Paper Excellence has agreed to acquire rival Domtar in a $3B stock deal—plans to operate Domtar as a stand-alone business. In other Business news: record lumber prices prompt stories on the rising cost of new homes, soaring ETF stocks, frustrated home builders, and increased lumber thefts. 

In Forestry/Climate news: the White House creates a new panel to raise public trust in science; Ontario seeks to grow its biomass industry; and the European Commission is forced to align its biomass policy with the Green Deal’s do-no-harm principal. Meanwhile: the NRDC takes aim at SFI certification; and wildfires make their debut in Alberta; Manitoba and Arizona.

Finally, Finish-based Stora Enso will supply pulp for paper whisky bottles.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor