Category Archives: Today’s Takeaway

Climate change gets blame for forest fires despite a lack of upward trend in acreage burned. In related news: a new book on Fire Weather by John Vaillant; wildfires fuel online conspiracy theories; a US wildfire expert’s learnings on urban-wildfire disasters; and two years after Lytton burned not a single building permit has been issued. Meanwhile: progress in Alberta means some evacuees are going home ; US firefighters call for improved fire shelters; Australian firefighters lend Canada a hand; and heatwaves have Sweden and Vietnam on edge. 

In other news: Domtar hosts ribbon-cutting at revamped Tennessee mill; Robbins Lumber acquires two Maine sawmills; Allegheny Wood Products withdraws plan to build a log-treating plant in West Virginia; Western Washington University breaks ground on carbon neutral building; and researchers report that soil microbiota can increase forest resilience to climate change.

Finally, wood vs. plastic: Which pallets are more sustainable? 

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Time for mass timber and prefab – BC eyes changes to ‘bias’ in building code. In related news: the tallest mass plywood structure in the world nears completion in Oakland; and Milwaukie’s CLT tower height is upped to 32 storeys. In Business news: Stella-Jones to update its financial growth objectives; a downturn at Enviva puts its growth at risk; Drax’s bioenergy headquarters will be Houston, Texas; and more on North Carolina’s Canton mill closure. Meanwhile, Interfor appoints Nicolle Butcher to its Board; and AF&PA has a new VP government affairs.

In Forestry/Climate news: Canada plans a ministers’ meeting on biodiversity goals; birders and blockaders support BC’s Fairy Creek old growth deferrals; rain finally puts a damper on Alberta’s raging wildfires; and Mosaic Forest Management and Builders FirstChoice release their respective sustainability reports. 

Finally, where the ‘Wood-Wide Web’ narrative went wrong.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Alberta wildfire officials say one million hectares of land has burned as dozens of wildfires continue across the province. In related news: cooler weather helps firefighters contain some fires; the oil industry disagrees with research linking them to extreme wildfires; and lumber markets anticipate fire’s impact on price. Meanwhile, new research says mosses plays a role in tackling climate change; and Brazil adds CO2 to study its impact on Amazon forests. 

In other news: a gathering of forestry innovators is coming to Vancouver in June; loss of North Carolina paper mill is a loss for forests too; and a Magnolia tree compound may be effective against the next coronavirus.

Finally, can building with wood decarbonise construction? Yes but…

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Smoke from wildfires in Canada is moving into the central US, triggering air quality alerts. In related news: an evacuation order was issued near Quesnel, BC; rain is expected to bring relief to Alberta; and California’s fire season is predicted to be short. Elsewhere: a new paper on the drought response of whitebark pine; Quebec and Michigan seek to leverage wood’s climate potential; and robots are said to be the wave of BC’s sustainable forestry’s future. 

In Business news: the US Dept of Commerce rules on GreenFirst duty order; Teal-Jones’ Prince George lawsuit may be misdirected; West Fraser seeks to commercialize wood byproducts; Drax is pursuing US green tax credits; Stewart Muir on the economic fallout of BC’s carbon policy; and like Home Depot, Lowe’s Q1 is impacted by lumber prices. 

Finally, Australian activists defy anti-protest timber laws, as Victorian government phases out native forest logging.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Given the Victoria Day Holiday, the Frogs are back on Tuesday

Conifex announced four weeks of unscheduled downtime at its Mackenzie sawmill. In other Business news: an update on the Port of Prince Rupert’s expansion; Wisconsin’s ND Paper mill transition is complete; an Ontario First Nation aims to build an OSB or LSL mill; and US duties on Chinese hardwood plywood are extended for 5 years. In market news, the US economy is still expected to slow but housing contruction is looking upbeat.

In Forestry/Climate news: wildfires rip across Western Canada as heat wave smashes temperature records; Alberta budget cuts are said to put wildfire prevention at risk; a new tool uses remote sensing to detect deforestation; Canada’s emissions hit record high in 2021; and harnessing the carbon-capturing potential of US forests is key.

