Lumber is currently showing bearish momentum (i.e., steadily falling) after strong growth in the second half of 2020. In related news: US construction spending was up 3.8% in 2020, residential spending is on the rise and single-family homes are not as large as they used to be. Companies making news include: Weston Forest (acquired); Katerra (saved); Pinnacle/Tolko (begins pellet production); Paper Excellence (Port Alberni machine fire); UPM/Domtar (Plymouth agreement); and Ponderay Newsprint (the end is near).

In other news: biochar use is proposed to save Minnesota’s tamaracks; California classifies treated wood waste as hazardous; and Pittsburg is one of three cities to receive an urban forest grant; Meanwhile: BC’s forestry watchdog calls for old-growth review and Brazil’s environmental crime investigators fail to get the job done.

Finally, the species of wood used in Pharaonic coffins speaks to the economics of the day.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor