The Forest Stewardship Council and Domtar have agreed on the process to review the Asia Pulp and Paper ownership change. In related news: Canfor increases its ownership of VIDA; Weyerhaeuser expands ties with Trex; West Fraser cuts its UK energy bill; Corner Brook Pulp and Paper plans Christmas downtime; and more on San Group’s court appointed monitor. Meanwhile: the Bank of Canada cuts interest rates; BC constrains its resource sector, and Alberta strengthens ties with Japan.
In other news: the secrets behind Canada’s tallest timber building; Oregon votes to pay for its 2024 wildfire season; FSC seeks to improve workplace culture; a map of Tasmania’s at-risk native forests; and the UK forest industry’s Goldilocks Moment.
Finally, a talk on the history of BC’s seed supply, and Timber!—a new book on how wood helps tackle climate change.
Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor
The BC Forest History Association is thrilled to welcome Don Pigott as our December Speaker Series guest! Don will share his expertise on the evolution of cone collection in British Columbia over the past century. With 50 years of experience, he’ll also highlight some of the seed-related projects that have shaped his career and the field of forestry. No forester is too young, old, inexperienced, or seasoned to learn something from Don!
About the Speaker: Don Pigott’s career spans decades of groundbreaking work in forestry and silviculture. During his 13 years at MacMillan Bloedel, he managed seed supply for reforestation, established seed orchards, and oversaw operational tree improvement programs. In 1982, Don founded Yellow Point Propagation Ltd., a private silviculture company providing comprehensive services, including cone and seed processing, and consulting for forestry projects across North America and Europe. For the past 16 years, Yellow Point Propagation has focused on gene conservation for whitebark pine, limber pine, alpine larch, and numerous other species, further cementing Don’s legacy as a pioneer in forestry innovation. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from an expert with unparalleled insights into forestry’s past, present, and future.
Vancouver, BC – Canfor Corporation announced that it has acquired 7% of outstanding shares of VIDA AB effective today. The shares were acquired from certain minority shareholders utilizing their option privileges under the February 2019 agreement in which Canfor purchased 70% of VIDA AB, Sweden’s largest privately owned sawmill company. After concluding this transaction, Canfor owns 77% of VIDA AB. [END]
MILTON KEYNES, England — Rockwell Automation announced that West Fraser has made significant gains towards stringent carbon-reduction and energy saving targets at its plant in Cowie, 
Canada’s central bank has cut interest rates for the fifth consecutive time as the country’s economy grows at a slower rate than projected. The 50-basis-point cut comes Canada’s economy grew by one per cent in the third quarter of 2024, and the fourth quarter is looking weaker than projected, according to the Bank of Canada. “Monetary policy no longer needs to be clearly in restrictive territory,” said Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem. Macklem noted consumer spending and housing activity both picked up as a result of lower interest rates. Another factor in cutting the interest rate was Canada’s unemployment rate rising to 6.8% in November as the bank says the number of people looking for work has increased faster than the number of jobs. …In making its decision, the bank cited the incoming U.S. administration and the threat of 25% tariffs on Canadian exports to the U.S., adding increased uncertainty and clouding the economic outlook.
A material that’s been around since people built shelters – wood – is increasingly being proposed for low- and mid-rise buildings. Companies behind these “mass timber” projects say that wood is a lower-carbon alternative to steel or concrete and brings other benefits, such as faster construction time and lower cost than concrete and steel. Advocates say the wood materials, made of compressed layers of wood with glue, offer good fire safety as well. As an economist who studies forestry and natural resources, I took an interest in this building trend when I heard that a local bar on campus was going to be replaced by a 13-story building made out of wood. I see any increase in the use of wood in buildings as positive for reducing the substantial carbon footprint of buildings. But it is critical to consider where wood is sourced and whether forests are managed sustainably.
Through a partnership with FSC Canada, FSC US, FSC International and the 