Finally; detangling the debate on the ‘Wood Wide Web‘, and Japan proves wood satellites work well.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Western Canadian wildfires are causing air quality alerts, sending oil prices higher. In related news: the cost of Canada’s forest fires are understated; Manitoba hit with wildfire smoke; Alberta’s fight could drag on all summer, as Drayton Valley residents return, and a firefighter is seriously injured. Meanwhile, California’s wildfire alert system includes 1000 cameras; an Idaho logging project prevails in court; and BC ENGOs target at-risk owls and caribou.

In Business news: Canfor releases its 2022 sustainability report; Unifor ratifies deal with Domtar, Ontario; protesters target Enviva headquarters; a Kentucky tax incentive supports Domtar’s mill expansion; the uncertain future of pulp & paper in the Pacific Northwest; and China resumes timber trade with Australia. 

Finally, Mosaic Forest Management and Maine’s SFI Implementation Committee receive Sustainable Forestry Initiative Climate Awards. 

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Hot and dry conditions fuel wildfires in the North and West. The headlines include:

• British Columbia residents pack bags as wildfires rage
• Calgary air quality deteriorates as wildfires rage
• Significant wildfire risk to northern BC likely to spread south
• Hundreds of B.C. firefighters dig in for Fort St. John battle amid weather reprieve
• Saskatchewan issues fire ban as wildfires rage through Western Canada
• Alberta asking public employees to become volunteer firefighters

In other news: BC’s Skeena Sawmills set to re-open May 29; rise in single-family homebuilding boosts builder confidence again; US Cold War tanker turned aerial firefighter moves to National Museum of Forest Service History; European Union adopts new rules to cut deforestation worldwide.

Finally, Scott Robertson, Lennard Joe, and Paul Robitaille receive SFI President’s Award.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Tolko Industries announced two weeks of unscheduled downtime at its Lakeview sawmill operations. In related news: GreenFirst reports Q1, 2023 loss; Home Depot earnings fall due to lumber deflation; and wood pellet exports to Asia are up, while commodity prices remain volitile. In other news: MP’s ask whether Paper Excellence revamped Resolute board is Canadian enough.

In Forestry/Climate news: a new study says 37% of Western wildfires since 1986 can be traced to burning fossil fuels; and a lawsuit seeks to protect Washington’s threatened lynx. On the wildfire front: Arizona tests a GPS firefighter locating device; more evacuation alerts for Northern BC, extreme conditions reported in Northern Alberta and Ontario; and air quality alerts for Minnesota, Ontario, and Manitoba. 

Finally, Amsterdam plans to build 3-storey plug-and-play modular schools from wood.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

The Pacific Northwest heat wave is challenging firefighters as new fires prompt more evacuations. In related news: Alberta residents warned not to fight wildfires themselves; fire updates from Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and the Northwest Territories; Oregon and Montana foresters focus on wildfire recovery; and Southwest US forests destroyed by megafires may never recover.

In other news: Canadian plywood makers seek duties on Chinese imports; Minister Guibeault launches biodiversity strategy consultations; Nova Scotia to study ecological forestry transition; and two spotted owls released into the wild in BC are found dead. Meanwhile, Canada’s housing starts jumped in April, and the lumber-futures contract will trade its final session today.

Finally, tree-planting drones seed the dangerous places where humans can’t tread.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor.

Building material prices declined last month despite increased lumber costs. In related news: Russ Taylor on what’s next for lumber; cautious optimism for windows and doors; and Doman Building Materials reports positive Q1 earnings. In other Business news: Acadian Timber questions New Brunswick’s timber royalty cut; Drax announces carbon removal deal; Gilbert Smith signs MOU with Adams Lake band; and Tolko donates lumber for kids in need.

In Forestry/Climate news: Alberta wildfire smoke blankets Eastern Canada, mitigation efforts deploy Edmonton-based soldiers Armed Forces; Oregon urges alternative to debris burning; forecasted record temperatures spurs weekend wildfire warnings; and safety warnings for drone use near firefighting operations. Meanwhile, deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon falls 68% in April.

