The former head of BC’s public service says natural resource jobs contribute most to Canadians’ standard of living. In related news: lumber duties are set to rise but future increases are already causing concern. In Wood Product news: fire-prone California homes may soon say goodbye to wood fences; Massachusetts architects rethink their building materials; Florida researchers develop a CO2 absorbing polymer; and the bio-revolution is coming to UK construction.
In Forestry news: the Narwhal says BC doesn’t track unauthorized harvesting; Drax’s California wood pellet expansion faces ENGO pushback; a French oil giant is buying US hardwood forests for carbon credits; and Washington state to decide fate of carbon offset program. Meanwhile: Ireland falls short on its forestry targets, and Spain sees fewer forest fires this year.
Finally, from the archives—a 1935 strike by Humboldt lumber workers came to a violent end.
Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor
Those who work in the woods know all too well that wildfires are undiscerning in what they burn: working forest, parks, old growth forests, wildlife habitat—if there is fuel, it will burn. No matter what your view on how our forests should be managed, it is hard to avoid the reality that wildfire is a threat to our businesses, our livelihoods, as well as to our health and well-being. …To gain a better sense of community perspectives regarding wildfire resiliency, the BC Council of Forest Industries worked with Abacus Data to survey 1,500 British Columbians last spring. The survey found the public perceives wildfires as a problem that is getting worse. Polling showed that 75% of the public follows the news about wildfires closely; in other words, it is a top-of-mind subject; 35% reported that wildfires have already had a large impact on their lives with 74% having experienced smoke from wildfires. 
In the span of 15 years, Paper Excellence has become Canada’s largest pulp and paper producer, and even expanded into solid wood products in Canada and the U.S. with the acquisition in 2023 of Montreal-based, Resolute Forest Products. The company has been on a buying spree in the last five years that has included the purchase of B.C.-based Catalyst Paper in 2019 and Montreal-based Domtar in 2021. …The CBC recently published a detailed investigation concerning its potential connections with Indonesian-based, Asia Pulp & Paper, as well as its past connections with Chinese banking concerns. The fundamental questions they raised were where all the financing for these transactions is coming from and what is the end goal? …The question from an industry perspective is whether Paper Excellence is good for Canadian forestry? The answer to this point is an unequivocal yes, if plans like the one to rebuild the Prince Albert, Saskatchewan pulp mill are any indication. 
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia — Canada-U.S. relations took centre stage at the federal cabinet retreat in Halifax. …Eight months ago Trudeau launched a renewed Team Canada approach, restoring the game plan initiated under the first Donald Trump presidency. …The tumultuous four years of Trump’s time in the White House was difficult for Canada, as he forced a renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement and imposed punishing tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum. …Canada is looking to shore up its interests ahead of him possibly winning again in November, but even if vice-president Kamala Harris prevails, irritants and U.S. protectionism remain in play. …Ongoing U.S. tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber remain a large point of disagreement between the two countries. Imposed in 2017, the tariffs remain in place despite multiple Canadian challenges, and earlier this month the Biden-Harris government moved to increase them.
The recent U.S. decision to increase softwood lumber duties to nearly 15% is a blow to Canada. …Since 2017, Canadian lumber producers have paid more than $9-billion in duties. Many Canadians would be surprised to learn that Nova Scotia bears a heavy portion of blame. …The province of Nova Scotia… invests considerable effort to produce the benchmark information that it then shares with the United States. …Few Canadians know that softwood lumber produced in Nova Scotia is exempt from the U.S. duties. When U.S. lumber producers petitioned the U.S. government for the duties, they presented data on Nova Scotia’s timber pricing to support their allegations that other Canadian provinces were subsidizing producers. While Nova Scotia has benefited from securing its exclusion from the U.S. duties, other Canadian provinces bear that heavy burden. …It sets a dangerous precedent where a Canadian province collaborates with a foreign government at the expense of other provinces. [to access the full story a Globe and Mail subscription is required]
The framing lumber composite price rose 1.5% during the week ending Aug. 23. After dropping to their lowest level since April 2020, lumber prices have now risen for six consecutive weeks. NAHB continually tracks the latest lumber prices and futures prices, and provides an overview of the behaviors within the U.S. framing lumber market. …The Random Lengths framing lumber composite price rose 1.5% from the previous week (Prices are up 7.0% in the past month, but they are still 6.8% lower than one year ago. Thus far, 2024 has been the least volatile year for lumber prices since 2019). The price of lumber futures fell 4.4%, and the continue trading at a premium of over $100 (Prices are 1.9% lower than a year ago). The structural panel composite price rose 0.8% from the previous week (OSB prices increased 0.9%. Western Fir plywood prices were flat. Southern Yellow Pine plywood prices increased 2.0%.)
Economists see the Bank of Canada cutting interest rates for a third consecutive meeting next week, continuing what’s anticipated to be a steady downward trend in borrowing costs over the next year as inflation eases. Policymakers led by governor Tiff Macklem are expected to lower the benchmark overnight rate to 4.25 per cent at their Sept. 4 meeting, according to the median estimate in an August poll conducted by Bloomberg. Economists are also forecasting faster and deeper cuts to borrowing costs over the next year, and see the central bank reducing the policy rate from the current 4.5 per cent to three per cent by next July. In 2026, the overnight rate is expected to average 2.75 per cent, the data show.
Home price growth continues to decelerate, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index (
California is chipping away at developing new statewide rules to remove plants, mulch and other flammable materials within 5 feet of buildings and structures in fire-prone areas, the Board of Forestry confirmed this month. This proposed set of guidelines would also forbid that ubiquitous backyard feature — a wooden privacy fence. This rule lumps existing flammable fences into the same category as new construction. “We’re already getting calls on that,” Arbor Fence Manager Cassidy Everitt said. The Sonoma fence construction company uses redwood in at least 75% of its business No date is set on when the upcoming defensible space guidelines will be finalized or implemented, California Board of Forestry spokeswoman Edith Hannigan said. Insiders say it’s only a matter of time when insurance companies make the changes mandatory.
