Europe affirms criteria supporting carbon neutrality of biomass, as the US treads water on similar action, and the wood pellet industry gains steam. In related news: Derek Nighbor on the Conservative’s climate plan; Bob Brash on uncertainty and investment in BC’s forest sector; President Biden urged to pressure Brazil on deforestation; and Premier Horgan gains cover in the looming Fairy Creek showdown.
In other news: Paper Excellence shuts its Mackenzie pulp mill; Kandola Forest Products buys Quesnel, BC mill; and Domtar, Kamloops secures grant to pursue plastic-replacing packaging. Meanwhile, how the pandemic made lumber America’s hottest commodity; Canada’s housing starts surge again; and strong wood manufacturing growth reported in Canada, the US, and Vietnam.
Finally, new films on: efforts to stop wildfires in the US West and timber careers in Texas.
Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor
Yet again, the forest industry is caught in an escalating cycle of those opposed to B.C.’s resource sector and those whose livelihoods rely on our forests. In all ways, we should be thankful that peaceful and lawful protests can occur in our democracy. So kudos to those local community groups expressing desire for change; while we may not be in agreement about the changes, we do agree change is needed, and look forward to working with them in forging a successful future together. These days call upon all of us to take a long, hard look at how B.C.’s citizens want its forestry sector and economy to prosper. And we need to do this with facts and balance, not hyperbole and rhetoric. We will continue to speak out on the need to protect and enhance B.C.’s working forests as an absolute necessity. Without such assurances, any new business will be hard-pressed to make major investments in technology and productivity. 
Please join Dean John Innes, alumni, donors, students, faculty, and friends for our first virtual evening of celebration and recognition. You will hear from some of today’s student award winners, help recognize this year’s Alumni Builder Award recipient, Mr. Domenico Iannidinardo (BSF’01), and take a walk down memory lane to celebrate 100 years of Forestry at UBC. We are also delighted to welcome special guest, Professor Andrew Szeri, Provost and Vice-President Academic, who will help us acknowledge and celebrate some of the outstanding accomplishments that Dr John Innes has presided over during the past 11 years. John will end his second and final term as Dean of the Faculty in 2021. We hope you can join us from the comfort of your home with a glass in hand for this special occasion.
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FPInnovations has implemented a program that supports Indigenous communities in the development of forest-based economic opportunities and has established collaborations that deliver positive results for those communities. The assistance provided has been articulated in different ways, ranging from economic development plans to support programs. Initially concentrated in British Columbia, in 2014 the 
VICTORIA — The B.C. government has reached an agreement to give Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs $7.2 million in funding to support the implementation of their rights and title. The government says in a statement the three-year funding will support the chiefs’ efforts to reunify members of the Wet’suwet’en nation, which includes six First Nations. It will also support the revitalization of Wet’suwet’en governance structures in areas like water stewardship and wildlife programs, and renovations at a former school that will be used as a governance and administration centre. The provincial government says it has also reached an agreement with the neighbouring Lake Babine Nation to accelerate the distribution of $22 million previously planned over several years. The government says the lump-sum payment means the nation can make larger-scale economic development and forestry investments sooner and create a wealth plan to grow the investment.
The Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) is set to start planting 36 million trees across the BC Interior. Steve Kozuki, FESBC Executive Director says the trees are being planted to reforest the areas affected by the 2017 wildfires. “It was quite devastating,” Kozuki says, “working together with the provincial government and the office of the chief forester, we’re partnering to plant as many trees as we can as quickly as we can in order to maximize the recovery of the timber value for future generations, to help manage water, the meltwater, and heavy rainwater, to help promote wildlife habitat restoration, and most importantly to help sequester carbon. Planting these trees is going to help BC and Canada meet our climate change goals.” Kozuki says each tree planted in the ground costs roughly one dollar, 50 cents for the seed and to grow it in a nursery, and 50 cents to actually plant the seed. 
Canada’s foresters see the impacts of a changing climate in our forests every day. …These natural disturbances pose a serious risk to the health of forests and forest ecosystems, forestry jobs, and the vibrancy of 600+ forestry communities across Canada. Left unchecked, these threats will challenge our ability to remain self-sufficient, and to provide Canadians with locally grown and sustainably-sourced wood products. We believe every political party should have a robust climate plan and we appreciate the thoughtful steps taken by the Conservative Party of Canada this week to establish climate targets in order to help us achieve Canada’s 2030 Paris Accord commitments. …With the move this week by the Conservative Party … to commit to climate targets and climate policy we can now move to a more robust discussion in Canada about the best way to achieve these targets…
