Blog Archives

Business & Politics

Canadian softwood producers highlight American investments as U.S. probes lumber imports

By Brent Jang
The Globe and Mail
April 24, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

Major softwood producers with head offices in Canada say they have accounted for more than half of the growth in capacity in the US South over the past decade, highlighting their American investments as the Trump administration investigates lumber imports. The US South appeals to forestry companies because of the region’s abundant timber, the Canadian government said in a 57-page filing this month to the US Department of Commerce in a bid to avert potential tariffs. …In seeking to stave off tariffs, the Canadian government and several producers from Canada believe that the foray into the US South should be viewed as evidence of them being aligned with the Trump administration’s “America First” trade and investment agenda. …However, the U.S. Lumber Coalition is arguing that new tariffs are necessary. …Canadian producers are worried that if new lumber tariffs hit 25 per cent… total levies could reach nearly 60%. [to access the full story a Globe & Mail subscription is required]

Read More

US trade policies cast shadow of uncertainty over Canadian forestry industry

By Rosa Saba
The Canadian Press in BNN Bloomberg
April 23, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

President Trump’s shifting trade policies are creating uncertainty for the Canadian forestry industry. Sean McLaren, CEO of West Fraser Timber, says the potential inflationary effects of tariffs could weigh on future demand. “Looking forward, we see considerable macroeconomic uncertainty, particularly stemming from the US’s evolving tariff policies”. He said the company is planning for multiple scenarios. …RBC’s Matthew McKellar said that the outlook for the paper and forest products industry is highly uncertain when it comes to demand. “All of this uncertainty is bad for business,” said Derek Nighbor, CEO of Forest Products Association of Canada. Nighbor added that any impact on Canadian lumber companies will also affect pulp and paper: “We’ve got all of these downstream industries that depend on those inputs.” …McKellar noted that companies like West Fraser, Interfor and Canfor are geographically diverse, meaning potential softening of demand could be the bigger concern.

Read More

Trump tariffs stack the odds against a forestry industry already struggling to survive

By Joe O’Connor
The Financial Post
April 23, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

James Furney, mayor of Port McNeill, BC… is trying to stay upbeat, but his lumber town was already suffering before the threat of Trump’s trade war. …“To think that anyone is going to be insulated from what is going on with Trump would be delusional,” Furney said. “We are a forestry town and people around town are already watching their wallets and curtailing their spending, and businesses that should be ramping up now to hire summer students aren’t going to be hiring.” …In short, B.C. has plenty of wood and plenty of potential buyers for it, especially in the US, which was a $5.69-billion export market for the province in 2024, but not enough of that wood has been getting cut in recent years. That makes for gloomy days on the West Coast; a malaise that could spread to Ontario and Quebec and push the industry to the brink of collapse.

Read More

Quebec’s Beaucerons ain’t afraid of no trade war

By Martin Patriquin
The Logic
April 24, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada East

SAINT-GEORGES, Quebec — “Good year, bad year, Americans will always buy our stuff,” Vincent Boutin says. He’s one of a legion of maple syrup farmers in Quebec who export more than 100 million pounds of the stuff to the US each year—and the tariffs don’t bother him one bit. …His confidence stems in part from the caramel-coloured liquid gushing from his wood-fired boiler. It’s hot and sweet, with all the complexities of a good sherry, and you can hardly get it anywhere other than Quebec, home to 66% of the world’s maple syrup production in 2024. …Still, La Beauce’s close relationship with the US has made its economy uniquely vulnerable to the whims of the Trump administration. More than 65% of La Beauce’s businesses export directly to the US, chief among them softwood lumber, construction materials, machinery, steel and finished metal products. 

Read More

N.B. Power being forced to offer larger rate discounts to forestry mills

By Robert Jones
CBC News
April 23, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

NEW BRUNSWICK — A New Brunswick government regulation, written to protect pulp and paper mills from high electricity prices, is forcing N.B. Power to increase the rate subsidies it offers mills this year by 35%, despite a deterioration in the utility’s own financial condition. The mill subsidies, which have been mandated by the New Brunswick government every year since 2012, have been set by the Department of Energy for the current fiscal year at $28.04 per megawatt hour, an increase of $7.29 over last year. The utility had not originally budgeted to finance a subsidy that large and said it has revised the expected cost of the program for this year to $16.6 million — up by $2.9 million. …Pulp and paper companies have defended the program in the past as critical to their long-term viability. But since the program began, N.B. Power’s own financial viability has become an issue.

Read More

Pixelle Specialty Solutions Pauses Chillicothe Mill Closure

Pixelle Specialty Solutions LLC
April 18, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Pixelle Specialty Solutions announces that, based on a framework agreed upon today among the Company, H.I.G. Capital, and government officials, Pixelle will delay the closure of the Chillicothe, Ohio, paper mill until the end of the year. This decision follows productive discussions with leaders at the federal, state, and local levels and reflects a shared commitment to exploring sustainable, long-term solutions for the facility and its workforce. “Pausing the closure provides us additional time to evaluate what’s possible,” said Ross Bushnell, President and CEO of Pixelle. …Among the key leaders engaged in this process is Senator Bernie Moreno, who today announced plans to establish a permanent Senate office in Chillicothe to support the mill’s future and monitor progress. Pixelle will continue coordinating with its ownership group to define next steps and work towards a mutually agreeable solution. 

Read More

Trump says China tariffs won’t stay at 145%, Bessent hints at deescalation

Yahoo! Finance
April 23, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States

President Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hinted at a trade-war deescalation with China, as Wall Street hoped the US was preparing for an off-ramp from the weeks-long trade battle. “145% is too high, it will come down substantially,” Trump said of the level of tariffs on Chinese imports. He said he was optimistic about trade talks, adding that he plans to be “very nice” to China to reach a deal. Trump’s comments came after Bessent told investors in a closed-door summit Tuesday that he sees a deescalation in the US-China tariff situation, prompting a US stock rally on Tuesday that carried into Wednesday. Bessent called the tit-for-tat tariffs with China unsustainable, echoing the sentiments shared with Yahoo Finance last week that he was optimistic about “clarity” on tariffs. …China said it is open to trade talks with the US but struck a still-defiant tone.

Read More

Beyond Tariffs: A Nuanced Look at US-Canada Lumber Trade

By Peter Stewart
ResourceWise Forest Products Blog
April 22, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States

The US-Canada lumber trade is a cornerstone of the North American forest products industry, frequently spotlighted for its tariff disputes and economic stakes. Recent policy shifts have reignited discussions about supply chains, costs, and market resilience, often casting the relationship as a battleground of competing interests. Yet, beneath the headlines lies a more intricate story—one of interdependence, mutual benefit, and evolving global dynamics that shape the forest value chain. ….Canada relies on the US for over 70% of its lumber export market, while the US benefits from both Canadian supply and export opportunities for finished goods. This interdependence contrasts with calls for rapid US production increases. While expanding domestic capacity could offset imports, the scale and timeline of such efforts face practical limits, leaving cross-border trade a critical factor in meeting US demand. …The US-Canada lumber trade is not a simple story of dependency or rivalry but rather a multifaceted partnership shaped by geography, economics, and market needs.

Read More

President of Eugene wood treatment plant gets 90-day prison term for lying to inspectors

By Maxine Bernstein
Oregon Live
April 22, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US West

A federal judge Tuesday sentenced the president of Eugene’s J.H. Baxter & Co. wood treatment plant to 90 days in prison for lying about the company’s illegal handling of hazardous waste at the site. U.S. District Judge Michael J. McShane called Georgia Baxter-Krause, 62, an “absent president” who took little responsibility for what occurred. “The fact that you lied when confronted suggests you knew the practice was not ‘above board,’” McShane said. “There has to be some accountability.” [to access the full story an Oregon Live subscription is required]

Read More

Oregon’s Wood Product Manufacturing Industry Is Still Important, Especially in Rural Areas

By Brian Rooney
Southern Oregon Business Journal
April 20, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US West

Once Oregon’s largest manufacturing industry, employment in the wood product manufacturing industry has gone through large, well-publicized losses since the early 1990s. Its employment has dropped below that of computer and electronic manufacturing and food manufacturing in recent years, but it remains the third largest manufacturing industry. Despite the losses, wood product manufacturing is still a large industry in Oregon and is especially important to rural areas of the state. Over the long term, between 1990 and 2020, annual average employment in wood product manufacturing dropped 24,100, or 52%. Similar losses were experienced in all its subsectors. Sawmills and wood preservation dropped 5,900 (49%); plywood and engineered wood products dropped 9,500 (53%). …Even with the long-term decline, wood product manufacturing is still a large industry in Oregon. In 2024, there were 22,400 jobs and roughly $1.5 billion in total payroll in the industry. 

