Category Archives: Today’s Takeaway

The Canadian Competition Bureau has agreed to investigate ENGO claims that SFI ads are false advertising. In related news: a BC industry forester pushes back on old-guard hypocrisy; Canada to fund match-maker for cleantech and forestry; Biden’s oil and forest announcements are polar-opposites; building schools with wood cuts carbon emissions; and the USDA’s Wood Innovations Grant program is back.

In Business news: CP Rail expects regulatory approval for KCS merger; JPMorgan acquires 250,000 acres of Southern Pine forests; Stella-Jones upgrades North America’s telecommunications lines; BSW Group invests for UK growth; Pfeifer Group completes purchase of northern Finland’s largest wood processor; and the US Fed rate increase is viewed as a positive turning point for housing.

Finally, if you love forests, you also need to love loggers, sawmills and paper mills.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Housing experts at the International Builders Show point to a downturn this year but recovery in 2024. In other Market news: US home ownership is unchanged; the US housing shortage persists; US consumer confidence declines; and Canada’s GDP ticks up. In Business news: Alberta seeks rail service upgrades; Alabama timber is on the rise; Canoe Forest Products is stable; Kruger Kamloops is profitable; WestRock reports on Q1, 2023;  JD Irving bemoans cost increases; and Parkside, Australia closes two mills.

In Forestry/Climate news: PEI announces new forestry commission; FPInnovations looks at logging truck emissions; the US Endowment supports Dept of Defense’s forest protection challenge; a UK investor group bans carbon credits for tree planting; and the proposed EU ban on biomass heating creates energy uncertainty.

Finally, as tornadoes get more destructive, momentum builds for new building codes.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

International Paper, PotlatchDeltic and Stora Enso report mixed Q4, full-year financial results. In related news: Mercer Celgar’s curtailment could be short; second round of layoffs at Vaagen Fibre; and Michelle Ward on Canfor’s recent announcements. Meanwhile: US housing affordability is down, as lumber prices are set to tick up. 

In Forestry/Climate news: some good news from the 2022 State of Canada’s Forest Report; US forests and wood products are carbon sink positive; the roll-out of BC’s old-growth plan; artificial intelligence points to more dire climate forecast; and New Mexico seeks to protect its forests from climate change.

Finally, CIFOR has a new CEO, and the BC’s Forest Professionals have a new name.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Starting on a sad note, Bill Dumont, one of Canada’s most distinguished and powerful forestry advocates, died January 25, 2023. 

In Forestry/Climate news: BC transfers land back to the Lake Babine Nation; David Elstone opines on the end of the BC mountain pine beetle era; the Huu-ay-aht First Nation on the future of Western’s Alberni mill; Alberta dodges the proverbial beetle bullet; Arizona’s loggers plead for more logs; California’s trees struggle with a warming world; and climate change may cut US forest inventory by 23%.

In Forest Product news: BC and Oregon are optimistic on the future of mass timber; the SLB on monetizing the carbon-storage properties of wood; and TimberTED courses hit the UK. Meanwhile: Russ Cameron on BC’s value-added timber announcement; and Anthony Britneff on the BC government’s response to mill closures. 

Finally, the US Dept of Commerce released its preliminary reviews on Canadian lumber.

Kelly McCloskey Tree Frog Editor

A Western Forest Products working group will explore manufacturing solutions for its curtailed Port Alberni mill. In related news: Port Alice, BC pulp mill demolished after 104 years; Domtar’s Espanola paper mill is for sale again; and more on Canfor’s sawmill closures by MLAs Mike Bernier, John Rustad, and Doug Routley, and ex-Chetwynd mayor Merlin Nichols. In other Business news: BC defends stance on value-added timber; IKEA replaces Russian wood suppliers; and lumber rebounds on supply curtailments. 

In Forestry/Climate news: US biofuel push targets aviation industry; a Georgia company to make jet fuel from wood chips; net-zero roadmaps look to mass timber in Canada and the UK; carbon offsets for tree planting is panned; a new study on the Amazon rainforest; and using satellites to map the world’s forests. 

Finally, the latest from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and BC Community Forests.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Canfor will close its Chetwynd sawmill and rebuild its Houston mill to align BC operations with available fibre. In related news: reactions by Forest Minister Ralston, Union head Bromley, and RBC analyst Paul Quinn. In other Business news: BC joins Ottawa on US lumber duties, as deposits paid create a $US 6.1 billion incentive to negotiate; BC pulp & paper group praises decision on fire-damaged timber; John Brink say BC’s value-added decision is too small; and Forest Ontario’s Rob Keen receives achievement award. 

In Forestry/Climate news: Canada launches conservation plan for Ontario; US reinstates roadless rule for Tongass National Forest; and Interfor gives up forest tenure as BC protects 75,000 hectares of old-growth forests near Revelstoke.

Finally, Bourbon makes forestry cool in the quest to save America’s White Oak.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

The US intends to raise lumber tariffs on several of Canada’s largest producers while lowering duties for others. In other Business news: BC to allocate 10% of BC Timber Sales to value-added wood manufacturers; Kitwanga sawmill is thriving under First Nations’ land-use plan International Paper sells Russian joint venture; 84 Lumber announces expansion plans; UK pension funds look to invest in trees; and demand for fibre-based packaging is on the rise.

In other news: BC compensates Blueberry River First Nation for timber loss; PEI’s Auditor General raps province’s forest management; Oregon’s wildfire risk map is put on hold; and a new study identifies Oregon’s priority conservation forests. In Safety news: WorkSafeBC seeks input from young workers; Oregon fines Halsey pulp over air emissions; and Arizona fines Hixson Lumber over preventable worker death.

Finally, the EU banned Russian wood pellets; South Korea took them all.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Sinclar Group is curtailing three of its BC sawmills for two weeks. In related news: Tolko extends downtime at two of its mills; fire delays Houston Canfor mill re-opening; Mirax Group is acquiring Lyle Forest Products in Chilliwack, BC; Drax expands its Aliceville, Alabama pellet plant; and US LBM divests three divisions. Meanwhile: Keith Baldrey on BC’s forest industry woes; Rayonier announces new leadership; and Louis Bélanger joins FSC Canada’s Board.

In Forestry/Climate news: logging said to threaten Alberta bison; researchers work to protect Nova Scotia hemlocks; US Forest Service unmoved by North Carolina forest plan objections; protests continue in Atlanta’s urban forest; pushback on Fort Drum, New York biomass plant closure; Greenpeace says UK distorts its biomass stance; and Brazil works to reverse deforestation. 

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

With government support, Paper Excellence will retool and restart its Crofton Catalyst paper line in BC. In related news: chip shortages forecast PG Pulp mill closure; BC industry unclear on government’s vision for forestry; Grand River Pellets expands in New Brunswick; International Paper invests in Cedar River, Iowa mill; and Opal Australia mill curtails paper production. Meanwhile, wildfire experts Frontline Operations joins Forsite Consultants.

In Forestry/Climate news: Ontario industries start paying carbon tax; BC drought causing fir die-offs, Oregon researchers say lack of humidity is the bigger problem; warm weather curbs US Northeast logging; and Mercer salvages burnt timber after wildfire.

Finally, 13 forest companies sold their Russian assets, others remain.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

The US launched a new effort to reduce wildfire risk across the West, using $930 million from its 2021 infrastructure law. In related news: a US forestland taxation bill advances; and BC commits $50 million to increase fibre supply from fire damaged timber. In other Business news: CN touts Prince Rupert as gateway to Asia; Simpson Strong-Tie acquires Estiframe; West Fraser ups relationship with Arkansas State University; and Premier Eby set to make announcement at Crofton mill. 

In other news: Derek Nighbor on the future of forestry; BC’s forestry woes explained by entrepreneur John Brink; Parks Canada thins forests around Banff, Alberta; Atlanta area forest-protest turns deadly; and Brazil seeks criminals in anti-deforestation raids.

Finally, Australia’s first wood stadium and Canadian buildings that make people healthier.

Kelly McCloskey Tree Frog Editor

An uptick in US builder confidence signals turning point for housing. In related news: single-family starts tick-up in December, and building materials price growth slows. Meanwhile, the future of forestry in British Columbia is discussed at the Natural Resources Forum and the BC Truck Loggers Conference. Related commentary includes:

• Kevin Falcon says the NDP process for getting permits needs fixing
• Unifor points to the damage done when the Liberals were in power
• David Elstone looks to the data to understand what is happening
• Linda Coady says its fibre shortages, cost issues and skill shortages

Other headliners include: Kruger’s all-electric trucks; Structurlam’s temporary curtailment in Arkansas; Cascades’ sustainability nod; Maine’s Ashland mill status; and Waratah’s 50-year celebration. Meanwhile: BC reaches agreement with Blueberry First Nation; and a new Centre for Sustainable Building in Toronto. 

Finally, carbon offsets take a hit as researchers encourage carbon capture and storage.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Citing fibre shortages, Mercer announces downtime at its Celgar mill in Castlegar, BC. In related news: Premier Eby promises $90M for BC communities hurt by forest industry downturn; Domtar’s Kingsport, Tennessee mill resumes operations, as the potential sale of its Espanola, Ontario mill is still in doubt, and valued-added updates by Teal Jones’ and Arbor Wood. Meanwhile, on the pundit front, more opinions on the PG Pulp closure by Will Verboven, Nathan Giede and Ben Parfitt.

In other news: Nova Scotia releases details on high production forestry zones; the Northwest Territories’ carbon pricing plan; an Oregon study evaluates cause of forest landslides; a low-carbon tour comes to Prince George, BC; and Finland defends its carbon sink calculations.

Finally, musician Chuck Leavell is in Duluth, and a 90-year-old builds his own hobbit house.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Nova Scotia dedicates land for high production forestry with focus on timber production. In related news: Burgess BioPower reinvigorates New Hampshire mill town; Premier Eby says BC forest industry is facing a reckoning; ex-BC Minister Pat Bell says Canfor mill closure can be reversed; and Greg Jadrzyk ex-NFPA president, says pine beetle inaction is to blame.

In other news: Biden signs wildfire remediation law; RCMP say injunctions justify costs on resource standoffs; Montana invests in forest health; and BC invests to switch diesel to renewable energy. In Forest Product news: US groups say wood is the new concrete; opportunities in Japan’s building sector; Australian sustainable timber construction; and BC Wood’s updated Export Training Program.

Finally, a first-of-its-kind wood-traceability project at Portland International Airport.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

All eyes are on Premier Eby to support the struggling BC forestry sector at upcoming events. In related news: the economic impact on Prince George could be severe, local rally planned in wake of troubling trend, and amid tough demand outlook, more sawmills closures are expected in 2023. In other Business news: fire devastates PEI bioenergy company; BC First Nations in Campbell River and Terrace are on the move; and Northern Alberta wants better rail freight service. 

In Forestry/Climate news: Quebec and BC caribou populations are in decline; the pros and cons of improving forest health by logging in Montana; North Carolina forest plans are on hold pending US Forest Service review; and warm weather keeps Maine loggers out of the woods.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Fallout from Canfor’s mill closure spurs debate over blame and solutions for BC forestry:

• Forest companies won’t invest in BC without changes
• PG Pulp union blames BC forestry policies for closure
• BC Liberals slam government for lack of solutions
• PG Editor, ENGO rep. point at industry & province
• Provincial crisis response team coming to Prince George
• Mayor Yu weighs in on Prince George mill closure
• Fallout from climate, forest practices and the mountain pine beetle

In other Business news: Aspen Planers could reopen soon; BC Labour Relations Board sides with Canfor in Mackenzie; a chemical spill points at Sunbelt Forest Products; Stora Enso considers curtailments in Finland; and US Hardwood Coalition wants duties on Chinese imports to continue.

In other news: toxins from toilet paper found in BC killer whales; Alaska wants to profit from carbon credits; BC Wood kicks off new export training program; and PRT Growing Services adds to its executive team.

Finally, it’s Friday the 13th … what else can we say!

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Canfor Pulp ‘right-sizes’, closes pulp line at its Prince George Pulp and Paper mill. In related news: the BC Government weighs in on Canfor closure; Interfor announces plans to reduce its lumber production; and sawmill cut-backs struggle to buoy lumber prices, as builder cancellation rates spike. In other Business news: Ontario’s Huron Railway gets funds to continue operating; and Koopman Lumber is LBM Journal’s Dealer of the Year.

In Forestry news: torrential rains benefit California’s forests despite wreaking havoc on urban trees; researchers assess redwood’s climate resilience; dry air is more stressful than drought for Oregon’s Douglas-firs; an auditor general report speaks to PEI forest policy; UBC expands 3D modelling software; and perspectives on Canada’s forest management by Derek Nighbor and David Suzuki.

Finally, the golden age of CLT and the impossibility of living a day without plastic.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Citing profitability challenges, West Fraser to indefinitely curtail its Perry, Florida sawmill. In related news: Aspen Planers in Merritt, BC remains closed; Kamps Pallets completes acquisition of John Rock Inc; and Paper Excellence donates to the Canadian Red Cross. On the Market front: US housing outlook remains grim despite improvement in homebuyer sentiment; and wood pellet exports and printing-writing paper shipments decreased in November. 

In Forestry/Climate news: US legislation seeks to improve forest collaboration with private landowners; Premier Eby to address BC Natural Resources Forum; an old-growth rally is planned for Victoria, BC; forest buffers help manage water in North Carolina; and researchers say climate change is a key driver in dead plant decomposition.

Finally, the USDA announces Paper & Packaging and Christmas Tree Promotion board appointments; and Jessica Gurevitch is the new head of Forestry at Purdue College.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Evacuations announced as California braces for a ‘parade of cyclones‘ and weather-swings uproot trees. In related news: what are atmospheric rivers? In other Business news: Skeena Sawmills to curtail operations in Terrace, BC; Anthony Timberlands pauses sawmill in Malvern Arkansas; Canada’s bank regulator weighs mortgage constraints, as high interest rates push lumber prices down and recession-risk up.

In other news: BC encouraged to scrap its stumpage system; Montana group sues to halt logging in grizzly habitat; the USDA appoints four to serve on the Softwood Lumber Board; and honors for Florida’s retiring state forester and Weyerhaeuser’s Jeff Grogan. 

Finally, the first mass timber boutique hotel in North America wins award in Austin, Texas.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Joseph Hardy of 84 Lumber fame, a 2-by-4 among toothpicks, dies on his 100th birthday. In other Company news: Paper Excellence commits to Resolute transaction; Boise Cascade to lay off Elgin Plywood workers; Vaagen Fibre is closing in Midway, BC; and Red Rock Biofuels faces foreclosure in Oregon. Meanwhile: Canada seeks railway data for supply chain transparency; Forests2Market’s six predictions for 2023; the Michigan Timberman have a new Executive Director; and Auburn University’s former forestry dean retires. 

In other news: USFS logging plans proceed in Hoosier National Forest; the US debate over what counts as ‘renewable‘ for energy; Oregon’s practical attitude to timber harvests; the cost of policing BC’s logging standoffs; and the ingenuity of Roman era concrete is revealed. 

Finally, lumberjacks, the most meaningful, least stressful job in America. Seriously!

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Canada Wood Korea and China accelerate adoption of wood building technologies. In related news: American Hardwoods releases a new species guide; JBM packaging unveils wood-based biodegradable film window; Mercer celebrates a mass timber unsung hero; Enviva on Netherland’s biomass subsidy motion; and Sweden transforms a concrete building with CLT. Meanwhile: some leadership changes at Snavely, Arcadia; and the IAM Woodworkers.

In Forestry/Climate news: examining carbon credits that set aside BC forest land; how to save the US whitebark pine; using woodchips for water quality practices in Iowa; growing and reforesting Brazilian timber (concurrently) on the same plot of land; and more on the TLA convention from Bob Brash, Premier Eby and Forest Minister Ralston.

Finally, Russians caught disguising their military fuel trucks as logging trucks.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Surveys undertaken in British Columbia and Oregon demonstrate mixed but strong support for forestry. In related news: BC’s new Chief Forester, MNP’s Jason Fisher, and First Nation Joe Gilchrist share their visions for the future of forestry. Elsewhere: New Mexico legislators oppose prescribed fires; New York state is encouraged to emphasize forest conservation; and West Virginians worry about clear-cut logging.

In other news: woody biomass could fuel Ontario’s steel and mining industry; forest restoration as a defence against climate change; and mass timber highlights from Vancouver, BC, Waterloo Ontario, and Madison, Wisconsin. Meanwhile: some lumber price, wood pellet and furniture market outlooks.

Finally, leadership changes at International Paper and the BC Log & Timber Builders.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Canfor extends production curtailments at “select” BC sawmills for a further two weeks. In related news: Brian Menzies & Jake Power on BC’s value-added conundrum; the Domtar-Resolute merger gets green-lighted; Nova Scotia Power’s new biomass requirement; and the legacy of F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber. Meanwhile: US consumer confidence rebounds; and negative economic forecasts for Canada and the US.

In Forestry/Climate news: Quebec’s tree canopies rebound after spongy moth infestation; severe flooding is expected as atmosphere river hits California; a Norway fund will reduce Amazon deforestation; exceptional specimens of long-lived trees; and the debate over the future of Sweden’s carbon sink.

Finally, the significance of upfront carbon; and lignin’s anti-viral and battery potentialities.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Tolko extends BC mill curtailments into 2023, adding to end-of-year gloom hanging over BC’s forestry industry. In related news: Jock Finlayson says BC government policies exacerbate the fibre shortfall, Vaughn Palmer says the sector has been in decline for a long time; and COFI’s Linda Coady says flashpoint issues also create future opportunity. In other Business news: Canada’s Competition Bureau reaches agreement on Domtar/Resolute deal; Canada’s first Indigenous-owned bioenergy facility opens; and Mercer employs bioenergy certification scheme.

In Forestry/Climate news: Biden’s old-growth directive puts Oregon timber project on hold; Grassy Narrows marks two decades of logging prevention; an investigation affirms BC’s enforcement of its Wildfire Act; and CN Rail is on the hook for starting 2015 wildfire near Lytton, BC.

Finally, the Hawaii Lumber Products Association is closing; GreenFirst’s Rick Doman retires; and a North Carolina professor is named Conservation Scholar. 

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

The polar vortex brings travel warnings, dangerously cold weather to North America. In related news: what is the polar vortex; and look out for falling iguanas. In Business news: Canfor’s wood fibre challenge; Georgia Pacific’s capital projects; and Louisiana’s mill expansion. Elsewhere: Webcor Timber’s mass timber ventures; the Softwood Lumber Board’s Q3 highlights; and Timmy’s goodbye plastic, hello wood shift.

In Forestry news: FPAC says Canada practices climate smart forestry; ENGOs say SFI’s sustainability claims are ‘misleading‘; Parks Canada says beetle populations have plummeted; Oregon quarantines to slow the emerald ash borer spread; and Finland’s forests shift from sink to source.

Finally, the polar vortex be damned… Santa is cleared for travel! But not us Frogs, we’re homebound until January 3rd. Merry Christmas to all our readers.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

The pending US omnibus bill affirms forest bioenergy’s carbon neutral status. In related news: New York State forces Fort Drum biomass plant to close; and Australia reverses biomass policy on native forests. In other Business news: US Commerce amends their 2020 CVD administrative review on softwood lumber; Port Hawkesbury Paper/Unifor reach labour deal; and a positive end to 2022 for Canada’s inflation rate, US GDP and US consumer confidence.

In Forestry/Climate news: US omnibus bill includes money for wildfire recovery; a BC judge denies old growth protester conditional discharge; and the Parks Society says Albertans want more conservation.

