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The Tree Frog Forestry News
August 19, 2026
Category: Today's Takeaway
Hello early bird! We just want you to know that the news team is busy adding stories to this page. Be sure to check back at 9:00 am (PST) for the full line up of articles.
Trump says U.S. and Canada reached deal to delay 50% U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports for 3 days
The Associated Press in National Public Radio
August 19, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States
WASHINGTON — President Trump said Tuesday he was delaying the 50% U.S. tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian imports after the two countries reached a last-minute deal less than two hours before the sanctions were to go into effect. The announcement, which Trump made on his social media platform, buys time for more negotiations and avoids, for now, another strain in already tense relations between the historic allies. “I have paused the 50% Tariffs for a three day period, based on the fact that Canada and the U.S.A., subject to the finalization of documents, have a DEAL!” Trump posted. …A White House proclamation said Canada had expressed a commitment to remove measures the Trump administration considers discriminatory against U.S. alcohol, dairy and motor vehicle exports. Canada did not immediately confirm those commitments. Prime Minister Carney said “substantial progress” had been made but that important work remained.
Tolko cuts veneer production in Kamloops as fibre access tightens amid wildfires
By Kristen Holliday
Castanet
August 19, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada West
Tolko Industries has indefinitely curtailed veneer production at its Heffley Creek mill in Kamloops, blaming wildfire and drought conditions that have restricted access to fibre. In an emailed statement to Castanet Kamloops, a Tolko spokesperson said employees at its Heffley Creek division were informed of the shutdown last week. “We recognize the impact this has on employees and their families. While conditions remain challenging, we are confident in the future of our business and are prepared to return these operations to full production as soon as fibre availability supports it,” the spokesperson said. Tolko said the temporary curtailment is due to challenging weather conditions, including drought and ongoing wildfires, which has made it difficult to conduct woodlands operations. “The curtailment timing is dependent on fibre accessibility and does not have a set schedule,” the spokesperson said.
Ontario Investing More Than $2 Million to Unlock Global Markets for Made-in-Ontario Forest Products
By Natural Resources
Government of Ontario
August 19, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada East
GOLDEN LAKE — The Ontario government is investing over $2.1 million in four projects to increase forest sector competitiveness and drive innovative uses for mill by-products and underused wood known as forest biomass. As part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario and build a competitive, resilient and self-reliant economy, these investments will position the forest sector to unlock new markets, bolster supply chains and protect good-paying jobs. “Our government is helping forest sector businesses build international reach and bring competitive products to market,” said Kevin Holland, Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products. “Under our forest sector roadmap, we’re driving the industry’s continued growth and showcasing Ontario’s capacity as a G7 leader in innovative manufacturing.” Associate Minister Holland made the announcement at Ben Hokum and Son, which is receiving over $1.9 million to install two biomass-assisted steam kilns… These investments are delivering on the government’s Roadmap to Protecting Ontario’s Forest Sector
Canadian Corrugated and Containerboard Association states tariff concerns in letter to Prime Minister Carney
By Serge Desgagnés, Executive Director
Canadian Corrugated and Containerboard Association
August 17, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East
On behalf of the Canadian Corrugated and Containerboard Association (CCCA), the voice of Canada’s corrugated and containerboard industry (encompassing corrugator box plants, sheet feeder operations and containerboard mills from coast to coast), we are writing to call on the Government of Canada to continue to engage U.S. counterparts and specifically press for the removal of corrugated cartons, boxes, and cases from the proposed August 19 measures, and ensure Canadian producers, workers, and supply chains are protected from unilateral trade action. Canada should make clear that the corrugated and containerboard industry is deeply integrated across the border, and that tariffs would harm manufacturers, workers and customers on both sides of the corrugated and containerboard industry. …Disrupting corrugated trade may not only raise costs for manufacturers and exporters; it could also affect the recovered-fibre markets that help sustain Canada’s recycling infrastructure and broader sustainability goals.
Merkley, Wyden Announce More Than $15 Million in Federal Grants to Support Oregon Wood Product Industry, Rural Economies, Jobs
Ron Wyden Senator for Oregon
August 17, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: US West
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is investing $15,091,037 in 20 wood innovations projects in Oregon that support active management of national forests and grasslands, promote wood and energy infrastructure by increasing manufacturing capacity and operational efficiencies, and support rural economic prosperity and jobs. This federal funding is critical to ensuring the state’s leadership in the wood products industry, while helping to restore healthy forests and reduce wildfire risk. …These investments in Oregon are part of a broader suite of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s USFS Wood Innovations Program grants for public, private, and non-profit sectors, totaling $105.5 million for projects across the country this year.
