The Forest Products Association of Canada issued a statement regarding a carbon emissions report released by anti-forestry activists: The Canadian government’s approach to forest carbon reporting and accounting continues to be based on science and evidence. The approach is consistent with the guidelines of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. …Our most recent wildfire season and the devastation we saw in the Town of Jasper are clear reminders that Canada needs to scale-up proactive measures, to help reduce the risk of wildfire. Forest management is a critical tool to help us achieve this – along with fire shed mapping, creating more fire breaks, and turning more to thinning treatments and prescribed and cultural burning. …This important work will require a whole of society approach that includes Canadian forestry workers and active forest management as part of the solution for both the environment and our economy.
VICTORIA – An investigation into a complaint has found that the management of old-growth forests on Quadra Island needs to be improved to ensure enough old forests will be present on the island in the future. A representative of the Discovery Islands Forest Conservation Project complained to the Forest Practices Board that the remnants of old forest on Quadra Island are at risk of being harvested. The board investigated timber harvesting carried out by TimberWest Forest Corp., Okisollo Resources Ltd. and Younger Brothers Holdings. “While we found that each of the licensees did not comply with some aspect of forestry legislation, the bigger issue is that no one is responsible for monitoring or ensuring that Quadra Island’s old forests are conserved, or that enough mature forests are protected from logging so they can develop into old forest in the future,” said Keith Atkinson, chair, Forest Practices Board.
After weeks of what one community advocate calls “stringing contractors along,” contract loggers for Tolko will return to work Monday. Angie Clowry is an advocate from a former logging family. Tolko director of communications Kyle Happy confirmed Southern Interior scales have been closed since July 22 to get inventories in line and manage log quality, cost and market risks. …“These decisions are not taken lightly; however, are necessary to sustain our business for the future,” said Happy. Tolko will be taking deliveries on Sept. 9. …Clowry says contract loggers are frustrated over how the situation was handled by Tolko. “I realize they’re a business and they’re forecasting, but they also have to remember that this is money that is super important to all these families. …Tolko also confirmed that contractors in the Cariboo region remain shut down as inventory levels are high.
BRITISH COLUMBIA — It’s as regular as it depressing. Every summer Canada suffers from major wildfires. …After a 10-week wildfire season in 2017, former BC Forests minister George Abbott filed a 108-recommendation report outlining steps the province could take to reduce wildfire risk. …These reports and others highlight challenges between levels of government, better training of firefighters, updated technology and equipment — and “fuel management.” …Canada — and BC — are pretty good at fighting wildfires, but we aren’t very good at minimizing their size, spread and duration. That’s where “fuel management” comes in. …Want an example of how big a difference fuel management can make? Look to Finland, a country that in latitude, geography and tree species is comparable with the B.C. Interior. …And guess what, the “fuel” — the brush and hazard trees thinned out through this common sense practice — is directed to Finnish pulp and paper mills to keep them running and competitive.
British Columbia’s deputy chief forester has set the new allowable annual cut (AAC) level for Tree Farm Licence 38 (TFL) located northwest of Squamish. The new AAC for the TFL is 117,500 cubic metres. This is a reduction from the previous AAC, while remaining well above the average annual harvest level since the last AAC determination, which has averaged just under 72,000 cubic metres per year. Factors that were considered in making this determination include supporting forestry, wildlife habitat, terrain stability, biodiversity, cultural resources and ensuring old-growth deferral areas are protected while a long-term management approach is developed. …The TFL overlaps the territory of five First Nations, including the Squamish Nation, Lil’wat Nation, Tsleil-Waututh Nation, Klahoose First Nation and the St’at’imc Chiefs Council, all of which were consulted during the timber supply review process. The deputy chief forester also sought and considered public and industry input.
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State foresters say their project will help the land and help curb the effects of climate change. But some environmentalists, climate scientists, town officials and a growing number of residents don’t agree, and want the land largely left alone… The project involves killing invasives like barberry that are running amok, and preparation to cut dead and dying trees that are infested with pests like the emerald ash borer and spongy moth. It also involves cutting that will open up areas of the forest for new trees so there is variation in future that will help sequester carbon. The forest cutting plan says it will yield 458 Mbf, or thousand board feet, from a variety of trees including sugar maple, as well as 350 cords of wood.
Alabama’s economy is heavily supported by its forestry industry – but is facing a new challenge, with a widespread outbreak of the southern pine beetle. This native pest is known for its ability to rapidly destroy pine trees. The Alabama Forestry Commission reports that it has already affected numerous counties, particularly in the northern half of the state. Drew Metzler, forest health coordinator at the commission, said the outbreak this year is the most widespread Alabama has seen since 2001. …But these beetles aren’t just impacting Alabama. Metzler said neighboring states, such as Mississippi, Georgia, and South Carolina, are also experiencing outbreaks. … Metzlers said the beetles aren’t just making their way through forests, but onto private land as well. He said to combat the southern pine beetle outbreak, it’s important to consider preventive measures.
Pittsfield, Massachusetts — a forestry management plan in South County has attracted criticism from local residents and environmental activists. At issue is the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s forest cutting plan at the so-called “Cattle Barn Lot” in Mount Washington. …DCR has outlined a 275-acre project area where the agency hopes to …”produce immediate and maximize long-term income, enhance wildlife habitat, improve recreational opportunities, protect soil and water quality, or produce forest specialty products.” …We’re heartened to see state officials and local stakeholders confronting their disagreements in a healthy way to find a path of compromise for this project. In a corner of the commonwealth that often feels overlooked by the powers that be in Boston, it was refreshing to see several Healey administration environmental and forestry leaders make the trip to South County and hear residents’ concerns. 
Tiny plastic particles reach the leaves and needles of trees via the roots and disrupt photosynthesis, researchers at federal technology institute ETH Zurich have discovered. After absorbing plastic particles, the trees no longer used part of the sunlight’s energy for photosynthesis, but dissipated it as heat. This is a typical stress reaction of trees, wrote the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). For their experiment, the researchers grew 200 young trees and added different concentrations of tiny plastic particles, known as nanoplastics, to the water. After just a few weeks, the researchers discovered one to two milligrams of nanoplastics per gram of plant material in the roots. In the trunk and in the leaves and needles, it was around ten to a hundred times less. Measurements showed that the effectiveness of photosynthesis in the torminalis trees fell by a third within two weeks and by a tenth in the spruce within four weeks.