Western Forest Products appoints Steven Hofer to succeed Don Demens as CEO. In other Company news: Canfor invests in new Alabama facility; Arbec’s Miramchi mill gets air quality approval; Teal Jones leads as Louisiana bets on timber; and Georgia Pacific upgrades its Bradford, Pennsylvania plant. Reporting positive Q2, 2022 financials are: Mercer, Canfor Corp., Canfor Pulp, and Weyerhaeuser.
In other news: a BC report makes recommendations on timber transfer successorship rights; a UN-FAO staffer says its time to realize the potential of wood; and an op-ed on old-growth and the carbon impacts of wood use. Meanwhile: the USDA launches a wildfire defence grant program; The US Endowment announces members of new Inclusion Council; and the world’s tallest timber hotel makes waves in Australia.
Finally, sustained high temperatures BC beget wildfire risk warnings over the long weekend (to which the Frog’s will be partaking – back Tuesday).
Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor
A lingering trade dispute between the US and Canada is expected to keep tariffs on softwood lumber in place, adding to soaring inflation costs. The US is expected to lower duty rates on Canadian softwood lumber in a ruling next week, but not get rid of them, said Susan Yurkovich, president of the BC Lumber Trade Council. That means Canadian companies will still have to pay tariffs hovering near 11 per cent, heaping more costs on American homebuilders and buyers, she said. …West Fraser Timber CEO Ray Ferris said Thursday “there doesn’t appear to be anything meaningfully happening” to resolve the spat. “It’s very frustrating particularly at a time when lots of people are facing a lot inflationary pressure,” Yurkovich said. “The US industry is putting an additional tax on consumers.”
BC has received a report on successorship when timber harvesting rights are transferred. The Province will also engage with First Nations rights and title holders involved in forestry, as well as seek input from unions and employers in the forest sector. No decisions have been made on implementing any of the report’s recommendations. Successorship rules provide stability for workers during the sale, lease or transfer of a business. The rules require the new employer to honour the existing collective agreement so workers’ jobs and negotiated benefits, and the employers’ obligations are preserved, despite the change in ownership. However, those same protections do not currently apply to situations where timber harvesting rights are transferred and there is no sale or transfer of a business. …The IIC report provides recommendations to extend union rights, or successorship, where forest tenure is transferred from one entity to another and harvesting rights continue within a five-year period.
Vancouver, BC – Western Forest Products Inc. announced that it has appointed Steven Hofer as its President and CEO and a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, effective September 7, 2022. Mr. Hofer succeeds Don Demens, who will remain at Western in an advisory capacity until March 31, 2023 to ensure a seamless transition. Mr. Demens will step down from the Board effective September 7, 2022. Mr. Hofer joins Western from BID Group, a global leader in wood processing technologies and solutions. At BID Group Mr. Hofer was responsible for creating and leading its key strategic initiatives, including BID’s digital technology strategy… Prior to joining BID Group, Mr. Hofer held leadership positions with Interfor Corporation for 12 years, including serving as Interfor’s Senior Vice President, Northwest Operations and Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing. The Board wishes to thank Mr. Demens for his significant contributions to Western over the past 13 years, including nine as CEO.
NEW YORK — Mercer International reported second quarter 2022 Operating EBITDA increased to a $145.1 million from $83.8 million in the second quarter of 2021 and decreased from $154.5 million in the first quarter of 2022. In the second quarter of 2022, net income was $71.4 million compared to $21.4 million in the second quarter of 2021 and net income of $88.9 million in the first quarter of 2022. …Mr. Juan Carlos Bueno CEO, stated: “Our strong second quarter operating results were driven by increased pulp and lumber pricing, continued strong energy pricing and our Stendal mill’s reversal of it’s wastewater fee accrual. These positive effects were offset by higher planned maintenance costs, higher costs for key inputs including fiber, energy and chemicals, and lower pulp sales volumes. …A quarterly dividend of $0.075 per share will be paid on October 5, 2022 to all shareholders of record on September 28, 2022.
VANCOUVER, BC – Canfor Pulp Products reported reported an operating loss of $8.1 million for the second quarter of 2022, compared to an operating loss of $26.0 million for the first quarter of 2022, in large part reflecting materially higher Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft pulp unit sales realizations, and to a lesser extent, a 16% uplift in pulp shipments. These factors more than offset the impact of market-related fibre cost increases and inflation-driven cash conversion cost pressures in the current period. CEO, Kevin Edgson, said, “This was an improved quarter for Canfor Pulp, as we focused on optimizing our operational performance under a constrained logistics situation. Some relief in transportation networks towards the end of the quarter, however, enhanced our ability to realize near-record high NBSK pulp list prices.
Increasingly destructive wildfires have consumed tens of thousands of homes over the past decade, but few states have codes that require houses be built with fire-resistant materials. A new study shows that enhancing a new 
Forests are not just the lungs of the planet: they have huge potential, if managed sustainably, to become a major source of welfare, income and renewable products as part of a more healthy global economy. However, a major shift in thinking is needed so that this potential – worth trillions of USD in net benefits globally – is harnessed. In short, we need to change the way that people think about wood. Wood is renewable, recyclable, climate friendly and incredibly versatile. It is one of humanity’s most ancient raw materials, yet thanks to innovations in wood-based product development, it can take us into the future, replacing fossil and mineral-based materials with heavier carbon footprints. …But we must act now to make a difference for future generations by reimagining and repurposing one of the planet’s oldest natural resources. With sustainably produced wood, we can grow the solution.
Drawing on funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that $1 billion is now being offered through the Community Wildfire Defense Grant program to assist at-risk communities. “Insight and guidance from the communities most at risk for catastrophic wildfires helps us mitigate those risks more effectively,” Forest Service Chief Randy Moore said. …This new program will provide competitive grants for the next five years, using federal funds to support the planning and mitigation of wildfire risks. Tribal communities, non-profit organizations, state forestry agencies, and Alaska Native corporations will all be able to apply for individual grants of up to $250,000 to create and update community wildfire protection plans or conduct outreach and education. They will also be able to apply for up to $10 million for associated infrastructure and resilience project support.
Greenville, SC – The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (the Endowment) announced today the membership of their recently formed Forest and Wood Products Inclusion Council, an initiative to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the forest sector. The Inclusion Council was formed to bring forest sector leaders together with experts in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to address racial and gender inequities in the sector. The Council includes representatives from public, private, not-for-profit, academic, and Indigenous organizations in the forest sector. Led by the Endowment, the initiative draws upon the expertise of Katie Fernholz at Dovetail Partners, Bethaney Wilkinson at the Diversity Gap, and Kelly Cooper at the Centre for Social Intelligence. Together, this group of sector leaders will work collaboratively within their spheres of influence and develop a National Action Plan that aims to establish a more diverse and inclusive workplace culture in the U.S. forest and wood products sector. 
Sustained high temperatures throughout British Columbia this week are increasing the potential for wildfires. Residents, travellers and campers should be prepared for wildfire and heat, to have an emergency plan and to stay informed as conditions change. The BC Wildfire Service is closely monitoring these changing conditions and making necessary preparations with strategic aviation and crew placements. Of note is the potential for widespread lightning when the current weather pattern changes. Wildfire prevention is a shared responsibility. Category 2 and Category 3 open fires are prohibited throughout British Columbia. Campfires are currently permitted within the BC Wildfire Service’s jurisdiction. Escaped campfires can lead to human-caused wildfires, but that does not mean a campfire can’t be enjoyed safely. Patrols will be in place on Crown land.
The Moose, Woodtick and Wolf Fang fires are still raging in Central Idaho, and a new blaze — the Favre Fire near Midvale in Washington County — brought fresh smoke to the Treasure Valley on Wednesday night. The Favre Fire, identified at around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, spread to about 2,431 acres, but it is expected to be contained by noon on Thursday and controlled by 8 p.m., Boise Bureau of Land Management spokesperson Jared Jablonski told the Idaho Statesman. Jablonski said the fire has not resulted in any injuries or damage to buildings, and its cause is still under investigation. A tweet from the Boise National Weather Service showed smoke from the Favre Fire at the airport in Caldwell on Wednesday evening, but Jablonski said on Thursday that he did not expect any further smoke impact.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – As conditions remain dry in the western states, the Alabama Forestry Commission is sending firefighters to provide extra manpower to battle wildfires. “I’m constantly fielding requests on a daily basis, at least five to six requests every day, for everything from your basic firefighter all up to those in the command and general staff,” said Balsie Bulter, assistant director of Protection Division of the Alabama Forestry Commission. Bulter added firefighters will go out to states like New Mexico, Colorado and Texas, where they have been more susceptible to fires. As of Thursday afternoon, there have been at least nine people dispatched for wildfires. The assistant director mentioned these fires are different compared to their typical structure fires, as crews are battling fires in different terrains and atmospheres.
Moroccan firefighters stepped up their efforts on Wednesday to contain forest fires, fanned by fierce winds, that are sweeping across the north of the country, according to local authorities. In the most affected province of Larache, south of Tangier, intervention teams supported by the army were attempting to keep in check fires that were still active and threatening villages, local sources told AFP on Wednesday night. Three Canadair firefighting aircraft made 25 runs over the day. More than 900 families from 15 villages were also evacuated as a preventative measure, the same sources said. …According to agriculture minister Mohamed Sadiki, who also oversees the country’s forests, the total area affected by the recent fires has reached 10,300 hectares. By comparison, 2,782 hectares of forest were destroyed by 285 fires between January and September 2021. Morocco has for several weeks been gripped by scorching temperatures amid abnormally intense drought and stress on water supplies.