Read More

West Fraser has found a potential buyer for the old Perry sawmill

By Adrian Andrews
WUSF NPR
April 23, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: US East

PERRY, Florida — The plant is now under contract to be sold to a developer who plans to repurpose the land. …West Fraser permanently closed its doors in March of last year. …West Fraser tried to scale back operations a year before by cutting staff and only keeping a small skeleton crew, but they say that didn’t work. …Now, the county’s Director of Economic Development Bob Cate has a plan that he hopes will create local jobs and bring revenue back to the community. …“We have several sites, but this will be premium one because it’s going to be nice and clean,” Cate said.

Read More

Finance & Economics

If high bond yields persist, timberland may find itself in a vexed position

By Russ Taylor, Russ Taylor Global
Global Consulting Alliance
April 23, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, International

Following the US government’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcements on April 2, 2025, the bond market experienced significant turmoil. …If high bond yields persist, timberland may find itself in a vexed position—caught between its traditional role as a real biological asset and inflation hedge, and its declining relative appeal compared to more liquid bonds offering higher returns. To remain competitive in this environment, timberland may face pressure to support higher discount rates, which could weigh on valuations. Additionally, tariff escalations and geopolitical tensions could disrupt wood product exports, further increasing risk. …The World Trade Organization (WTO) warned that the US tariffs could reverse global goods trade growth in 2025, reducing it from a projected 2.7% increase to a 0.2% decline. In a worst-case scenario, global trade could decline by 1.5%, weakening GDP growth to just 1.7%. …The unpredictability of current trade policy shifts is making reliable forecasting difficult.

Read More

West Fraser reports Q1, 2025 earnings of $42 million

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.
April 22, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

VANCOUVER, BC – West Fraser Timber reported first quarter results of 2025. …First quarter sales were $1.459 billion, compared to $1.405 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024. First quarter earnings were $42 million, compared to a loss of $62 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. The fourth quarter included a non-cash impairment loss of $70 million. …First quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $195 million compared to $140 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. ..The Lumber segment has experienced a slower than expected start to the year, owing to transportation and weather challenges that have influenced shipments as well as uncertainty related to demand impacts from the U.S. administration’s shifting tariff policies. …The global pulp market has begun to experience disruption with the economic impact of US tariffs creating considerable demand uncertainty in Chinese markets. As such, we anticipate NBSK pricing weakness over the near- to medium-term and a potentially significant adverse financial impact on our Pulp & Paper segment.

Related in Investing.com: West Fraser Q1 2025 slides: earnings rebound as strategic shift continues

Read More

Americans expect higher prices from Trump’s tariffs, new poll shows

By Josh Boak and Amelia Thomson-Deveaux
PBS News
April 24, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

WASHINGTON — Americans’ trust in President Trump to bolster the US economy appears to be faltering, with a new poll showing that many people fear the country is being steered into a recession and that the president’s broad and haphazardly enforced tariffs will cause prices to rise. Roughly half of US adults say that Trump’s trade policies will increase prices “a lot” and another 3 in 10 think prices could go up “somewhat”. …While skepticism about tariffs is increasing modestly, that doesn’t mean the public is automatically rejecting Trump or his approach to trade. …Not quite 100 days into Trump’s second term in the White House, people around the country are bracing for possible disruptions in how they spend, work and live. The US economy remains solid for the moment with moderating inflation and a healthy 4.2% unemployment rate, yet measures such as consumer confidence have dropped sharply.

Read More

US Counties That Have Built the Most Housing Over the Last Decade

By Jonathan Jones
Construction Coverage
April 17, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

The need for affordable housing in the United States has never been greater. …Research from federal mortgage backer Freddie Mac estimates that the U.S. is short 3.7 million housing units relative to current market needs, while the National Association of Realtors pegs the figure even higher at 5.5 million units. …Experts cite a variety of factors that contribute to difficulties adding housing stock. …While the national supply of housing has been lagging overall, some parts of the country have managed to add homes faster than others. States that have experienced the most housing growth in recent years are largely found in the Mountain West and Sun Belt regions, which tend to be less expensive than heavily developed coastal markets and have fewer regulations limiting construction. …Below is a complete breakdown of housing growth across nearly 800 U.S. counties (grouped by size) and all 50 states. 