Crews in Longview begin removing failed tank months after disaster
By Paul Roberts
The Seattle Times
August 17, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US West
LONGVIEW, Washington — Work crews took the first steps Monday toward restarting the Longview paper mill that closed after a fatal chemical spill in May, even as questions about the accident and the mill’s future remain unanswered. Nippon Dynawave Packaging said crews have started dismantling the massive “white liquor” storage tank that collapsed May 26, killing 11. The company is also installing temporary tanks to hold the liquor that will eventually be “needed for operational restart” of the mill. Nippon Dynawave said it expects the tank work “to take a matter of weeks”. Company documents filed Monday indicate the temporary tanks could be in use for up three months. And state investigators say it may be late November before they release findings. Despite those uncertainties, the week’s activity was welcome news for the aging facility’s more than 500 workers. [to access the full story a Seattle Times subscription is required]
Maine is known for it’s logging industry – but much of our lumber actually comes from Canada
WMTW-TV
August 18, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States
MAINE — Softwood lumber from Canada is already tarriffed at 45% — this round of tariff won’t impact softwood – but it will impact a range of other building supplies – cement, steel, aluminum, copper products – and a range of lumber products like plywood, fiberboard, and oriented strand board. “Right now the cheapest prices is out of Canada and a lot of this product comes out of Canada.” All of these are products that are known for their resilience – used in everything from custom cabinets to exterior siding. Hillside Lumber co-owner Mike Knight says the tariff increase could wind up causing increased demand for American lumber. “They can’t keep up with the demand if we cut off Canada altogether.” That in turn, could lead to higher prices for domestic products too. “Not that I’m against having everything here in the US but I think if the timing is off.” …The increase trickles down, ultimately hitting the home buyers.
With overall single-family construction down almost 7% for the first seven months of 2026, custom home building has been a relative bright spot for the residential construction industry. The custom building market is less sensitive to the interest rate cycle than other forms of home building but is more sensitive to changes in household wealth and stock prices. With spec home building down and the stock market up, custom building has expanded its market share in recent years. However, that expansion stalled somewhat during the second quarter. According to NAHB’s analysis of Census data… there were 49,000 total custom building starts during the second quarter of 2026. This was 9% lower than the second quarter of 2025, which itself set a three-year high for quarterly construction volume. For the last four quarters, custom single-family housing starts totaled 183,000 homes, effectively flat compared to the prior four quarter period (184,000).
In the August Wood Connections newsletter, you’ll find these headlines and more:
BC Wood Specialties Group 2026 Annual General Meeting:Whistler Conference Centre | Thursday, September 10th, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM. BC Wood invites all manufacturing members to attend.
BC Wood Specialties Group Receives $5,280,480 in funding from the Government of Canada through PacifiCan’s Regional Tariff Response Initiative
Last Chance to Register for the 2026 Global Buyers Mission: Showcase your products in Whistler this September, secure your booth and complete your registration today — we only have 1 booth space left.
The WoodTALKS Lunch & Learn program gives manufacturers a valuable opportunity to share knowledge, expertise, and practical solutions through engaging accredited presentations. BC value-added wood manufacturers are invited to apply to present an accredited WoodTALKS Lunch & Learn session and connect directly with architects who influence product specification and project decisions.
The UBC Centre for Advanced Wood Processing has announced the schedule for the 2027 Industrial Wood Finishing Certificate Program and the 2027 Design for Manufacturing and Assembly workshop.