Finally, viewed as a pagan symbol, New England forbade Christmas trees in the 1800s.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

GreenFirst is selling its two Quebec sawmills to Chantiers Chibougamau, owner of Nordic Structures. In related news: Dryden’s sawmill workers ratify contract with Resolute Forest Products; RoyOMartin upgrades its Louisiana lumber mill; and Enviva signs wood pellet contract with EU firm. Other Business headlines include: Belarus timber products flow to EU via Central Asia; and China is surprising helpful at COP15.

In Forestry/Climate news: BC Premier Eby warns of ‘exhausted forests‘; Canfor addresses deficiencies revealed in forest audit; Drax says MP’s biomass claims are misinformed; a California startup looks to bury wood for carbon removal; paper mills are among Mississippi’s top polluters; and early forests found to have played minor CO2 role.

Finally, Canada’s plastic ban spurs coffee chain giant to switch to wood.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Citing fibre shortages, Canfor temporarily curtails its Prince George Intercontinental Pulp Mill. In related news: lumber falls to new 2022 low; US housing starts continue their decline; homebuilder sentiment drops again; containerboard prices decline; packaging and writing paper shipments decrease; and fuel prices are up. Meanwhile: millwork distributor Metrie acquires Fred Tebb & Sons; and SFPA has a new communications manager.

In Forestry/Climate news: Nova Scotia will use more biomass to generate electricity; the Japan/Canada partnership on wood pellet energy; Alaska seeks to monetize carbon credits; ENGO gives failing grades to paper producers; the pros and cons for logging in Cowichan, BC; and some post-COP15 buzz from Montreal.

Finally, a BC sawmiller’s tale of love, sabotage and life at the mill.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

At COP15, 190 countries adopted a biodiversity agreement, pledged to protect 30% of their land and oceans by 2030. In related news: Canada’s medical association endorses nature prescriptions; ENGOs pan a US Forest Service land swap deal; and South Carolina inks a stewardship pact. Meanwhile, how urban society conflicts with rural forest use; and your chance to input into North Cowichan, BC forest reserve debate.

In Business news: Drax contributes to Louisiana’s economy; Anthony Timberlands Center receives donation; and Western Forest Products supports the Salvation Army. In other news: how climate smart forest products can help tackle climate change; and the Softwood Lumber Board sees momentum for mass timber, as do Australian and Danish developers.

Finally, real trees are better than fake ones. ‘Says’ Tree Canada & ‘Sings’ Ryan Reynolds.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

The Global Cement and Concrete Association says it seeks ‘fair comparison’ with timber. In related news: a new study says only 1 in 8 see sustainability as their product-choice driver. Companies making news include: Western Forest Products (community donations); Fort St. James Green Energy (lawsuit); Aspen Planers (curtailment); Port Townsend Paper and Westrock Tacoma (air quality fines); Boise Cascade (expansions); International Paper (forest certifications); and Stora Enso and Mondi (divestments).

In Forestry/Climate news: Canada funds spruce budworm research; forest carbon credits sought for Alaska; native biomass is no longer carbon neutral in Australia; and the latest from COP15 courtesy of Canada, the United States and Ukraine. 

Finally, timber experts Fast + Epp won two structural engineering awards in 2022.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas — philanthropic deeds by Canfor (College of New Caledonia); Mosaic Forest Management (Kw’umut Lelum Foundation) and JD Irving (New Brunswick). In Business news: Mondi joins the forest products exodus from Russia; Trifecta acquires the International Mass Timber Conference; Crown Paper appoints Will Lindsay CEO; and the Canadian Wood Council renews Rick Jeffery’s CEO contract. 

In Forestry/Climate news: developing countries walk out of COP15; BC Elders call for end to old-growth logging; Bill Dumont on North Cowichan’s forestry debate; Alberta notches win against the mountain pine beetle; Whitebark Pine now officially listed as threatened; USDA research on the benefits and threats to wilderness; and loggers opine on their cost and access challenges.

Finally, an audacious plan to build forests on… planet Mars.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

BC’s largest forestry firms saw employment growth in 2021 and 2022. In other Business news: Roseburg begins settlements after Mill Fire; Port Townsend Paper extinguishes mill fire; two new pellet plants for California; and buyers line up for Russian-based Segezha’s European factories. In other Business news: logging in Oregon delivers $97 million; Maine awards forestry recovery grants; and 2023 predictions of Canadian supply-chain turbulence and US housing decline.