Finally, Memphis “snake factory” releases Louisiana pine snakes into longleaf pine forests.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

North America’s boreal forests are burning a lot, but 2 to 10 times less than 150 years ago: Quebec study. In related news: municipalities want Alberta to keep aerial firefighters, as unprecidented fires become the new normal; Western Canada is facing an extreme heat wave; the high cost of BC’s Elephant Hill wildfire; Oregon’s wet winter could delay the fire season; and biochar’s potential to moderate wildfire and store carbon.

In Business news: Packaging Corp. of America idles Washington paper mill affecting 300; Aragon and Kalesnikoff are building North America’s largest residential CLT project; and Lennard Joe receives Selkirk College Alumni Award. Meanwhile; US inflation falls below 5%; and Cascades and KP Tissue report Q1, 2023 results.

Finally, what scientists discovered simulating an earthquake on a 10-storey wood building.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

A ten-storey wood building passed a magnitude 7.7 earthquake test, similar to the 1999 Taiwan quake that killed 2000. In related news: watch the quake test here; the Softwood Lumber Board’s mass timber exhibition hits Chicago; and recycled plastic as a future building material. Companies making news include: Louisiana Pacific (plans for Wawa Ontario); Paper Excellence (pending NDP investigation); Resolute (Thunder Bay mill sale); Conifex (new president); and Stella-Jones (record Q1 earnings).

In Forestry/Climate news: a conversation with US Forest Service Chief Randy Moore; new Alberta research on mountain pine beetle flight performance; the BC Forest Practices Board releases its strategic plan; Swedish researchers pour cold water on the Mother Tree hypothesis; and Georgia biomass plants could soon burn a new fuel – scrap tires.

Finally, how far has Alberta wildfire smoke traveled? Washington DC and beyond.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Environment Canada issued air quality advisories in the West due to fires, as central Canada experiences floods and the East Coast braces for snow. In related news: Alberta offers evacuees financial support as Canada’s military will join to battle the fires, and ex-firefighters question the lack of aerial attack teams; BC trainees to sharpen their firefighting skills in North Vancouver; and Montana and South Dakota secure monies to build fuel breaks.

In Forest Product news: California set to earthquake test a 10-story timber building; Toronto’s George Town College sees mass timber come to life; and the Softwood Lumber Board and US Endowment partner to educate the educators. Meanwhile: ENGOs want Canada to change how it reports logging emissions; and Western Australia implements decision to end logging in native forests.

Finally, Gordon Murray on wood pellets and the seismic shift to clean energy.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Alberta declared a provincial state of emergency (and plans to seek federal help) as wildfires force more evacuations. In related news: rain offers Alberta some relief but lightning sparks new blazes; to reduce fire risk California is encouraged to harvest dead trees for CLT and produce wood energy; deadly fires engulf central/eastern Russia; and Indonesia uses cloud-seeding to spur rainfall. 

In other news: BC Premier Eby warns forest sector to fix its problems, as province launches strategy to promote value-added wood sales; Kruger Kamloops works to replace fibre reductions due to mill closures; BC Member of Parliament calls for ban on old-growth logging; Quebec seedlings are destroyed due to extreme weather; and Purdue University receives grant to establish an AI Institute for Forestry. Meanwhile: US wood pellet exports rise, but Enviva’s losses cause its share price to fall.

Finally, is wood strong enough to build a bicycle? How about a seaplane?

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor      

Alberta is on fire — heat, wind and dry conditions force thousands to evacuate their homes. In related news: a massive North Carolina wildfire is 65% contained, the US invests $65 million to expand wildfire barriers; Randy Moore is grilled over funding delays despite fuel reduction efforts; Jim Pedersen bemoans the delays cause by serial litigators; and an award-winning wildfire documentary hits the big sceeen.

In Business news: FPAC says Canada needs an industrial strategy for forestry; BC Premier says days of high-volume log exports are over; Canfor’s new BC mill decision set for July; Hood Industries to rebuild Mississippi plywood plant; Kamloops First Nation invests in whole-log chipping; and more Q1 financials from Mercer and Boise Cascade. Meanwhile; US hardwood producers lobby for wood’s carbon upside; and a Quesnel think tank focuses on forestry’s future.

