Caribou herds and their habitat continue to decline five years after the provinces took action to preserve them, a federal study has concluded. Although progress is reported, the parliamentary secretary to the minister says “it clearly is not enough.”

In response, a Globe and Mail commentary explains “what’s at stake and what the government might do next”; while a Hill Times headline reads “sacrificing caribou to save forestry is a fool’s errand—it’s time we stop playing the fool”. Derek Neighbour (FPAC) takes a more measured approach, noting that these are complex problems that require, science-based solutions.”

In the US, The Hill has two stories on the wildfire bills before the House and Senate. This includes: “GOP sees smooth sailing for Forest Management Bill“; and the “National forests deserve better than House and Senate’s wildfire bills“, by two ecology professors. Elsewhere, a Forest Service ecologist proposes ways to “help curb the rising Era of Megafires“.

In forest product news: cargo containers are gaining steam in housing; a Vancouver company wants to replace wood framing with technology that can “print” steel beams; and the mid-rise learning curve for wood has two developers switching to steel and concrete.

— Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor