USDA firefighting-agency merger is proceeding without Congress’ approval.

Finally,  a new study ties wildfire smoke to 24,100 US deaths per year.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog News Editor