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The Tree Frog Forestry News
April 29, 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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Boise Cascade pleads guilty and is fined for violating the Lacey Act

The Tree Frog Forestry News
April 28, 2026
Category: Today's Takeaway

Boise Cascade was fined $6.4M for violating the Lacey Act for its role in a timber trafficking scheme. In related news: San Group sues Lloyd’s for voiding insurance related to mill fire; Unifor calls for action on Interfor curtailments; Harmac Pacific pursues rezoning proposal; Quebec’s South Shore Furniture is closing; Thunder Bay pulp mill CEO remains optimistic; and Kimberly-Clark reports Q1, 2026 profit. Meanwhile: Prime Minister Carney opines on trade talks with US; Quebec premier Fréchette meets with US Trade Rep. Greer; and Ontario launches roadmap to protect forest workers.

In other news: April 28 is Day of Mourning 2026 – dedicated to honour those who lost their lives at work; the US Supreme Court is split over Roundup case; ENGOs say SFI has a clear-cutting problem; BC First Nation sues to protect Fraser River valley; mitigating climate change in Haida Gwaii; Montana pursues purchase of Stimson Lumber forest lands; and logging, murder and money—can Mexico’s forests be saved from the cartels?

Finally, 10 years after the Fort McMurray wildfire – where do we stand on preparedness?

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog News

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Business & Politics

Bestar and South Shore closures: Unifor calls for emergency support for the furniture manufacturing sector

By Unifor
PR Newswire
April 28, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada

LAC-MÉGANTIC, QC – The back-to-back closures of Bestar and Meubles South Shore within a 24-hour period send a clear message: Quebec’s furniture manufacturing sector is in jeopardy. A total of 120 Unifor members are losing their jobs after Bestar announced it would close its Lac-Mégantic plant. “Ottawa has the tools to act and has demonstrated its ability to respond quickly and effectively to sectoral crises affecting the country’s industrial economy. Minister Champagne’s announcement last week launching a safeguard investigation into low-cost imports in this sector is a step in the right direction. Now, that process must be accelerated and every effort made to protect good jobs in this country,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. On April 27, Meubles South Shore announced it would cease furniture production after 86 years of operation at its Sainte-Croix and Coaticook facilities, another major blow to Quebec’s furniture manufacturing sector.

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Control the Controllable: Canada must focus on boosting competitiveness

Forest Products Association of Canada
April 29, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada

The Canadian forest sector is weathering a perfect storm, facing three years of soft markets, protracted geopolitical conflicts and instability in global markets, and combined tariffs and duties averaging 45% on Canadian softwood lumber products entering the US.  “While we welcome the measures to improve the speed at which we can build homes, through code and regulatory improvements for modern methods of construction, we still need a clear signal that Canada intends to be a more competitive place for forest sector investment — more responsive regulation, improved transportation supply chain performance, and tax and investment tools that accelerate the use of Canadian wood products here at home while helping companies modernize facilities and keep people working,” said Derek Nighbor, FPAC President and CEO. “We look forward to Minister Hodgson’s release of the Forest Sector Transformation Task Force report, which should provide a much-needed blueprint for enhancing competitiveness and ensuring long-term growth and stability.”

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Alberta targets students with new skilled trades initiative

By Rich Christianson
The Woodworking Network
April 28, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada West

CALGARY, Alberta — Alberta’s government is investing $6 million over three years to support the next generation of skilled trades workers with the launch of the Alberta Trades Discovery Centre. The industry-led initiative will offer junior high and high school students hands-on exposure to careers in the skilled trades before they graduate. Set to open this fall, the Alberta Trades Discovery Centre will provide a dedicated, professional space where students can explore construction trades, learn directly from experienced tradespeople and discover what they are good at and what they enjoy, helping them make informed choices about high school courses, post-secondary pathways and future careers.

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A Decade After the Fort McMurray Wildfire: Where Do We Stand on Wildfire Risk and Preparedness?

