Global pulp leaders are set to gather in Vancouver this May for International Pulp Week, hosted by The Pulp and Paper Products Council. Widely recognized as the premier event for the market pulp sector, IPW brings together producers, customers, suppliers, and analysts for a deep dive into the forces shaping global markets. This year’s program tackles everything from economic uncertainty and trade dynamics to fibre optimization, specialty cellulose, and emerging opportunities in carbon capture. With expert insights from leading companies and analysts, the conference offers a comprehensive look at both current challenges and future directions. Beyond the sessions, delegates can explore real-world innovation through optional tours—including carbon capture technology at Svante and forest restoration in Vancouver’s Stanley Park. For anyone connected to the global pulp value chain, International Pulp Week remains a must-attend event.
The Tree Frog News has been featuring the panels and speakers from the Council of Forest Industries 2026 Conference over the last week. For those who missed the coverage, here are all of our summarized stories.
Geopolitics, macroeconomics, and specialty markets take centre stage as three global experts open 
NANAIMO, BC — The debate over a contentious rezoning proposal came to a head Thursday night at Nanaimo council, with what may have been a record crowd for the public hearing. …At stake, Nanaimo Forest Products, which owns Harmac Pacific, wants to rezone roughly 72 hectares of land to heavy industrial. Harmac Pacific’s CEO said “Nanaimo is desperately short of industrial land and council initiated this process when approving the official community plan in 2022. …Paul Sadler, CEO and the General Manger of Harmac Pacific said the company wants to maintain ownership and choose businesses that are complementary to its own such as sawmills or companies that “can take advantage of its green energy supply” …The company, in discussions with Nanaimo City Council, has agreed to an average 100 meter buffer from the park. …But the majority of speakers were opposed. …The Snuneymuxw First Nation also has serious reservations. …The hearing continues April 22.
Vancouver, BC — DWB Consulting Services Ltd. and Chartwell Resource Group Ltd. today announced they are moving forward under a new unified name: Kintera. This rebrand marks a significant milestone in the merger of the two firms, reflecting their shared vision and the next step in their evolution as a single, integrated organization. For decades, DWB and Chartwell have built strong reputations in British Columbia’s natural resource sector—known for making complex challenges understandable and delivering practical, meaningful solutions. Since merging in August 2025, the combined organization has continued to build on that foundation, strengthening its technical capabilities and expanding its service offering. The transition to Kintera reinforces this momentum, positioning the company to deliver enhanced expertise, greater capacity, and increased value to clients across the sectors it serves. Clients can expect the same high level of service, responsiveness, and trusted relationships that have defined both organizations.
North Vancouver, B.C. — Seaspan Marine announced an agreement with Hodder Tugboat Co. Ltd. to sell its legacy chip and hog fuel barge division, and remaining forestry industry transportation assets, subject to closing conditions. The transaction, which is described as a “turnkey,” is inclusive of the workforce, existing services and related assets, like coastal tugs, river tugs and barges, and associated maintenance facilities — customers who rely on this vital service remain unaffected. Hodder is an established marine towing company based in Richmond with a longstanding focus on the forest industry, including the transportation of logs, timber and related forestry products. The sale aligns with the expert skillsets of the existing Seaspan team and assets in operation. The acquisition of Seaspan’s chip and hog barge division is a natural extension of that expertise, reinforcing Hodder’s commitment to service for its coastal clients.
Creston, BC — The Creston Community Forest (CCF) is featured in a new film as part of a province-wide project led by the BC Community Forest Association, showcasing the work and impact of community forests across British Columbia. The film highlights how the CCF is managing its forests to support local priorities, including wildfire risk reduction, recreation, and long-term sustainability. “We’re excited to share this film as a way to show the work that happens on the ground and what this community forest means to the community of Creston,” said Daniel Gratton, Registered Professional Forester and Forest Manager at the CCF. Unlike traditional forestry models focused primarily on timber, the CCF has been taking a broader approach. Its work reflects the needs and values of the residents first, balancing ecological health, economic activity, and public use of the land.
After more than three years of community engagement, expert input and advisory committee work, residents in Coquitlam are left asking a simple question: Why is the city choosing not to include the very measures needed to make its Urban Forest Management Strategy succeed? The draft strategy presents a strong vision and highlights planting programs, volunteerism and monitoring. These are positive steps. But they are not enough. What is missing are the core elements that actually determine whether our urban forest survives and thrives over time. There are no measurable canopy targets to tell us whether we are gaining or losing tree cover. There is no clear alignment with the bylaws that regulate tree removal and development. There is no defined pathway to update the Tree Management Bylaw, which has not been meaningfully revised since 2010. …That is not a plan. It is a deferral. And deferral has consequences.
A North Cowichan Council meeting on April 15 drew industry representatives, union members, and members of the public into an unusually substantive debate on coastal fibre supply and log exports — one that will be remembered as much for the nature of the conversation as for its outcome. Across all the voices heard that evening, a single fundamental goal emerged: a stronger, more productive coastal forest sector that supports workers, families, and communities in the Cowichan Valley. This was not the familiar divide between those who see the forest as a working resource and those who would leave it untouched. It was a debate entirely within the pro-forestry community — about economics, policy, and the best path to keeping mills running and people employed. The motion itself, brought forward by Councillor Justice, called on the governments of BC and Canada to review and strengthen policies governing raw log exports from forest lands on Vancouver Island.
Join Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests and other subject matter experts for an update on seasonal hazards in BC. As warming weather raises the risk of climate-related emergencies, the Province is urging people throughout British Columbia to prepare for potential spring flooding, drought and wildfires. “Our government is continuing to strengthen mitigation and emergency response supports for people and communities, but preparedness starts at home,” said Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. …The April 1, 2026, River Forecast snowpack survey shows B.C.’s overall snowpack at 92% of normal, compared to 79% in April 2025. …The BC Wildfire Service forecast indicates the potential for an active spring wildfire season due to persistent drought conditions. This activity is expected to increase if limited precipitation continues over the next several weeks and months. 
The Ancient Forests Alliance (AFA) are concerned that legislation changes in BC could put endangered old-growth forests at risk. The Province’s own logging agency, BC Timber Sales (BCTS), may see an increase in logging rates with the changes brought about by Bill 14, the Forest Statutes Amendment Act. The changes would provide BCTS with a projected increase of at least 700,000 cubic metres in timber for the 2025-26 period. This would be equivalent to approximately 15,500 to 17,700 additional truckloads. Bill 14 was introduced in March, but has not yet been passed. The proposed legislation seeks to modernize the logging industry in BC and is aimed at increasing mill production and sustainability within the forestry sector. It would give BCTS an expanded mandate, streamline salvage and fibre access for mills, change the contract authorization process and encourage future stewardship.
Urban bears in Prince George are dropping clues, and the CNC Research Forest team needs your help scooping them up! Bear poop holds a wealth of information about the bear’s health, diet, and hormones. By analyzing feces samples from across the city, CNC researchers hope to gain insight into the health and behaviour of urban bear populations versus their counterparts that live outside of Prince George. CNC Research Assistant Vanessa Uschenko is co-leading this unique study with Dr. Laura Graham from the CNC Biology department. The research project is done in partnership with the Northern Bear Awareness Society and with support from the B.C. Conservation Officer Service. “Our goal is to better understand what drives bears to enter the city. We can use that data to help inform wildlife management and conservation strategies that mitigate human-bear conflict,” shares Vanessa.
Recently, the phrase “active forest management” has come into usage by the forest industry in numerous countries. In Australia, the equivalent terms are “forest gardening” and “cultural thinning.” …The concept is convenient for the forest industry because it allows companies to continue doing what they have done since the onset of industrial logging. Better yet, the industry is promoting the idea that logging is a solution to the wildfire problem we now face. Actually, the massive cutting down of forests in B.C. and elsewhere has created the problem that the industry wants to solve by more cutting down of what is left of our primary or unlogged forests. Clear cutting forests creates several problems. First, it dries out the land. Without the shade that trees create to cool the land, and without tree roots holding back the water from snow melt and precipitation, the land becomes highly susceptible to fire. 
It didn’t take long for the smoke to clear following 2017’s horrendous wildfires for the BC government to respond with a plan to log more forests and plant more trees. The scale of what had just happened exceeded anything on record. Fires burned more than 12,000 square kilometres of the province’s forests and grasslands. No wildfire season over the previous half century had come remotely close. Yet, it would take just one more year for a new record to be set. In its 2017 post-fire response plan, BC’s Ministry of Forests promised to replant the forests that had burned. …But a look at what actually burned in the worst fires of 2017 suggests that aggressive logging and “reforestation” — essentially just tree-planting — sets the stage for even more frequent wildfires to come. …Science shows that young stands of trees, with their branches lower to the ground, are more vulnerable to burning in catastrophic fires. 
Mosaic Forest Management wants a more informed discussion on wood-fibre security and log exports with North Cowichan’s council before the municipality decides if it wants to move forward with a motion on the issue. Coun. Christopher Justice had made a notice-of-motion that, if adopted, would encourage senior levels of government to review and strengthen their policies, including those governing raw log exports from private managed forest lands on Vancouver Island. … Karen Brandt, at Mosaic, said the motion does not accurately reflect how the coastal-fibre system operates, and risks unintended consequences for the local mills, workers and communities that council is seeking to support. Brandt said… “The motion suggests international log sales from private-managed forest lands reduce fibre available for domestic manufacturing when, in fact, the opposite is true.” …Brandt said that if the objective is to improve fibre availability, the primary issue is the decline in Crown harvest levels.
District of Squamish staff are asking Council to endorse a new wildfire strategy with 53 specific actions to protect residents, homes and critical infrastructure. According to staff, the 2026 Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan, prepared by Blackwell Consulting Ltd., must be adopted by April 30 for the District to remain eligible for up to $400,000 in provincial FireSmart grant funding over the next two years. The plan is Squamish’s first major wildfire strategy update since 2017. In the years since, rapid population growth, increased tourism pressure, and new development pushing into forested terrain have changed the risk picture considerably. It was developed in collaboration with Squamish Nation, Squamish Community Forest, BC Wildfire Service, BC Parks, the Ministry of Forests, and the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District. …The plan identifies hiring a full-time FireSmart Coordinator as a high-priority step with a three-month timeline. …The plan also calls on the District to review Squamish Fire Rescue staffing levels…
Local residents are invited to share their input on the development of the Cariboo-Chilcotin forest landscape plan (FLP) to guide long-term forest management decisions in the area. People can share their thoughts through a survey, which will run from Monday, April 13 to May 30, 2026. The Ministry of Forests will also hold two open houses (April 29 and May 2) so the community can learn more about forest landscape planning and ask questions. …FLPs are developed in partnership with First Nations to ensure meaningful participation in forestry planning and long-term decision-making. …Engagement with forest licensees, subject-matter experts and the public is a key part of every FLP. …Through early collaboration with First Nations partners and initial engagement with forest licence holders, key themes have emerged that will be integrated into the survey for public feedback to reflect community priorities. Developing FLPs is a new approach to forest stewardship that establishes clear direction for the management of forest-related values…
Vancouver and Victoria are the worst places to live in Canada for those with tree pollen allergies, according to a new report. The report from Aerobiology Research Laboratories shows the two B.C. cities are home to some of the most allergenic trees in the country, like birch and maple, and have a longer pollen season. The Ontario-based lab, which monitors airborne pollen with a network of 30 stations across the country, says conditions in the region create what it calls a “perfect storm” for allergy sufferers. “[The two cities] are so close to the coast and you get very mild temperature,” said laboratory director Daniel Coates. “Pollen loves warm weather.” He says allergy season in Vancouver and Victoria has already been intense this year and is expected to worsen in the coming weeks. The West Coast has been facing elevated pollen levels since January, much earlier than the rest of the country…