The Canadian government formally initiated a challenge of US duties on softwood lumber. In related news: US housing starts have dropped 20% from their peak; UK softwood trading remains subdued; Maersk divests its Russian port assets; and three US rail unions reach tentative deals. Elsewhere, four people are injured at WestRock paper mill; and the Oregon Forest Resources Institute hires Jim Paul as Executive Director.
In Forestry/Climate news: UBC’s Sally Aitken says the climate is changing faster than forests ability to do so; BC seeks to reduce wildfire risk in the Cariboo and Northeast; and California’s Air Resources Board calls for drastic increase in forest thinning.
Finally, Save Old Growth understands it may be ‘thrown under the bus‘ by members defending themselves in court.
Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor
International Trade Minister Mary Ng says Canada is formally initiating a challenge of “unwarranted and unfair” U.S. duties on Canadian softwood lumber — a move that was 
OMAHA, Nebraska — Three of the 12 unions negotiating with the nation’s biggest freight railroads have reached a tentative deal which will deliver 24% pay raises, in line with what a special presidential panel of arbitrators recommended earlier this month to resolve the stalemate before a strike could happen. The tentative five-year deal announced Monday covers more than 15,000 members of the International Association of Machinists, the Transportation Communications Union and the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen unions. But the two biggest rail unions that represent engineers and conductors said over the weekend they still haven’t been able to reach a deal their members would accept. The railroads have until mid-September to reach agreements with all their unions before federal law would allow them to go on strike. If it gets to that point, however, Congress is expected to step in. Lawmakers could impose terms on both sides or order arbitration.
COPENHAGEN — Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine earlier this year, Maersk has been looking to divest its assets in the Russian market. Now that strategy has come to fruition, with the Danish shipping firm announcing that it has divested its Russian port assets. Maersk has revealed that it has sold off its 30.75 percent stake in Global Ports to Russian-owned Delo Group. “We are pleased that we have now concluded this transaction according to the plan and with our long-standing partner Delo, enabling us orderly exit from GPI in line with our decision to discontinue activities in Russia,” said Keith Svendsen, the CEO of APM Terminals. …“With the divestment of its shares in GPI, APMT will no longer be involved in any entities operating in Russia or own any assets in the country,” wrote Maersk.
The US housing sector is in something of a recession, and an economist at Goldman Sachs says the downturn will continue — and eventually slow down the still-rapid pace of house price increases. Goldman Sachs economist Ronnie Walker said housing starts have dropped 20% from their peak and existing home sales have skidded by 30%. Mortgage rates as high as 5.8% — they were just 3.2% in January — are partly to blame. Sales and permits have fallen more sharply in regions where they increased the most in the earlier part of the pandemic, suggesting a retreat from the pandemic-related boost to housing, said Walker. Walker says existing home sales will fall another 12% by the fourth quarter, and new home sales will be flat. The latest survey from the Conference Board says plans to buy a home within six months has dropped to the lowest level since 2015.
Importers and quay distributors are trying to force landed stock into the merchant sector by dropping prices, but these reductions have been too regular with the result they have undermined confidence among their customers. Rather than keep volumes up, it has caused merchants to delay decisions to order until the last possible moment and to keep quantities to the absolute minimum. Many importers make no secret of the fact that nearly every load of carcassing they send out is making a loss, but they have adopted the philosophy that ‘today’s loss will be better than tomorrow’s greater loss’. …For those mills producing fuel pellets or briquettes, returns are much better. As demand remains weak, some independent softwood mills have started downsizing their workforce with production cut-backs planned. Conversely, many Nordic producers are keeping up production as the main market for pulp and paper products is in better shape. 
Careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), including skilled trades, are among the most in-demand across Canada. Over the coming decade, with a retiring workforce, the need is expected continue to rise in the skilled workforce. …Even if STEM outreach doesn’t result in a lifelong passion or career—studies prove that STEM programming helps youth build confidence as well as important life skills no matter what type of career they choose to pursue. …Without enough STEM professionals like tradespeople, engineers, doctors, nurses, scientists, heavy equipment operators, and the list goes on, impacts the ability to build roads, railways, bridges, tunnels, houses, buildings and other important infrastructure. …That’s why Finning is proud to partner with a number of outreach organizations like Actua to help educate and inspire the next generation. …explore youth STEM programming by visiting actua.ca
WHITEHORSE, YT
As the Earth’s temperature rises, trees … are trying to survive in environments too warm for them to thrive. …With over 300 million trees planted in B.C. every year … there’s an opportunity to help forests adapt to climate change. The Ministry of Forestry made it mandatory that trees planted must be 
Environmental group Save Old Growth is defending its reputation after a member claimed she was “emotionally manipulated” into participating in protests and a judge likened its tactics to “using people as cannon fodder.” …Her lawyer, James Wu, told the court Howe was “emotionally manipulated” into participating, has since left UBC’s forestry faculty, and cut off ties with both Save Old Growth and Extinction Rebellion. She and Wu declined an interview, but Wu confirmed his client expressed her remorse in court. …Save Old Growth recruitment organizer Ben Holt said… Save Old Growth understands it may be “thrown under the bus” by members defending themselves in court, but accepts the “unfortunate” reality. “A defence lawyer is going to do what they have to do to get a good outcome for their client,” he said. …“We’re very confident in the systems that we have in how we onboard people,” he said.
VICTORIA – An investigation of a public complaint about a spruce bark beetle outbreak in north-central B.C. has found that the forest industry is making progress in recovering beetle-damaged timber. The Forest Practices Board recommends that government improve monitoring of industry’s response and report to the public about how the outbreak is being managed. …The complainants are concerned that Canfor and BC Timber Sales are favouring lightly attacked and healthy forests in the Prince George Natural Resource District, rather than harvesting the most severely infested trees, and that this has implications for the region’s future timber supply. “Our investigation found that Canfor and BCTS are making progress in harvesting infested and dead spruce trees, but the complainant’s concerns are still valid,” said Gerry Grant, Forest Practices Board. …“The board is recommending that the ministry implement a monitoring process and publicly report on licensees’ efforts to manage the infestation”.
We don’t see generals on the front lines
Work is underway to enhance forest resilience to protect against the effects of wildfire and climate change in northern B.C. Through a provincial investment of $25 million, the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) has funded 22 new community projects, including one in the Omineca Region and one in the Skeena Region. “Chinook Community Forest (CCF) is happy to team up with the Forest Enhancement Society of BC… With this funding, CCF can demonstrate environmental stewardship within sensitive ecosystems that surround the outlying communities of Burns Lake, like Southbank, Danskin, Grassy Plains, Tatalrose, Takysie Lake and Rose Lake, to mitigate wildfire risk,” said Ken Nielsen, general manager, Chinook Community Forest.Wildfire-mitigation projects funded in the Skeena and the Omineca Regions include:
If Toronto’s mayoral elections were decided based purely on the number of policy announcements — Gil Penalosa would be the heavy favourite going into this fall’s election. …Penalosa seemingly has a plan for everything: most intriguing, for me: trees and math. The campaign is pitching what they call a 3-30-300 plan. Based on research done by Cecil Konijnendijk, a professor of Urban Forestry at UBC, that can offer significant public health and environmental benefits First, at least three trees should be visible from your home. Second, the tree canopy in every neighbourhood should cover at least 30 per cent of land. Third, you should be no more than 300 metres from the nearest public park or green space. …According to city figures, annual spending on urban forestry… brought tree canopy coverage from 26.6%-28% per cent in 2008, to somewhere between 28.4% and 31% in 2018.
…Citing an ambitious plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2045, the California Air Resources Board is urging state and federal authorities to drastically increase the thinning and treatment of forests that have become dangerously overgrown with flammable vegetation. While California’s forests and grasslands absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis — helping to offset greenhouse gas emissions from human activity — burned forests reduce that storage capacity, or carbon stock. At the same time, a burning tree will release carbon dioxide. In 2020 alone, California wildfires released more carbon dioxide than all industrial facilities statewide. “If those forests are going up in smoke, then who’s benefiting from them?” said Pawlok Dass, a climate researcher. “Carbon just goes back into the atmosphere.”
