It’s not behind a paywall. It doesn’t chase clicks. And it doesn’t try to be everything to everyone. Instead, it’s quietly become a daily habit for thousands across the forest sector—industry, government, First Nations, researchers, students, and retirees alike—all looking for a simple way to stay informed. What started as a small idea has grown into something much bigger than we imagined. Today, Tree Frog directly reaches more than 100,000 readers across BC, Canada, the US and beyond, with thousands more picking it up through company circulations, association newsletters, and even university classrooms. In many ways, it has become shared infrastructure for the sector—a common starting point for understanding what’s happening and why it matters.
But like many things that are widely used, it can be easy to assume it will always just be there. Tree Frog has remained free and open-access by design. We’ve always believed the sector is better off when information flows easily—when a student can access the same news as a CEO, and when smaller operators have the same visibility as larger ones. That only works, however, because a portion of the organizations and individuals who rely on it choose to support it. And in a year when the forest sector is facing real challenges, that support matters more than ever. To those organizations already supporting Tree Frog—thank you.
If Tree Frog is something you or your organization rely on, we’d encourage you to consider being part of that support—whether as a sponsor, a Friend of the Frog, or simply by spreading the word. Even small steps help ensure we can continue delivering this service in its current form. Either way, we’re grateful you’re here and part of the community.
US companies stung by President Trump’s emergency tariffs had hoped for relief when the US Supreme Court ruled in their favor. But settling on a remedy – namely, rebate checks from the government – may be an even bigger headache. Fresh wrinkles are prompting businesses to take different routes as they try to recoup money, with many opting to sue to improve their odds. These lawsuits are also underscoring the complex ways that tariffs worked their way through corporate accounting. In some cases, their cost was a clear line item; in others, the impact was muddier – say, through changed supply lines or selective increases in retail pricing. And some have backed off from a legal fight altogether and sold their refund rights to investment firms, often at a deep discount, figuring that getting something is better than risk getting nothing. …Consider the different approaches taken by FedEx and the retail chain Costco.
Highly exposed to energy costs, today’s unpredictable global trade politics and the crisis in the Middle East are impacting the pulp and paper industry in many ways. These developments will certainly be reflected at Pulp & Beyond 2026, the leading forest-based bioeconomy event in Northern Europe, taking place on 15–16 April 2026 at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre in Helsinki, Finland. However, the main theme of this year’s event—focusing on the role of artificial intelligence in process industries, innovation within the forest sector, and the future of the bioeconomy—was defined before the Middle East war broke out, along with the subsequent oil and gas crisis, turbulence in global stock markets, and the growing risk of an unprecedented global recession. 
Lumber futures retreated toward $590 per thousand board feet as the cooling of the North American residential construction sector eroded the demand floor that had supported the market since January. The primary downward pressure stems from a slowdown in housing activity where single-family starts plunged 14.2% in March and building permits fell 5.4% signaling a sharp reduction in seasonal requirements. This demand destruction was catalyzed by a 11 basis point surge in mortgage rates to 6.45% following the Federal Reserve decision to hold interest rates steady alongside global inflationary spikes. While geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz initially pushed energy costs higher, the resulting increase in financing costs and a 10% drop in US housing starts outweighed the potential for supply chain disruptions. Furthermore a 2.4% increase in unsold builder inventory forced price cuts.
US inflation is projected at 4.2% this year amid economic concerns surrounding the US-Israeli conflict against Iran, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In a new report, the OECD made 2026 inflation projections for multiple countries, with the United Kingdom at 4%, Japan at 2.4%, Canada at 2.4% and the US at 4.2%. “The evolving conflict in the Middle East has human and economic costs for the countries directly involved, and will test the resilience of the global economy,” the OECD report reads. “A halt in shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and the closure or damage of energy infrastructure has generated a surge in energy prices and disrupted the global supply of energy and other important commodities, such as fertilisers,” it continues. …The current average price for a regular gallon of gas in the US is about $3.98, up about a dollar from last month, according to AAA.
Japan’s 
The European Commission published guidelines on the implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) to facilitate the uniform application of the new packaging rules across the EU and simplify compliance for economic actors and Member States. The full application of this law will contribute to a more sustainable and competitive packaging sector across the EU and to strengthening the Single Market for packaging through common rules. On average, in 2023, each European generated 178kg of packaging waste. Without intervention, total packaging waste could further rise by 19% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels, while plastic waste could rise by as much as 46%. At the same time, the packaging industry faces significant administrative burdens as a result of divergent national packaging rules across Member States. …This document also spells out the restrictions on single-use packaging, enforcement of the PFAS restriction in food contact packaging, and the application of re-use targets. 