Read More

New Home Sales Rise in March

By Robert Dietz, Chief Economist
NAHB Eye on Housing
April 23, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

A modest decline in mortgage rates and lean existing inventory helped boost new home sales in March even as builders and consumers contend with uncertain market conditions. Sales of newly built, single-family homes in March increased 7.4% to a 724,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate from a revised January number, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. The pace of new home sales in March was up 6.0% compared to a year earlier. The March new home sales data shows that demand continues to be present in the market, provided affordability conditions permit a purchase. An increase in economic certainty would be a big boost to future sales conditions. Lower mortgage interest rates helped boost the pace of new home sales in March.

Read More

Houzz report shares share remodelling dollars are going

By Annie Palmer
Hardware Retailing
April 22, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

Houzz released the 2025 U.S. Houzz & Home Study, a report surveying over 22,000 US homeowners about remodeling, building and decorating activity. The study found 54% of homeowners renovated their homes in 2024 at a median spend of $20,000. Overall median spend decreased from its peak of $24,000 in 2023 and remains above the $18,000 spent in 2018. …“The softening in renovation spend reflects the impact of elevated borrowing costs and the rising prices for everyday goods and services,” says Marine Sargsyan, Houzz economist. “What stands out, however, is homeowners’ ongoing demand and consistent investment in sizable kitchen and bathroom upgrades. Notable growth in spend on smaller spaces signals that even amid economic pressures, homeowners are prioritizing meaningful improvements no matter the size of the home.” …53% of renovating homeowners updated their outdoor spaces in 2024, completing around two outdoor projects on average. … Homeowners are also investing in decks, sheds and workshops (8%) and gazebos and pergolas (7%). 

Read More

Who Influences the Purchasing of Building Products?

By Eric Lynch
NAHB Eye on Housing
April 21, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

In a previous post, NAHB analyzed where builders and remodelers purchased products, regardless of who ultimately purchases them (themselves or subcontractors). In this post, the question shifts to who is most often responsible for the choice of particular products. When averaging over all 24 building product categories, 60% of builders report they had the most influence on product selection compared to 49% of remodelers. Still, these shares are ranked the highest within their respective sector. Both builders and remodelers reported similar shares of influence for subcontractors, dealers & suppliers, and architects. However, when it comes to the greatest influencer being the customer, this is more prevalent among remodelers (26%) than among builders (16%).

Read More

Weyerhaeuser reports Q1, 2025 earnings of $83 million

Weyerhaeuser Company
April 24, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States, US West

SEATTLE – Weyerhaeuser reported first quarter net earnings of $83 million on net sales of $1.8 billion. This compares with net earnings of $114 million on net sales of $1.8 billion for the same period last year and net earnings of $81 million for fourth quarter 2024. There were no special items in any comparative period. Adjusted EBITDA for first quarter 2025 was $328 million, compared with $352 million for the same period last year and $294 million for fourth quarter 2024. …Devin Stockfish, CEO said, “We increased our quarterly base dividend for the fourth consecutive year. I’m pleased with the organization’s performance, particularly in light of the uncertain macroeconomic backdrop. Turning to our outlook, we are well positioned to navigate a range of market conditions in the near term.” …Weyerhaeuser anticipates second quarter earnings before special items and Adjusted EBITDA will be slightly higher.

Read More

What the closure of International Paper’s fluff pulp mill says about the direction of the market

ResourceWise Forest Products Blog
April 23, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States, US East

The closure of International Paper’s Georgetown mill, which represented approximately 5% of US fluff pulp production, has sparked renewed interest in the underlying drivers of change within the fluff pulp sector. While it might be tempting to view this move as part of a larger market correction due to factors such as oversupply, the data suggests a different story. The shutdown is more accurately seen as a strategic decision tied to cost optimization and shifting corporate priorities rather than a response to excess global capacity. Contrary to the notion of global oversupply, fluff pulp capacity has remained relatively stable over the past decade. …The closure underscores a confluence of evolving cost structures and operational realities. Older sites like Georgetown, face growing challenges from energy costs, labor, and environmental compliance. Georgetown ranked among the highest-risk fluff pulp mills based on cost position and technical age.

Read More

February 2025 Southern Pine Lumber Exports Report

Southern Forest Products Association
April 21, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States, US East

February 2025 Southern Pine lumber exports (treated and untreated) were up 4.7% to 40.8 Mbf over January but were down 15% over February 2024, according to February 2025 data from the USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Services’ Global Agricultural Trade System. When looking at the report by dollar value, Southern Pine exports are down 4% compared to the first two months of 2024 at $32 million. Mexico led the way at $8.4 million, followed by the Dominican Republic at $6.7 million, and Canada at $3.3 million. The total global value in February, however, hit a five-month high of $16.5 million. Treated lumber exports, meanwhile, were down 8% to $18.3 million through the first two months of 2025 compared to a year ago led by Jamaica at $3 million, the Leeward-Windward Islands at $2.6 million, and the Netherlands Antilles with $2 million.

Read More

Wood, Paper & Green Building

Legal and practical strategies for contractors to manage tariff impacts

By Don Procter
The Daily Commercial News
April 23, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada West

CALGARY — The one constant of Trump’s tariff plan seems to be that it is in a constant state of flux. “The time is now to start planning for what those impacts could possibly be and develop the mitigation strategies and tracking mechanisms…so that as they (tariffs) evolve in real time you are prepared to deal with them,” said Rick Moffat. Moffat moderated a webinar panel recently on legal and practical strategies for managing the impacts of the tariffs on construction projects in Canada. …Stressing the importance of detailed contingency plans that account for potential cost hikes caused by tariffs, Bulut Cinar said contractors would benefit by including “multiple scenarios” illustrating how their contingencies help manage their costs. …If contractors consider delay-causing tariffs a force majeure event, but the contract deals with tariffs differently they might be “precluding themselves” from compensation, he added.

Read More

American Wood Council launches wood sourcing online tool

The American Wood Council
April 23, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States

The American Wood Council (AWC) released a new, first-of-its kind online tool designed to help users better understand where their wood products are coming from and the safeguards in place throughout the supply chain to ensure sustainability measures. The tool will provide greater insight into the sourcing of wood products used in low-and zero-carbon construction. The pilot project of the website was funded by the Softwood Lumber Board and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities funding. The new Wood Sourcing Tool tells the sustainability story through the incorporation of data based on a wood product’s mill grade stamp or region, information critical to tracking a specific product’s journey from the forest to the end user. This new tool also features a set of frequently asked questions about sustainable forestry and regional facts about wood sourcing.

Read More

Trade War Fallout: Contractors Are Delaying Projects and Cutting Crews

By Bryan Gottlieb
Roofing Contractor
April 24, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States, US East

A new survey of industrial professionals highlights the significant impact of President Trump’s tariffs and immigration policies on the building envelope and related manufacturing. The survey’s findings offer the clearest picture yet of the widespread dissatisfaction that the tariffs are causing for businesses throughout the building envelope. This includes reduced profit margins, delayed projects, and workforce cuts in construction — effects particularly felt by roofing and exterior contractors amid tight labor markets and rising material costs. Industry data show that tariffs on steel, aluminum and lumber have driven up input prices by double-digit percentages, delayed deliveries on job sites, and added roughly $9,000 – $10,000 to the cost of a typical single-family home. At the same time, stricter immigration enforcement has reduced the pool of experienced installers — nearly one-quarter of construction workers are foreign-born, which puts further upward pressure on wages and project timelines.

Read More

Sanctioned Russian and Belarusian wood smuggled into UK, study suggests

By Patrick Greenfield
The Guardian UK
April 23, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: International

UK — Nearly half of birch wood certified by leading sustainability schemes is misidentified and does not come from the labelled country of origin, according to new testing. The analysis raises fears that large quantities of sanctioned wood from Russia and Belarus are still illegally entering Britain. New research by World Forest ID… scrutinised the accuracy of dozens of harvesting-origin claims on birch products, which had almost entirely been approved by FSC and PEFC sustainability schemes. The samples of birch – a popular hardwood used in furniture, kitchens panels and musical instruments – were labelled as originating in Ukraine, Poland, Estonia and Latvia. But tests using the wood’s “chemical fingerprint” showed that 46% of certified samples did not come from the origin on the label. …While the tests did not specify the country where the wood was grown, experts said Russia and Belarus were the only plausible origins.