Finally, confessions of an Ontario tree planter, a vicious materialist who re-learnt herself.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

First-quarter company earnings by Western Forest Products, Acadian Timber, Rayonier, Louisiana Pacific and Enviva reflect challenging times. In related news: what’s behind Canfor’s mill closures; New Brunswick clarifies timber royalty cuts; Brazil’s wood-fiber costs skyrocket; and another Australian sawmill is closing. In Product news: the pros and cons of ditching plastic for paper; and keeping recyclable wood out of landfills.

In Forestry/Climate news: a Canadian watchdog calls for more transparency on forestry emissions; Ontario to support caribou habitat restoration; Manitoba ENGO’s call for end to logging in Duck Mountain Park; and Brazil aims to unlock carbon credits. 

Finally, Russian soldiers who camped in Chernobyl’s Red Forest are falling sick.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

WestRock announced it will permanently close its paper mill in Charleston, effecting 500 people. In related news: Vanderhoof’s Mayor on the Sinclar Group curtailments; Canfor Corp. and Canfor Pulp report Q1, 2023 loss; Clearwater Paper reports positive Q1, and Bluelinx reports reduced earnings. In other Business news: Canadian lawmakers’ questioning of Paper Excellence is postponed; CP Rail is under the gun after Maine derailment; and the latest on North American lumber supply and demand by ERA’s Kevin Mason. 

In Forestry/Climate news: a New Brunswick judge says professor not fired for glyphosate views; ENGOs says Smithers’ pellet mill should close; Vancouver Island University restores Garry Oak ecosystem; logging near Yellowstone Park called a threat to grizzlies; and a new paper on how increasing forest productivity requires species richness and abundance.

Finally, new mass timber showcases (and award winners) from Ontario, Vancouver, BC, Connecticut and Sweden.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Citing fibre and price challenges, Sinclar Group’s Greg Stewart announced curtailments at three BC sawmills. In related news: BC United asks government to show leadership; Resource Works says a return to balance is required; and David Elstone dares to dream of a new path forward. In other Business news: Nova Scotia is “mum” on talks with Northern Pulp; Cascades’ recycled containerboard mill starts in Virginia; Enviva announces Conservation Fund’s grant recipients; and CHAR Technologies‘ plans to build a biocarbon facility in Ontario. 

In Forestry/Climate news: a new study on Ontario’s forestry workforce gap; the role of forest soils in climate mitigation; conserving US forests with a sustainable timber economy; questions on US wildfire management strategies; and forest fire updates from BC, Alberta, and Newfoundland.

Finally, Canada’s cement and concrete industry release 2050 Net-Zero Action Plan.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

After more than a decade of continuous growth, US home remodelling is projected to contract in 2024. In other Business news: New Brunswick plans to cut its timber royalties; Northern Pulp ponders a new location; Structurlam’s acquisition to conclude in June; Unifor ratifies contract with CN Rail; and Weyerhaeuser and Billerud report positive Q1, 2023 results.

In Forestry/Climate news: a Quebec caribou herd is expecting a baby boom; Washington lawmakers vote to support biomass energy; the US Forest Service is told to do more to fight wildfires; Idaho trains loggers to fight forest fires; and France’s wildfire season starts a month early. Meanwhile, conference news courtesy of the Interior Logging Association; the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation; and the BC Forest Innovation and Bioeconomy. 

Finally, Christine Leduc joins SFI’s senior leadership team as VP Communications.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Lumber markets fall toward multi-year lows as markets seek a balance in supply and demand. In related news: EU instability changes up global markets; Arbec Forest Products buys Forex OSB mill; Northern Pulp looks to produce energy from Fiona damaged trees; and Allegheny Wood Products log treatment plant faces pushback.

In Forestry/Climate news: Minister Ralston on the future of forestry in BC; how forest management can build healthy wildfire cycles; climate change and megafires impact on regeneration; and why corporate sustainability initiatives fail to reduce deforestation.

Finally, attitudes on paper products show improvement; and CWC launches Woodworks Innovation Network in Canada.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Founded in 1962, the future of Stucturlam is unclear as potential new owner waits in the wings. In related news: Gorman’s Nick Arkle on the solution to BC’s fibre shortage; an update on Western Forest Products’ Alberni Division review; Oregon’s wood industry still important; why Wisconsin’s paper industry looks promising; and New Zealand looks to onshore wood processing. Meanwhile, International Paper and Canadian Pacific Kansas City report Q1 results.

In Forestry/Climate news: new research on how tree diversity can increase carbon storage; Fairy Creek protesters look to the marbled murrelet to stop logging; US perspectives on how much old-growth protection is enough; Vermont gives thumbs up to biomass energy; and how pruning tropical vines can slow climate change. Elsewhere: Vancouver and New York City’s latest mass timber showcases.

Finally, solving a climate puzzle one tree ring at a time.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

West Fraser Timber’s Q1, 2023 sales ticked up, earnings (loss) improved over Q4, 2022. In related news: CN Rail has record Q1 revenues despite lumber’s sag; Drax announces share buyback plan amid record profits; Kronospan is building a new OSB plant in Alabama; and Oregon’s Sundance Lumber and the Swanson Group are hit with EPA fines. Meanwhile, Canadian housing starts are mixed; US new home sales rise, and US consumer confidence declines.

In other news: the source of the fungal infection at Billerud’s Wisconsin paper mill remains a mystery; the positive ‘ripple effects’ of California’s fire-resilient forests; a rare glimpse into Afghanistan’s spectacular, vanishing forests; and New Zealand’s carbon trading scheme said to be over-reliant on forests.

Finally, US WoodWorks 2023 Wood Design Awards embrace timber’s potential.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Cascades plans to close its underperforming tissue plants in Oregon and South Carolina. In other Company news: a Hood Industries sawmill burns in Louisiana; Resolute opens a filament plant in Quebec; Resolute’s Thunder Bay mill is fined; Drax ends coal-fired power generation; and Q1, 2023 earnings for PotlatchDeltic and Stora Enso. Meanwhile, BC polluter penalties are questioned; CN Rail and Canadian Pacific Kansas City competition gears up, and more on Stucturlam’s recent bankruptcy filing.

In Forestry/Climate news: a new study says US forests adaptation lags behind climate change 10-fold; BC releases its 2021/22 forest research report; a Missoula judge ponders wildfire retardants; a biomass energy primer courtesy of Thomasnet; and poor planting outcomes follow good intentions in Germany.

Finally, the 2023 Montreal Wood Convention attracted over 1,100 participants.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Structurlam Mass Timber filed for Chapter 11 and entered into an ‘initial bid’ agreement with Mercer for its BC and Arkansas assets. In related news: Greenpeace prevails in defamation suit by Resolute Forest Products; and the rising risk of cyberattacks on woodworking firms. Meanwhile: Conifex’s CFO transition; Georgia Pacific’s two business leader promotions; Twin Rivers Paper’s new President & CFO; and the latest on softwood production, packaging trends; biofuel mandates; housing markets and recession forecasts.

In Forestry/Climate news: Canada’s tree-planting promise ‘flounders’; Canopy receives $60 million to decarbonize the clothing industry; a US lawsuit could curb the use of aerial fire retardant; and urban forestry news from Hartford; Boise; and Phoenix.

Finally, key takeaways from the 2023 COFI Conference by MP Richard Cannings.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

The government of Canada has approved the Port of Vancouver’s proposal to build a second container ship terminal in Delta, BC. In related news: despite strict rules, ENGOs and labour groups oppose the doubling of the Port’s footprint. In other Business news: LP acquires Forex’s Wawa OSB mill; New Brunswick rejects JD Irving’s energy request; Atco Wood Products is challenged by BC’s shrinking timber base; Stora Enso’s guidance points to paper woes; and an obit on end of paper in Jay, Maine. 

In Forestry/Climate News: Canada’s legacy as a forestry leader; US takes steps for climate resilience and forest conservation—pledges $500 million to stop deforestation in Brazil; space-based instruments inventory America’s forests; and the pros and cons of drones and forest management.

Finally, the Softwood Lumber Board generated a record 2 billion board feet of incremental demand in 2022.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

The US released an inventory of public-land old-growth forests, and announced plans for a new rule to better protect them. In related news: BC’s nature economy and the fight to save big trees; caribou habitat secured near BC’s Tweedsmuir Park; billions are needed to protect tropical forests; and a positive future for Ukraine’s war-ravaged forests. Meanwhile: Canada says the cost of GHG emissions is understated; making the case for carbon in renovations; and Australia recognizes forestry’s role in fighting climate change.

In Business news: Hampton Lumber’s newly built Fort St. James mill is running; Georgia Pacific upgrades its Port Hudson mill; PotlatchDeltic announces CFO transition; Laura Garner joins the US Endowment for Forestry and Communities; and Hakan Ekstrom on the US South’s lumber production growth.

Finally, Bloomberg launches climate show, says planting trees won’t solve the problem.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Washington State researchers infused cement with biochar to create carbon-negative concrete. In related news: how to build net-zero homes with CLT; a report on biomass going mainstream – Learnings for Canada; US see green in forest offsets; and carbon-only forestry perspectives courtesy of the Washington Post and New Zealand Forest Owners. In other news: Fairy Creek protesters celebrate reprieve; On the Brink with Dave Peterson, Russ Taylor, David Elstone and Jim Girvan; and the states with the highest tree cover loss.

In Business news: fixing Canada’s historic Treaty 8 issue is expensive; Stoltze Timber Systems secures grant; and LP’s Michigan mill upgrade. Meanwhile, single-family starts are up in Canada and the US, the myth of massive underbuilding; and Southern Pine lumber shipments hit 107-year record high.

Finally, SFPA’s 37th EXPO is open for registration, as BC Wood’s Global Buyers Mission prepares to celebrate 20 years.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Citing fibre and market challenges, Tolko is moving to single-shifts at its Armstrong and Soda Creek mills. In other Business news: Weyerhaeuser recasts itself as carbon positive; a Boreal Carbon Corporation buys Ontario timberland; Canada marks progress with it latest GHG emissions report – with a focus on wildfires; and US housing starts decline on multifamily starts.

In other news: the future of wood buildings involves thinking bigger; Mississauga achieves FSC certification; what Irish spruce tells us about climate adaptation; the BC treaty settlements are often slow and painful; and more on whether Mother Trees actually act like mothers. 

Finally, Premier Eby & COFI’s Linda Coady sit down for a fireside chat.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

“The vital message I’ve heard from the BC forest sector is predictability. Our goal is to help deliver that,” says BC Premier Eby. In related news from the 2023 COFI Conference: instability keeps Canadians in ‘permacrisis‘; BC takes systems approach to permitting delays; sustainable jobs in forestry despite downturn; First Nations partnerships keep industry healthy; changes in forest practices are underway; and BC plans to LiDAR scan the whole province. Meanwhile: Vancouver Island’s elected officials vote against protecting all of BC’s old-growth forests.

In other news: Billerud idles Michigan pulp mill as a worker dies from fungal infection; Roseburg to invest $700 million in Oregon mills; Drax’s positive climate contributions; Anthony Timberlands Center wins award; Senator Daines launches wildfire caucus; and notwithstanding market concerns, US builder sentiment remains cautiously optimistic. 

Finally, Linda Coady’s “everything, everywhere, all at once moment“ question for BC Premier Eby. 

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog news

On Day 2 of the COFI conference, BC Ministers Bruce Ralston and Nathen Cullan spoke on key forestry transitions and land use planning changes. In related news: Greg Stewart, Chief Terry Teegee kick-offed the conference; BC announced new monies for LiDAR mapping; BC First Nations keen to partner on forestry; jobs in forestry despite downturn; and a pictorial recap of Day 2’s events. 

In other news: North America’s top 10 lumber producers in 2022; Virginia Governor’s biomass initiative is put on hold; the sale of three Sappi paper mills to Aurelius Group fails; and Stora Enso is shutting down one of its Finish paper lines.

Finally, after 21 years Forests Ontario’s Rob Keen is stepping down and will be succeeded by Jess Kaknevicius.

More on the COFI conference to come on Monday!

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

COFI’s Conference kick-off in Prince George was the scene of a forest sector reunion of sorts. In Business news: Trudeau pushes back on western premier’s natural resource criticism; US-Canada softwood dispute left unaddressed at summit; West Fraser remains North America’s top lumber producer; and Rottneros to cut 24 jobs at Vallvik pulp mill in Sweden. Meanwhile: US inflation cools, US mortgage activity rises and Canadian construction is up.

In other news: a Smithsonian exhibition examines the importance of the boreal forest; Forest Service wins Stillaguamish logging suit over conservation group; the benefits of biomass energy; and a new report on the linkages between forests and human health.

Finally, 109-year old shipwreck found in Lake Superior is a dark day in lumber’s history.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

BC logging truck drivers report big risks, long hours, low pay, and falsified hours, reports Ben Parfitt in the Tyee. In other Forest Safety news: what you need to know about the rare fungal outbreak at a Michigan paper mill; US EPA funds wildfire smoke research; insurance woes increase Virginia wildfire risks; the wildfire season commences in New Hampshire; and a South Korea wildfire forces 500 to evacuate.

In other news: Canada’s Western provinces push back on minister’s comment re: control of natural resources; Conifex files claim against BC and BC Hydro; West Fraser adjusts curtailment schedule at Cariboo pulp mill; David Elstone says trees are not an endangered species in BC; a Toronto company makes major strides with mass timber; the rising chorus of renewable energy skeptics; and the Forest Products Association of Canada promotes three of its staff.

Finally, the Frogs are in Prince George this week reporting live from the Council of Forest Industries Conference floor. Watch us here and on our social media accounts for live updates.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

100 people have contracted blastomycosis in an outbreak at the Billerud Paper Mill in Escanaba, Michigan. In Business news: Nine Dragons takes downtime at two US mills; Tolko temporarily reduces its Armstrong mill to one shift; a West Fraser Quesnel pulp mill fire is out; Binderholz celebrates its North Carolina mill opening; and Roseburg’s Pembroke MDF mill is recognized for safety.

In other news: the 2023 International Biomass Conference wraps in Atlanta, a Virginia bill seeks to retain biomass generated electricity; New Brunswick’s Port of Belledune is Eastern Canada’s largest biomass exporter; EarthDay.com 2023 announces Invest in Our Planet theme; and the BC Council of Forest Industries conference kicks off Wednesday in Prince George.

Finally, a message to the BC Forest Sector from the new Chair of the BC Forest Practices Board – Keith Atkinson.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Ontario abandoned its plan to allow logging in the Grassy Narrows First Nation traditional lands. In related news: Nova Scotia and Mi’kmaq discuss new forestry agreement; BC judge rejects logging company request for ENGO social media info;  and logging plans are deferred on BC’s Sunshine Coast. Meanwhile, an Alberta researcher refutes fungal network claims; and wildfire/prescribed burning news from Aspen, Colorado, Sante Fe, New Mexico, Alberta, and Kamloops and Osoyoos, BC.

In other news: Drax applauds Canada’s commitment to biomass energy; EU’s biomass compromise called an ‘impressive feat’; a Colorado biochar company secures climate grant; Interfor is upping its Board diversity; US provides update on hardwood plywood tariffs; and Hardwood Manufacturers elect new officers.

Finally, with mill closures, will Prince George still be marked by the smell of money?

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

A UK regulator’s review of Drax’s biomass sourcing could have implications for UK’s net-zero strategy. In other Business news: despite job-loss mitigation Canfor’s mill closures beget uncertainty; PRT Growing Services acquires Georgia-based International Forest Co.; Kalesnikoff named Nelson’s Business of the Year; and Will Gardiner steps down from biomass certification body.

In Forest Product news: the US invests to strengthen its wood products economy; BC adds a carbon standard to its building code; San Diego earthquake-tests a 10-storey CLT building; and New Hampshire tests Northeast timber’s CLT suitability. In Forestry/Climate news: David Elstone updates the rise in BC’s First Nations’ forest tenure; and WWF-Canada releases its priority biodiversity restoration areas.

