Daily Archives: July 12, 2019

Today’s Takeaway

FPAC praises Premiers’ commitment to trade and skills development

July 12, 2019
Category: Today's Takeaway

Canada’s Premiers receive praise from FPAC’s Derek Nighbor for discussions on trade, immigration and skills development. In other Business news: the US Trade Court upheld its injury determination on Chinese plywood; fiber costs for softwood pulp are up in 16 countries; more on the BC Federation of Labour’s hot edict on Western Forest Products; and Liberal frustration with the NDP on BC’s struggling forest sector.

In other news: mass timber helps reform construction’s carbon footprint; the potential upside of BC’s old tree mutations; U of Toronto is officially disestablished; and long time rock musician is also a steward of the forest.

Finally, the Hoo-Hoo—Tree Frog’s favourite forestry fraternity—is coming to BC. What’s a Hoo-Hoo you ask?

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

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Special Feature

What’s a Hoo-Hoo?

By Sandy McKellar
Vancouver Hoo-Hoo Club 48
July 12, 2019
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

The International Order of Hoo-Hoo: The Fraternal Order of the Forest Products Industry, is one of the longest standing industry service clubs in the world. …If you work in the forest and lumber sector, you’ve likely heard of this enigmatic club. Perhaps you’re a member. But do you know the history of the club and the origin of its name? Hoo-Hoo got its start in 1892 in the small town of Gurdon, Arkansas. …Founding member William Barnes wanted club directors to have “eerie and peculiar” names. For inspiration, he turned to a contemporary at the time – author Lewis Carroll –and his nonsense poem “The Hunting of the Snark”. …Finally – let’s get back to the curious Hoo-Hoo. What is it exactly? The name Hoo-Hoo came from a nickname given to a lumberman back in the late 1800’s due to an unruly tuft of his hair! …Join us in the beautiful village of Whistler in British Columbia, Canada, for the 127th HHI Convention

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Business & Politics

Canada’s forest products sector welcomes economic commitments from Canada’s Premiers

Forest Products Association of Canada
July 12, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada

Earlier today in Saskatoon, Canada’s Premiers held their annual First Ministers’ meeting where they stated their shared commitment to a number of important economic objectives.   Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) was pleased to note the collective support for the expansion of trade opportunities, immigration levels, and skills development as these issues are critical to the success of the industry. “Canada’s forest products industry is facing rapidly shifting trade rules, growing protectionism, and market volatility,” noted Derek Nighbor, President and CEO of FPAC.  “At the same time, the innovation happening in our forests and at our mills has triggered a massive transformation that stands to bring future economic and environmental benefits to Canadian forestry communities and the country,” Nighbor said. FPAC was pleased to see the Premiers dedicate so much time today to discussing the potential of forestry and the importance of forestry workers and communities.

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Federation of Labour supports striking forestry workers

By Robert Barron
Ladysmith Chronicle
July 11, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

The BC Federation of Labour has announced a “hot edict” on Western Forest Products in a show of solidarity with striking forest workers. The move, welcomed by the United Steelworkers which represents many WFP workers in mills on the Island, means that members of the BCFED’s affiliated unions have been asked to no longer handle any WFP coastal lumber, log and wood products. …The strike affects all of the company’s United Steelworkers certified manufacturing and timberlands operations in B.C. “The announcement of a ‘hot edict’ is a significant but necessary escalation in what is frankly an employer-initiated dispute,” said Laird Cronk, president of the BCFED. “Through the solidarity of affiliated unions, the company’s products could lay dormant.” Babita Khunkhun, a spokeswoman for Western Forest Products, said the company respects the right of the union to exercise the hot-edict option.

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Morris’ frustration with the NDP regarding forestry sector boils over

By Brenda Pawliw
My Bulkley Lakes Now
July 11, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Prince George-Mackenzie Liberal MLA Mike Morris is taking a swipe at Premier John Horgan and the NDP government for a recent announcement that no funding is coming to assist the struggling forestry sector. …Morris along with Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond will be attending a roundtable discussion regarding the sector tomorrow (Friday) at 10am from the Chamber of Commerce office on Vancouver Street and isn’t the least bit surprised NDP Forests Minister Doug Donaldson won’t be attending. …Morris and the BC Liberals plan to use this meeting as a sounding board so they can take the NDP to task once the Legislature resumes in the fall.

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Western Forest Products strike heats up with first ‘hot edict’ in a decade

By Alex McKeen
The Toronto Star
July 11, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

VANCOUVER—Striking forestry workers on Vancouver Island are turning to a tactic that hasn’t been used in BC in 10 years to make sure trees cut down for Western Forest Products won’t get to market. A large local of the United Steelworkers is calling on other B.C. union members — particularly the 6,500-member International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) — to refuse to transport what they say are millions of raw logs felled on Vancouver Island. …The company says its “examining the legality” of the move. …The company says it’s working to fill customer orders and has a “contingency plan” while workers are on strike. The BC Federation of Labour, the umbrella organization representing most unions in the province, issued the “hot edict” on Wednesday. …The federation hasn’t issued such an order in 10 years.

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Wood studs and wood chips – the rest of the story

Letter by Don Wilson, Brule Point, N.S.
The New Glasgow News
July 11, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

RE: Wood studs under pricing pressure.  …lumber products are a commodity needed more some times than at other times. As such, the price goes up and down with demand. This is why sawmills have to be always looking for ways to be most efficient and to vary production in line with market demand. Nova Scotia sawmills that have an agreement to accept logs from the allocation given to Northern Pulp (NPNS) by the province can find themselves in an overstocked position when demand slackens. …These sawmills need to supply chips no matter how much lumber is in demand or at what price. Being forced to increase sawn lumber inventory rapidly absorbs cash flow. …If NPNS is closed the sawmills could immediately begin sawing out all the lumber in each log. That would more than double the gross margins of these mills. …Closing NPNS could be a net gain for the GDP of the province considering that clear-cutting could cease and only high-value trees are selection harvested.

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Trade Court Upholds Hardwood Plywood Decision

The Decorative Hardwood’s Association
July 10, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States

The U.S. Court of International Trade has sustained the USITC affirmative injury determination in its antidumping and countervailing duty investigations of imports of hardwood plywood from China. These imports depressed prices, substituted for domestic products, and injured the U.S. industry. Resource: CIT Decision.

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Missoula forestry, firefighting business damaged in overnight blaze

By Sherry Devlin
KPAX TV
July 11, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US West

MISSOULA – A Missoula forestry and firefighting business sustained $250,000 in damage Wednesday night in a structure fire on Industrial Road. …He estimated that at least $400,000 in property was saved by the firefighters’ quick work. …Grayback Forestry is a Missoula wildland firefighting and forest restoration business, with offices in five Western cities. Grayback sends crews across the nation to fight wildfires and conduct prescribed burns and forest thinning projects. The company also provides wildland firefighter training.

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John Deere Construction & Forestry Builds New Illinois Training Facility

By John Deere
For Construction Pros
July 12, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US East

John Deere recently completed the construction of a 7,500-sq.-ft. facility in Coal Valley, IL, to better meet internal training demands, along with supporting customer visits and events. The building is part of the Construction & Forestry Training Campus and includes three classrooms that can be used separately for training purposes, or combined to hold over 250 people for larger events. In addition, there is nearly 4,000 sq. ft. of covered canopy space for outdoor training and equipment walkarounds. “The primary function of this new facility is to provide much-needed additional classroom space for dealer sales staff and technician training,” said David Reilly, manager, worldwide training, John Deere Construction & Forestry. “Training is a core part of our program, but beyond that, the C&F Coal Valley Training Campus also hosts other important events throughout the year.”

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Explosion at Roseburg Forest Products Plant in Simsboro

By James Selby
My Arklamiss.com
July 12, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US East

SIMSBORO, La. – The Lincoln Parish Fire Department and paramedics responded to an explosion at Roseburg Forest Products in Simsboro, according to a worker at the scene. Sources say the fire began as a result of a spark in the factory’s dryer system around 8:40 Thursday night. A worker on scene says he believes that same spark caused a pressure vent to pop off, which may explain the “explosion sounds”. The fire was put out by 9:00 p.m. Thursday night. No injuries were reported.

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Wood fiber costs for softwood pulp manufacturers in 16 countries have gone up the past two years

By Hakan Ekstrom
Wood Resources International LLC
July 11, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: International

The Softwood Fiber Price Index (SFPI) has risen the past two years. In the 1Q/19, the Index reached its highest level since 2014, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly. Higher wood fiber costs in the US South, Russia and New Zealand contributed to most of the rise of the SFPI in late 2018 and early 2019. It is likely that the upward trend will come to a halt during the summer, and then start to decline in the second half of 2019. The cost of wood fiber for the world’s pulp industry has trended upward for over two years because of higher demand and a tightening regional supply of wood fiber. From the 1Q/17 to the 1Q/19, prices for pulplogs and woodchips (in the local currencies) have gone up in all 17 countries tracked by the WRQ. The only exception has been in Eastern Canada, where an oversupply of sawmill residues has put downward price pressure on both logs and chips.

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Wood, Paper & Green Building

Nanoose Bay man fashions drums out of rare and unusual wood

By Emily Vance
Nanaimo News Bulletin
July 11, 2019
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada West

Brad Wood

If ever a craftsman was aptly named, it’s Brad Wood. Wood runs a silviculture nursery in Nanoose Bay, but lately his true passion has been making drums. Snare drums made of teak, bird’s eye maple, walnut and purpleheart grace the display he debuted at Nanoose Bay Art in the Garden this past June. A drummer and woodworker in his spare time, Wood first saw a snare drum made of purpleheart wood when browsing online. …Undaunted, he set about trying to recreate it. “I probably burned through at least a dozen different, cheaper woods… It took a little while — a month or two — and once I got everything set up… and realized I can do it, I just kind of got obsessed. With woods, actually,” said Wood. …Those interested can find Wood’s work via Woodshop Drums on Facebook and Instagram, or by contacting woodshopdrums@gmail.com.

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Nelson creates rules for wildfire resistant landscaping and building

By Bill Metcalfe
Nelson Star
July 11, 2019
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada West

Nelson city council has changed some of its construction and landscaping bylaws to help make the city more resistant to wildfire. …The new restrictions are all based on FireSmart, a nationally accepted set of principles about fire behaviour and how to lower fire risk to structures. …A third restriction will also apply only in Development Permit Area 3 (see map) for new buildings. Wood shingles or shakes will not be permitted. Eaves, attics and under-floor openings must be screened. Wood and vinyl siding will not be permitted. Windows must be double-paned or tempered. There are also restrictions related to chimneys, decks, and porches. “That is a huge shift,” Mayor John Dooley said. “Fire retardant materials are critical.” He said vinyl siding is made from petrochemicals “and we want to reduce the use of those products, and they have aesthetic appeal but they have no structural integrity or value against fire.”

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Can mass timber reform construction’s carbon footprint?

By Lucienne Cross
Inhabitat
July 11, 2019
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States

A new technique for building wooden mid- and high-rise buildings may unlock a critical strategy for reducing the construction industry’s massive carbon footprint. Although forestry, construction and climate experts disagree on the extent of its benefits, mass timber is a promising substitute for concrete and steel, materials that contribute 5 percent of global carbon emissions each. Buildings in general are responsible for 40 percent of all emissions and architects are calling this new green building technique “the next great disruption to the construction industry.” In order to be considered ‘mass timber,’ buildings must use wood products (typically engineered panels) as the primary load-bearing structure. …Although deforestation is a major concern around the world, forests in the United States are sustainably managed. A collaboration between the mass timber and sustainable forestry industries has the potential to support this budding construction industry niche with profound implications for fighting climate change.

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Forestry

Top 10 reasons to attend SFI’s annual conference: Forests of Opportunity

By Sustainable Forestry Initiative
Treehugger
July 11, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, United States

Every year, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative community comes together to exchange ideas, share innovations, and inspire those who have a vision of a world that values and benefits from sustainably managed forests. Join us to learn how forests are relevant for responsible purchasing, advancing conservation, community engagement, and environmental education. From climate change to the circular economy, the conference will give you fresh insight into the critical issues facing forests. …This year’s conference will be held October 21–25 in Richmond, Virginia. …Here is what people said last year.