In COP15 news: the focus turns to financing; reversing forest loss is said to be key; Canada names Ducks Unlimited to deliver on conservation; and Manitoba signs tree planting agreement. Meanwhile: progress on Golden, BC’s Community Forest; Oregon’s Elliot State Research Forest and Minnesota’s Wildlife Management Areas.

Finally, Weyerhaeuser partners to store (below) and sequester (above) CO2 in Mississippi.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

At the halfway mark of COP15, anxieties rise on the need to reach a global biodiversity framework. In related news: Canada pledges support for forest restoration, tree planting and a youth council; Nova Scotia creates more land reserves; the Montreal Economic Institute says Canada’s managed forest are a net carbon sink; Scott Stevens opines on California’s remarkable wildfire year; and more on the die-off of fir trees in Oregon and Washington.

In Business news: firms report bioenergy breakthroughs in Thorold, Ontario and Kelowna, BC; Snavely Forest Products expands to the mid-states; Nuveen acquires more timberlands; and US inflation cools in November. Meanwhile: the Forest Enhancement Society of BC has a new chair (Dave Peterson); the Australian Forest Products Association CEO (Ross Hampton) is stepping down; and sadly, former Natural Resources Canada Minister Jim Carr dies at 71.

Finally, New England has an overlooked and abundant firefighting ally—in the beaver.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Homebuilders are buoyed by stable material prices and a backlog of home orders, but cancellations are on the rise. In other Business news: the World Trade Organization says the US violated trade rules; Paper Excellence is in the spotlight (again); Kruger faces water critic; and Westrock’s labour dispute continues. Elsewhere: the US Endowment has new leadership.

In Forestry/Climate news: Canada invests in nature based leadership; the US Forest Service forms federal advisory board; COP15 goals will fail without Indigenous leadership; and ENGOs support BC’s new conservation goal. Meanwhile: attacks on Canadian forestry strain credulity; Canada’s commitment to protecting forests is questioned; and defending the tall and the mighty.

Finally, if you’re a Canadian wood pellet producer, your association says ‘get certified‘.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

COP15 news releases abound as governments, NGOs and others make their case. Examples include:

• What ’30 by 30′ conservation means for Canada (The Canadian Press)
• Nature based solutions & climate friendly forestry (Council of Cnd Academies)
• Conserving forests and wetland ecosystems in BC (Nature Conservancy)
• BC pledges to protect 30% of province by 2030 (The Narwhal)
• Burning trees for energy is catastrophic for biodiversity (Treehugger)
• Calls for a new mindset in our approach to trees (UK Forestry Commission)

In other news: Alberta on track to meet renewable energy goal; Nova Scotia releases plan to cut emissions; what Quebecers will pay for an greener home; and North America’s mass timber potential. Elsewhere: a gaggle of US housing forecasts; and the 7 senses of architectural design.

Finally, forest genotypes and the scientists that helped solve a Missouri murder.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Prime Minister Trudeau says 120 countries are ready to agree to ‘30 by 30‘ biodiversity framework. In related news: ENGO’s say the planet is in peril, action is required to save Canada’s boreal forest and endangered species; US signs conservation agreement with Nature Conservancy; BC poised to announce new protections; and Quebec group plans to develop biodiversity indicators. In other Forestry/Climate news: Canada’s budget officer is said to have debunked climate alarmism. 

In Business news: BC’s new cabinet involves changes for forestry, housing and climate; Nelson Bennett on roadblocks for BC’s value added wood producers; David Elstone on lumber’s new normal; NAHB on custom home building market share; and Fannie Mae on impediments to housing recovery. Meanwhile: UBC embraces mass timber (again); and registration is open for COFI’s 2023 convention.

