Canfor announced temporary curtailments at its Fort St. John sawmill, while Conifex is temporarily curtailing its Mackenzie mill. In related news: a Linda Coady op-ed with five steps to reboot BC’s forest industry; and time is running out for Montana’s Pyramid Mountain. Meanwhile: WestRock approves merger with Smurfit Kappa; and Kimberly-Clark releases sustainability report, appoints Chief Sustainability Officer.
In Forestry news: Canada introduces legislation and national strategy to protect nature; University of Connecticut researchers study private landowner conservation efforts; and scientists from the University of Cork may have solved the mystery of zombie fires. In Wood Product news: mass timber stories from Vancouver, Kansas City; New York, Baltimore, and New Zealand.
Finally, a 36 foot tall troll made of wood scraps – one of 138 across 17 countries (+ video).
Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor
MCKENZIE, BC — Conifex Timber will appeal the ruling of the BC Supreme Court upholding a government decision that
HELSINKI — European softwood production declined by 6.4% in 2023 to 80,894,000m3 with a further slight drop expected in 2024, according to the European Organisation of the Sawmilling Industry (EOS). The figures were presented at the EOS summer General Assembly in Helsinki on June 12-13. The forecast for 2024 is 79,459.000m3, which if accurate will be the lowest production output for EOS countries for about nine years. But the EOS says there is hope in the industry that the market will bottom out this year. Production shrunk by 5-10% across EOS member countries in 2023, with the decline in turnover much more sizable. Overseas the situation was equally difficult with subdued exports across the board with the exception of the US. Increasing sawnwood deliveries to the US have helped some European sawmills navigate this challenging environment. “Many countries have emphasized a disconnect between subdued sawnwood prices and high raw material prices,” said the EOS. 
Dr Valerio Beni is developing eco-friendly electronics such as sensors and circuit boards. An expert in green chemistry at Swedish research institute RISE, Beni is using wood from pulp in a bid to make consumer electronic devices that have no carbon footprint and are easier to recycle. …He leads a research project that received EU funding to explore ways to make consumer electronics with wood-based materials. Called 
OTTAWA – The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced the release of Canada’s 2030 Nature Strategy and introduced an Act respecting transparency and accountability in relation to certain commitments Canada has made under the Convention on Biological Diversity (the Nature Accountability Bill). …The 2030 Nature Strategy lays out how Canada will implement the ambitious nature protection goals under the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework that were agreed upon at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in Montréal, in December 2022. …The Nature Accountability Bill establishes a requirement for the Government to develop a national nature strategy, like Canada’s 2030 Nature Strategy, and report on its implementation, ensuring accountability and transparency which will help drive us collectively to reverse nature loss.
Nearly three years after British Columbia’s deadly heat dome, its largest municipality says it will plant 100,000 trees to protect people from the effects of extreme heat. On Wednesday, Vancouver city council passed a 
Researchers believe they may have solved the mystery of 
…One of the key advantages of biomass is its carbon neutrality. While burning biomass does release carbon dioxide (CO2), the amount released is roughly equal to the CO2 absorbed by the plants during their growth. This creates a closed carbon cycle that significantly mitigates the impact of global warming compared to fossil fuels, which release carbon that has been sequestered underground for millions of years. Moreover, biomass energy production can help reduce waste. Organic waste materials, which would otherwise decompose in landfills and produce methane (a potent greenhouse gas), can be utilized to generate energy, experts from 
Starting next year, Metro Vancouver urban residents using unregistered indoor wood burning appliances such as fireplaces and wood stoves could face fines of up to $500. It’s not a ban on wood burning stoves, but part of the regional district’s plan to clear the air of harmful emissions by using certified appliances and best burning practices. “We are trying to establish an emission standard that allows for improvements in air quality and health, particularly in those more densely populated areas, whilst not prohibiting the use and enjoyment of wood burning appliances that people enjoy,” Julie Saxton, program manager for air quality regulation with Metro Vancouver said on Thursday. According to B.C. Lung, only five per cent of residents know they are required by law to register their indoor wood burning devices by September 2025. Because of this, Metro Vancouver staff have recommended that the region launch a fall campaign to remind people of the bylaw.