New research on how timber cities can help decarbonize the world begets forecasts of mass timber growth. In related news: biomass is said to be key to UK’s energy security; Biden is set to boost biotechnology; and industry groups encourage Canada to establish hard climate targets. Elsewhere: an EU committee proposed new rules to limit deforestation; and an Oregon State study suggests forests may be compromised by rising temperatures.
In other news: Resolute breaks ground on new planer mill in Quebec; Weyerhaeuser’s Raymond Mill employees vote to strike; SmartLam and Peak Renewables announce Alabama investments; three more US unions reach tentative agreements with freight railroads; and fired New Brunswick college professor gets his day in court.
Finally, wood frogs awaken from their icy-slumber with this on their mind…
Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor
OTTAWA – 
Three more railroad unions have reached tentative agreements with U.S. freight railroads on a new labor contract, announced the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC). The tentative agreements announced Sunday include the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters; the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers; and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Mechanical Department. “The tentative agreements … include a 24% wage increase during the five-year period from 2020 to 2024 — with a 14.1% wage increase effective immediately — and five annual $1,000 lump sum payments. …The three unions represent more than 86,000 freight rail employees. Eight unions have accepted tentative deals they will be taking to their members for ratification. Altogether, there are over 140,000 employees at the bargaining table employed by the U.S. operations of Class I railroads.
VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will audit the forest planning and practices of Yucwmenlúcwu (Caretakers of the Land) on non-replaceable forest licence A89359 in the Okanagan Shuswap Natural Resource District, during the week of Sept. 19, 2022. Auditors will examine whether timber harvesting, roads, silviculture, fire protection and associated planning done between Sept. 1, 2020, and Sept. 23, 2022, met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act. The audit area is located near the communities of Salmon Arm, Enderby and Sicamous. The area provides an abundance of outdoor recreation with several provincial parks, such as Enderby Cliffs, Silver Star, and Monashee, as well as the Kingfisher Ecological Reserve. Once the audit work is complete, a report will be prepared, and any party that may be adversely affected by the audit findings will have a chance to respond. The board’s final report and recommendations will then be released to the public and government.
Indonesia and Norway have embarked on another REDD+ scheme that will see the latter pay the former to keep its forests standing, after a previous attempt failed because of lack of payment. Indonesia is home to the third-largest expanse of tropical rainforest in the world, and the bulk of its greenhouse gas emissions comes from land-use change, forest degradation, and deforestation. Officials from both countries say it’s of mutual benefit to both countries, and to the world, to preserve Indonesia’s forests boost their capacity to sequester carbon from the atmosphere. Under the new deal, payments still outstanding from the previous agreement, which was terminated in 2021, will be honoured.
EUROPE — To fight global climate change and biodiversity loss… an EU Parliament plenary adopted its position on the Commission proposal for a regulation on deforestation-free products. The new law would make it obligatory for companies to verify that goods sold in the EU have not been produced on deforested or degraded land anywhere in the world. This would guarantee consumers that the products they buy do not contribute to the destruction of forests and hence reduce the EU’s contribution to climate change. …Parliament also wants financial institutions to be subject to additional requirements to ensure that their activities do not contribute to deforestation. …While no country or commodity will be banned, companies would be obliged to exercise due diligence to evaluate risks in their supply chain. …Parliament is now ready to start negotiations on the final law with EU member states.
A new study led by Oregon State University suggests leaves in forest canopies are not able to cool themselves below the surrounding air temperature, likely meaning trees’ ability to avoid damaging temperature increases, and to pull carbon from the atmosphere, will be compromised in a warmer, drier climate. The findings contrast with a prevailing theory in the scientific community that canopy leaves can keep their temperature within an optimal range for photosynthesis. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the research… showed that canopy leaves warm faster than air, are warmer than air during most of the day and only cool below air temperature in mid- to late-afternoon. Future climate warming is likely to lead to even greater canopy leaf temperatures, which would negatively impact forest carbon cycling and enhance forest mortality risk, the scientists say. [also see further coverage in 
Buildings constructed with more wood, and less cement and steel, would help decarbonize the construction and housing industries in line with global goals to cut greenhouse gas emissions 50 percent by 2030 and reach net zero emissions by 2050, new research shows. The 
UK — We are facing a once-in-a-generation energy crisis which will require an unprecedented response from the Government. So it was strange to see 
Large areas of Southern British Columbia and Alberta are under air quality advisories, as smoke from several growing forest fires blots out the sun and rains ash particles on the region. Environment Canada’s air quality health index listed Cranbrook, Squamish and Whistler as “high risk” as of late Monday morning, while the Eastern Fraser Valley region was considered “very high risk.” The risk level had lowered somewhat by Monday evening, but was forecast to be high again in Eastern Fraser Valley on Tuesday. …Environment Canada meteorologist Danielle Desjardins said it’s hard to know when the smoke will clear, because that depends on how long the wildfires last, as well as ever-changing weather patterns. …Lori Daniels, a professor at the University of British Columbia’s department of forest and conservation sciences, said the fire season continuing well into September is “a little bit unusual.”