Read More

Forestry

Quebec Aims to Modernize Forest Management with Bill 97

World Today News
April 24, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada East

Maïté Blanchette Vézina

Quebec’s goverment, led by the minister of Natural Resources and Forests, Maïté Blanchette-Vézina, introduced Bill 97 to modernize its forest regime. The legislation, presented in the National Assembly on Wednesday, addresses forest zoning, licensing, and wood auction oversight. This strategic move aims to improve sustainability, offering longer-term licenses. For more on this, watch our upcoming coverage. The proposed legislation focuses on several key areas to streamline and enhance forest management practices across the province. …The bill introduces a zoning system that divides public forestry territory into three distinct zones: Priority forest development zones; Multi-use zones; and Conservation areas. The bill also introduces Sustainable Forest Development Licenses (supply guarantees for forestry companies would be replaced with sustainable forest development licenses, extending the duration from five to ten years.); eliminates the wood marketing office; and provides for administrative criminal sanctions to ensure compliance.

Read More

Environment groups raise alarm about Ontario bill that would weaken species protection

By Muriel Draaisma
CBC News
April 22, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada East

ONTARIO — Environmental groups are raising concerns about newly tabled Ontario legislation that they say will be “catastrophic” for wildlife and weaken government protections for “species that are the rarest” in the province. Ecojustice Canada said Bill 5…  would repeal Ontario’s existing Endangered Species Act passed in 2007, and replace it with a significantly watered down version of the original act called the Species Conservation Act. The legislation has passed first reading. …Ecojustice Canada said the legislation would gut environmental assessment processes, speed mining and infrastructure development and take a “register-first, ask-questions-later” approach that would allow developers to begin projects before their environmental implications are fully known. …Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks denied that the bill would weaken species protection. …”These changes will be supported by an enhanced Species Conservation Program, which will see funding more than quadrupled to $20 million each year,” Catherwood continued.

Read More

Is there common ground for Gavin Newsom, Donald Trump on forestry? Timber!

By Tom Philip
The Sacramento Bee
April 24, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: United States

In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to cut down lots of little trees for fire protection. President Donald Trump wants loggers to cut down bigger California trees for lumber. Between these two oft-warring leaders, is there a policy marriage of sorts in the woods? At first blush, the answer appears to be yes. The governor wants to reduce the fire dangers on a million California acres a year. The president wants to increase timber harvests by 25% on the state’s national forests. On paper, these two agendas are entirely compatible. But it’s one thing to order more trees to fall in a national forest. It’s another to plan for large-scale forestry operations, which takes staff and time. Trump’s team so far has shown more interest in cutting forestry staffing in California than cutting down trees. And that may stall any real changes on the ground. [to access the full story, a Sacramento Bee subscription is required]

Read More

What Does the Future Hold for National Forests?

Yale School of the Environment
April 20, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: United States

In March, the United States Agricultural Department (USDA) directed federal agencies to examine ways to increase timber production across 280 million acres of national forests and other public lands. An emergency order rolling back environmental protections on more than 112 million acres — or nearly 60% — of national forests, followed in April. At the same time, the U.S. Forest Service was ordered to increase by 25% the volume of timber being offered for logging. YSE experts Mark Ashton, senior associate dean of The Forest School, Sara Kuebbing, lecturer and research director of the Yale Applied Science Synthesis Program, and Joseph Orefice, lecturer and director of forest and agricultural operations at Yale Forests, discuss the potential impacts of these orders on ecosystem resilience, wildfire risks, and climate change mitigation. …What are the environmental consequences of increased logging on forest ecosystems, including on biodiversity, soil health, and water quality? 

Read More

Matt Donegan Has a Plan to Stop Oregon From Burning. Think Moneyball for Forests.

Willamette Week
April 23, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, US West

Matt Donegan

OREGON – Matt Donegan is working on a plan for Oregon’s forest problem. In 2024, the state saw 1.9 million acres burn. And last year, the agency was beset by scandal, management turmoil, and near-bankruptcy from the cost of putting out blazes. During the current legislative session, a lot of people—lawmakers, Gov. Tina Kotek, the state’s timber industry, environmentalists, electric utilities, and hundreds of thousands of beleaguered property owners—are all looking for a solution. …Donegan knows he’s walking a knife edge between conservation groups that zealously guard Oregon’s forests and a timber industry eager to increase cutting. …The problem is, the forests are so overstocked with dead, dry debris after a century of fire suppression that fires easily become catastrophic rather than restorative. …Donegan proposes to break off a small fraction of that amount for intensive management—thinning and prescribed burns—as a pilot project.

Read More

Logging isn’t all bad, but Trump’s order to boost timber harvest is troubling

By Marek Warszawski
The Fresno Bee
April 20, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, US West

Logging is not necessarily a dirty word in the environmental dictionary. There, I said it. Provided sustainable practices are used, namely the careful choice over what trees get chopped down, logging can have a positive impact on the health of our forests as part of an effective management strategy that includes mechanical thinning and prescribed burning. Selective logging can also mitigate the risk and destructive power of wildfires. …This is my way of saying logging shouldn’t automatically be perceived as an environmental threat – despite what history tells us is the result when chainsaws and bulldozers are employed by the wrong hands. …Environmental groups reacted with outrage to Trump’s order, calling it a thinly veiled attempt to bypass environmental laws in order to justify widespread commercial logging under the false pretense that such actions will reduce wildfire risk.

Read More

European Commission takes action to simplify the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation

The European Commission
April 14, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: International

The European Commission is providing further simplifications and reducing the administrative burden to facilitate the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). In this context, it has published new guidance documents in view of the Regulation’s entry into application at the end of this year for Member States, operators and traders. With these clarifications and simplifications, the Commission is also replying to feedback from its international partners. …The updated guidance and Frequently Asked Questions will provide companies, EU Member States’ authorities and partner countries with additional simplified measures and clarifications on how to demonstrate that their products are deforestation-free. …The simplifications introduced will be further complemented by a Delegated Act, published also for public consultation. The Act provides further clarifications and simplification on the scope of EUDR, addressing stakeholders’ request for guidance on specific categories of products. …Finally, the Commission is currently finalising the country benchmarking system through an Implementing Act.

Read More

How new financial models for forest restoration create opportunities for nature, communities and investors

By M. Sanjayan, Conservation International
World Economic Forum
April 23, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: International

The age of forest restoration has arrived. Between 1990 and 2020, our planet lost 420 million hectares of forest cover, with grave consequences for climate, biodiversity and resource security. For years, large-scale restoration efforts were hindered by concerns around cost-effectiveness and results — but science has come a long way. Yields are higher, and the cost is lower. Advances in methods for measuring carbon storage, creating three-dimensional maps of forest, planting and surveying wildlife populations have removed technical impediments. Now, new financial models are removing the final barrier to large-scale restoration. Philanthropy alone cannot restore, rewild and conserve hundreds of millions of hectares, especially in tropical systems in the global south. …We must find ways to unlock private capital for restoration. Fortunately, commercial restoration projects are now under way across the world and forward-thinking companies are building a strong business case for investing in nature.

Read More

Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy

Eco-anxiety is rational, business as usual is insane

By Trevor Hancock, retired professor
The Times Colonist
April 21, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada, Canada West

From Mother Nature’s perspective, the results of next week’s election are largely irrelevant — and that should worry us. The two main contenders, as well as the NDP, are just proposing slightly different variants of business as usual. Their focus is on more economic growth, more resource extraction and consumption and — although not formally part of their platforms — more resultant pollution. All they really differ on is how the spoils will be divided between public and private sectors. In fact, the environment, including climate change, has pretty much fallen off the public and political agenda. …So we have lost an effective tool to reduce fossil-fuel consumption, at the expense of the wellbeing of future generations and myriad other species. …But even though it may not be not top of mind in terms of current electoral concerns, there is a great deal of “eco-anxiety” out there.

Read More

Nova Scotia Invests in Canada’s First-of-Its-Kind Bioinnovation Centre

The Government of Nova Scotia
April 22, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada, Canada East

Nova Scotia will soon be a major player in the world of bioinnovation thanks to the newly opened Neptune BioInnovation Centre in Dartmouth. The centre will transform Nova Scotia’s bioindustrial landscape and will be a world-leading biofermentation centre, allowing Nova Scotia to compete globally, strengthen domestic supply chains and foster biotechnology advancements across critical sectors, including life sciences, pharmaceuticals, forestry and agriculture. …The Neptune BioInnovation Centre is a world-class, multi-user facility that is the first of its kind in Canada and one of three in the world. It is projected to create more than 2,400 jobs, $175 million in salaries and $74 million in tax revenue and contribute $334 million annually to the province’s gross domestic product. The Province is investing $5 million to help transform the 4,738-square-metre facility into new state-of-the-art wet and dry labs.

