A Canadian border strike could start this Friday if mediation fails—but what happens if it does. In related news: growth of cross-border freight brings concerns on capacity and driver shortage; Peak Renewable BioEnergy opens a new plant in Dothan, Alabama; and the US economy and construction jobs are in decline. Meanwhile: changes to combustible dust regulations are coming to BC; and BCIT’s Forest and Natural Areas Management program is hiring.
In Forestry news: a new initiative calls on British Columbians to stand up for forestry; BC reduces the Kootenay Lake TSA cut by 13.4%; SFI engages communities with new strategic direction; the American Wood Council released a new Construction Fire Inspection App; and Hoosier National Forest is helping tackle climate change.
Finally, dumb drones set to become smart with a world first in navigation technology.
Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor
Looking at data from the Bureau of Transportation statistics, northbound crossings from Mexico into the U.S., and southbound from Canada to the U.S. presents an interesting contrast. Jason Miller, interim chairperson and professor of supply chain management at the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University, pointed out, “We see an influx from Mexico to the USA (Q1 2024 up 16% from Q1 2019), whereas southbound border crossings are down 1.4% in Q1 2024 from Q1 2019.” Miller theorizes that the drop in southbound crossings could be due to slower housing starts, especially in the northern U.S., and likely reduced demand for Canadian lumber. …As opportunities for cross-border freight arise, Burkhart said it’s crucial to consider the freight broker you’re working with. Look for a broker with experience in managing cross-border freight and one that has well-established relationships in Mexico, as well as has bilingual experts at multiple crossings. 
Fueled by a lack of existing inventory and pent-up demand, single-family permit growth is occurring across all tracked geographic regions of the nation. The opposite holds true for the multifamily sector, according to the latest findings from the NAHB Home Building Geography Index for the first quarter of 2024. After continued declines in the growth rates of the single-family Index, all markets moved into positive territory for single-family construction. This marks the first time since the first quarter of 2021 for which all regions are showing year-over-year growth. Single-family growth rates declined to lows in the first quarter of 2023, but as lack of existing inventory and pent-up demand started to have a larger effect, single-family construction moved upwards over the year. …Looking at single-family HBGI market shares, small metro – core counties continued to have the largest market share at 28.8%.
BCIT’s School of Construction and Environment is seeking 2 temporary Faculty, Forest and Natural Areas Management. The Forest and Natural Areas Management (FNAM) program trains graduates for employment in a range of fields including industrial forestry, urban forestry, silviculture, arboriculture, GIS, digital field mapping, and natural resources management. Graduates are eligible for registration as Registered Forest Technologists (RFT) in British Columbia and have a number of available pathways to other levels of certification and education. At BCIT, putting people at the core of everything we do is paramount. This idea is the foundation of BCIT’s People Vision, which describes the Institute’s goals and priorities in respect to our people. In a complex and uncertain world, it’s vital our people feel valued, supported and connected. …With a competitive compensation package, great work-life balance, and career advancement opportunities, see why we’ve earned the title of one of BC’s Top Employers for over ten years running. 
British Columbia’s deputy chief forester has set a new allowable annual cut (AAC) level for the Kootenay Lake Timber Supply Area (TSA). Effective, June 4, 2024, the new AAC for the Kootenay Lake TSA is 550,000 cubic metres, a 13.4% reduction from the previous AAC. The new level reflects adjustments made to consider available harvest on unstable steep slopes, and to account for a higher level of stand-level reserves to address biodiversity, stream edge and wetland management, domestic watersheds, cultural heritage resources and climate change. The Kootenay-Boundary Region received unanimous support from First Nations to defer harvest of at-risk old-growth forest. Licensees operating in this TSA have agreed to not harvest these areas until a final decision is made regarding old forest management.
The cause of climate change is excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Forests can play an important role in removing carbon dioxide from the air, as they transform it into tree trunks, roots, and leaves. Much of the Hoosier National Forest has been accumulating carbon for more than 80 years. Since forest activists convinced the U.S. Forest Service to reduce the amount of timber harvesting in 1990, the Forest Service estimates the amount of carbon stored in the Hoosier has increased more than 40%. …Allowing forests to mature allows them to absorb and store more carbon dioxide. When trees are harvested, some of the carbon remains locked away in the form of wood products such as lumber in houses. However, the process of timbering releases about 10-25% of the carbon from a stand back to the atmosphere. The Forest Service’s plan for logging … mature forest in the Hoosier National Forest will release much of its long-stored carbon.
DOTHAN, Ala. – A site dedicated to sustainable and renewable bioenergy has made its home in Dothan, Alabama. A partnership between Rex Lumber and Brian Fehr Group led to the grand opening of Peak Renewable BioEnergy. Peak Renewables BioEnergy is a Canadian company that says it is dedicated to harnessing the power of renewable resources and sustainable practices to reduce its carbon footprint and ensure a sustainable, clean energy future. To achieve its goal, Peak Renewables manufactures fibrous utility wood pellets as an economical substitute for coal. The Dothan plant receives wood shavings from Rex Lumber plants in Alabama and Florida, then those shavings become wood pellets. After being created at the Dothan plant, the pellets are shipped to Europe. “This is just an expansion of [that] process and allows us to take our by-products and further use them in an environmental way”, said Caroline Dauzat, an owner of Rex Lumber.
In January of 2012, the Babine Forest Products sawmill in Burns Lake suffered an explosion that resulted in the deaths of two workers while injuring 20 others. In April 2012, the Lakeland Mills sawmill in Prince George exploded, killing another two workers and injuring 22 more people. The investigations into these explosions found one culprit responsible: combustible dust. …B.C.’s management of combustible dust was the topic of the closing keynote presentation for the 2024 Global Dust Safety Conference, which took place earlier this year. The presentation, “Upcoming release process for the proposed British Columbia regulations for combustible dust. Why they are needed and what it means for industries in B.C.,” was presented by Rodney Scollard, senior policy and legal advisor, and Mike Tasker, CRSP occupational safety officer with WorkSafeBC. …While the focus of WorkSafeBC has understandably been on regulations related to combustible wood dust, the proposed regulations would expand the types of dusts within the regulations.
OREGON – The end of wildfire season is a relief for residents in areas prone to blazes this time of year, but it often marks the beginning of a new battle between first responders and their own mental health. For wildland firefighters, wildfire season–which from mid-May through late September–is a seasonal opportunity to earn extra money, but it can come with a hefty price tag. “There can be acute exposures where it’s a massive call where there’s highly traumatic events; those are easily identifiable, and they never go away. They stay with you for the rest of your career. And then there’s the incremental, the calls that add up over time,” said Matt Laas, fire service safety officer for the Oregon State Fire Marshal. Laas has worked as a first responder for 28 years and says firefighters usually work 24 hour shifts with their off hours plagued by sleep deprivation.