Wood Innovation Grant Awarded to Accelerate the Great Lakes Mass Timber Collaborative
By the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Michigan State University
August 18, 2026
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: US East
A new U.S. Forest Service wood innovation grant will enable Dovetail Partners, MassTimber@MSU (Michigan State University), and Team Pennsylvania to accelerate the next phase of the Great Lakes Mass Timber Collaborative (GLMTC). The multi‑state effort advances mass timber markets, manufacturing capacity, and forest‑health‑aligned wood products across the region. The award is part of the Forest Service’s national investment of $105.5 million in wood innovation, community wood, and wood products infrastructure grants… The Wood Innovations Grant Program is investing in proposals that expand traditional wood utilization projects, promote the use of wood as a construction material in commercial, institutional and multifamily buildings, and expand wood energy markets. …The Great Lakes Mass Timber Collaborative … brings together leaders from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York to build a coordinated regional mass timber economy. More than 100 participants convened in April 2026 to mark the release of the Collaborative’s Regional Vision
Lennard Joe says British Columbia needs a fuller forestry conversation
By Ian Biana
Resource Works
August 18, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West
Lennard Joe
Lennard (Suxʷsxʷwels) Joe speaks about forestry as someone shaped by it long before he led an organization. Joe, CEO of the B.C. First Nations Forestry Council, brings more than 30 years of natural resource and business experience to the role. A Registered Professional Forester [he] was among the first dozen Indigenous graduates of UBC’s forestry school. That background helps explain why he speaks of forestry not only as an industry, but as a responsibility. …Rural B.C. still depends on forests in ways many city residents no longer see, and Joe’s sharpest message for urban audiences was clear on that. …He talks about how forests anchor local economies and support the services many communities rely on… But he also pushed back against the idea that forestry is only about extraction. …As First Nations take on a greater ownership role in forestry, Joe believes the sector can move toward longer-term investment, stronger stewardship and broader community benefit.
How we found Haida Gwaii’s first marbled murrelet nest in more than 30 years
By Sonya Pastran, PhD Candidate
The University of British Columbia
August 18, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West
My PhD research aims to better understand the connections between the marine and terrestrial environments that marbled murrelets depend on. …This summer, we discovered the first marbled murrelet nest recorded on Haida Gwaii in more than 30 years — the second one ever confirmed on the island. …Unlike almost every other seabird, marbled murrelets don’t nest on cliffs or rocky islands. Instead, each spring they leave the ocean behind and fly inland (sometimes more than 80 kilometres) to ancient forests where they each lay a single egg on broad, moss-covered branches high in the canopy. …Facing pressures in both the marine and terrestrial environments, the marbled murrelet is listed as threatened under Canada’s Species at Risk Act. …During the day, we search for trees with the characteristics the birds are known to prefer. …Long before sunrise, we hike back, aiming to arrive at least an hour before dawn and wait.
Alberta Forest Products Association Community Newsletter
Alberta Forest Products Association
August 19, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West
In this newsletter you’ll find these headlines and more:
Keeping Alberta Wood Moving: Over the last year and a half, escalating U.S. trade barriers have added to an already challenging operating environment. …we have been working on every front available to us—but we haven’t been doing it alone. We have taken Alberta’s forestry story directly to decision-makers… We’ve joined trade missions… We’ve worked to make sure forestry’s story is heard… There is one thing that we know for sure: our forest community is strongest when we speak together.
Work Wild has been busy growing and thriving as a leading forestry education program in Alberta. This year, our new website and interactive forestry career resources have sparked excitement across the province.
Our 84th AGM & Conference will take place from September 23-25th. We are excited to welcome guests to Jasper Park Lodge.
How Edmonton plans to keep fighting a growing Dutch elm disease problem
By Kelsie Johnston
CBC News
August 18, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West
A forest health expert says the City of Edmonton’s current approach to combating Dutch elm disease could cause lasting long-term effects on the city’s tree canopy. Since 2024, the City of Edmonton has reported 16 cases of Dutch elm disease, including nine cases discovered this year. Elm trees make up about 22 per cent of Edmonton’s municipal tree canopy, the majority of which are American elm trees. …Currently, the City of Edmonton is focused on the removal of infected trees. Due to the risk of spread, elm trees within 20 metres of the infected trees are also being removed, even if they are healthy. …Nadir Erbilgin, a professor of forest health at the University of Alberta, … recommends the city introduce trap trees, to combat the disease at the source of infection: the bark beetle. …Once the tree is infested, it is then removed and burned, reducing the number of beetles capable of spreading the disease.