Read More

Sustainable Biomass Program releases 2024 Annual Review

Sustainable Biomass Program
April 23, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: International

The Sustainable Biomass Program (SPB) published its Annual Review 2024, capturing a year of growth, strategic progress, and continued delivery as the biomass certification scheme of choice. With 2024 marking the second year of its current three-year strategy, SBP has consolidated its position in a rapidly evolving sustainability landscape, while laying firm foundations for the years ahead. “2024 outcomes reflect a busy and productive year for SBP. We saw significant growth in certified biomass volumes and certificate holder numbers, but equally important we took proactive steps to define our contribution to global challenges, from carbon and climate to regulatory compliance and sustainability governance. With growth comes an increased responsibility to ensure that assurance and oversight of compliance are rigorously maintained,”stated Carsten Huljus, CEO of SBP.

Read More

Health & Safety

Crews respond to leaking rail car at Saint John railway yard

By Andrew Bates
The Telegraph-Journal in Yahoo! News
April 23, 2025
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada, Canada East

The Saint John Fire Department’s hazardous materials team responded Wednesday to a “slow leak” of sulfuric acid from a rail car at a west-side Saint John rail yard. …The rail yard is owned by N.B. Southern Railway, a J.D. Irving company. Arrand said the hazmat team was called and firefighters established a 150-foot perimeter around the rail car while they waited for removal specialists from the Canadian Transport Emergency Centre and RST Transport to arrive. JDI VP of communications Anne McInerney said “All emergency procedures were followed,” and while it’s not confirmed how much acid leaked, the release occurred in a “very small area” and could not have been more than five litres. Arrand said that sulfuric acid presents an inhalation hazard, which was the reason for the perimeter.

Read More

Forest Fires

Teen charged with arson over huge New Jersey wildfire

By Marina Dunbar
The Guardian
April 24, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: United States, US East

A New Jersey teenager is being charged with arson following a fast-moving fire in the Pine Barrens that has grown to more than 20 sq miles and is expected to continue for several more days. Ocean county prosecutors announced on Thursday that Joseph Kling, 19, of Ocean Township has been charged with aggravated arson and arson in connection with the wildfire. The blaze began in Waretown on Tuesday and has continued to spread throughout the southern Ocean county area in New Jersey. An investigation conducted by the Ocean county prosecutor’s arson squad, along with the state’s forest fire service and county fire marshal’s office traced the origin of the fire by using global positioning system (GPS). The fire was determined to have been caused by an improperly extinguished bonfire, according to a press release from the prosecutor’s office.

Read More

State of emergency declared as New Jersey wildfire explodes to 8,500 acres

By Jon Haworth and Mill Hutchinson
ABC News
April 23, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: United States, US East

A wildfire in New Jersey has exploded to over 8,500 acres after igniting Tuesday near Toms River and threatening more than 1,000 structures, shutting down a major highway and causing thousands of people to flee the flames. The Jones Road Wildfire was just 10% contained on Wednesday morning, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. “Smoke and everything was right in my backyard. Everything was covered in black ashes,” said Kelly Mendoza, one of the evacuees. Fanned by wind gusts and dry vegetation, the fire started in Ocean County around 12:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday and exploded overnight from a few hundred acres to 8,500, according to the Forest Fire. New Jersey Lt. Gov. Gov. Tahesha Way, who is serving as acting governor while Gov. Phil Murphy is out of the country, declared a state of emergency in Ocean County on Wednesday morning, freeing up resources to battle the blaze. 

Read More

Forest History & Archives

How the Timber Economy Made Washington State

By Junius Rochester
Post Alley, Seattle
April 22, 2025
Category: Forest History & Archives
Region: United States, US West

Despite cyclical economic conditions, our state’s wood products story remains a separate and dramatic story through local history. The beginning of this great activity may have begun in 1788 when English Captain John Meares took a shipload of Puget Sound spars to China. He never made delivery. A fierce storm caused him to jettison his load mid-Pacific. Four years later another English Captain named George Vancouver replaced a broken spar with a Puget Sound tree. Wood was used in the construction of fur-trading posts, of course, which led to the processing of logs for a variety of domestic and commercial use. In 1825, a Vancouver, Washington millwright named William Cannon first whipsawed logs into boards. The Hudson’s Bay Company, with headquarters then at Fort Vancouver, accepted shakes and shaved shingles from American settlers in exchange for general supplies. The first “permanent” mill on Puget Sound was built by Michael T. Simmons at Tumwater, Washington.

Read More