Western Forest Products and the Steelworkers union are returning to the bargaining table, but as BC’s forest sector struggles, a new export tax adds to their woes. In related news: BC’s shifting natural resource economy; FPAC’s call for passage of the Canada-US-Mexico trade agreement; and Nova Scotia’s reasoned approach to Northern Pulp shutdown. Meanwhile, Weyerhaeuser and Stora Enso report Q4 losses and Canada’s new home construction trends up.

In Forestry/Wildfire news: Australia declares a state of emergency as winds and temperatures soar; Canadian and US scientists seek ways to reduce wildfire emissions; an NRCan researcher is a ‘fungi’ at heart; BC funds projects for wood waste recovery; and a US study focuses solving the biomass bottleneck through wood chip sales.

Finally, revelations in tree-planter camps, as contractors forecast a banner year. 

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor