Correction: In an earlier version of Today’s Takeaway, the Tree Frog News incorrectly attributed FSC’s new Senior Manager, Indigenous Capacity Support Canada, Satnam Manhas. Our apologies for the confusion. It has been corrected. 

COP28 opened with a focus on financing biodiversity goals and the climate’s contagious effect on human health. In related news: designing the forest and other mass timber futures; Wildsight seeks to ground-truth BC Timber Sales claims; concrete and cement’s roadmap to net-zero emissions; Australia recognizes the climate importance of forestry and wood products; and why the rubber tree is driving tropical forest loss.

In Business news: Alberta budgets for fires, floods and drought; Weyerhaeuser to mondernize its Dodson Louisiana lumber mill; and more on Spray Lake Sawmills—West Fraser’s latest acquisition. Meanwhile; Billerud appoints Ivar Vatne CEO; Peter Xotta will head the Vancouver Port Authority; and FSC has a new Indigenous manager in Satnam Manhas.

Finally, three benefits of genetically improved Christmas trees.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor