President Trump ordered a new lumber investigation, claiming imports are a threat to US national security. In related news: Unifor says the security-threat claim is ‘ludicrous‘; BC Minister Parmar says the US order is ‘nothing but a distraction‘; and the US Lumber Coalition is thankful. Meanwhile: Canada-wide tariffs are still coming but it may not be 25%; New Brunswick minister wants to save JD Irving jobs; Tolko cuts back on its consultant workforce; International Paper names new leaders; and Doman reports Q4, 2024 earnings.
In Forestry/Wildfire news: Canada-led UN biodiversity agreement secures international funding; Trump’s move to increase logging on National Forests is panned by ENGO groups; BC accelerates wood waste recovery to strengthen wildfire prevention; Alberta marks start of wildfire season, California proclaims state of emergency for wildfire prevention; and Georgia and North & South Carolina are already fighting fires.
Finally, the early bird discount ends today for the 2025 BC Council of Forest Industries Convention.
Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog News
A key government program designed to help older forestry workers transition into retirement has officially closed after assisting more than 2,200 individuals since its inception in 2019. The Bridging to Retirement Program, launched in response to economic challenges in the forestry sector, has distributed over $92 million in funding, helping affected workers retire early while opening up job opportunities for younger employees, according to the government. The program, which began in October 2019, reached capacity and officially ceased intake on February 26, 2025. Initially funded with $40 million, the program was later expanded to $50 million and renewed in 2021 with a three-year funding commitment. Eligible workers aged 55 and older were provided with financial support of up to $75,000 each, based on their experience and employer contributions. …When first announced in 2019, the provincial government pledged $69 million in forestry support programs to mitigate job losses, strengthen community resilience, and promote economic recovery. …While the program has concluded, new concerns loom over the B.C. forestry sector. 
At the 2025 COFI Convention, we’re diving deep into B.C.’s forest sector competitiveness and sustainability—and how we compare to leading global regions. Join Kurt Niquidet, COFI’s VP & Chief Economist, and Glen O’Kelly, CEO of O’Kelly Acumen, as they reveal findings from a new study benchmarking B.C. against 10 international jurisdictions—including Sweden, Finland, Austria, the U.S., and Brazil. Key insights include: Strengths & Weaknesses – What industry leaders are saying about B.C.’s competitive position; Global Comparisons – How B.C. stacks up on economic and sustainability performance; and Opportunities for Growth – Strategies to strengthen B.C.’s competitive edge. This is a must-attend conversation for anyone invested in the future of B.C.’s forest industry. Don’t miss it—Register before the end of Early Bird Pricing on March 3!
BOZEMAN, Mont. – The Trump administration’s tariffs are stirring discussions in Montana, with concerns about their impact on local economies. At Montana State University, Dr. Nicole Karwowski, an assistant professor of economics … explains that while tariffs can benefit certain business and factory owners, as well as shareholders of domestic firms, the broader impact tends to be negative. She highlights that these beneficiaries gain from the increased costs international companies face when competing in the U.S. market. The local economy in Bozeman is particularly affected, Karwowski says, due to the rising cost of construction materials. “We import a lot of our timber from Canada. And housing prices are already skyrocketing in places like Bozeman especially. So the different types of construction materials and raw materials are increasing in cost because of these tariffs. Then we’re going to see it harder to be building more in places like Bozeman,” she said.
The Southern Forest Products Association believes strong partnerships are essential for sustaining growth and success. That starts with our most valuable partnership — our members. Their commitment is the driving force behind our success. The 2024 SFPA Value Report recaps the association’s: International market development and success in driving demand for Southern Pine lumber exports; A new, consolidated website; Digital promotion efforts; Membership growth; and Industry collaboration.
VICTORIA – Workers and communities throughout B.C. are benefiting from Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) supported projects that reduce wildfire risk and increase fibre supply, keeping local mills and energy plants running in the face of U.S. tariff threats and unjustified softwood lumber duties. With $28 million from the Province, FESBC is supporting 43 new and expanded fibre-recovery projects and 31 new and expanded wildfire-mitigation projects. “In tough times, I want workers in our forest sector to know I’ve got their back,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “Whether it’s better utilizing existing sources of fibre or helping protect communities from wildfire, the projects are supporting workers and companies as they develop new and innovative forest practices.” Projects are taking place in all eight of the Province’s natural resource regions, helping create jobs, reducing wildfire risk and supporting B.C.’s pulp and biomass sector. They will be complete by the end of March 2025, in advance of wildfire season.
The province’s review of B.C. Timber Sales (BCTS) is based on a false contention the industry is running out of wood because of allowable annual cut reductions, says the Valhalla Wilderness Society (VWS). VWS said the Ministry’s review of BCTS to ensure the province’s forestry sector “is continually evolving to overcome challenges and create a guideline for a stronger, more resilient future” is barking up the wrong tree. VWS’ Anne Sherrod said the province’s intention to protect more old-growth and reform forestry in a more environmentally beneficial manner lasted only until the forest industry applied enough pressure. …Logging companies were already moving their mills and jobs out of B.C. long before U.S. President Donald Trump was elected, said Sherrod, and claims the province continues to reduce the allowable annual cut, or isn’t signing permits fast enough and environmentalists are depriving them of wood, are just excuses.
The Willow Creek watershed project will restore wetlands and watercourses in the Homalco First Nation’s territory to reduce flooding and other climate disaster risks, but also boost cultural values and sustainable economic development, said Xwémalhkwu (Homalco) Chief Darren Blaney. Wetlands and riparian areas are critical because they slow and store water moving across the landscape during heavy rains to prevent floods and reduce the wildfire risk created when forests dry out. The Xwémalhkwu, whose territory is in the Campbell River area, recently secured $1.5 million in provincial funding for watershed mapping to identify flood risks and environmentally important areas, Blaney said. The project will focus on balancing the community’s climate resiliency with ecological needs. …Collaborating with partners like Strathcona Regional District will create a holistic approach to flooding that will also protect downstream neighbours, like Campbell River’s Willow Point community, David Carson, Homalco’s emergency planning and land use consultant noted. 
RAPID CITY, S.D. – South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden says during one of his several meetings with USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins last week, he and Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon had an extensive conversation about the Black Hills and timber contracts. “Just what’s at stake for the Black Hills as far as wildland fires, dangers, the insect infestations and just our timber industry and the future of that in general,” said Rhoden. Rhoden continued on saying he was “very encouraged by the conversation we had with her, that we’re going to take steps to rectify that.” Rhoden says the current amount of timber harvested is far below what is allowed. “Not even close, and under the Biden administration we were just banging our heads against the wall. We would provide the facts and the data, and they were ignored,” the governor explained. 
Each spring, the U.S. Forest Service hires dozens of seasonal biologists to venture into remote Northwest forests on federal land and set up acoustic recorders to monitor for sounds indicating the presence of northern spotted owls, a threatened species. There are only as many as 5,000 northern spotted owls left in the Northwest… The counting is crucial for preventing the owls’ extinction. But President Donald Trump ordered a hiring freeze that means the Forest Service cannot hire more than 40 seasonal scientists to count the owls, according to Taal Levi, an associate professor at Oregon State University who works on owl monitoring. The monitoring typically involves about 60 scientists working from central California to Canada, Levi said. It also means the agency will likely go without dozens more scientists needed to monitor threatened and endangered salmon, frogs and other fragile species…. 
A major shift in environmental policy seems to spreading around the world. The most high-profile indicator of the shift is Germany, where Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his Green Party coalition partner were thrown out of office on Sunday… The only question left is how far the green wave has receded in Germany — and across Europe. The French government has been accused of watering down environmental regulations. Elsewhere in Europe, green parties have been “kicked out of government” in Austria, Belgium and Ireland. While the Canadian policy establishment resists declaring a trend, the carbon war has moved down the priority ladder, as evidenced Monday during the French-language Liberal leadership debate. A party that’s about to pick Mark Carney, the planet’s top climate-policy powerbroker, as leader, rolled through two hours of debate without coming up with anything coherent to offset its about-face removal of its own consumer carbon tax.
British Columbia is set to require Canadian products to fulfil renewable fuel standards for gasoline and diesel, a move Energy Minister Adrian Dix said was aimed at building a “cleaner, stronger and more self-reliant” province. Dix said B.C. is too reliant on fuels from outside Canada, making the province vulnerable to market fluctuations and other external pressures. At the same time, he said the United States provides “dramatic subsidies” for its own biofuel industry to a degree that curtails the industry in B.C. and Canada. “For too long, B.C. biofuel producers have operated in a market where their American counterparts benefited from subsidies that gave them a considerable competitive advantage,” he told the news conference announcing the changes. …Ian Quartly, chief financial officer of Tidewater Renewables, joined Dix and said the changes are a positive step toward supporting an economically viable domestic renewable fuels industry.
NEW YORK — Chestnut Carbon, a leading developer of nature-based carbon removal solutions, announced today that they have completed the first issuance and sale of Improved Forest Management (IFM) credits sourced from their conservation membership program branded as Forest Carbon Works. The issuance of more than 64,000 credits, or tons of carbon removal, were sold to multiple corporate buyers, including JPMorganChase. These transactions totaled $2.2 million. Chestnut’s U.S.-based IFM membership program, Forest Carbon Works, provides an opportunity for private forest owners to access income-generating carbon markets while preserving the integrity and legacy of their land. The program includes landowners in 36 states with more than 150,000 acres enrolled as of February 2025. These carbon removal credits are certified through Verra on the voluntary carbon market (VCM) and undergo rigorous third-party audits.
The Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Appeal Body has denied an appeal from a West Fraser Mills worker who was suspended for one day without pay and received a disciplinary letter that he claimed was retaliation for acting in compliance with workplace safety rules. The appeal panel upheld the original ruling, noting that it properly applied the standard of review in determining the employer had met its burden of proof. The case involved S.G., an employee of West Fraser Mills Ltd., operating as Ranger Board. S.G. filed a complaint under section 19 of Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (the Act), alleging the discipline was imposed in retaliation for acting in compliance with occupational health and safety requirements.
Don’t miss the March edition of the BC Forest Safety Council newsletter. It’s jam-packed with information about Safety Heros like Shawn Flynn and Brian Penny. Health updates about pain management, off-road vehicles, managing the last of the snow and daylight savings! How do you stay safe when you find yourself under water? Does your team have an emergency response plan? Plus, what’s new, upcoming events, and even a cheerful rabbit for you to colour in your down moments! Check out this month’s BC Forest Safety News
MORIOKA, JAPAN — One person has died, and more than 80 homes appear to have burned down after a wildfire broke out in a northeastern Japan city, local authorities said Thursday, as the region faced its third fire in about a week. Since Wednesday, the blaze has scorched more than 600 hectares in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, the municipal government said. With the fire still spreading, about 3,300 residents have been ordered to evacuate. Firefighters battled the blaze through the night, while helicopters were deployed in the morning to contain it from the air. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency requested emergency support from firefighting departments in eight nearby prefectures, and they sent about 690 personnel combined. …Efforts to contain the blaze Wednesday were carried out at ground level as the strong winds precluded waterbombing by helicopters. When the latest fire broke out, strong wind and dry air warnings were in place in the area.