Trump administration moves to rescind rule that protects millions of acres of national forest
Reuters in NBC News
August 18, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: United States
The Trump administration took a step toward rescinding a decades-old rule that protects undeveloped forests on Tuesday in a move it says will help manage wildfire risk, but which environmental groups oppose, saying it would do the opposite. President Donald Trump has rolled back environmental regulations and taken land out of conservation for purposes such as energy extraction. …Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in the release that rescinding the rule would improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk. “Today, we filed a proposal to restore authority to local forest managers who know the land best, removing the barriers that have kept them from doing the work the land demands,” she said. Environmental groups argue that rescinding the rule would increase wildfire risk by exposing more forest land to human activity.
Climate change is reshaping Western forests — and the water and fire risks they face
By Kaleb Roedel
KUNR Public Radio
August 18, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: US West
As the climate warms, some mountain trees are moving higher up, while others are spreading downhill. Scientists say something inside the trees may explain why. And that split could reshape watersheds and wildfire risk. For years, scientists have expected mountain trees to move upslope in search of cooler conditions. But a new global study found nearly one-third of tree species are moving downhill instead. That matters because where trees grow can affect how forests burn and how much water they soak up before it flows downstream to rural communities, cities and farms. So why are some trees moving in one direction while others head the other way? The answer may lie in how trees move water. Tim Rademacher, a researcher at the University of Vermont and a co-author of the study, says some species can move water quickly and efficiently, helping them grow. But that efficiency comes with a cost.
B.C. startup seeks to turn dangerous dirt roads into safe evacuation routes
By Stefan Labbé
Coast Reporter
August 18, 2026
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada, Canada West
…FSR201 has long been relied on as an emergency corridor—so much so that last year one local MP went so far as to call on the House of Commons to pave the route. …A 2018 government estimate found roughly 92 per cent of roads in B.C. were unpaved—many of them potentially treacherous evacuation routes due to a lack of maintenance or poor preparation. …It’s a problem that Gallagher and Stewart set out to fix when they started IntelliMass Technologies Inc. after the devastating 2023 wildfires in West Kelowna. …Marketed as BackRoadIntel, the system collects data using hitch-mounted sensors and a dashcam system that passively collects the bumps, jolts, pitch and roll of a vehicle as it travels down a dirt road. …Dashcam footage helps to further identify hazards and verify the road conditions. …The resulting interface—now public for FSR201—provides users with detailed information about road conditions.
Despite both ‘being held’, BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) continues to have a large presence at the Bradley Creek and Quilpituk Creek wildfires. On Monday, BCWS had 90 firefighters, four helicopters, and 10 pieces of heavy equipment on scene between the two blazes. At this time, the Bradley Creek blaze still has one evacuation order issued by the Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) and two evacuation alerts, one from OKIB and one from the Regional District of North Okanagan. At the Quilpituk Creek fire, seven evacuation alerts remain, all issued by the Regional District of Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre. Crews have been continuing to mop up hot spots at both blazes. Along the western and southern flanks of the Bradley Creek wildfire, crews are working approximately 100 ft inside the fire perimeter to extinguish remaining heat and will go further into the perimeter in the coming days to address residual heat.
Evacuation order lifted for majority of Summerland, B.C., with about 150 structures believed damaged
By Simon Little
CBC News
August 18, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West
After more than a week of stress and anxiety, most residents of Summerland, B.C., can return to their homes. “It’s the news we’ve all been waiting for for the last week,” Mayor Doug Holmes told CBC’s Daybreak South. The community of more than 12,000 was forced to flee after the Bald Range wildfire broke out on Aug. 7 and grew explosively, claiming the life of an 80-year-old woman. Holmes said an evacuation order was lifted for 3,380 properties at 7 a.m. PT Tuesday, what he called “the majority of Summerland.” …Geotechnical and power work are being done, said Graham Statt, chief administrative officer of the District of Summerland. …As of Tuesday, 530 properties remain under an evacuation order in the Garnet Valley, Prairie Valley and Meadow Valley. All other Summerland residents remain under evacuation alert and must still be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
Here’s the latest on northwestern Ontario’s forest fires: Wednesday, Aug. 19
CBC News
August 19, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada East
There are 78 active wildfires in northwestern Ontario, according to the latest report issued Tuesday night from Ontario’s Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES). Of those, nine are not under control, three are being held, 10 are under control and the rest are being observed. The province said as of Tuesday evening, two new fires had been confirmed in the northwest. …In updates over the past few days, AFFES has said that recent precipitation has been helpful in minimizing the behaviour of some significant fires. The forest fire hazard is mostly low to moderate across northwestern Ontario. But there are pockets of high hazard in the southwest corner of the region, including around Kenora and Dryden. …As of Monday, about 702 people remain displaced due to wildfires in Ontario, according to the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response. About 2,100 evacuees from across northwestern Ontario have returned home.
Double disaster in Colombia: Wildfires surge as emergency crews struggle in aftermath of quake
By Laura Gamba Fadul
Anadolu Ajansı Greenline
August 18, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: International
More than 340 municipalities under red alert for forest fires driven by El Nino, compounding crisis for emergency services responding to massive earthquake. Emergency response agencies in Colombia are facing an unprecedented multi-front crisis as dozens of active wildfires spread rapidly, compounding recovery efforts following a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck earlier this week. A total of 344 municipalities have been placed under a red alert for wildfire threats, a staggering 93% single-day surge driven by severe heat and dry conditions, according to the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM). The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management on Friday reported dozens of active conflagrations… The surge in wildfires has severely strained emergency crews already deployed at maximum capacity following the Aug. 10 quake. …Complicating the response, national risk management agencies are also monitoring heightened activity at the Purace volcano in the southern department of Cauca, forcing authorities to simultaneously manage multiple major natural hazards.
Hello early bird! We just want you to know that the news team is busy adding stories to this page. Be sure to check back at 9:00 am (PST) for the full line up of articles.
WASHINGTON — President Trump said Tuesday he was delaying the 50% U.S. tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian imports after the two countries reached a last-minute deal less than two hours before the sanctions were to go into effect. The announcement, which Trump made on his social media platform, buys time for more negotiations and avoids, for now, another strain in already tense relations between the historic allies. “I have paused the 50% Tariffs for a three day period, based on the fact that Canada and the U.S.A., subject to the finalization of documents, have a DEAL!” Trump posted. …A White House proclamation said Canada had expressed a commitment to remove measures the Trump administration considers discriminatory against U.S. alcohol, dairy and motor vehicle exports. Canada did not immediately confirm those commitments. Prime Minister Carney said “substantial progress” had been made but that important work remained.
GOLDEN LAKE — The Ontario government is investing over $2.1 million in four projects to increase forest sector competitiveness and drive innovative uses for mill by-products and underused wood known as forest biomass. As part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario and build a competitive, resilient and self-reliant economy, these investments will position the forest sector to unlock new markets, bolster supply chains and protect good-paying jobs. “Our government is helping forest sector businesses build international reach and bring competitive products to market,” said Kevin Holland, Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products. “Under our forest sector roadmap, we’re driving the industry’s continued growth and showcasing Ontario’s capacity as a G7 leader in innovative manufacturing.” Associate Minister Holland made the announcement at Ben Hokum and Son, which is receiving over $1.9 million to install two biomass-assisted steam kilns… These investments are delivering on the government’s 
MAINE — Softwood lumber from Canada is already tarriffed at 45% — this round of tariff won’t impact softwood – but it will impact a range of other building supplies – cement, steel, aluminum, copper products – and a range of lumber products like plywood, fiberboard, and oriented strand board. “Right now the cheapest prices is out of Canada and a lot of this product comes out of Canada.” All of these are products that are known for their resilience – used in everything from custom cabinets to exterior siding. Hillside Lumber co-owner Mike Knight says the tariff increase could wind up causing increased demand for American lumber. “They can’t keep up with the demand if we cut off Canada altogether.” That in turn, could lead to higher prices for domestic products too. “Not that I’m against having everything here in the US but I think if the timing is off.” …The increase trickles down, ultimately hitting the home buyers.
As the climate warms, some mountain trees are moving higher up, while others are spreading downhill. Scientists say something inside the trees may explain why. And that split could reshape watersheds and wildfire risk. For years, scientists have expected mountain trees to move upslope in search of cooler conditions. But a new global study found nearly one-third of tree species are moving downhill instead. That matters because where trees grow can affect how forests burn and how much water they soak up before it flows downstream to rural communities, cities and farms. So why are some trees moving in one direction while others head the other way? The answer may lie in how trees move water. Tim Rademacher, a researcher at the University of Vermont and a co-author of the study, says some species can move water quickly and efficiently, helping them grow. But that efficiency comes with a cost.