By Insurance Bureau of Canada
PR Newswire
April 28, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

EDMONTON, AB – As Canada marks the 10th anniversary of the Fort McMurray wildfire – the country’s most devastating and costliest natural disaster – Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is raising awareness about ongoing wildfire risk across the country and renewing its call for solutions to help prevent disasters of this scale in the future. “Fort McMurray was a turning point in Canadian history and was a devastating example of the extreme wildfire risk facing many communities,” said Aaron Sutherland, Vice-President, Pacific and Western, IBC. “Since that time, we’ve seen communities in every region of the country impacted by wildfire and, led by Fort McMurray’s example, Canadians have endured and rebuilt. But the growing risk is undeniable and without action, more families and more communities will be impacted by wildfire in the years ahead.” …In 2025 BC released a three‑point resilience plan for governments to better protect communities from wildfires, floods, and other climate disasters. 

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Bad timing costs Chemainus mill workers extra federal support

By Andrew Duffy
Victoria Times Colonist
April 28, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada West

A group of Chemainus sawmill workers facing the prospect of being out of work for at least the rest of this year is calling on the federal government to make good on a promise to provide an extra 20 weeks of employment insurance support. About two dozen employees of the Western Forest Products mill, which the company has said will be shuttered until at least 2027, say they have been excluded by Service Canada from a promised 20 extra weeks of EI. “All I’m asking for is for these 20 to 24 people just to be paid the 20 weeks that was promised to them,” said Brian Bull, who has worked at the Chemainus mill for 34 years. The last day of work at the mill was technically July 15, but the majority of the mill was shut down June 18, putting 120 people out of work, he said.

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Building skills for sawmill success: BCIT Industrial Wood Processing program

By Linh Tran
BCIT School of Construction and the Environment
April 22, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
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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The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities Voices Concern Over Nairn Centre Mill Curtailment – Wawa-news.com

Wawa News
April 28, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada East

The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) is expressing concern following the announcement that Interfor will indefinitely curtail operations at its mill in Nairn Centre. …The Nairn Centre mill has long been a cornerstone employer, supporting generations of families and contributing to the region’s economic stability. FONOM acknowledges the leadership shown by the Township of Nairn and Hyman and the Town of Espanola in their quick, collaborative response to support those affected. Their commitment to working with partners and supporting impacted residents reflects the strength and resilience of Northern communities. FONOM notes that this curtailment is not an isolated event, but part of a broader trend impacting the forestry sector across Northern Ontario. Ongoing softwood lumber tariffs, combined with market pressures and rising costs, continue to strain mills and the communities that depend on them.

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Toilet paper isn’t going digital: Mill CEO ‘very, very optimistic’

By Matt Prokopchuk
Timmins Today
April 28, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada East

THUNDER BAY — Norm Bush, the CEO of Thunder Bay’s pulp mill says he feels the local operation is well-positioned, given current market demands. Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper now only produces softwood kraft pulp on a single line at its Neebing Avenue facility and generates renewable energy for sale to the Ontario power grid after axing its newsprint division earlier this year. Despite that, Bush said there’s a significant demand for what they’re still producing. “Fortunately, the pulp sector that we are participating in now, and particularly the grades that we’re supporting, is actually growing,” he said Thursday after a panel discussion at the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association conference on the future of the region’s forestry sector. “We’re very, very optimistic about the future of market pulp — particularly in the tissue and towel industries,” he continued, saying that they are “growing very rapidly with the increase in population, both in Canada and the U.S.”

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Unifor calls on governments to act after Interfor announces wind down of Nairn Centre sawmill

Unifor Canada
April 27, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada East

NAIRN CENTRE, Ontario —Unifor is calling for urgent, coordinated action from all levels of government following Interfor’s announcement that it is indefinitely curtailing operations at its Nairn Centre sawmill. “Every week brings another closure, another community in crisis,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Workers in Nairn Centre are paying the price for a trade war they didn’t start. Canada needs a real industrial strategy for forestry before we lose any more jobs.” Interfor also announced it will idle its Gogama sawmill. The two new closures follow the shut down of Interfor’s Ear Falls sawmill in October, affecting 160 Unifor members. Unfair U.S. tariffs are believed to be the primary driver of the closures. Payne currently sits on the federal government’s Canadian Forest Sector Transformation Task Force, which is mandated to chart a path to restructure and modernize Canada’s forest sector. 

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Ontario Launches Roadmap to Protect Forest Sector Workers and Businesses

By Natural Resources
The Government of Ontario
April 28, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada East

TORONTO— The Ontario government has launched the Roadmap to Protecting Ontario’s Forest Sector, a 10-year path to protect the workers, businesses, families and communities of the province’s forestry sector. Building on the government’s strategic investments and actions to-date through Ontario’s Forest Sector Strategy, the roadmap responds to new unprecedented trade pressures facing the sector today by increasing the forest industry’s competitive advantage and unlocking new markets to maintain Ontario’s position as a G7 leader in making and selling wood products. “Our roadmap will connect Ontario’s strong forest product supply chains to new sectors here at home and emerging markets around the world,” said Kevin Holland, Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products. …The government will take steps under the three pillars: Defend workers, communities and businesses…; Adapt the forest sector to be more competitive…; and Grow long-term demand for Ontario’s forestry products… The Roadmap includes the release of the Advanced Wood Construction Action Plan

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Sawmill closures leaves northern Ontario community bracing for job losses

By Faith Greco
CBC News
April 24, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada East

The Township of Nairn and Hyman is preparing for significant economic fallout after Interfor announced it would indefinitely curtail operations at its sawmills in Nairn Centre and Gogama. …The township … expects layoffs could begin as early as mid-June, with the mill continuing operations until the end of the month before shutting down indefinitely, Mayor Amy Mazey said. “It’s indefinite due to tariffs and other issues, and there are no plans at this point to restart it. But everyone’s hope is — that this is just a temporary solution,” Mazey said. …The township has already started coordinating its response, including reaching out to leaders in the nearby town of Espanola, which saw the closure of the Domtar pulp and paper mill in 2023. …Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt MP Jim Bélanger also called on the federal government to step in warning the closure could put more than 200 forestry jobs at risk.

Additional coverage: Statement from the Township of Nairn and Hyman Re: Closure of the Interfor Nairn Centre Mill

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Davis Timber Company Expands DeRidder, Louisiana, Manufacturing Operations

Area Development News Desk
April 28, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: US East

©Davis Timber 

Timber products manufacturer Davis Timber Company, Inc. plans to expand its operations in DeRidder, Louisiana. The $1.9 million project will enhance production capabilities and strengthen the region’s timber industry. The investment at the company’s existing facility, located at the Beauregard Regional Airport Industrial Complex, will add new processing capabilities, including a kiln-drying operation, to improve efficiency and product readiness.  “With its prime location in the center of the Southwest Louisiana timber belt and the availability of essential ancillary services, DeRidder provided the prime location for our operations,” said Robert Davis, President and CEO of Davis Timber Company. …Davis Timber Company, Inc. produces poles and pilings for utility and infrastructure applications. The company’s operations include timber processing, treatment, and preparation of wood products for distribution.

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Wood, Paper & Green Building

Insurers urge caution on mass timber

By Jonalyn Cueto
Insurance Business Magazine
April 27, 2026
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada

Canada’s insurance sector is calling for more time and data before it can fully evaluate mass timber as a building material, even as its use spreads rapidly across the country, according to a recent policy brief by the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). …Despite the material’s growing footprint, insurers remain cautious. The IBC brief identified three key gaps in available data: long-term structural performance over several decades, the effects of moisture and water-related incidents, and typical repair and replacement costs following fire or other damage. Reinsurance capacity for mass timber projects, particularly mid- to high-rise developments, has also been constrained, which the brief noted directly affects the availability and terms of primary coverage. Insurance broker Aon has noted that limited long-term loss history makes it more difficult for insurers to model risk with the same level of confidence they apply to more established building materials, according to the IBC.

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Save the Date: Wood Solutions Conference Moncton | Nov 17–18, 2026

Canadian Wood Council
April 28, 2026
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada East

Mark your calendars! WoodWorks Atlantic and the Canadian Wood Council are pleased to present the Wood Solutions Conference in Moncton this fall — and we want you there. Join us November 17–18, 2026, at the Delta Hotels Beausejour for Atlantic Canada’s premier event dedicated to wood design and construction. This two-day conference and trade show will feature expert-led seminars, the latest innovations, and valuable networking opportunities for professionals in architecture, engineering, and construction. Full conference details and registration information coming soon. Whether you’re focused on sustainability, looking to expand your toolkit, or exploring what’s possible with wood, this is an event you won’t want to miss. Stay tuned for Early Bird registration details.

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Forestry

Canada’s biggest sustainable forest label has a clear-cutting problem

By Leah Borts-Kuperman
Corporate Knights
April 27, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada

For Torrance Coste, the associate director of the Wilderness Committee British Columbia. … has seen the scars of clear-cutting firsthand, in a territory that carries the stamp of approval of Sustainable Forestry Initiative, or SFI, a widely used forestry certification. Coste’s organization forms part of a complaint filed before the Competition Bureau of Canada challenging the integrity of SFI, a system created by the pulp and paper industry in 1994… …The complaint, led by Ecojustice on behalf of the Wilderness Committee, Greenpeace Canada and [others] wants SFI to stop calling their certification “sustainable,” to issue public correction of their claims and to pay a $10-million fine. …Another signatory to the complaint, Peter Wood, is a professor in the Department of Forest Resources Management at the University of British Columbia. …SFI responded, arguing that the organization is governed by an 18-member board divided equally among industry, conservation, and Indigenous and social sectors.

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Logging protest in Nelway area ends in arrests

My Nelson Now
April 27, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Two men were arrested Friday after a protest blocked access to a Forest Service road near Nelway, preventing a contractor from reaching a worksite. Salmo RCMP responded on April 24 to a demonstration where a small group of people had obstructed the road in opposition to logging activity in the area. The protest is connected to ongoing efforts by the Rosebud Community Watershed Protection Group, which has been advocating for stronger protections in the Rosebud and Lomond Creek watersheds. …Police said officers attempted to negotiate with the group, but the demonstrators refused to leave. Two men were arrested as a result. During the arrest, an officer was allegedly struck in the face by one of the men. A 75-year-old Nelway man was subsequently arrested for assaulting a police officer with a weapon and obstruction, while a 37-year-old man, also from Nelway, was arrested for mischief and obstruction.

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A Decade of Impact: Investing in Forest Resiliency Efforts to Mitigate Climate Change in Haida Gwaii

Forest Enhancement Society of BC
April 28, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Haida Gwaii, BC As the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) marks its 10th anniversary, the Society is reflecting on the investments it has made to support climate change mitigation across the province. Notably, with support from FESBC, communities like Haida Gwaii continue to enhance the resilience of their forests in the face of a changing climate. This work often includes supporting transportation costs so that uneconomic, low-value fibre is transported to local secondary manufacturing facilities rather than burned on site in slash piles following harvesting operations or post-wildfire salvage. …“As we mark ten years of FESBC, what stands out the most is the tangible impact these projects are having on the ground, the people behind the work, and the role they play in addressing climate change,” said Jason Fisher, RPF, Executive Director, FESBC.

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Under the radar: B.C.’s karst protection guidelines desperately need a rewrite, researcher says

By Hope Lompe
National Observer in Victoria Times Colonist
April 27, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

The Island has some of B.C.’s most well-known karst features — such as caves, sinkholes and underground rivers — but they’re threatened by logging. Around five years ago, Mark Worthing — heard a company was planning to log a huge drainage of ­old-growth forest and watershed 350 kilometres north of Victoria, with the only access point being a single road believed to have a karst cave underneath. Worthing, an old-growth forest campaigner [intended to] prove the cave stretched beneath the road, the destructive heavy logging machinery would not be allowed to pass through, and the old growth and watershed would be saved. …While researcher Jenica Ng-Cornish says B.C. has a comprehensively better karst plan than other jurisdictions, it falls short when put into practice. The forestry guidelines are based on aging documents: the 2002 Forest and Range Practices Act and 2003 Karst Management Handbook. There are also six Government Actions Regulation orders on karst protections.

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Frustration brews as Harrison council seeks forestry sustainability answers

By Adam Louis
Agassiz-Harrison Observer
April 27, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Harrison Hot Springs leaders may be taking their forestry-related concerns right to the provincial government. During Monday’s council meeting, Harrison Hot Springs council voted 1-4 to defeat a motion from Coun. Mark Schweinbenz to direct village staff to speak with a number of entities concerning large-scale, clear-cut forestry and its effects on the community. Schweinbenz was the sole assenting vote. “Every year, we get a letter from (B.C. Timber Sales), and it’s confusing and obfuscates what is really going on,” Schweinbenz said. “I don’t think we have any real input and I think the citizens of Harrison Hot Springs are frustrated by that. I think that should change.” …Instead of engaging with multiple agencies such as the B.C. Timber Sales Chilliwack Forest District, local First Nations leaders and neighbouring communities, council will consider requesting a meeting with the Minister of Forests at the 2026 UBCM Conference at the Vancouver Convention Centre in September.