The construction industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, mostly due to conventional materials production. Because of this, there is an urgent need for sustainable alternatives. Bio-based materials offer a promising alternative but remain underutilized. This study examines wood to derive insights that could support the broader adoption of bio-based alternatives. This research explores the systemic drivers and barriers to the diffusion of wood through interviews with key actors. A system dynamics model is developed to capture the main factors affecting wood diffusion and their interdependencies. …It shows that successful diffusion requires systemic innovation, necessitating collaboration across the ecosystem. This systemic analysis offers important insights for other bio-based materials, which differ in resource availability, applications, and production cycles, but face similar barriers such as workforce shortages, scalability, and societal acceptance. Overcoming these barriers requires targeted trainings and supportive policies. 
Awareness of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) label for responsible forest management continues to rise in Germany, reaching 77% in 2025, a recent survey has indicated. According to the 2025 Global Consumer Awareness Survey, conducted by Ipsos on behalf of the FSC, recognition of the label has reached 77% among German consumers – up six percentage points since 2022. The study, based on more than 32,000 consumers globally, shows that 59% of German respondents trust brands more if they offer FSC-certified products. Across the DACH region, awareness remains high, particularly in Switzerland (81%) and Austria (68%). …The data reflects a broader behavioural shift: while environmental issues receive less public attention, consumers increasingly act on sustainability through everyday purchases. …For retailers and brands, the growing demand for credible sustainability claims is becoming increasingly significant.
It’s a well-established fact that forests and water are deeply connected. For decades, paired-watershed experiments have shown that when we lose forests, the total amount of water flowing through our rivers tends to rise. But a critical question has remained unanswered: does this extra water come from previous reserves, or is it simply “new” rain that the land is failing to hold? Is forest loss causing our watersheds to lose their internal integrity and leak like a sifter? Our recent study at the University of BC analyzed 657 watersheds across the globe. By using a tool called the Young Water Fraction, we found that forest loss significantly accelerates how fast precipitation travels through a landscape. We estimate that for every 1% of forest lost, the “young water” in our streams increases by about 0.17%. Crucially, our research reveals that… the way we arrange forest patches can either aggravate or mitigate this leakage.
US Representative Harriet Hageman (R-WY) has introduced legislation that would nullify the 2001 Clinton administration Roadless Rule and permanently restore active forest management on National Forest System lands, saying the restriction has blocked access and increased the risk of catastrophic wildfires across the West. Hageman introduced the bill in Washington with original cosponsors including Representatives Troy Downing (R-MT), Celeste Maloy (R-UT), Pete Stauber (R-MN), and Tom Tiffany (R-WI). Her measure would codify the Department of Agriculture’s recent rescission of the Roadless Rule and direct future road construction to support missions such as timber harvesting, watershed management, and wildfire prevention. …Congresswoman Hageman framed the legislation as an effort to return National Forests to their original multiple‑use mandate. “Our Forest Service lands were always to be managed and providing commodities, a continuous supply of timber, a continuous supply of water to be used for grazing, multiple use, etc.,” she said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced the launch of an innovative new tool, the 
As the Trump administration wages war on Iran, it’s citing national security to seek an exemption from the Endangered Species Act for expanded oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico — a move alarming environmental groups who say it could set a dangerous precedent for future fossil fuel projects. Environmentalists argue the government hasn’t followed proper procedure and they’re seeking to block the move before Interior Secretary Doug Burgum convenes the Endangered Species Committee on Tuesday. The committee, nicknamed the “God Squad” by groups who say it can determine the fate of a species, is comprised of six high-ranking federal officials plus a representative for states involved. …The Center for Biological Diversity sued last week to block the committee meeting. …The committee was established in 1978 as a way to exempt projects from the Endangered Species Act. …The committee has only convened three times in its 53-year history and issued only two exemptions. 
Health officials and advocates are raising concerns about gaps in air quality monitoring across rural BC, saying some communities may be exposed to dangerous wildfire smoke levels if they don’t have access to accurate local data. It comes as the health impacts of wildfire smoke are becoming clearer, and as new monitoring stations are being installed in parts of the province to address the gaps. Air quality is typically monitored by federal and provincial governments and according to Environment Canada, 286 sites across every province and territory make up the National Air Pollution Surveillance program. “Even with nearly 300 sites, there are enormous gaps in geography — often at the expense of rural and remote communities,” said Christopher Lam, of the BC Lung Foundation. …Smoke from the record-breaking Canadian wildfires in 2023 caused an estimated 5,400 acute deaths and about 82,100 premature deaths worldwide.
High temperatures are expected to continue baking large sections of the U.S. through the end of the week, potentially setting more than 100 new daily temperature records between Thursday and Sunday, forecasts show. Temperatures were forecast to linger around 30 or 40 degrees above average in a number of southwestern and Central states, continuing a trend that began earlier in the week as a massive heat wave expands further into the western two-thirds of the country, said CBS News meteorologist Nikki Nolan. Indianapolis reached 81 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday, breaking a 1907 record of 80 degrees, the National Weather Service said. …The heat wave that initially brought unusual warmth to the West last week has been slowly moving eastward, with forecasts indicating it would arrive on the southeastern coast by Friday. Along the way, it may fuel a series of potentially severe storms across parts of the Midwest.