Thank you for visiting the Tree Frog Forestry News
The Tree Frog Forestry News
May 6, 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.
We Know What Needs to Be Done. Why Aren’t We Doing It?
By Murray Wilson, Retired forester, Vernon, B.C.
BC is Burning Documentary
May 6, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada West
At a screening of BC is Burning earlier this year, someone in the audience asked a question that has stayed with me: “If we already know what needs to be done, why aren’t we doing it?” It wasn’t asked as a challenge. It was asked out of frustration. That question defines the gap between knowledge and action when it comes to wildfire. It has come up again and again across more than 25 screenings of B.C. is Burning, in communities throughout the Interior and Vancouver Island, and at the B.C. Legislature. …Since 2017, more than 8 million hectares have burned across British Columbia. In some communities, weeks of smoke have become a regular part of summer. The pace and intensity of wildfire are now outstripping current approaches. Suppression alone cannot keep up under extreme conditions.
This is not just a climate story. It is also a forest conditions story. … Understanding the problem is the easy part. The conversation is shifting from whether we should manage forests to how, and how quickly it can be done at scale. …There is no single solution to wildfire. But we do know that actively managing forests at scale will reduce risk and impacts. There is a path forward, and people across the province can see it.
Wildfire has become an increasingly visible part of life across Western Canada. Our climate is changing, and wildfire seasons are becoming longer and drier. The best way to tackle wildfire preparedness, prevention, and mitigation is to work together. FireSmart BC is a provincial program dedicated to helping British Columbians understand and reduce their wildfire risk. We serve as the go-to resource for individuals, neighbourhoods, and communities looking to protect themselves and their properties. …Built on decades of research, FireSmart BC focuses on how wildfire behaves around structures and how changes on and around a property can influence outcomes during a wildfire. …Wildfire mitigation is a shared responsibility. When renters, landlords, homeowners, businesses, and all levels of government work together, we can collectively reduce the risk and impact of wildfires across British Columbia. …FireSmart BC offers a wide range of resources to support both individuals and organizations.
U.S. Lumber Coalition Commends Actions to Combat Evasion of U.S. Trade Remedy Laws Involving Lumber Imports from Canada
By US Lumber Coalition
PR Newswire
May 5, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States
The US Lumber Coalition applauds the U.S. Customs and Border Protection announcement of its determination that Coastal Forest Products (based in Bow, NH) has evaded the antidumping and countervailing duty orders on softwood lumber imports from Canada. In reaching its determination, CBP rejected Coastal Forest Products’ argument that the Canadian-origin merchandise “underwent ‘substantial transformation’ in New Zealand.” …As a result of CBP’s determination, Coastal Forest Products will be responsible for unpaid duties and will be required to post cash deposits on future entries of the covered merchandise. …CBP launched its investigation based on an allegation filed by the US Lumber Coalition. ….”The message to Canada is clear: transshipment of lumber into the United States via a third country to evade antidumping and countervailing duties is not tolerated, nor possible,” added van Heyningen.
Tla’amin acquisition of forest operation receives qathet Regional District support
By Paul Galinski
Powell River Peak
May 5, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West
qathet Regional District directors have voted to approve a letter of support in principle for the agreement between Tla’amin Nation and Western Forest Products on the transfer of tree farm licence (TFL) 39 to Tla’amin. At the April 29 regional board meeting, Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne said the last paragraph of the letter of support stated: “qathet Regional District has carefully evaluated the potential impacts of this transfer. We offer our support in principle, provided the Province of British Columbia conducts a comprehensive public interest evaluation and ensures that all existing third-party interests within the TFL remain fully protected.” Gisborne said there is a lot of interest in the community and a lot of recreation going on in the tree farm licence area.
The effects of overstory mortality on snow accumulation and ablation
Government of British Columbia
May 4, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West
Mountain pine beetles have killed a large percentage of mature lodgepole pine trees over an area of more than 14 million hectares in the B.C. Interior. Research has shown that this can increase the magnitude of spring runoff. Forest licensees are also permitted to log beetle-attacked pine stands at an accelerated rate. The net effect is that most of B.C.’s mature pine stands will be changing rapidly over the next decades due to deterioration of the overstory, natural regeneration, clearcut harvesting, and managed reforestation. This project documents differences in structure between pine stands at different stages of growth and deterioration, changes within stands over time, and the effects of those differences on snow hydrology at the stand level. This will help watershed modellers predict possible changes in stream flow due to pine beetles and forest management. The map shows the locations of five study areas where this work is being done.
SFI Panel: Challenging Times and New Opportunities in Forest Sector Markets
Kelly McCloskey, Editor
Tree Frog Forestry News
May 5, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada East, United States
The opening panel at the 2026 SFI Annual Conference in Montréal brought three senior executives to the stage under the moderation of outgoing SFI CEO Kathy Abusow. The conversation covered trade policy and tariffs, forest sector transformation, investment, and the role of certification in a period of structural change. Derek Nighbor is President and CEO of the Forest Products Association of Canada. Pete Madden is President and CEO of the US Endowment for Forestry and Communities. Lenny Joe is CEO of the BC First Nations Forestry Council. Abusow opened by noting that sector decline predates the current trade dispute, placing the scale of the problem on the table before the first question: 43 pulp and paper mill closures in the US — a figure she attributed to Madden — with 20 more expected, and 27 mill closures in Canada alongside 22 permanent sawmill shutdowns.
Abusow then turned to tariffs, asking Joe how trade policy and softwood lumber disputes uniquely affect First Nations. Joe said most First Nations operate as market loggers, with fibre moving through relationships with major licensees — meaning tariff-driven slowdowns hit rural communities, where most First Nations are located, directly and quickly. Nighbor noted that Canadian lumber volumes to the US dropped roughly 12% in 2025, with about eight percentage points of that loss being filled by European supply. He said he did not think it needed to be this way, and that the opportunity lies in growing the pie for the continent. Madden pointed to unintended consequences in rural communities, where mills trying to reinvest in their own infrastructure are finding imported machinery too expensive under the new tariff environment, causing capital projects to stall.
SFI 2026 Conference Kicks Off in Montreal with Growth Theme and Call to Action
Kelly McCloskey, Editor
Tree Frog Forestry News
May 5, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada East, United States
Kathy Abusow
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative opened its 2026 annual conference in Montréal —titled The Next Ring of Growth—featuring a traditional welcome from Chief Stephen Angus McComber, Ratsénhaienhs of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke, followed by opening remarks from CEO Kathy Abusow, who reviewed three decades of organizational milestones including growth in certified forest area, Indigenous partnership, and youth education programs. SFI Board Chair and Arbor Day Foundation CEO Dan Lambe spoke to the theme of legacy in the sector, while Catherine Grenier, President and CEO of the Nature Conservancy of Canada and SFI board member, outlined concrete pathways — including Other Effective Conservation Measures, carbon revenue models, and spatial data tools — for the forestry sector to gain formal recognition and financial return for conservation outcomes already being delivered on certified lands.
U.S. Forest Service drops large logging, thinning project near Yellowstone National Park
By Darrell Ehrlick
Daily Montanan
May 5, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, US West
A large logging project near Cooke City and an entrance to Yellowstone National Park has been scrubbed by the U. S. Forest Service after conservation groups challenged the federal government, saying it was using unproven methods at the risk of several endangered species. The Cooke City Fuels Project was withdrawn by the Forest Service and would have encompassed 19,921 acres. …The Forest Service would have removed other trees and brush around the endangered Whitebark Pine trees as a means to bolster their chances of survival. However, the conservation groups which challenged the project said that there was no scientific research validating the technique. …The lawsuit had also claimed that the Forest Service disregarded wide swaths of designated Canada lynx habitat. Also, the suit pointed out that increased logging activities and road building in the area would disrupt grizzly bear habitat.
Out-of-control wildfire burning on Vancouver Island raises alarm
By Megan Yamoah
CTV News
May 5, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West
A small but concerning wildfire burning on Vancouver Island is drawing attention from provincial wildfire officials. The British Columbia Wildfire Service says the fire, located east of Nanaimo near Fourth Lake, is currently classified as out of control, meaning it’s expected to continue spreading under current conditions. Discovered on Tuesday, the blaze is estimated at about 0.7 hectares in size. While relatively small, officials say its behaviour and location are enough to warrant a full response. Two initial attack crews, along with two officers and a water tender, have been deployed to the scene. Early indications suggest the fire may be human caused. The wildfire service reports 28 active fires across the province, with two currently out of control, and approximately 124 firefighters engaged in suppression efforts.
Many small wildfires spring up across New Brunswick Tuesday afternoon
Sam Farley
CBC News
May 5, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada East
…Around 7 p.m., spokesperson Nick Brown forwarded a social media post from the department on social media that staff are on scene responding to “active wildfires” near Rogersville, Doaktown and Blissfield. “At this time, there is no imminent risk to public safety,” the post said. …which are listed as out of control. …The fires listed as out of control as of 8 p.m. were near Doaktown, Renous, Nelson Junction, located south of Miramichi, and Rogersville. Another fire south of Rogersville is listed as contained, one near Canterbury is under control, and then additional fires near Hainesville, Tracy, Cap-Pelé, Elsipogtog First Nation, Rexton, Caraquet and Miramichi are listed as being patrolled, which means the fires are contained. …This year, there have been 171 fires so far, while last year up to this point there were 99.
Crews work to contain 100 acre wildfire amid critical fire weather
By Roxanne Werly
UpNorthLive
May 5, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: US East
OSCODA COUNTY, Mich. — Crews are working to contain a wildfire in Oscoda County after it prompted evacuations Monday. The wildfire is about 100 acres and primarily on national forest land around Camp Ten Road near Lost Sky Ranch. Residents living near Camp 10 Road were evacuated to a shelter Monday afternoon, but were able to return home several hours later. Monday night officials said two structures were destroyed and the fire was about 80 percent contained. …A Red Flag Warning is in effect for parts of Michigan due to critical fire weather, including high winds, low humidity and dry vegetation.
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.
At a screening of 
Wildfire has become an increasingly visible part of life across Western Canada. Our climate is changing, and wildfire seasons are becoming longer and drier. The best way to tackle wildfire preparedness, prevention, and mitigation is to work together. FireSmart BC is a provincial program dedicated to helping British Columbians understand and reduce their wildfire risk. We serve as the go-to resource for individuals, neighbourhoods, and communities looking to protect themselves and their properties. 
…Built on decades of research, FireSmart BC focuses on how wildfire behaves around structures and how changes on and around a property can influence outcomes during a wildfire. …Wildfire mitigation is a shared responsibility. When renters, landlords, homeowners, businesses, and all levels of government work together, we can collectively reduce the risk and impact of wildfires across British Columbia. …FireSmart BC offers a wide range of resources to support both individuals and organizations.
OSCODA COUNTY, Mich. — Crews are working to contain a wildfire in Oscoda County after it prompted evacuations Monday. The wildfire is about 100 acres and primarily on national forest land around Camp Ten Road near Lost Sky Ranch. Residents living near Camp 10 Road were evacuated to a shelter Monday afternoon, but were able to return home several hours later. Monday night officials said two structures were destroyed and the fire was about 80 percent contained. …A Red Flag Warning is in effect for parts of Michigan due to critical fire weather, including high winds, low humidity and dry vegetation.