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Reimagining B.C.’s forest sector through health and sustainability

By UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship
The Peace Arch News
April 26, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Recent headlines have made clear the need for change in B.C.’s forest sector. Immediate action is needed to further diversify forest operations and access to fibre, opening doors to innovation and value-added products. We can and should emphasise building with renewable materials sourced from B.C. timber, such as expanding local production of mass timber and continuing to advance tall wood construction. It’s also time to take stock of our collective long-term vision for forestry in the province, including its role in impacting our physical and psychological health, both collectively and individually. The Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship (FES) at the University of British Columbia is doing just that. Interdisciplinary environmental and forestry pursuits are engrained in its research, teaching and community outreach — why they lengthened their name from the Faculty of Forestry to the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship in January.

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This ecologist looks to wildfire history to support communities navigating the fires of today

CBC News
April 26, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Kira Hoffman

Kira Hoffman has been lighting fires since the age of seven, when she learned how to conduct planned burns on her parents’ farm. Now a fire ecologist at the University of British Columbia, she researches wildfire behavior and Indigenous-led fire stewardship, working in partnership with the Gitanyow, Cheslatta Carrier and Wet’suwet’en Nations. Hoffman was recently recognized with a prestigious National Geographic 33 award… She spoke with CBC Daybreak North host Carolina de Ryk about how fire benefits the land, the group effort behind her work and what she’s expecting in the wildfire season ahead. Click Read More for the interview transcript.

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Old Growth in the USA

By Joshua Wright
The Watershed Sentinel
April 25, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West, US West

“Surely old-growth logging won’t be happening in five years.” That was my belief in 2020, when I was a 17-year-old activist who — almost by accident — helped initiate the Fairy Creek blockades and the largest act of civil disobedience in Canadian history. …In that moment, it seemed inevitable that the old paradigm of forestry in BC would not last. Today, that old paradigm seems more entrenched than ever, with old-growth deferrals getting canceled across the province and an NDP government more focused on short-term economic development than long-term sustainability. …At this moment, the prospect of true forestry reform in BC seems bleak. But Washington protected its state-owned old-growth forests 20 years ago and maintains a thriving forest products industry today. How did they do it? And what can Washington’s success teach us about BC’s forestry predicament?

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Homalco First Nation takes proactive approach to wildfire season

By Robin Grant
Campbell River Mirror
April 26, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Climate change is making Vancouver Island more prone to wildfires, and the Homalco First Nation is taking proactive steps to prepare. To protect the community during wildfire season, the Nation has started a project designed to reduce wildfire risks in its privately owned forest next to the Homalco community south of Campbell River. Thinning the forest will make it less prone to fire and provide the community with another escape route in case of an emergency, says the Nation. …Ken Dodd, the manager of forest values with the Nation, said the abundance of ladder fuel, coupled with densely packed trees, could lead to a catastrophic forest fire if one were to ignite. …Dodd explained that the thinning technique replicates the qualities of an old-growth forest… Quentin Stefani, with Integrated Operations Group, the company hired to conduct the thinning, said the technology is typically used to thin forests in Europe. 

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Counting up receipts: one of Canada’s worst wildfire seasons cost at least $500M

By Julia-Simone Rutgers
The Narwhal
April 24, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

©ManitobaGovtFB

A little more than a year ago, during a time usually marked by lingering snowbanks and the first hints of spring, parts of Manitoba were engulfed in flames. …Between May and August, fires tore through 2.3 million hectares, decimated provincial parklands and forced more than 33,000 residents out of their homes. Two people died; at least one firefighter was severely injured. …An analysis by The Narwhal and the Winnipeg Free Press found at least $500 million in expenses directly attributable to the wildfires — costs tied to emergency response, evacuations, damaged infrastructure, shuttered businesses, lost homes and much more. The true cost will never be known, as the impacts are far-reaching and far less tangible, and likely far, far higher. …Despite that, Manitoba’s $50-million emergency expenditure budget wasn’t changed for 2026. The government said it is “a sizable emergency expense contingency,” while also noting an increase in funding for wildfire preparedness, prevention and emergency management. 

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UBC study: Whistlerites highly concerned about wildfire, but lag on preparedness

By Luke Faulks
Pique News Magazine
April 24, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

A new UBC-led study into wildfire risk in Whistler finds residents report near-universal concern about wildfire, a level of awareness that is driving high rates of mitigation work on properties—but not the same level of preparedness for an emergency. The research suggests “strong leadership” in local FireSmart programs is contributing to the uptake of mitigation techniques while pointing to a possible trade-off: residents who have reduced risk around their homes may be less focused on planning what to do if a wildfire occurs. “People are very aware of the risk, but we’re not seeing very high level of preparedness,” said study author Adeniyi P. Asiyanbi, an assistant professor at UBC Okanagan. …Drawing on 234 survey responses, the study finds high levels of concern across the community, with 91 per cent reporting they are “concerned” or “very concerned” about wildfires in Whistler, and 80 per cent rating overall risk as “high” or “extreme.”

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Lanark County Community Forest passes audit, posts another year of steady growth

Lanark Leeds Today
April 27, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada East

©Lanark County FB

Lanark County’s Community Forest continued to show strong environmental stewardship and financial stability in 2025, according to its latest State of the Forest report. The report outlines a year marked by successful timber operations, ongoing invasive species management, and another clean bill of health from independent auditors reviewing forest practices. The Lanark County Community Forest remains certified under both the Forest Stewardship Council and Sustainable Forestry Initiative standards through the Eastern Ontario Model Forest. …The forest is managed through a partnership with the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority and Upper Canada Forestry Service. Together, they also provide training, public outreach, and technical oversight. …Over the longer term, the report notes the forest has consistently generated net positive revenue for Lanark County since the partnership began in 2006.

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Ontario Investing $15 Million to Protect and Support Northern Communities

By Northern Economic Development and Growth
Government of Ontario
April 24, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada East

THUNDER BAY — The Ontario government is investing $15 million in ongoing annual funding through the Northern Ontario Resource Development Support (NORDS) Fund to help northern municipalities continue to improve local infrastructure and support responsible economic growth in the North. …Resource development operations, such as mining, forestry and agriculture, are an important part of the provincial economy, yet they can also disproportionately impact northern municipal infrastructure. … In 2025-26, 144 municipalities received NORDS funding, including:

  • The City of Timmins, which received $400,000 to reconstruct a 16-kilometre section of Highway 101 to mitigate the impacts caused by the transportation of resources extracted by nearby forestry and mining operations.
  • The Municipality of Shuniah, which received $129,994 to rehabilitate Lakeshore Drive, a vital roadway used by mining and forestry industries in the region.

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Fish, Wildlife and Parks Lays Preliminary Plans for 20,854-acre Stimson Timberland Conservation Project

By Tristan Scott
The Flathead Beacon
April 28, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: US West

The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) is laying the preliminary groundwork on a proposal to purchase a conservation easement in Lincoln, Mineral and Sanders counties that would protect 20,854 noncontiguous acres of timberland owned by Stimson Lumber Company. The proposed conservation easement, which last year was awarded a $10.2 million grant through the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program, is part of a broader 230,000-acre effort to conserve Stimson’s entire inland timber base in Washington, Idaho and Montana. If approved, the easements would ensure the land remains in timber production, guaranteeing public access while restricting development rights. “This multi-state effort will ensure that these lands continue to be managed for sustainable forestry and support the viability of regional mills through the 1.5 million board feet of merchantable Sustainable Forestry Initiative-certified timber it produces per year and generates $2.1 million,” according to the project description.

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Forest Service Brings Tongass Plan Revision to Wrangell

By Colette Czarnecki
KSTK Wragell Radio Group
April 27, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: US West

©USFS Facebook

U.S. Forest Service personnel have been visiting Southeast Alaska communities to understand how residents want the Tongass National Forest used. The federal agency is doing a comprehensive revision of the Tongass National Forest plan, which will guide long-term management. They’re focusing on tribal, subsistence, recreation, tourism and timber aspects. Tongass National Forest Deputy Supervisor Barb Miranda visited Wrangell April 21 and gave a brief presentation to community members. …Miranda said the plan aims to balance ecological preservation and community needs. …The current comprehensive plan for the Tongass was revised in 1997 and was last amended in 2016. The deadline for Southeast communities to comment is May 6. The U.S. Forest Service plans to release a draft of the environmental impact statement in November with a 90-day comment period following.

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Minnesota DNR to plant nearly 2 million tree seedlings on state land this spring

Grand Rapids Herald-Review
April 28, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: US East

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is planting nearly 2 million tree seedlings on DNR-managed forest land across the state this spring. Each year, DNR foresters coordinate tree plantings in state forests, wildlife management areas, state parks, and other DNR-managed lands. This spring, 14 species will be planted on more than 3,000 acres throughout the state, including several varieties of pine, spruce and oak, as well as yellow birch, sugar maple, black walnut and tamarack. These reforestation efforts are led by the DNR’s Silviculture Program. Silviculture is the art and science of growing and tending forests to serve a variety of goals, including clean air and water, recreation opportunities, healthy wildlife habitat, biodiversity and timber productivity. Foresters consider current characteristics, climate resilience and future goals for each site to create a plan for planting and ongoing care.

 

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Maryland Delegation Presses Trump for Answers on Proposed Closure of U.S. Forest Service Baltimore Urban Field Station

US Congressman Kweisi Mfume
April 24, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: US East

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Kweisi Mfume and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks were joined by Representatives Steny Hoyer, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all D-MD) in pressing United States Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden and United States Forest Service (USFS) Chief Tom Schultz on the justification for and expected impact of the proposed closure of the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station. This local USFS office leads projects … and conducts forestry and urban ecology research that informs land use decision-making throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed and beyond. …shuttering this longstanding field station will abruptly end decades of partnerships and result in the loss of region-specific expertise… The lawmakers asked for answers to a series of questions on the proposed closure, including whether a cost-benefit analysis was conducted, plans for continuing the field station’s work, and the expected impact on USFS employees.

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Logging, murder and money: can Mexico’s ancient forests be saved from the cartels?

By Euan Wallace
The Guardian
April 28, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: International

©Wiki smalltownguy22

Decades ago, the children in Mexico’s Chihuahua state – would run through the forest by night. …“We had peace,” says one mother about the forest she once knew. “Now, children can’t go out to play. We don’t know what might happen.” Since the mid-2010s, criminal groups, including factions of the Sinaloa cartel, have intensified illegal deforestation, seizing control of communal land known as ejidos through intimidation, extortion and murder. The ecological toll has also been severe. According to the environmental organisation Water and Forests for Life, 9,000 hectares (22,400 acres) of forest in the Sierra Tarahumara have been lost to illegal logging since 2001. Sawmills linked to the cartels falsify documents to launder timber estimated by one academic to be worth up to $270m (£200m) annually, while the US government puts the figure at $342m to $978m. Deforestation has disrupted the region’s hydrological system, causing droughts, crop failures and food insecurity.

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Health & Safety

Day of Mourning 2026 – April 28th

BC Forest Safety Council
April 28, 2026
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada

The “Day of Mourning” is a day dedicated to honour those who lost their lives as a result of a work-related incident or occupational diseases. Day of Mourning ceremonies have been held across the country ever since the Canadian Labour Congress initiated a national Day of Mourning ceremony on April 28, 1984 and is now recognized annually around the world in more than 100 countries. April 28th was chosen because it was on this date in 1914 that the first Workers’ Compensation Act was brought into effect in Canada.

  • Deaths from workplace injury average nearly a thousand per year in Canada.
  • There are approximately one million workplace injuries a year in Canada
  • A compensable injury occurs every seven seconds of each working day.

