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Today’s Takeaway

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The Tree Frog Forestry News
May 8, 2026
Category: Today's Takeaway

Hello early bird! We just want you to know that the news team is busy adding stories to this page. Be sure to check back at 9:00 am (PST) for the full line up of articles.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog News Editor

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Western Forest Products, Acadian Timber and Cascades report mixed Q1 results

The Tree Frog Forestry News
May 7, 2026
Category: Today's Takeaway

First-quarter results from Western Forest Products, Acadian Timber and Cascades reflect continued pressure from softer markets and rising costs. Meanwhile: Unifor says Canada needs to stabilize its forest sector; RBC says innovation can help solve Canada’s housing crisis; Governor Kemp signs legislation to strengthen Georgia’s forest industry; BC investors pull back over DRIPA uncertainty; and a UK survey shows a workforce struggling under multiple pressures.

In Forestry news: SFI honours Kathy Abusow’s legacy, recognizes Indigenous, Quebec’s and Domtar’s forestry leadership, and examines growing sustainability disclosure demands. Meanwhile: the 2024 Jasper fire sparks Parks Canada reforms; Trumps cuts are said to be hurting forest science; 2025 funding cuts reduced California’s aerial surveys; and wildfire updates from New Brunswick and Michigan.

Finally, on Day 4 of Wildfire Resilience and Awareness Week, North Cowichan outlines its long-term approach to wildfire preparedness, while Bruce Blackwell argues BC’s wildfire challenge is increasingly a question of sustained investment in mitigation over suppression.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog News Editor

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Canfor, Stella-Jones and GreenFirst report improved Q1, 2026 earnings results

The Tree Frog Forestry News
May 6, 2026
Category: Today's Takeaway

Canfor, Stella-Jones and GreenFirst all reported improved first-quarter results, as lumber markets stabilized despite demand and pricing pressures. In other Business news: US Lumber Coalition applauds actions to combat evasion of US lumber duty orders; US remodelling growth to slow in 2027; and Russia’s forest industry is hard hit by sanctions

In Forestry news: Kathy Abusow kicked off SFI’s 2026 annual conference in Montreal with a CEO Award and panel on challenging times and new opportunities. Meanwhile, new research links overstory mortality with spring runoff; US drops logging project near Yellowstone Park; New Zealand launched an eduction game where students manage a virtual forest; and another Forest History & Archives feature by forest seed and silvicultural specialist Don Pigott.

Finally, on Day 3 of Wildfire Resilience and Awareness week, Murray Wilson looks back his BC is Burning documentary—recently featured in a Forestnet podcast, and FireSmart BC provides mitigation and prevention tips for individuals and organizations. Also, here’s the correct link to yesterday’s story by Forsite on using LiDAR to enhance their new Fuel ID tool

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog News Editor

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Special Feature

Knowing the Fuel: How Modern Mapping Technology is Reshaping Community Wildfire Resilience in Canada

Forsite
May 5, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada

In much of Canada, provincial and territorial fuel classification layers are built on vegetation inventory information that can be many years out of date. The inputs behind those layers are often unvalidated and the conditions they describe may not reflect current reality. …Forests change considerably over time. As an example, past harvest activity has restructured stands, and bark beetle infestations have converted millions of hectares of mature lodgepole pine into standing dead fuel. …Provincial layers typically describe fuel type classifications but say little about the structural attributes of those fuels, and nothing about their current seasonal condition. …In the WUI, the difference between a fuel-free buffer and a continuous shrub corridor can be measured in meters. Legacy maps cannot resolve these issues. The consequences of missing them are not abstract.

Forsite’s Fuel ID tool was built to address these gaps. Fuel ID encompasses a series of machine-learning approaches that use satellite imagery and, where available, LiDAR data to generate current, validated fuel information across the full canopy-to-surface profile. It is not a single product — it is a flexible system that generates resolution-appropriate outputs depending on available data inputs and the operational question being asked. 

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Canada’s first university wildfire diploma marks milestone at Thompson Rivers University

Thompson Rivers University
May 8, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada West

Students at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) have completed the first year of Canada’s first university-level diploma in wildfire studies, marking a key milestone in a program designed to meet the growing and evolving demands of the wildfire sector.

Developed in partnership with the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS), the diploma is part of a broader effort to build a first-of-its-kind wildfire hub at TRU. The initiative, known as TRU Wildfire, brings together research, education, training and innovation to respond to the growing challenges of a changing climate. TRU is leading the way with climate-adapted wildfire studies, bringing expertise from across disciplines to prepare students for a wide range of roles connected to wildfire. …Students can take a single course, complete one of four specialized certificates  —  the Sociocultural Dynamics of Wildfire Certificate, Wildfire Communications and Media Certificate, Wildfire Leadership Certificate and Wildfire Science Certificate  — or work toward the full diploma, which combines all four certificates with additional coursework.

While some students aim to advance into leadership or specialist roles with agencies such as BCWS, others are focused on related fields, including emergency management, ecology, community resilience and mental health.

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Wildfire Risk and Readiness in BC Forestry Operations: Protecting Workers, Operations and Communities

By Michele Fry
BC Forest Safety Council
May 8, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada West

Wildfire activity is not simply a disruption to forestry work in British Columbia–it has the potential to be a significant occupational hazard. Wildfire smoke and ash can cause respiratory problems, trees impacted by fire can fall unexpectedly and crews could become entrapped by fast moving flame fronts. In recent years, BC has experienced some of the most severe wildfire seasons in Canada. One season alone saw approximately 2.8 million hectares burned, which was more than double previous records and caused widespread evacuations, area closures, and heavy smoke. BC’s forestry sector was significantly impacted, particularly in remote locations that were dangerously exposed to rapidly changing fire conditions.

Wildfires can escalate quickly into uncontrollable situations, putting workers at risk, halting operations, damaging equipment and threatening nearby communities. Wildfire preparedness is essential and it is a shared responsibility. Forestry operators, workers and industry partners all play a role in reducing risk and responding effectively. …

Wildfires will continue to challenge BC’s forestry sector. By learning from past wildfire seasons, staying informed and working together, the industry can better protect workers, operations and the communities that depend on them.

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Strategic’s Proven Use of Drones on the Wildfire Front Lines

Strategic Natural Resource Group
May 8, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada West

As wildfires in Canada grow larger, faster and more unpredictable, the challenge facing emergency responders is no longer just putting water on flames, it is understanding what the fire is doing, where it is heading, and how quickly conditions are changing —drones are a critical tool in meeting that challenge.

Strategic began using drone technology years ago as part of its forestry, environmental monitoring and natural-resource management work. As wildfire seasons intensify, those same unmanned aircraft systems were quickly adapted for emergency response. Today, drones are embedded in Strategic’s wildfire operations, providing real-time intelligence to support firefighters and incident commanders. …Safety is a central benefit. Drone reconnaissance allows Strategic teams to assess hazards, scout access routes, and monitor fire behaviour without putting personnel directly in harm’s way. …In addition to drone-based fire suppression and monitoring systems, Strategic trains and supports resource professionals who are passionate about fire suppression.

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Preparing for the Inevitable: How North Cowichan Is Strengthening Its Wildfire Resilience

By Chris Jancowski, Deputy Fire Chief, Operations
North Cowichan Fire Services
May 7, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada West

Wildfire is no longer a distant or hypothetical concern for communities in British Columbia. Over the past several years, North Cowichan has taken meaningful steps to better understand and reduce its wildfire risk—investing in planning, expertise, and long‑term resilience. …Ours is a classic wildland–urban interface (WUI) community. …North Cowichan has recognized that wildfire must be addressed as an ongoing operational and planning consideration rather than a seasonal concern. A key step in advancing this work was the creation of a dedicated wildfire specialist role. This position reflects an understanding that effective wildfire preparedness and response require focused expertise, long‑range planning, and coordination across multiple municipal functions.

Rather than developing a standalone wildfire document, North Cowichan is enhancing its existing municipal and emergency planning framework to expand into a more comprehensive wildfire response plan. This approach recognizes that wildfire response is interconnected with emergency management, infrastructure planning, land use, and inter‑agency coordination. Our approach demonstrates how preparation, coordination, and local leadership can significantly improve response capability and resilience. As wildfire continues to shape the future of communities across the province, North Cowichan’s work offers a practical, real‑world example of how municipalities can adapt and prepare for the inevitability of fire.

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B.C.’s Wildfire Challenge Is Also a Question of How We Invest

By Bruce Blackwell
Blackwell Consulting Ltd.
May 7, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada West

After more than three decades working in forestry and wildfire risk in British Columbia, I have come to see our wildfire challenge less as a failure of knowledge and more as a question of how we choose to invest wildfire mitigation funding. …much of the risk we face is well understood and well documented. We know where our most vulnerable forests are in relation to values at risk. We know which communities are exposed and we have a growing body of evidence showing what kinds of interventions can change fire behaviour on the ground. What is less clear is whether our investment patterns reflect that understanding in a meaningful way. …Over the past two decades, spending on fire suppression has consistently outpaced investment in prevention and mitigation.

Mitigation funding has increased in recent years, particularly for fuel management and community protection. Even so, it generally remains in the range of $100 million to $200 million annually. The result is a system that is highly effective at responding to fire but still evolving in how it invests in reducing risk before ignition. In effect, the majority of public spending continues to flow after fires start, rather than toward reducing conditions that drive their severity. …The question is whether those investments can be sustained and scaled over time in a way that matches the level of risk. …meaningful change will not happen in a single funding cycle. It will take consistent investment over decades.

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We Know What Needs to Be Done. Why Aren’t We Doing It?

By Murray Wilson, Retired forester, Vernon, B.C.
BC is Burning Documentary
May 6, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada West

At a screening of BC is Burning earlier this year, someone in the audience asked a question that has stayed with me: “If we already know what needs to be done, why aren’t we doing it?” It wasn’t asked as a challenge. It was asked out of frustration. That question defines the gap between knowledge and action when it comes to wildfire. It has come up again and again across more than 25 screenings of B.C. is Burning, in communities throughout the Interior and Vancouver Island, and at the B.C. Legislature. …Since 2017, more than 8 million hectares have burned across British Columbia. In some communities, weeks of smoke have become a regular part of summer. The pace and intensity of wildfire are now outstripping current approaches. Suppression alone cannot keep up under extreme conditions.

This is not just a climate story. It is also a forest conditions story. … Understanding the problem is the easy part. The conversation is shifting from whether we should manage forests to how, and how quickly it can be done at scale. …There is no single solution to wildfire. But we do know that actively managing forests at scale will reduce risk and impacts. There is a path forward, and people across the province can see it.

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Seeing Wildfire Risk with FireSmart BC

FireSmart BC
May 6, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada West

Wildfire has become an increasingly visible part of life across Western Canada. Our climate is changing, and wildfire seasons are becoming longer and drier. The best way to tackle wildfire preparedness, prevention, and mitigation is to work together. FireSmart BC is a provincial program dedicated to helping British Columbians understand and reduce their wildfire risk. We serve as the go-to resource for individuals, neighbourhoods, and communities looking to protect themselves and their properties. …Built on decades of research, FireSmart BC focuses on how wildfire behaves around structures and how changes on and around a property can influence outcomes during a wildfire. …Wildfire mitigation is a shared responsibility. When renters, landlords, homeowners, businesses, and all levels of government work together, we can collectively reduce the risk and impact of wildfires across British Columbia. …FireSmart BC offers a wide range of resources to support both individuals and organizations.

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Business & Politics

Tla’amin acquisition of forest operation receives qathet Regional District support

By Paul Galinski
Powell River Peak
May 5, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

qathet Regional District directors have voted to approve a letter of support in principle for the agreement between Tla’amin Nation and Western Forest Products on the transfer of tree farm licence (TFL) 39 to Tla’amin. At the April 29 regional board meeting, Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne said the last paragraph of the letter of support stated: “qathet Regional District has carefully evaluated the potential impacts of this transfer. We offer our support in principle, provided the Province of British Columbia conducts a comprehensive public interest evaluation and ensures that all existing third-party interests within the TFL remain fully protected.” Gisborne said there is a lot of interest in the community and a lot of recreation going on in the tree farm licence area.

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U.S. Endowment Partners with Forest Products Lab to Spotlight Innovation Through Video Series

The US Endowment for Forestry and Communities
May 4, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States

The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (the Endowment) has partnered with the USDA Forest Service’s Forest Products Laboratory to highlight innovation, stewardship and economic opportunity in America’s forest products sector through a video series. The series, co-funded by the Endowment and Forest Products Laboratory, gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at groundbreaking research and unique facilities, while demonstrating how forest product innovations are delivering real-world benefits to communities, industries and ecosystems across the country. The Forest Products Laboratory is the nation’s only federally funded national wood utilization research laboratory. Located in Madison, Wis., the Forest Products Laboratory is responsible for scientific research on wood and developing innovative wood products with the objective of promoting the nation’s economy, healthy forests and quality of life for American citizens through wood and fiber utilization research.

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Exporters urged to prepare response to Canada’s wood product safeguard probe

The Việt Nam News
May 6, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: International

HÀ NỘI — Canada has launched a global safeguard investigation into certain imported wood products, prompting Vietnamese authorities to warn exporters to prepare for potential trade impacts and legal procedures. The Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam (TRAV) said it had received information from Việt Nam’s mission in Geneva that Canada had formally notified the WTO Committee on Safeguards following a decision by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) to initiate the probe. …TRAV has advised Vietnamese associations and exporters to review shipments of affected goods to Canada … and prepare appropriate response strategies. Manufacturers and exporters are also encouraged to register as interested parties before the May 15 deadline to safeguard their rights and interests and to prepare complete data and documentation for timely submissions. Exporters should closely monitor developments, diversify markets and assess potential financial impacts under different scenarios, including the possible imposition of safeguard measures by Canada.

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In Memoriam

Long before it was cool, Ted Turner was fighting to save the planet

By Drew Kann
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
May 7, 2026
Category: In Memoriam
Region: United States

@Wiki

Turner, who died Wednesday at the age of 87, will be remembered as a buccaneering entrepreneur whose companies reshaped media, news, advertising and sports. But for all his business success, Turner’s efforts to protect the planet itself and its few remaining wild places could be his most enduring legacy. Considered the real “Captain Planet”, Turner protected American prairies, helped restore iconic species and embraced renewable energy as a climate-change solution years before it was en vogue. …Starting in the 1990s, Turner began buying land across the Western U.S. — overseen by Turner Enterprises, it stretches from South Dakota to New Mexico. The land is privately owned, but huge swaths are managed to provide habitat for rare and endangered species that once thrived in the West. It is the American bison, however, that Turner’s name has become synonymous with. …Never one to shy away from sharing his views, Turner spoke openly about his climate worries — and pushed industry to embrace solutions. 

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Finance & Economics

Businesses pulling investment from B.C. over DRIPA uncertainty, poll finds

By Rob Shaw
Business in Vancouver
May 6, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada West

Premier David Eby’s plummeting approval numbers aren’t the only figures the NDP government needs to worry about when it comes to the backlash over Indigenous reconciliation and private property rights. Many B.C. businesses are reporting they plan to scale back operations due to the conflict as well. Almost 74 per cent of B.C. businesses plan to decrease investment due to uncertainty over the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, according to a new survey of senior executives Wednesday by the Business Council of B.C. The majority cite increased time, cost, complexity or uncertainty in permitting caused by the court rulings, policy flips and changing landscape around the NDP’s DRIPA. As many as one-third said they plan to reduce hiring. “The desire to work with Indigenous communities to create prosperity for all remains strong but the message from business leaders is clear: DRIPA isn’t working,” said BCBC president Laura Jones.

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Wood, Paper & Green Building

Building skills for sawmill success: BCIT Industrial Wood Processing program

By Linh Tran
BCIT School of Construction and the Environment
April 22, 2026
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada West

Since its launch in 2018, the Associate Certificate in Industrial Wood Processing (IWP) has grown into a leading workforce development program in the forestry sector. Developed by the School of Construction and the Environment (SoCE) at BCIT in partnership with four leading North American lumber companies, the program was designed to meet a clear industry need: practical, flexible technical training that fits the realities of mill operations. Designed for employees working directly in wood products manufacturing, IWP focuses on the fundamentals that matter on the mill floor: helping new hires, experienced operators, and emerging supervisors build a strong understanding of how sawmills operate and how production decisions impact quality, efficiency, and safety. The IWP Program was shaped by industry input. Program development was led by Canfor, Tolko, West Fraser and Interfor, and has since grown to have over 34 companies sponsor employees, using it as part of onboarding, upskilling, and succession planning.

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BCIT opens Zero-Carbon, Tall Timber Student Housing

The Canadian Architect
May 6, 2026
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada West

The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) has completed a new student housing development at its Burnaby campus, the first in more than 30 years. Perkins&Will, the 12-storey mass timber building adds 469 new beds, and is the first campus building to achieve the Canada Green Building Council’s (CAGBC) Zero Carbon Building – Design Standard certification. It also stands as Burnaby’s tallest mass timber structure.Structural innovation includes cross-laminated timber (CLT) floors supported on slender steel hollow structural section (HSS) columns, a solution developed to maximize usable space. Mass timber was central to the project’s construction strategy, using locally sourced CLT panels and a design-for-manufacture-and-assembly (DfMA) approach to optimize prefabrication and modularity. Ideal for student housing delivery, this method minimized waste, ensured cost efficiency, and accelerated construction, with one floor being completed approximately every two weeks. 

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Forestry

Researchers recognized for innovation in the Canadian forest value chain

By Rebecca Rogers, Director, Communications
Forest Products Association of Canada
May 7, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada

Christopher Gagnon

Armel Zambou Kenfack

Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Chisholm Awards for Innovation in Forestry, recognizing emerging leaders whose research is advancing innovation across Canada’s forest sector. The award theme—promoting the use and adoption of Canadian forest products through value chain innovation—highlights the importance of strengthening performance, efficiency, and competitiveness across the sector. “The work of these young innovators reflects the practical innovation the sector needs right now,” said Derek Nighbor, FPAC President and CEO. …Christopher Gagnon is pursuing his Masters in Wood Engineering and Bio-based Materials at Université Laval. Gagnon is working on the reinforcement of dowel-type connections in solid wood structures using self-tapping screws. His research addresses one of the key technical barriers limiting the broader adoption of wood in construction: the performance and reliability of structural connections. …Armel Zambou Kenfack is a PhD candidate in Wood Engineering and Bio-based Materials at Université Laval. Kenfack is working on a project that reduces energy consumption associated with fiber refining in Medium-Density Fibreboard (MDF) panel production.

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Domtar receives the 2026 SFI Leadership in Conservation Award for advancing climate smart forestry

Sustainable Forestry Initiative
May 7, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, United States

Montréal, QC – The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is pleased to announce Domtar as the recipient of the 2026 SFI Leadership in Conservation Award. Certified to the SFI 2022 Forest Management, Fiber Sourcing, and Chain of Custody Standards, Domtar is being recognized for sustained engagement with the SFI Climate Smart Forestry Initiative and leadership in meaningful conservation efforts. Holding SFI certification for more than 20 years, and as the largest holder of SFI Forest Management certificates, Domtar brings substantial scale to responsible forest management. …“Domtar exemplifies the type of leadership that is helping shape the future of conservation in North American forests,” saidLauren T. Cooper, Chief Conservation Officer at SFI. 

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Chiefs and Councillors of Miisun Board awarded inaugural SFI Indigenous Forest Leadership Award

Sustainable Forestry Initiative
May 6, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, United States

Montréal, QC — The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is proud to announce the first-ever recipients of the SFI Indigenous Forest Leadership Award, in honour of Chief Lorraine Cobiness who passed in 2025. This inaugural award recognizes the Chiefs and Councilors of the Miisun Integrated Resource Management Company for leadership in land stewardship. “Chief Cobiness was an inspiring leader, an advocate for positive change, and a friend I learned so much from. She enriched our work at SFI through her passion, vision, and thoughtfulness, and she demonstrated how forestry can be done in a way that respects the land while strengthening communities,” said Kathy Abusow, CEO of SFI. “She will remain an inspiration to many in the forest sector, and this award was created to recognize her incredible legacy and the leaders who continue the work.”

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Quebec SFI Implementation Committee recognized for advancing sustainable forestry practices and awareness across the province

Sustainable Forestry Initiative
May 6, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, United States

Montréal, QCThe Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is pleased to announce the Quebec SFI Implementation Committee (SIC) as the winner of the 2026 SFI Implementation Committee Achievement Award at the 2026 SFI Annual Conference. The committee is being recognized for its wide-ranging engagement across the SFI Conservation, Standards, Community, and Education pillars, demonstrating a longstanding commitment to advancing sustainable forestry in Quebec. “This recognition from SFI reflects the collaborative leadership of the Quebec Implementation Committee across key SFI initiatives,” said Samuel Bourque, Domtar Certification Manager. “Together, we are advancing solutions for sustainable forestry while strengthening our ties with the public through outreach and education initiatives that make forests accessible to everyone.”

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Arbor Day Foundation receives 2026 SFI CEO Award for outstanding partnership and leadership in forestry

Sustainable Forestry Initiative
May 5, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada

Dan Lambe and Kathy Abusow

Montréal, QC — Kathy Abusow, CEO of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), recently announced the Arbor Day Foundation as the recipient of the 2026 SFI CEO Award. Arbor Day Foundation CEO Dan Lambe accepted the award on behalf of the organization during the 2026 Annual SFI Conference. The SFI CEO Award is presented annually to individuals or organizations demonstrating outstanding partnership and leadership in forestry. The Arbor Day Foundation has strengthened corporate engagement in sustainable forestry and large-scale reforestation by helping businesses and brands create positive, measurable impact through trees. Additionally, the Foundation has championed SFI’s urban forestry, nature-based education, and Indigenous lands initiatives.

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UBC researchers find Indigenous lands can outperform protected areas on conservation

By Charlotte Fisher
University of British Columbia
May 6, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

A new UBC study has found that lands managed by Indigenous Peoples consistently protect forests, biodiversity and carbon stores at levels equal to or greater than government-designated protected areas—yet most of these lands remain inadequately recognized or resourced. The paper analyzed 111 peer-reviewed papers… Three-quarters of those studies found a positive relationship between Indigenous lands and conservation. …The study also highlights a major gap in the research itself: only seven per cent of the 111 papers included Indigenous authors. “This is a significant disconnect,” said Garry Merkel, co-author and director of UBC’s Centre of Indigenous Land Stewardship and a member of Tahltan Nation. “Scientists often find it difficult to accept Indigenous science as legitimate, resulting in academic research that does not fully reflect Indigenous knowledge systems or perspectives. This work will help future research to be more inclusive and respectful in its acknowledgement of Indigenous communities.”