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Grants will reduce wildfire risks in Southeast Fire Centre

The Nelson Daily
July 11, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

The B.C. government said it has allocated another $1,413,349 in Community Resiliency Investment program grants to eight local governments and First Nations communities in the Southeast Fire Centre to help support wildfire risk reduction projects. These grants are part of a second round of 44 grants distributed province-wide from the program’s first application intake. “The use of FireSmart principles is one of the best ways to safeguard our neighbourhoods,” said Nelson-Creston MLA Michelle Mungall. “These eight additional Community Resiliency Investment grants will help protect more communities within the Southeast Fire Centre.” The total number of Community Resiliency Investment program grants allocated provincewide to date is 129, amounting to more than $9.8 million.

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Big, old B.C. trees produce mutations over time that could improve success: UBC

By Dirk Meissner
The Canadian Press in the Kelowna Daily Courier
July 12, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

VICTORIA – Researchers collected DNA from the tops of some of Canada’s tallest trees to search for mutations that could provide evidence of how the ancient forest giants evolve to survive. It involved ascending 20 Sitka spruce trees on Vancouver Island, averaging 80 metres tall and ranging in age from 220 years to 500 years old, to reveal that the old-growth trees developed mutations to their genetic code as they grow and age. Prof. Sally Aitken, associate dean in the faculty of forestry at the University of British Columbia, said they wanted to know whether mutations that occur during growth, as opposed to those during reproduction, could add up to substantial changes for the trees. …The research is the first evidence of the large amount of genetic variation that can accumulate in the trees over centuries, she said. Scientists have long known about mutation growth over time, but little about its frequency and contribution to genetic variation, Aitken added.

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Through smoke and fire, NASA searches for answers

By NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
EurekAlert
July 11, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: United States

NASA satellites reveal a world marked by fire: a global patchwork of flame and smoke driven by the seasons and people. Summer wildfires rage across the western United States and Canada, Australia and Europe. In early spring, agricultural fires blanket the breadbasket regions of Southeast Asia as they do throughout the dry season in central and southern Africa and Brazil. For years, NASA has used the vantage point of space, combined with airborne and ground-based field campaigns, to decipher the impact of fires–from first spark to final puff of smoldering smoke– and help other agencies protect life and property. But the effects of fires linger long after they’re extinguished: They can upend ecosystems, influence climate and disrupt communities. While NASA keeps an eye on today’s fires, it also tackles the big-picture questions that help fire managers plan for the future.

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Department of Forestry celebrates 100 years of aviation

By Christelle Koumoue
NBC News Oregon
July 11, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, US West

SALEM, Ore. — Fire officials are expecting an above average fire season this year. While firefighters are going through training and getting ready, they are behind the scenes preparing to help those on the ground. Ryan Gordon and several other Oregon Department of Forestry personnel are in training for fire season, but they’re not exactly firefighters. …“I sit behind a computer… That’s until summer comes around. ” When there’s a fire and I get a call to help in one of the capacities that I’m qualified to help with.” The annual firefighting airplane training gives ODF personnel a chance to practice loading the aircraft with water-enhancing gel, which is used to suppress wildfires. 2019 also marks a special milestone for the Oregon Department of Forestry: 100 years of aviation.

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Longtime rock musician also a steward of the environment

By Doug Oster
Trib Live
July 12, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, US East

As Mick Jagger performed a powerful version of “Angie” last week on stage in Canada, the beautiful, melodic piano lines weaving through the song were deftly being played by The Rolling Stones’ musical director and keyboard player Chuck Leavell. He’s been with the band 37 years and has also played with musical legends Eric Clapton, George Harrison, the Allman Brothers, John Mayer and countless others. Leavell’s passion for music is accompanied by a life spent as a steward of the environment. …It was when he married his wife Rose Lane 46 years ago, though, that he became a hands-on environmentalist, converting her family’s farm, which she inherited from her grandmother in the 1980s, into mostly forest land. It’s a model of sustainable forestry, growing yellow pine and other species. He’s written two books on the subject, “Forever Green: The History and Hope of the American Forest” and “Growing A Better America.”

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EurActiv: ‘rescEU’: A European fleet to fight forest fires

Focus News
July 11, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: International

BRUSSELS — More than 200 people were killed in forest fires across Europe in 2017 while more than 100 perished in flames last summer. This year, a new EU-backed fleet of fire-fighting planes is getting ready to prevent further disasters, EurActiv reports. Seven fire-fighting aircraft and six helicopters – this is how the so-called “rescEU” fleet looks like at the moment. These first assets were made available by six EU member states to fight forest fires. And they can be mobilised at any moment, at the request of European or foreign countries. …“We have recently seen forest fires rage throughout Europe, from north to south, from east to west. And fires don’t respect borders,” said Christos Stylianides, EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, who was speaking at the Torrejón air base for the official launch of “rescEU”.

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University of Toronto disestablishes Faculty of Forestry

By Michael Teoh
The Varsity – The U of Toronto Student Newspaper
July 11, 2019
Category: Forestry

TORONTO — In its final meeting of 2018–2019, Governing Council approved a proposal to disestablish U of T’s Faculty of Forestry and restructure it as a graduate unit under the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design. Following a discussion period, which included statements of opposition from the Forestry Graduate Students’ Association and the University of Toronto Students’ Union, the proposal received 29 votes in favour and two abstentions. Effective July 1, the 112-year-old faculty, which was Canada’s first for forestry-related studies, will close. …The proposal does not outline any changes to either Daniels or Forestry programs. …Forestry-specific endowments and graduate funding will remain, as will the FGSA as a representative for Forestry students.

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Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy

Canada is investing in important climate change research

By Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
The Government of Canada
July 11, 2019
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada

Catherine McKenna

…By investing in science, Canada is supporting the researchers who are making the discoveries we need to fight climate change and adapt to its impacts. …The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced $4.7 million to fund nine climate change research projects. These projects are advancing our knowledge of the role forests play, accelerating innovation in energy‑efficient cooling technologies, and improving our understanding of how carbon interacts with our forests, wetlands, and oceans. The Minister made the announcement at the University of Victoria alongside one of the recipients, research scientist Roberta Hamme. Dr. Hamme’s project, “Quantifying and predicting Canada’s ocean carbon sink,” is researching how oceans absorb and release carbon.

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Enviva expansion under fire

By Chris Berendt
The Sampson Independent
July 12, 2019
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: United States, US East

Enviva has applied to increase production at its wood pellet plant in northern Sampson County, but it is not without opposition from a contingent of residents and environmental groups urging the state to deny the permit —and the governor to place a moratorium on the industry as a whole. Enviva Pellets Sampson, a 500,000-metric ton wood pellet manufacturing facility, is located on a 200-acre site off Faison Highway. It is one of a handful of plants operated by Enviva, the world’s largest wood pellet manufacturer. Those opposing the plant and its potential expansion maintain it is one of the top culprits in the devastation of the climate, while Enviva proponents cite its economic benefits and the company’s adherence to current air quality regulations and sustainable forestry measures.

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A Massive Plan To Expand Forests – And Save The World

By Sasha Stashwick
Natural Resource Defense Council
July 11, 2019
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: International

Forests are some of the most incredible places on Earth – teeming with life, filtering our drinking water, and providing us myriad outdoor recreation opportunities. Trees are also the most effective means to capture and store carbon, making them our frontline defense against climate change. For the first time ever, landmark researchpublished this week quantifies how global forest restoration could help us address the climate crisis. The conclusions are astounding: The restoration of Earth’s forests could capture two-thirds of man-made carbon emissions. The researchers call for a global reforestation action plan to capture this potential. …This new research on the massive climate mitigation potential of a global reforestation agenda places in stark relief the choice between a future in which we prioritize maximizing carbon storage by forests vs. one where forests are burned for energy. 

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Forest Fires

Forest fire threatening Pikangikum First Nation grows as evacuation continues

By Emerald Bensadoun
The Canadian Press in Global TV News
July 11, 2019
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada East

A forest fire threatening a First Nation in northwestern Ontario has grown in size, officials said Thursday as more flights were planned to airlift residents out of the community. Members of Pikangikum First Nation have been leaving their homes since a full evacuation was ordered on Monday, although departures via buses and boats were put on hold Wednesday because of a lack of places to send evacuees. Saskatchewan has since said it would take in up to 2,000 displaced residents. The Ministry of Natural Resources said the fire – dubbed Red Lake Fire 39 – has now grown to more than 507 square kilometres in size, which is larger than Quebec City. …Meanwhile, Red Lake Fire 23, a forest fire raging eight kilometres south of the community of Keewaywin, has grown to 926 square kilometres.

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