CEO Susan Yurkovich captures the key highlights and lessoned learned at COFI conference. In related coverage:
- A Tree Frog picture summary of day three at the COFI convention
- Horgan avoids protesters, defends policies despite complaints
- A conversation with BC CEOs and other conference highlights
- BC forest sector grapples with attracting workers, image problem
In other Business news: judge extends creditor protection for Northern Pulp; increased revenue sharing with First Nations welcomed by Tolko; and market updates courtesy of RBC’s Paul Quinn; Construct Connect; and Wood Resources International.
In other news: Nova Scotia’s new forestry practices set to start in June; Biden’s old-growth order still allows logging; the 15th World Forestry congress kicks off in Seoul; and BC anti-old growth protester ends his hunger strike.
Finally, Lidar’s view of how forests are faring, and how NOT to move lumber.
Kelly McCloskey, Editor
The Tree Frog News is pleased to present the full transcript of Susan Yurkovich’s Wrap Up at the 2021/22 COFI Conference. Susan is in a class of her own when it comes to putting on a major conference and simultaneously capturing the key highlights and lessons learned. As is past years, Susan’s summary is sure to be the most read story in Today’s Tree Frog News.
Moderated by Bridgitte Anderson, Vancouver Board of Trade CEO, Don Kayne, President and CEO of Canfor spoke of the roller coaster ride that was 2020-2022 market, the surprising strong demand driven by DIY and single-family housing, and the likelihood that lumber prices will remain elevated for some time given supply limitations. On the supply chain crisis, Ray Ferris, President and CEO of West Fraser, said “although it was exacerbated by the pandemic and weather events in BC, the supply chain has been a long term challenge”, and given BC’s export focus, “investments in transportation infrastructure are key to future business growth”. John Mohammed, President and Owner of A&A Trading spoke on the path to reconciliation with First Nations noting the partnerships that have been forged with industry over the last two decades, the importance of respect and trust in the process, and the fact that the process is evolving with no finish line.
One immediate impact of the war in Ukraine and the sanctions by Western countries has been a dramatic reduction in exports of forest products from Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. The total exports from these three countries were valued collectively at 17 billion dollars in 2021. In addition to the sanctions, the Russian forest industry will struggle to source parts, equipment, and finance. …Longer-term, some lumber-producing companies may consider investing in new production capacity, although log supply in many regions of Europe is becoming tighter. In addition, the major overseas markets (China, the US, Japan, and the MENA region) are diverse in product demand, price acceptance, exchange rate volatility, political stability, and consumption outlook. These varied market conditions could result in European exporters limiting their overseas exposure to fewer markets that fit their product mix and risk tolerance.
Vernon, B.C. — Tolko welcomes the British Columbia government’s announcement that it will increase the amount of forestry revenues that will be shared with First Nations across the province. This is a step in the right direction in terms of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. It is meaningful action with real commitment to the government’s stated intentions to modernize provincial forest policy, including as it relates to the participation of First Nations in the forestry industry. While there are a number of significant challenges facing BC’s forestry industry — most notably around fibre availability and cost — we have always been optimistic that a modern, thriving, and sustainable industry is achievable. As a company, we are very eager to play a leadership role in building that future and working to ensure a more prominent role and position for First Nations in BC forestry.
A fund for emergency forest firefighting in Ontario has been cut. The Ontario budget shows $100 million is being set aside for 2022. Last year, Ontario spent $239 million, more than double the amount of money that had been set aside. The province had a record setting year for forest fires in 2021 with nearly 800,000 hectares of land being scorched, a majority in Northwestern Ontario. The Conservative government released the financial plan Thursday, however it will likely not be approved before the Ontario Legislature dissolves Wednesday.[END]
Last month, in honor of Earth Day, President Biden signed an 
The pattern is clear: First, the forest is razed. Then the cattle are moved in. If the Amazon is to die, it will be beef that kills it. And America will be an accomplice. Cattle ranching, responsible for the great majority of deforestation in the Amazon, is pushing the forest to the edge of what scientists warn could be a vast and irreversible dieback. Despite agreement that change is necessary to avert disaster, despite attempts at reform, despite the resources of Brazil’s federal government and powerful beef companies, the destruction continues. But the ongoing failure to protect the world’s largest rainforest from rapacious cattle ranching is no longer Brazil’s alone, a Washington Post investigation shows. It is now shared by the United States — and the American consumer. Since Washington lifted a moratorium over food safety concerns, the US has grown to become its second-biggest buyer.
In 2011, two Australian environmentalist millionaires bought themselves what was then the world’s largest woodchip mill and infuriated both the state government and local forestry industry by closing it down. Wood was unapologetic. …What he might not have known was that their decision to shutter the Triabunna Mill brought about a “profound and unheard of miracle”, one of Australia’s most acclaimed scientists. According to Griffith University’s Professor Brendan Mackey and Lindenmeyer, the closure of Triabunna meant that in the years that followed Tasmania was one of the first jurisdictions in the world to become not just net zero, but carbon negative. Unlike mainland Australia, Tasmania relies mostly on hydroelectric power. As a result, Mackey explained, the state’s main cause of greenhouse gas emissions was logging in native forests. When old-growth forests were logged, massive amounts of carbon were released into the atmosphere.
SANTA FE, N.M. — Thousands of firefighters battled destructive wildfires in the Southwest as more residents prepared to evacuate Friday into the weekend in northern New Mexico where strong winds and dangerously dry conditions have made the blazes hard to contain. The biggest fire in the U.S. grew to more than 117 square miles through the afternoon northeast of Santa Fe. Gusty winds prevented any aerial attacks by midmorning and crews lost some of the containment they had established in previous days. The rapid rate of the spread of the fire was exceeding dire predictions in some areas, incident commander Carl Schwope said Friday night. “We’re in a very dangerous situation. Evacuation statuses are changing as we speak,” he warned at a briefing in Las Vegas, New Mexico, about 50 miles east of Santa Fe.