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Central Okanagan under ‘extreme’ wildfire danger as fire chief warns of ‘very real risk’

By Madison Reeve
Castanet
May 6, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

A large part of the Central Okanagan is under an extreme fire danger rating, as prolonged dry conditions and wind continue to elevate wildfire risk across the region. Forest fuels are extremely dry, allowing fires to ignite easily, spread rapidly, and become difficult to control. West Kelowna fire chief Jason Brolund says the current conditions are unusually persistent for this time of year and should be taken seriously. “This should be a very strong reminder to people that wildfire is a reality now,” Brolund said. He stressed that while conditions are concerning, officials are not expecting a large-scale disaster at this stage. “We’re not going to see a catastrophic wildfire that causes community to be evacuated,” he said, “But it is a reminder that wildfire is a very real risk, and we could see a fire that spreads quickly.”

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Jasper wildfire fallout sparks Parks Canada reforms after deadwood buildup blamed

The Western Standard
May 6, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Parks Canada is scrambling to overhaul its wildfire prevention strategy after internal and federal records tied massive fuel loads of dead timber to the devastation that tore through Jasper in 2024. Appearing before the Senate national finance committee, interim CEO Andrew Campbell said the agency is now shifting toward more aggressive fire mitigation, including controlled burns and clearing dead trees near vulnerable communities. Blacklock’s Reporter said the move comes after widespread criticism that previous management allowed dangerous conditions to persist inside Jasper National Park. …The Canadian Forest Service report, titled Jasper Wildfire Complex 2024 Fire Behaviour Documentation, Reconstruction And Analysis, linked the conditions to a severe mountain pine beetle infestation that peaked years before the blaze. Researchers found the widespread deadwood significantly altered forest conditions, increasing sunlight and wind exposure at ground level, which accelerated drying and made fuels more combustible.

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Coastal Fire Centre enacting Open Fire Prohibitions

BC Wildfire Service
May 5, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

PARKSVILLE – Effective at 12:00 p.m. PDT on Thursday, May 7, 2026, most open burning activities will be prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction, with exceptions for Haida Gwaii. This prohibition is being enacted to help reduce human-caused wildfires and for public safety. Category 1, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires will be prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction, with the exception that only Category 2 and Category 3 fires will be prohibited in the Haida Gwaii Forest District (Category 1 campfires will be permitted). This prohibition will be in place until October 31, 2026, or until the order is rescinded.

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It’s time to see the forests beyond the trees

By Sheila Harrington, founding executive director, Land Trust Alliance of B.C.
Victoria Times Colonist
May 6, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Sheila Harrington

The B.C. government, under Premier David Eby, is putting the future health and well-being of all British Columbians at risk. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar and the NDP government have approved logging of two old-growth areas on Vancouver Island, and are planning yet a third. On the Sunshine Coast, where recreation and tourism bring in more than logging, they are auctioning off another 100 areas. Despite receiving thousands of letters and submissions protesting the logging, one of these approvals was given to Teal Jones to log millennia-old yellow cedars near the ridge of Fairy Creek … on southern Vancouver Island. …If we are short-sighted and do not protect nature, we risk huge economic burdens and ecological consequences: The destruction of watersheds and clean water, erosion of land and roads, fires, loss of a tourism and recreational economy, and many lives. We must act now to protect B.C.’s forests, which are the foundation of our economy.

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The effects of overstory mortality on snow accumulation and ablation

Government of British Columbia
May 4, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Mountain pine beetles have killed a large percentage of mature lodgepole pine trees over an area of more than 14 million hectares in the B.C. Interior. Research has shown that this can increase the magnitude of spring runoff. Forest licensees are also permitted to log beetle-attacked pine stands at an accelerated rate. The net effect is that most of B.C.’s mature pine stands will be changing rapidly over the next decades due to deterioration of the overstory, natural regeneration, clearcut harvesting, and managed reforestation. This project documents differences in structure between pine stands at different stages of growth and deterioration, changes within stands over time, and the effects of those differences on snow hydrology at the stand level. This will help watershed modellers predict possible changes in stream flow due to pine beetles and forest management. The map shows the locations of five study areas where this work is being done.

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BC Community Forest Association hosts 2026 Conference & AGM in partnership with Monashee Community Forest

The BC Community Forest Association
May 5, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Jennifer Gunter

Vernon, BC – The BC Community Forest Association (BCCFA) will hold its 2026 Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Vernon, BC, from June 3-5, 2026. The event brings community forest leaders, partners, and supporters from across the province to connect, collaborate, and explore the challenges and opportunities for community forests in the years ahead. This year, attendees will also tour the Monashee Community Forest, a partnership of the Splatsin First Nation and the Village of Lumby. “We are looking forward to welcoming all delegates to this event, held for the first time in Vernon,” said Jennifer Gunter, Executive Director, BCCFA. …Key themes for the 2026 Conference and AGM will include wildfire risk reduction, stewardship, community forestry, and the future of forestry, including a keynote session with Helene Marcoux, Director of the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, focused on strengthening public understanding of forestry.