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Be Part of a Safer Industry: Register for WPAC’s 2026 Safety Summit

Wood Pellet Association of Canada
April 27, 2026
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada

Join industry leaders, safety professionals and regulators at the 2026 Wood Pellet and Bioenergy Safety Summit, taking place June 9-10, 2026, in Prince George, BC. Hosted by the Wood Pellet Association of Canada’s Safety Committee, in collaboration with the BC Forest Safety Council, WorkSafe BC and media partner Canadian Biomass, the Summit focuses on practical, real-world safety challenges facing the sector today. Sessions will cover rotary drum dryer safety, process safety management (PSM) and emerging safety initiatives. Worker well-being is a key focus with a hands-on musculoskeletal injury (MSI) workshop on day one and a full-day mental health workshop on day two—reinforcing the importance of both physical and psychological well-being. Designed for those responsible for safety, operations, and workforce health, this event offers valuable opportunities to learn, share and strengthen safety practices across the industry.

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Forest Fires

Wildfire burning ‘out of control’ south of Coombs

Parksville Qualicum Beach News
April 26, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada West

©BCWildfireService

A wildfire is burning “out of control” near Coombs, according to BC Wildfire Service. The fire is one hectare in size and is located within a cut-block, four kilometres south of Coombs. It was discovered on April 26. BC Wildfire service has responded with a unit crew and initial attack personnel, with aerial support. Smoke may be visible from the Alberni Highway (Highway 4A), parts of the Island Highway (Highway 19) and surrounding communities, along with activity from firefighting aircraft. The wildfire does not currently pose a threat to structures, critical infrastructure or public safety, according to BC Wildfire Service.

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Heavy weekend rain slows 2 sprawling Georgia wildfires, even as new blazes start

By Russ Bynum and Jeff Martin
Associated Press in WRAL News
April 27, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: US East

NAHUNTA, Ga. — Heavy rain slowed the progress of two sprawling southern Georgia wildfires over the weekend, allowing crews to make some progress in containing the blazes that have destroyed more than 100 homes. Although the rain helped the firefighting efforts, it wasn’t “nearly enough to put the fires out” and crews responded to 10 new blazes throughout the drought-stricken state Sunday, the Georgia Forestry Commission said Monday. …Georgia’s biggest blaze, the Pineland Road Fire, has scorched more than 50 square miles and at least 35 homes… about 35 miles north of Florida, which is also dealing with wildfires. The area has been full of highly combustible dead trees and other vegetation since Hurricane Helene carved a destructive path northward in September of 2024. About 60 miles to the northeast, the Highway 82 Fire has been burning since April 20. It has destroyed at least 87 homes and torched more than 35 square miles. It is only 6% contained.

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Georgia wildfires that destroyed more than 120 homes continue to threaten residents

Associated Press
April 25, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: US East

©GovBrianKempFB

NAHUNTA, Ga. — Two wildfires in southeastern Georgia continued to threaten homes and lives on Saturday as officials warned that strong winds could spread the flames. Brantley County Manager Joey Cason called it a “dynamic situation” and begged residents to “please evacuate” if ordered to do so. “This fire is going to move rapidly once these winds get here later today,” he said. The Highway 82 Fire has been burning since Monday and has destroyed at least 87 homes. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said Friday that is the most for a single wildfire in the state’s history. The blaze was started by a foil balloon hitting live power lines. That created an electrical arc that ignited combustible material on the ground. …A joint statement issued by multiple government agencies said the fire’s perimeter was more than 14.8 square miles (38 square kilometers) and it was only about 10% contained.

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Southern US wildfires force residents to flee: ‘I don’t know if I have a house standing or not’

The Guardian
April 23, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: US East

Wildfires tearing through the south have forced hundreds of Georgia residents to flee in minutes, leaving them distraught about the homes and animals they left behind. The fires that spread this week during an extreme drought in Georgia and Florida have blanketed cities hundreds of miles away in smoke, leading to more air quality warnings on Thursday across the south-east. Driven by strong winds and low humidity, the two biggest fires in southern Georgia have spread rapidly over the past two days and destroyed more than 50 homes in rural areas. But the growing threat led to more evacuations and school closings on Wednesday. “I don’t know if I have a house standing or not,” said Denise Stephens, who was forced to evacuate because of the fast-moving Brantley county fire near Georgia’s coast. “I know what it’s taken from other people, but I don’t know what I have left standing.”

Additional coverage from the Associated Press in Fire Engineering: Wildfires Across GA and FL Destroy More Than 50 Homes and Force Evacuations

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