Veteran industry leader Rick Doman has been appointed chair of BC’s Forestry Innovation Investment board. In other Business news: BC’s T-MAR Industries unveils the world’s first hybrid-electric logging yarder; US housing starts climb to 5-month high; and builder confidence remains stalled at low levels. Meanwhile: George Brcko departs Wells Gray Community Forest as Casey Macaulay steps in; BC Wood highlights the upcoming Global Buyers Mission, and the Southern Forest Products Association celebrates its largest EXPO since 2000.

In Forestry/Wildfire news: Canada invests $.5M in firefighter training; forecasters say fire activity will extend into the fall; Indigenous leaders stress disproportionate impacts on their communities; and wildfire updates from Vancouver Island, Nova Scotia/New Brunswick, and Spain/Portugal. Meanwhile: BC’s Forest Practices Board announces audit of licence in spotted owl habitat; debate continues on the role of active management in the US West; CAL FIRE commits $5M for workforce training, and Oregon’s timber counties face a funding cliff.

Finally, Forestnet’s Anthony Robinson launches a new podcast series.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog News Editor