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Smokey’s Last Stand: What We Lose When President Trump Guts the Forest Service

By Julian Reyes, Chief of Staff
Union of Concerned Scientists
May 6, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: United States

…I recently wrote about how the Trump administration’s efforts to reorganize the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service and shutter 57 of its 77 research and development (R&D) facilities isn’t really about efficiency—it’s about hollowing out another science agency whose mission is to protect people, places, and livelihoods. The Forest Service has since updated its website to qualify that these R&D closures are “possible” but not a foregone conclusion. Yet, as details emerge, one thing is painfully clear: this plan would dismantle the world’s premier—and largest—wildfire research agency when wildfire risk, climate impacts, and economic losses are accelerating. Given increasing severity of wildfires, losing this research would diminish our understanding of managing forests under climate change. Trump’s plans to end climate studies, allowing forest fuel loads to build and diseases to spread, leaves our hands tied as we try to prevent wildfires without the benefit of evidence-based science.

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Lack of funding significantly reduced 2025 aerial forest surveys

By Katelyn Welsh
Sierra Sun Times
May 6, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: US West

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – An annual aerial survey that monitors forest health was significantly reduced in 2025 due to a lack of funding, resulting in many portions of California forests, including the Tahoe area, not being included. Since 2006, the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region’s Aerial Survey Program has flown over California forests every year to observe and document tree mortality, defoliation, and other damage. These annual estimates capture tree mortality patterns and trends, which researchers and foresters use to monitor ecosystem disturbances often caused by insects and disease. The information is also important for fire behavior forecasting. Typically covering large swaths of California landscape and a majority of national forests in California, including the Tahoe National Forest and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, 2025’s survey was limited to Southern California forests and the far southern Sierra Nevada. The report states surveys were conducted in areas where 2025 drought conditions were most severe.

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Fuel surge threatens cost of aerial firefighting across Oregon and Washington

By Victor Park
KATU 2 News
May 4, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: US West

Airplanes and helicopters are some of the most important modern firefighting tools. …However, they are now more expensive to operate. According to the Argus U.S. jet fuel index, the price per gallon for jet fuel was around $2.30. Today, it hovers around $4.50 a gallon, up roughly 65% since February. The U.S. Department of Forestry told several media outlets the agency budgeted $45 million for aviation fuel this year, about $7 million less than last year. The Oregon Department of Forestry said the increases in jet fuel prices don’t impact their ability to respond to wildfires if they break out. …“In the near term, we remain fully prepared to respond to wildfires across Oregon. If elevated fuel prices continue long-term, they may increase overall aviation costs and influence future contract rates,” said Derek Gasperini, external communications manager for the Oregon Department of Forestry.

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Oregon forests face another tough year as hot, dry summer looms

By Sana Aljobory
KATU 2 News
May 4, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: US West

Oregon’s trees are heading into another difficult year as the state braces for a hot, dry summer that forestry officials say is increasingly tied to climate change. Conditions this spring are already similar to those in 2015, a year marked by peak high temperatures and drought. The concerns come after a winter that tied 1934 for the warmest since accurate records were kept beginning in 1896, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. State forestry officials say Oregon’s trees have been experiencing chronic stress from hot droughts for at least a couple of decades. While there have been occasional breaks, frequent or long-duration warm and dry conditions have compounded over time, taking a toll on many trees. …Oregon Department of Forestry Forest Entomologist Christine Buhl said spring weather can be especially damaging because it coincides with trees’ most active growing period.

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New research reveals increased wildfire risk for more than 400 communities in Northwest

By Steve Lundeberg
Oregon State University
May 4, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: US West

CORVALLIS, Ore. – A new wildfire risk assessment tool that takes social vulnerability into account indicates more than 400 communities in the Pacific Northwest are at greater risk than previously thought. However, researchers at Oregon State University and The Nature Conservancy say their assessment tool could inform fair distribution of risk reduction resources. Andy McEvoy of the OSU College of Forestry led the creation of the tool, which integrates social vulnerability with factors such as structure density and environmental hazard. …The researchers found that Northwest communities with both high wildfire hazard and high social vulnerability tended to be small – having fewer than 5,000 buildings – and were mainly in the drier portions of the region. …“This tool balances the important element of social vulnerability with wildfire exposure, highlighting communities that are experiencing a relatively high degree of both,” co-author Chris Dunn, also of the College of Forestry said. 

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Minecraft game launched to grow future forestry workforce

By HarvestTech
Innovatek
May 5, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: International

Discover Forestry has launched a new Minecraft-based learning game that lets students grow and manage their own virtual forest, reflecting real New Zealand plantation forestry systems. The game takes players through the full forestry cycle, from establishing a crop, through tending and harvesting, to transport, processing and replanting, helping students understand how modern, sustainable production forestry operates as an integrated system. A key feature is the connection to downstream manufacturing through Buzz Zone World, where students process and transform logs, and Nailed It World, where players create finished wood products including using wood byproducts. Together, these elements help learners understand the full value chain from forest to product, and the range of real careers across forestry and wood processing. Alongside the game, Discover Forestry has released classroom resources that link gameplay to real-world knowledge and evidence informed teaching practices, making it easier for teachers and industry to engage rangatahi in a meaningful, hands-on way.

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Forest Fires

Heat records fall across Vancouver Island as wildfire risks climb

By Hannah Link
Victoria Times Colonist
May 5, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada West

©BCWildfireService

Warm weather across British Columbia broke daily temperature records in at least nine Vancouver Island locations this past weekend. Victoria’s Gonzlaes station got to 26.9 C, breaking the record of 25 C for May 3 set in 1898, while the Victoria International Airport recorded a high of 25.1 C, breaking the previous record of 25.0 C set in 1944.  …The B.C. Wildfire service said it’s expecting above-seasonal temperatures into this week and warns that could increase the likelihood of new wildfire starts. There are about 31 active wildfires in B.C., with roughly 10 new fires recorded Sunday — including two on Vancouver Island. …The B.C. Wildfire Service said one blaze deemed under control was discovered just west of Coombs near Highway 4 early Sunday afternoon. …Another fire was discovered near Tyee Creek, east of Ladysmith.

Related BC wildfire news by Amy Judd in Global News: B.C. wildfire burning near Cultus Lake as hot weather continues

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Crews battle Northern Michigan wildfire for third day

By Justine Lofton
Michigan Live
May 6, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: US East

OSCODA COUNTY, MI – Firefighters are holding the line around a 124-acre wildfire in Northern Michigan today. This is the third day of firefighting operations around the Mapes Fire, which started on Monday, about five miles west of Mio in Oscoda County. As of this morning, the fire is 90% contained, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The fire began on private property on Mapes Road in Big Creek Township. It quickly spread to public land and has burned mostly within the Huron-Manistee National Forest. At least two structures have been destroyed. Residents on Camp 10 Road were evacuated from their homes Monday afternoon but were allowed to return later that day. Reports say the fire was caused by downed power lines and high wind speed, as determined by a Michigan Department of Natural Resources inspector. However, the USFS says the cause is under investigation.

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Crews work to contain 100 acre wildfire amid critical fire weather

By Roxanne Werly
UpNorthLive
May 5, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: US East

OSCODA COUNTY, Mich. — Crews are working to contain a wildfire in Oscoda County after it prompted evacuations Monday. The wildfire is about 100 acres and primarily on national forest land around Camp Ten Road near Lost Sky Ranch. Residents living near Camp 10 Road were evacuated to a shelter Monday afternoon, but were able to return home several hours later. Monday night officials said two structures were destroyed and the fire was about 80 percent contained. …A Red Flag Warning is in effect for parts of Michigan due to critical fire weather, including high winds, low humidity and dry vegetation.

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Forest History & Archives

The First Contract: Cones, Rifles, and a New Start

By Don Pigott
Tree Frog Forestry News
May 6, 2026
Category: Forest History & Archives
Region: Canada West

The Board Room – Don Pigott

In the Spring of 1982, after nearly 13 years with MacMillan Bloedel, I found myself increasingly dissatisfied following a reorganization that brought strict hierarchy, countless meetings, and little room for innovation. When “Black Friday” layoffs came, I was ready—I handed over my business card as I was terminated and set out to start my own seed collection and tree improvement consulting company.

Work was scarce at first, but a late-summer call from the Forest Service changed everything: my first contract to collect Douglas fir cones from 150 parent trees across the BC Interior. With Gerhard Gerke and JP Apperson, a couple of rifles, and some questionable maps, we set off. The bushy Interior trees, branches hung up overhead, and plenty of trial and error made for a challenging start, but we soon worked out a system—clearing the lower branches first to bring the cones down.

From roadside trees and ferry crossings to local guides, motel stays, and the occasional well-placed shot, the job was equal parts frustration and fun. It marked the real beginning—rough, uncertain, and exactly what I had hoped for.

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