New home construction rose for the third straight month; as builder confidence stays strong; projects shift to multi-family; and lumber prices move higher (again). In other Business news: Paper Excellence remains committed to Powell River; Norbord releases sustainability report; US WoodWorks snags Interfor’s Bart Bender; and the Western Forestry Contractors go virtual with 2021 AGM.

In Forestry/Climate news: a new documentary on Canada’s troubled boreal forest; BC fund helps forest sector with Covid costs; Quebec contractors fare well in rate negotiations; a US Forest Service report reflects on the year 2020; and Oregon is phasing out controversial pesticides. Meanwhile: BC’s new Energy Code ups-the-anti for wood buildings; and prescribed fires may mean safer smoke. 

Finally, how Interpol helps the world tackle forestry crimes from stem to stern.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor