Wildfire smoke accounted for up to half of all health-damaging small particle air pollution in the US West, says a new study. In related news: the failure to cut carbon emission in the Cascadia region; and the challenge of accounting for carbon in the Amazon. Meanwhile: a US proposed rule skirts endangered species compliance; and an Alaska Native corporation is quitting logging after 40 years.
In Wood Product news: the first week of trading outside the EU creates challenges for UK wood interests; the International Mass Timber Conference returns as a virtual event; tree-inspired towers are coming to Vancouver; wood infill demo project in South Korea; and reversible (EU) designs that can be repurposed.
Finally, Conifex (on lumber prices); Boise (on Texas expansion); GreenFirst (new name for Kenora sawmill); and Domtar (on its diaper sale).
Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor
SOUTH KOREA — With the arrival of COVID-19, many organizations made the move to operate from remote workplaces. …There is no doubt that the pandemic will also push architecture and urban planning to evolve to accommodate consumer preferences. Those who can afford working remotely might consider moving out of the city, trading long commutes for a larger single-family home lifestyle. This option has created a new demand for single-family homes, for which wood-frame construction is usually the preferred structure. Market share of single-family home wood construction rose from 2% in 2001 to over 15% by the end of 2020. …The need for lumber is also on the rise due to increased demand from the ‘repair, remodelling and other’ end-use sectors — as people on “lockdown” spend more time at home. …Currently, some popular Korean TV reality shows have kicked enthusiasm for… home makeovers using wood frame components.
The U.S. exported 660,312.5 metric tons of wood pellets in November, up from 624,212.9 metric tons in October, but down from 777,976.5 metric tons in November 2019, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on Jan. 7. The U.S. exported wood pellets to nearly 20 countries in November. The U.K. was the top destination at 513,564.8 metric tons, followed by Belgium-Luxembourg at 70,604.9 metric tons and the Netherlands at 32,952.1 metric tons. The value of U.S. wood pellet exports fell to $85.65 million in November, down from $86 million the previous month, and down from $112.35 million in November 2019. [END]
