FPAC’s Derek Nighbor reflects on the year that was and is to be, while COFI’s Susan Yurkovich speaks to the past and hope for 2021. In other Business news: Forbes and Quebec’s Industry say lumber prices likely to be stronger-for-longer; West Fraser and Norbord go virtual with their merger plans; Specialty Building Products has a new owner; and Dana Fitzpatrick has past away after a distinguished 66-year career (Fitzpatrick & Weller).
In other news: American loggers get Covid relief; Canada adds funding for Wood Buffalo Park restoration; Nova Scotia’s (post-Northern Pulp) transition fund approves projects; a BC First Nation restores three salmon bearing streams; Scotland recruits young workers to the industry; and Australia welcomes media correction on forest sustainability.
Finally, a giant wood xylophone in a Japanese forest plays the Bach’s Cantata 147!
Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor
To say that COVID-19 has defined much of what we experienced in 2020 would be the understatement of the century. As we look forward to putting 2020 in the rear-view mirror, I would be remiss in doing my annual ‘look back’ if I did not share our deep appreciation for the incredible efforts and sacrifices of Canada’s frontline health care workers and first responders, and our sympathies to the over 13,600 Canadian families who have lost loved ones due to COVID-19. …This year brought with it the biggest health and economic crisis of our lifetimes… For the forest sector, 2021 opens a window of opportunity to develop a long-term plan to accelerate innovation in the forest bioeconomy and forestry clean tech, make more forest-based products here at home, expand export markets, build bigger and better with Canadian wood, keep communities safer from fire, and get more Canadians working. Bring on the New Year. We are ready to hit the ground running.
DULUTH, Georgia — Specialty Building Products announced that it has signed a definitive agreement whereby The Jordan Company will acquire a majority ownership position in SBP from funds affiliated with Madison Dearborn Partners. SBP’s senior management team, including President and CEO Jeff McLendon, will maintain a significant equity stake in SBP and continue to lead the Company through its next phase of growth. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Specialty Building Products is an industry leader with a strong market presence throughout the United States and in Canada. SBP’s operating brands are U.S. LUMBER, Alexandria Moulding, Midwest Lumber and Mid-State Lumber. …The closing of TJC’s majority investment in SBP is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
Coloradans love their mountains… About half of the state’s 5.7 million people live in wildfire-prone areas near forests, and private landowners own about 7 million acres of forest. So when a historic wildfire season burns 650,000 acres of forest like this season, it stokes interest for many in the state. …The Big Thompson and Fort Collins conservation districts and others …have turned to helping private landowners with forest management through the Healthy Forest Initiative program. …Northern Colorado districts, which are part of the National Resource Conservation Service, have turned more of their attention in recent years from helping farmers and ranchers to helping private landowners who live in and near forests through what Marshall called “forensic forestry” and funding. The forestry part includes the removal of trees, slash piles and logs to return the forest to a more natural state before decades of forest management and fire suppression to protect homes created unhealthy forests.