Finally, 2 million year-old DNA reveals Greenland’s lost world of animals and trees.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

The slowdown in US housing has taken its toll on lumber prices, which experts say will struggle until mid-2023. In related news: Canada’s housing correction is widespread; and US furniture sales fell 26% in September. In other Business news: a BC court rules that Tolko must pay for escaped debris-pile fire; Canfor curtailments to impact its Plateau mill; and GreenFirst and Abitibiwinni First Nation sign agreement. Meanwhile: a Japanese forestry company expands to North Carolina; and the Sinclar Group’s Greg Stewart is named chair of the BC Council of Forest Industries.

In Biodiversity news: Trudeau welcomes the world to the COP15/Montreal conference, as FPAC’s Derek Nighbor releases new report, and First Nations affirm their desire to participate. In other Forestry news: Alberta makes headway against the mountain pine beetle; and North Carolina’s old-growth uncertainty.

Finally, the world’s first cellulose-based screw-cap plant opens in Sweden.

Kelly McCloskey

Citing weak markets, Canfor is temporarily curtailing it Canadian lumber production. In related news: lumber prices are at pandemic lows; Woodland Pulp workers may strike in Maine; deep cuts in Wisconsin’s paper industry; and an Australian paper mill faces downtime due to timber shortage. In other Business news: Enviva’s green claims challenged by an insider; the Southern Forest Products Association announces new officers; and SFI and PEFC partner on May 2023 conference in Vancouver.

In Forestry/Climate news: COP15 kicks off in Montreal tomorrow, aims to broker new biodiversity agreement; a new EU law prevents import of deforestation goods; the World Economic Forum’s five drivers of forest loss; and forest resilience like to higher mortality risk.

Finally, forests and nature-based solutions courtesy of the UBC Faculty of Forestry and Clemson University.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

In the run up to next week’s COP15 Biodiversity Conference, NGO groups speak out against burning trees to make energy, and SFI certification. In related news: Paper Excellence’s COP27 declaration;Ontario’s Grassy Narrows blockade secures Weyerhaeuser pledge; Montreal works to restore Mount Royal’s biodiversity; and how plants adapt their lignin to face climate change. In other news: Ontario loses one of its forest champion; WorkSafeBC’s latest faller videos; and fallout from Vancouver Island’s floatplane crash.

In Company news: the private money behind Teal Jones’s US expansion; WestRock completes its Mexican acquisition; Envoy Solutions buys Penn Paper; Twin Rivers Paper sells its New Brunswick sawmill; Westervelt announces leadership changes and MNP expands to Kelowna. In other news: molded pulp packaging makes headway; and FPInnovation shares carbon capture, utilization and storage webinars.

Finally, when innovation and nature merge – RBC’s latest Thought Leadership article.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

The US economy staved off a rail strike with Senate vote, and it may even avoid a recession. In related news: US construction spending is down, as housing uncertainty continues; and lumber reaches a new floor. In other Business news: Paper Excellence’s corporate structure challenge; Domtar to resume Kingsport, Tennessee operations; and wood research updates from UBC (biodegradable packing foam); U of Maine (biochar and soil moisture); and UC San Diego (10-story earthquake test).

In Forestry/Climate news: regrets from Canada’s climate minister; US EPA’s renewable fuels mandate; and news from the Canadian Institute of Forestry; Canada’s Forest Trust; the Alberta Forest Product’s Association.

Finally, Christmas ‘flash-mob‘ performers advocate for old-growth protection.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

Focus shifts to Senate after US House passes legislation to avert a rail strike. In other Business news: Canadian lumber groups say US lumber duty orders violate new trade agreement; Nelson Bennett on how the resource sector spends its windfall profits; Interfor completes purchase of Chaleur Forest Products; and Enviva celebrates opening of Mississippi port facility.

In Forestry/Climate news: Canada invests $34 million on species at risk; Canadian Ambassador says EU deforestation rules are burdensome; Ontario is panned for monies spent on invasive species; ENGO’s say BC rainforests are near ecological collapse; and ENGO’s seek review of P&G’s supply chain claims. Meanwhile: Manulife moves into the carbon offset market; and forest recovery updates on the American Chestnut and Whitebark pine. 

Finally, an ‘On The Brink‘ interview with well-known BC forester Jim Girvan.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor