Nova Scotia scales back its recently introduced Biodiversity Act in response to forest landowners lobby effort. Meanwhile: Nova Scotia agrees to clean up sludge from Northern Pulp’s mill; a lack of timber causes South Dakota sawmill to close; Södra invests in new CLT plant in Sweden; US new home sales decline in February; panel and lumber prices adjust; and COFI adds Premier John Horgan to their upcoming convention.
In Safety news: a new white paper showcases the science behind the health benefits of building with wood; Vancouver Island loggers’ death spurs renewed focus on safety; and a California judge may require PG&E to turn off power near trees. Elsewhere: digital companies support tree planting campaigns; and crowd rallies behind BC and Nova Scotia clearcutting protests.
Finally: on thing Covid-19 has changed: our relationship with paper.
Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor
Stora Enso Wood Products has launched a 
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RAPID CITY, South Dakota – One of the largest employers in Hill City is shutting its doors after 53 years in business and cutting 120 jobs. Citing the U.S. Forest Service’s decision to reduce timber sales, Jim Neiman says there’s no longer enough timber available for purchase in the Black Hills to keep the sawmill viable. “I never thought I would see the day when we would be out of options to keep all our facilities running,” Neiman, the President said. …The problem here is purely a lack of timber available for purchase in the Black Hills and we rely on the Forest Service for approximately 80 percent of our supply.” …Neiman Enterprises has been operating in the Black Hills for more than 85 years, with 53 of those years of operation in Hill City.
…A property near me recently sold. I… didn’t think too much about the sale, until I heard that it been sold to an individual with a history of buying up large parcels in the East Kootenay and then logging them with seeming little regard to proper forestry practices. The spring that supplies the water for three Columbia Lake communities is on this property… Knowing there is little regulation to control logging practices on private land, I began calling and emailing all levels of government … and people in the Ministry of Forests… I learned that there is nothing that can be done at provincial or federal levels until after damage was done to the water source. …Logging of the land began on Friday and to my knowledge, no development permit was applied for. I’ve filed a complaint with the RDEK but … I’m not very hopeful that it will be positive or effective.
The deaths of two Vancouver Island loggers within weeks of each other in March … has sparked discussion about how to ensure such tragedies don’t happen again. “It’s pretty sombre right now…,” said Rob Moonen, chief executive of the B.C. Forest Safety Council… “When a faller passes as a result of a work-related death, there is a ripple effect not only within the industry but the community where this work takes place.” …Moonen said the two deaths in quick succession spurred a series of discussions with fallers, companies, contractors and the union on how to prevent similar tragedies. Brian Butler, president of Steelworkers Local 1937, said safety discussions have been held with falling departments of member companies, and the union is awaiting WorkSafe’s report into the accident that killed Bohn. …WorkSafe B.C. said since 2010, the industry has seen an average of eight deaths each year. There were five in 2018 and eight in 2019.