Earth Day is every day for working forests and the architects pushing the boundaries of sustainable design. In related news: Biden signs Executive Order to protect America’s old-growth forests from wildfire; Ottawa prepared to unilaterally protect Quebec caribou; BC’s new war in the woods is backfiring on protesters; and an interview with BC’s new minister of Lands, Water and Resource Stewardship.
In Business news: Biden joins Canada to ban Russian shipping; Alberta industry wants better rail service; Canfor invests to modernize Urbana, Arkansas sawmill; Mercer’s climate targets meet Paris Agreement levels; Corner Brook Pulp & Paper faces logging protests; and Premier Horgan added to keynotes at 2022 COFI Convention.
Finally, BC construction and forestry jobs identified as hazardous for young workers.
Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor
The mayors of a half-dozen northern communities have signed a letter from the Alberta Forest Products Association to the Deputy Minister at Transport Canada talking about problems with rail service. The AFPA talks about what it calls rail transportation challenges making it difficult to get products to market and includes examples of companies having problems getting enough rail cars. Among those who signed the letter was Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton. …“This letter that I signed onto also identified areas where CN and federal transportation can improve.” …Clayton says this isn’t meant to assign blame to CN. “In particular, that letter identifies issues that forestry is facing but it also provides solutions (and) ways forestry thinks that they could be served better as an industry.” The mayors of Whitecourt, Slave Lake, Hinton, Edson, and Athabasca have also signed the letter.
Vancouver, B.C. – The BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI) is pleased to announce that British Columbia’s Premier John Horgan will be a keynote speaker at COFI’s annual Convention as it returns to Vancouver’s JW Marriott Parq Hotel & Convention Centre April 27-29, 2022. The Premier’s address is Friday, April 29. Minister Katrine Conroy will provide opening remarks to delegates on April 28. “An important conversation about the future of forestry is happening across B.C. We continue to believe that, working in partnership with government, Indigenous groups, labour and communities, the future can be bright,” said Susan Yurkovich, President and CEO of COFI. “We are pleased to welcome back Premier Horgan and Minister Conroy and look forward to hearing about how we can keep working together to make life better for people, help advance reconciliation and keep delivering low-carbon products to customers around the world seeking products that are a better choice for the planet”. 
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced on Thursday the United States will ban Russian-affiliated ships from American ports, joining Canada and European nations in the latest step to pressure Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. …“That means no ship, no ship that sails under the Russian flag or that is owned or operated by a Russian entity, will be allowed to dock in a United States port or access our shores. None,” Biden said Thursday. In 2021 Russian vessels made about 1,800 visits – less than 3% of all traffic. People briefed on the matter said nearly 90% of that traffic was oil imports, which the United States has previously banned. …The issue prompted an extensive Biden administration review to ensure the ban on Russian ships would not seriously impact U.S. supply chains. …Canada on March 1 shut its ports to Russian-owned ships and barred them from Canadian waters.
Vancouver, BC — Canfor Corporation is pleased to announce it will invest approximately $130 million USD to significantly upgrade and expand its sawmill and planer facility located in Urbana in Union County, Arkansas. The investment will capitalize on the abundant supply of high-quality fiber to enhance the manufacturing of high-value products, increase annual production at the facility by 115 million board feet, and result in a meaningful reduction in the facility’s cost structure. The investment aligns with Canfor’s growth and diversification strategy to keep pace with growing customer demand. “We are excited to be investing in our Urbana facility with state-of-the-art technology to modernize the work environment for our valued employees and significantly increase our ability to produce sustainable wood products that will meet the growing needs of our customers,” said Don Kayne, President and CEO, Canfor. …The upgrades include major improvements to the planer, sawmill and log yard.
Nanaimo, BC — Community volunteers and partners will join Mosaic Forest Management in marking the 52nd anniversary of Earth Day with a series of cleanup events on Mosaic and adjacent forest lands across Vancouver Island. The Earth Day 2022 theme is ‘Invest In Our Planet’, and that’s what hardworking volunteers will do on April 23 when they join local cleanup efforts targeting the problem of illegal dumping. “Illegal dumping on Mosaic lands significantly impacts forest health and our decisions around developing recreational opportunities on our private forest lands,” said Mosaic Director of Sustainability, Molly Hudson. “We’re grateful to the many volunteers who show their support for clean outdoor spaces on Earth Day and every day.” …illegal dumping continues to be a significant problem. It costs Mosaic close to $100,000 every year to recover everything from illegally dumped cars to mattresses, money that could be better spent on expanding recreational activities on our private land. 
The Ontario Liberal Party is promising that the province would plant 800 million trees if the party wins the June 2 election. Leader Steven Del Duca says his plan would plant 100 million trees every year for eight years. He says Ontario families would have access to trees for free if they want to plant them at their homes. The Liberal plan would also provide municipalities with trees at no cost to plant in their communities. Del Duca says his plan will help in removing pollution from the air in the province. The Liberals say their plan will create about 2,000 jobs for graduates and students. 
OLYMPIA, Washington
Mercer International announced its 35% Greenhouse Gas reduction target by 2030 has been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as consistent with the levels required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. The approval formally recognizes Mercer as a leading company and the first in Canada and one of the first North American companies in the forest and paper products sector with approved targets. …“We believe SBTi is recognized as the most reputable standard to validate climate targets, and this recognition provides clarity and confidence in our 2050 pathway to net-zero emissions and a more sustainable future,” said David Ure, Senior VP and CFO. …SBTi helps companies establish science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transform business operations to fit the future low-carbon economy.
British Columbians are invited to provide feedback on what types of work are too hazardous to be done by youth under age 16, and in some cases, under 19. The Province has launched a 
A report ranks the kind of air pollution associated with smoke in Eugene-Springfield as among the worst in the nation, part of a trend in western cities now more regularly suffering from wildfires and droughts. The 
