Politicians weigh in on the impact of mill closures in Terrace Bay, Ontario and Banks, Oregon. In related news: San Group secures $2.5 million for equipment; Catalyst is fined for 2021 waste discharge; and Kevin Falcon wants to move BC’s forestry ministry to Prince George. In Market news: US mortgage rates trend down; US population growth returns to pre-pandemic levels; and the latest on wood promotion from the Softwood Lumber Board.
In Forestry/Climate news: reframing the climate-role of forests in the US and Canada; ENGO’s say State of Canada’s Forests Report is replete with ‘spin’; Nick Smith calls for more active wildfire management; and the US is set to strengthen limits on fine particular matter. Meanwhile: a BC Green leader is convicted for participating in the Fairy Creek blockades; and the Adam’s Lake Indian Band’s logging fine is reduced.
Finally, you wouldn’t download a modular house. Or would you?
Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor
…global shipping costs are rising as a result of the disrupted supply chain … after attacks on commercial cargo ships by Iran-backed Yemen Houthi militants in recent months. Rabobank said cargo vessels were avoiding the risk of more attacks at the Suez Canal by taking a detour around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks to the voyage. Researcher Stefan Vogel said it would cost more to ship logs from New Zealand to Europe. …Forestry consultant Allan Laurie said higher freight costs and low availability of vessels, as a result of the conflict, were flowing down the chain to New Zealand forest owners. …Forest Owners Association chief executive Elizabeth Heeg said the impact on log exports was marginal to date, as most logs were sent to Asia, not Europe. …She said manufacturers of processed wood products like paper, panels and pulp exporting to Europe could be affected by the disruptions.
WASHINGTON – The American Forest & Paper Association released its December 2023 Packaging Papers Monthly report. Total packaging papers & specialty packaging shipments in December remained essentially flat (+0.4%) compared to December 2022. They were down 1% when compared to the same 12 months of 2022. Shipments of the biggest subgrade in bleached packaging papers – food wrapping – were 24,100 short tons for the month of December, down 15.8% year-to-date. The unbleached packaging papers operating rate was 78.5%, down 5.9 points from December 2022 and also down 5.9 points year-to-date.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest estimates, the U.S. resident population grew by 1,643,484 to a total population of 334,914,895. The population growth rate reached its highest level since the pandemic at 0.49%. This is just above the 2019 growth rate (0.46%). The Census Bureau reports that the primary source for the increase in population growth was net international migration, as migration levels returned to pre-pandemic levels. …The other driver of the U.S. population growth rate was positive natural births (births minus deaths), which increased the total population by 504,495. The level of positive natural births in 2023 was 126% higher than 2022 largely due to the 8.9% drop in the number of deaths in 2023. …Regionally, the Northeast region was the only region to lose population, declining 0.08%. The South region led in population growth at 1.11% while the Midwest population grew 0.18% and the West grew 0.17%.
Highlights from this month’s newsletter include:
MONTANA — Concerns that public lands proposed for trade to landowners along the east side of the Crazy Mountains will be developed were raised during an objection resolution meeting hosted by the Forest Service. Sweet Grass Creek zigs and zags through a valley that’s now difficult for the public to access because of the checkerboard private land ownership in the Crazy Mountains. Twelve individuals, half of which represented state or regional conservation groups, aired their grievances regarding the land exchange tentatively approved last year. In an attempt to consolidate public and private lands in the mountain range and near Big Sky, the exchange offers 3,855 acres of federal land for 6,110 acres of private property owned by six different parties. …Although the Forest Service did add restrictions to protect some of its exchanged parcels following public concerns, objectors said the agency didn’t go far enough.
For innovation that helps fight climate change, look no further than Canada’s forest sector. The industry is finding ways to use every part of a tree to help decarbonize the economy, from making household products out of wood fibres, to using mass timber in building construction. Another development is the increased use of biomass, which primarily consists of byproducts from tree harvesting, such as branches and low-grade wood. These materials, previously considered less valuable, are now recognized as a high-value resource for the production of bioenergy due to their abundance and renewable nature. Turning biomass into bioenergy offers a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, as the carbon released during conversion is part of the natural carbon cycle. …Mercer and Canfor are among the forestry companies finding ways to break down tree residuals in innovative ways, such as turning cellulose into environmentally friendly additives to improve materials like concrete, asphalt, plastic and coatings.
The Environmental Protection Agency is preparing to significantly strengthen limits on fine particle matter, widespread deadly air pollutants, even as industry groups warn that the standard could erase manufacturing jobs across the country. Several major companies, trade associations and lobbyists are trying to preempt the rule suggesting it could harm President Biden’s reelection chances. They say the tougher standard for soot and other pollutants could destroy factory jobs and investments in the Midwest and elsewhere… Health advocates say strengthening soot standards would yield significant medical and economic benefits by preventing thousands of hospitalizations, lost workdays and lost lives… “Our average ambient level of PM2.5 in this country is 8; in China and India, it’s about 5 to 6 times that level,” said Heidi Brock, the American Forest & Paper Association’s president and chief executive. “What sense does it make to offshore jobs from this country, where we have some of the cleanest air on the planet?” [A Washington Post subscription may be required to read the full story]