BC declares state of emergency as wildfires force thousands to flee, and Canada provides assistance. In related news: wildfires are also burning across the western US, where two helicopter pilots and a bulldozer operator were killed; and BC’s Bald Range fire has claimed one life and destroyed homes, while crews battle fires across the province. In Forestry news: protesters target BC’s forest minister over old-growth; researchers examine the link between spruce budworm damage and wildfire in Ontario; Oregon’s detection cameras are helping spot fires earlier; and new research says Europe’s forests are losing more biomass to drought and pests.
In Business news: Interfor confirms plan to move corporate support functions to Georgia; North Cowichan seeks BC support to redevelop the Crofton pulp mill site; firefighters may have unknowingly contributed to the Searsmont, Maine mill explosion; Mercer reports a $76M Q2 loss; Taiga posts $16M in net income; and the US labour market weakened in July. Meanwhile: Meta names Mercer in mass timber pilot, and South Dakota embraces mass timber use; and FPAC welcomes Ottawa’s recognition that forest products need a distinct path forward to improve competitiveness.
Finally, Robert McKellar on recognizing transformational change before it reshapes the forest sector.
Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog News Editor