Six months into the war, Russian hardwoods are still flowing into the US — importers says they have no choice. In other Business news: Rosboro reduces production at its Springfield stud mill; Georgia Pacific invests in its Tennessee corrugated box plant; Pacific Woodtech assumes ownership of Golden, BC mill; and Collins appoints Tom Insko as new CEO. In Market news: US and UK housing markets face headwinds; while wood pellet demand soars, and CLT’s fortunes rise.
In other news: Canada seeks to expand its biomass supply; Washington state invests in urban forestry; Biomass Magazine speaks to wood dust and safety; and anti-logging coverage from BC, California, and Tasmania.
Finally, FDR built a ‘Great Wall of Trees.’ Could Biden do the same?
Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor
BALTIMORE — On a hot East Coast day this summer, a massive container ship pulled into the Port of Baltimore loaded with sheets of plywood, aluminum rods and radioactive material — all sourced from Russia. President Joe Biden promised to “inflict pain” and deal “a crushing blow” on Vladimir Putin through trade restrictions on commodities like vodka, diamonds and gasoline in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine six months ago. But hundreds of other types of unsanctioned goods worth billions of dollars, including those found on the ship bound for Baltimore from St. Petersburg, Russia, continue to flow into U.S. ports. …While some U.S. importers are sourcing alternative materials elsewhere, others say they have no choice. In the case of wood imports, Russia’s dense birch forests create such hard, strong timber that most American wooden classroom furniture, and much home flooring, is made from it. 
Global wood pellet demand continues to soar, with tight market conditions likely to spur significant investments in new production facilities around the world. Demand growth from 2020-’21 outpaced supply growth by approx. 10% (18.2% versus 8.4%, respectively), according to market intelligence firm Hawkins Wright, a trend that is likely to continue. Global demand in 2021 was approx. 45 million metric tons (MT), with an additional 5 million MT in additional demand expected in 2022. As for pellet production capacity in the U.S. and Canada, Pellet Mill Magazine’s 2022 U.S. and Canada Fuel Pellet Production Map included approx. 12.8 million MT of operational capacity in the U.S., with roughly 1.7 million tons proposed or under construction. Data for Canada indicated approx. 4.9 million MT of operating capacity, with an additional 865,000 proposed. 
Developed in Germany and Austria roughly 30 years ago, cross-laminated timber (CLT) has been used in construction across Europe for the past two decades. CLT is a type of engineered wood that rivals the load-bearing capacity of concrete and steel. Made by gluing together layers of lumber in a way that creates stronger structural integrity than regular timber, CLT is an attractive sustainable building material because it is made from the kinds of trees that have few other uses and that tend to fuel forest fires. …Despite key benefits such as being eco-friendly, conduciveness to prefabrication, and myriad potential design applications, U.S. builders have been slow to adopt CLT. …Three recent developments in the construction industry, however, including inclusion in building codes and insurance coverage, suggest U.S. builders may soon begin using CLT more frequently in residential and commercial projects.
Applications for PLT Canada’s Green Mentor program are closing on Aug. 29! We are looking for 
Last year, legislators in Washington state passed a law to bolster the urban forestry work of the Department of Natural Resources. The agency’s urban and community forestry program …will grow from two to nine positions once the department finalizes new hires. Together with a new state-funded grant program they will supercharge the department’s efforts to inventory tree canopy in Washington’s communities, help cities maintain their trees and determine where to plant new ones. “We’re on a trajectory of meteoric growth for urban forestry,” said Ben Thompson, the program’s manager. …States and cities across the country are beginning to embrace trees as critical infrastructure in urban areas. …The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law this month by President Joe Biden, includes $1.5 billion for the U.S. Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, which supports efforts ranging from big cities to small communities. 
OTTAWA, ON