Finally, registration opens for the BC First Nations Forestry Council Conference, and the SFPA’s Forest Products EXPO. The Frogs are off for Easter, back on Monday.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Bruce Lipke — Life Cycle Assessment pioneer, CORRIM founder and Professor Emeritus University of Washington — dies at 89. In Business/Market news: Domtar celebrates 175 years; R-Y Timber secures buyer interest; International Wood Industries loses sawmill licence bid; US housing turnaround forecast for 2023; BC announces plan to build more homes; less-restrictive zoning found to increase housing supply; and Russ Taylor’s latest lumber forecast — not good news for BC’s sawmills. 

In Forestry/Climate news: Steven Guilbault defends woodland caribou policy; BC First Nations secure monies for training initiative; Massachusetts leans into a tree-cutting moratorium; New York loggers push for changes on biomass; and the benefits and dangers of carbon offsets in the EU.

Finally, “hope and restoration – saving the Whitebark Pine” film premier.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

EU Forest campaigners plan to shift their campaign against woody biomass to individual EU nations. In related news: Elaine O’Neil opines on why forests and wood products are part of the climate solution; the Washington Post on flushing away Canada’s virgin forests; Bob Brash’s solution to BC’s hollow paradigm shift; and Washington tree farmers push back on stream buffers. Meanwhile: the Royal Bank of Canada creates a Climate Action Institute; and a German study shows insect decline in forests.

In Business news: Resolute’s Quebec cellulose plant nears completion; Taiga‘s Building Products’ Covid savior; ABC Supply completes US LBM Wallboard acquisition; and IKEA’s Russia factory sale is not reversible. On the Market front: US residential construction spending falls, US and Canadian material costs ease; and Random Lengths makes changes to its plywood and moulding price guides.

Finally, a sleep aid that proves how sleep-inducing Canada’s roads can be.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

A Canadian Parliamentary Committee will hold hearings on Paper Excellence’s ownership structure. In related news: New Brunswick’s property tax said to favour forest companies; Canfor’s Prince George mill set to shutter permanently; Blueprint Robotics will open a CLT plant in Connecticut; Finish firm UPM sells its Russian business; and Russian Segezha Group sells all of its EU paper plants. Elsewhere: Kalesnikoff Lumber wins Nelson Business of the Year award.

In Forestry/Climate news: Andrew Weaver says alarmist-framing of climate doom raises anxiety; Indigenous partnerships target deforestation-free supply chains; Victoria protesters seek halt to RCMP resource task force; EU’s biomass exception raises ENGO eyebrows; Ontario forest sector is seeking more forestry workers; and a new study says deforestation means less rain in the tropics.

Finally, plants do make sounds, particularly when injured or stressed.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Enviva reports that under RED III, woody biomass is set to remain a renewable energy source in the UK. In related news: John Mullinder says the ‘investigative case’ against Paper Excellence is full of innuendo; climate activists continue to question the sustainability of biomass; and the hidden carbon impacts of getting mass timber wrong.

In other news: FSC decides not to pursue its ‘genetic engineering learning process’; BC’s first Carbon Management Blueprint is released; West Virginia’s Clay lumber mill is engulfed by fire; Ohio’s Taylor Lumber is up for auction; and forestry investment updates from the UK and Australia.

Finally, and sadly, Riverside Forest Products pioneer Gerald Raboch died at 94.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Drax’s biomass carbon-capture program may still move forward despite not making UK’s initial shortlist. In other Business news: SFI applauds Canada’s budget, as Railways warn of supply chain woes; Enviva secures permit for Alabama biomass plant; Skeena Sawmills seeks provincial aid; Stella-Jones releases 2022 Annual Report; and mass-timber project updates from Kelowna, Prince George, Toronto, Bellingham, and Ireland.

In Forestry/Climate news: Canada’s first wildfire risk map; Ontario readies for 2023 wildfire season; aerial fire retardant is under the microscope; landslide and stream temperature challenges in the BC Interior; the truth about paper and deforestation; and the history of old growth loss in America.

Finally, FSC certification in Russia is ending due to loss of Assurance Services.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor