Daily Archives: December 20, 2019

Today’s Takeaway

Nova Scotia rejects Northern Pulp, creates transition fund for workers

December 20, 2019
Category: Today's Takeaway

Kelly, Sandy and Heidi

As Northern Pulp prepares to shut down, Nova Scotia’s Premier has rejected the company’s plea for an extension, despite rallies for and agin. Meanwhile: BC makes changes to ease the forestry crisis but is not prepared to legislate to end the strike—to the dismay of local mayors and the opposition liberals. Elsewhere: JD Irving reacts to New Brunswick decision to give private woodlots a larger share of the market.

In other news: after impeachment, the US House passes NAFTA 2.0; Pinnacle to build a new pellet plant in Alabama; BC updates its building code to allow tall wood buildings; and more to ease the stress of BC’s economic downturn from the BC Forest Safety Council. 

Finally, an early Christmas greeting to all our readers and please note—Tuesday’s News is the last of 2019, barring any breaking news over the holiday.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

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Special Feature

Back by popular demand. Sandy the ballad-monger!

By Sandy McKellar
The Tree Frog Forestry News
December 20, 2019
Category: Special Feature

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Froggy Foibles

Sing along to the ’12 Days of Traffic’

By Doug Hemstead
CBC Ottawa – Traffic Specialist
December 20, 2019
Category: Froggy Foibles
Region: Canada, Canada East

All of these ‘gifts’ actually happened in 2019…

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my commute gave to me 
A drum set for drumming
An actual kitchen sink
A small bear running
Pink insulation
A fist fight on the Parkway
Seven extension ladders
Six geese a-crossing
Five copper pipes
Four Muskoka chairs
Three kinds of dogs
Two blue tarps 
and some lumber that used to be trees.

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Business & Politics

After impeachment, House bestows big trade victory on Trump

By Kevin Freking
The Associated Press in the Press Herald
December 19, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

Nancy Pelosi

WASHINGTON — One day after its historic impeachment votes, the Democratic-led House gave President Trump an overwhelming bipartisan victory Thursday on a renegotiated trade agreement with Canada and Mexico. By a 385-41 vote, the House approved a bill that puts in place terms of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. …The legislation passed after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and her colleagues won key concessions from an administration anxious to pass the trade deal before next year’s election season makes that task more difficult. The Republican-controlled Senate probably will take up the legislation when members return to Washington after the holidays and after dealing with impeachment. …Mainers lost because of NAFTA,” Pingree said in a statement. …It does nothing to stop the pressures of Canadian tubed lobster or softwood lumber or the pellet dumping that kill Maine jobs. 

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Pinnacle Renewable Energy Announces Planned Construction of New Industrial Wood Pellet Facility in the U.S. Southeast

By Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc.
Cision Newswire
December 19, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

VANCOUVER — Pinnacle Renewable Energy announced the planned construction of a new industrial wood pellet production facility in the southeast United States in close proximity to Pinnacle’s Aliceville, Alabama facility. The new facility will be located adjacent to an existing large sawmill in Demopolis, Alabama. The Demopolis Facility is expected to have annual production volume of 360,000 metric tonnes per annum that will be sold through Pinnacle’s contracted backlog of long-term, take-or-pay off-take contracts.  Commissioning the Demopolis Facility with initial industrial wood pellet production is expected in the second quarter of 2021. The Demopolis Facility will operate under a single partnership with Pinnacle, The Westervelt Company, a diversified land resources company, and Two Rivers Lumber Company, a McElroy Enterprises company, holding a 70%, 20% and 10% interest, respectively. 

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PRT Reaches Agreement to Acquire MBC Summerland Nursery Business

PRT Growing Services Ltd.
December 19, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Victoria, BC – PRT Growing Services Ltd. (PRT) is pleased to announce that it has come to agreement with MBC Summerland Nursery Ltd. (MBC) to purchase its Summerland, BC forest seedling nursery business. The purchase agreement is now complete with closing to occur in early 2020. The Summerland nursery was first established as a forest seedling nursery in the mid 1980’s, initially operating as Daveron Nursery. MBC’s owner and President, Ivan Haag, started working at the site in 1989, before purchasing it in 1994. Since then, under Ivan’s stewardship the nursery has earned a reputation for high quality seedlings and has successfully served both Canadian and US customers. The nursery has received the Forest Nursery Association of BC’s “Chief Forester’s Award” for quality on multiple occasions, including 2019. PRT will assume operations in January for the 2020 sowing season, and will retain the existing staff including manager Debbie O’Bee, in order to ensure continued reliable production of forest seedlings for customers. 

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BC NDP’s attacks on small business are killing local enterprise

By Andrew Wilkinson, MLA and Leader of the Liberal Party
Business in Vancouver
December 20, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Andrew Wilkinson

After more than two years of a BC NDP government, British Columbians are feeling the pain of a rapid decline in forestry, huge increases in Insurance Corp. of British Columbia premiums and no relief in sight for affordable housing. Our province is large and diverse, but the issues facing British Columbians need effective leadership, which John Horgan has failed to provide. Forestry is critical to our province, as are the people who live and work in forestry-dependent communities. …Over the past year, we have witnessed the worst crisis the forestry industry has experienced in 40 years, and we have yet to see any meaningful action from John Horgan. …When the forestry sector suffers, so does the entire province, and without a government willing to show leadership on this issue, the situation will only get worse.

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Minister’s statement on tour of northern Vancouver Island

By Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development
Government of Canada
December 20, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, has released the following statement regarding government support for forestry contractors impacted by the conditions in the coastal forestry sector and the ongoing labour dispute on Vancouver Island: “Today, North Island MLA Claire Trevena and I visited Port Hardy and Port McNeill to hear from contractors and suppliers, workers and local mayors and representatives of the regional district. …I told contractors today that we are developing a program that will offer short-term bridge financing to contractors who aren’t parties to the strike whose equipment has been repossessed or are facing imminent threat of repossession. We understand how urgent this situation is for people and are working to get this up and running as soon as possible in January. We are also talking to the federal government about what help it can provide for forestry workers and contractors.”

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B.C. alters coastal forestry policies as ministers get earful on forestry crisis

By Rob Shaw
The Vancouver Sun
December 19, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Doug Donaldson

VICTORIA — The B.C. government watered down some of its contentious forestry policies Thursday as it grapples with an economic crisis in the coastal forest sector. …Forests Minister Doug Donaldson said he’s delayed by six months expanding the variable fee-in-lieu payment for raw log exports to all cutting permits on the coast, which was supposed to come into effect last week and financially penalize companies that want to ship logs oversees rather than process them in B.C. mills. Donaldson also said he’s shrunk the penalties and zones for wood fibre recovery. …That policy was supposed to incentivize companies to haul out more waste, which could be used by pulp mills and pellet plants. …And he expanded on a looming aid package for forestry contractors, saying that it will provide bridge financing for those who’ve had their equipment repossessed or are in imminent threat of foreclosure.

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‘Look at what people are going through’: Port McNeil mayor challenges government to end forestry strike

By Renee Bernard
News 1130
December 19, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Gaby Wickstrom

PORT HARDY, BC — With less than a week to go before Christmas, people affected by a lengthy forestry workers strike gathered in Port Hardy Thursday to hear how the government proposes to ease the pain of empty wallets. Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, announced some funding for contractors who are close to bankruptcy due to the lengthy strike. He is promising “bridge financing” to people like logging truck drivers who are about to get their equipment repossessed. Port McNeill Mayor Gaby Wickstrom… says she came away from both meetings feeling that the province was not prepared to legislate the employees back to work. “The thing that she said at the end and it got a rousing applause from the audience was ‘Don’t mistake my tears for weakness. I get emotional when I’m angry and I’m pissed right now’ and everyone applauded to that.”

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B.C. labour minister ‘disappointed’ as talks collapse again in forestry strike

The Canadian Press in the National Post
December 19, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

VICTORIA — British Columbia Labour Minister Harry Bains is not ready to step into a long-running strike at Western Forest Products but he says he’s willing to meet with both sides. Bains made the comment Wednesday, one day after the company announced that a round of talks with United Steelworkers Local 1-1937 had collapsed and negotiations had reached an impasse. …Western Forest Products says no future mediation dates are scheduled. Bains says failure of the latest mediated session is disappointing and he’s arranging to meet with the company and the union to discuss how to find a solution. A union statement posted on Facebook says shift schedules and concession demands remain key issues, and union officials intend to hold closed-door sessions with members in five cities over the coming days to discuss the situation.

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Nova Scotia rejects pulp mill’s plea for more time, offers $50M for workers

The Canadian Press in CTV News Atlantic
December 20, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil has rejected a pulp mill’s plea for a deadline extension that would have allowed it to continue dumping wastewater near a First Nation after Jan. 31. …An emotional McNeil told a news conference that the mill has been given ample time to clean up its act and stop dumping effluent into the Boat Harbour lagoon near the Pictou Landing First Nation. …”The company has had 5 years and a number of opportunities to get out of Boat Harbour, and to this point we aren’t even close to doing that,” he said. “The company has put us all in a very difficult position.” He said the Jan. 31 deadline contained in legislation passed in 2015 would be enforced: “Northern Pulp will be ordered to stop pumping effluent in Boat Harbour, and let me be clear, there will be no extension.” McNeil announced a $50-million transition fund to help affected workers in the forestry sector across the province.

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P.E.I. MPs say Northern Pulp would still have to meet federal regulations, even if it passes Nova Scotia assessment

By Stu Neatby
The Chronicle Herald
December 19, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

Wayne Easter

Malpeque MP Wayne Easter said he was “a bit surprised” by Monday’s decision by federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson to not carry out a federal environmental assessment of the proposed Northern Pulp effluent pipe. But Easter said the decision rested on a belief that the company would still need to abide by stringent federal pulp and paper effluent and pollution regulations. “What the feds are saying (is) it can be just as effective as an environmental review,” said Easter. “The federal regulatory processes will have to be met in order to proceed…” In all, regulations from five federal departments – Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Transport Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada and Health Canada – would have to be met for Northern Pulp’s proposed effluent pipe to operate. The company would need to abide by these regulations even if it passed an environmental assessment from the Nova Scotia government.

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Pair of rallies held for, and against the Northern Pulp mill closure

By Dave Heintzman
Halifax Today
December 19, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

A rally will be held in downtown Halifax this morning by Unifor members who are looking to save forestry jobs at stake due to the Northern Pulp saga. According to Atlantic Regional Director of Unifor Linda MacNeil, members will be gathering gather outside Province House, attempting to show politicians who would be impacted if pulp mill was forced to shut down. …The rally will be held outside Province House at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, meanwhile, a rally is being held simultaneously at Pictou Landing First Nation. The chief of Pictou Landing First Nation is holding Premier Stephen McNeil to his promise to clean up the toxic mess at Boat Harbour. Andrea Paul says McNeil’s promise is enshrined in law – under the Boat Harbour Act passed in 2015 – and the effluent treatment plant must be closed by the end of January 2020.

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Northern Pulp mill ‘preparing to shut down’ without Boat Harbour extension, company says

By Graeme Benjamin and Jesse Thomas
Global News
December 19, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

The CEO of the company that owns Northern Pulp says the mill will be forced to shut down unless the Nova Scotia government extends the Boat Harbour deadline. Paper Excellence Canada CEO Brian Baarda said the company’s stakeholders are preparing for the worst-case scenario. …According to Baarda, not extending the deadline would lead to the termination of more than 300 employees at the mill and the cancellation of contracts with suppliers, contractors and woodlot operators throughout Nova Scotia, which the company says will have an impact on more than 11,000 jobs. …Hundreds of forestry workers and industry partners from across the Maritimes gathered in front of the Nova Scotia legislature on Thursday, urging McNeil to save their jobs. Rally speakers include union representative, wood lot owners along with lumber and forestry workers.

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Creative Works brings sawmill-themed laser tag to Langer’s Entertainment

Blooloop
December 19, 2019
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US West

Creative Works, the theming company and attractions provider, has worked with Langer’s Entertainment to bring a unique Pacific Northwest-themed laser tag attraction to a new FEC in Sherwood, Oregon. …The venue sports a timber theme, and the two companies collaborated on a sawmill-themed laser tag arena to complement this. Langer says that the goal of the laser tag theme is “paying homage to the history that established this amazing community and a large part of that is rooted in the timber/logging industry.” …A key element of the attraction is a giant Sasquatch prop that towers over the arena. “Big Foot or Sasquatch is a common Pacific Northwest folklore that is still commonly seen today in a variety of media. It’s just a fun way to connect the community to the laser tag experience,” says Langer.

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Wood, Paper & Green Building

Building code changes to help build more safe, affordable homes

BC Local News
December 20, 2019
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada West

New updates to the B.C. Building and Plumbing Code came in to effect on Dec. 12, 2019, and the B.C. Government says this will support innovative construction methods to help build more affordable homes faster, while enhancing building standards for energy efficiency and safety for British Columbians. …One of the changes to the building code enables local governments to allow 12-storey tall wood buildings, up from the previous limit of six storeys. Thirteen communities have signed on to be early adopters of tall wood buildings using mass timber technology. “Increasing and finding new uses of British Columbia forestry products means we are creating beautiful energy efficient homes, while supporting jobs and local economies,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment. …Additionally, new regulations for secondary suites will require fire separations between residences to improve safety for everyone in the homes.

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The future of wood building arrives in Toronto

By Alex Bozikovic
The Globe and Mail
December 18, 2019
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada East

A city made of wood. In the past two years, this dream – to construct large buildings out of engineered “mass timber” – has grown outward through design magazines, conferences and the PR machine of Sidewalk Labs. But it’s already here, and I have put my hands on its trunks of glue-laminated black spruce. I was touring a new office building at 80 Atlantic in Toronto’s Liberty Village…  I asked Mr. Witt of Quadrangle Architects to explain why his clients want to build in wood, and he was perplexed by the question. “Wood is lovely,” he said. “Everyone loves it. You want to put your arms around it.” …So what about the future of wood building? There are half a dozen mass timber projects being planned in Toronto. And Sidewalk Labs is pledging to build more than three million square feet of wood buildings … at unprecedented heights. That ambitious effort would redefine the market for wood construction… [A Globe and Mail subscription may be required to read the full story]

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Michigan State University STEM building helps fight climate change by storing carbon

Fox 47 News
December 19, 2019
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States, US East

LANSING, Mich. — Cross-laminated timber (CLT) — which consists of large structural planks glued together to form beams and columns — used in MSU’s STEM facility will store carbon that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. Glulam beams during construction of the mass timber used in the new STEM Teaching and Learning Facility. If you’ve been on the Michigan State University campus in the past several months, you’ve likely spotted the construction around the former Shaw Lane Power Plant, adjacent to Spartan Stadium. …This state-of-the-art facility will be made with mass timber, which includes glulam (glue-laminated) columns and beams and cross-laminated timber (CLT), making this structure the first of its kind in the state and a national example for wood infrastructure. …“Sustainable forestry and long-term storage of carbon in wood structures is an important strategy for fighting climate change,” said Rich Kobe, a forest ecologist and chair of the MSU Department of Forestry.

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Young forester set to leave her mark

The Papua New Guinea National
December 20, 2019
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: International

AT 29 years old, Elaine Galore is embarking on a journey … to carve out a place for herself in the science of forestry. …In 2016, Elaine joined a research project with other young researchers and scientists from PNG and Australia to increase value-added wood processing in PNG. The aims of the project were to increase knowledge of wood properties and processing characteristics of PNG timbers, test and evaluate different methods of value-added processing systems, and estimate the contribution and distribution of economic impacts to national and local economies. The PNG Government wants to encourage domestic processing of 80 per cent of the timber harvested from its forests. Increasing domestic downstream processing is important for PNG because it contributes to foreign exchange, employment, and national and regional economies. “We look forward to using this new knowledge to help PNG to implement value-added wood processing policies, strategies and practices,” says Dr Norah Devoe, Aciar research programme manager.

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Forestry

Vancouver Island University helps to Build the Green Economy in Belize

Vancouver Island University
December 19, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Andres Enrich and Darrell Harvey

NANAIMO, BC—Vancouver Island University (VIU) is helping Belizean institutions develop programs that teach students how to adapt to environmental threats such as climate change, and create new programs in forestry. VIU, in collaboration with Parkland College in Saskatchewan and the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland, will be working over the next three and a half years with three post-secondary institutions in Belize to create tailor-made programs in agro-forestry, fisheries and related preparatory programs to assist student entry to higher levels of education. VIU is leading an $825,000 Institutional Partnership under the Skills to Access the Green Economy program, implemented by Colleges and Institutes Canada (funded by Global Affairs Canada) to assist the University of Belize and the Institute of Technical Vocational Education and Training at Stann Creek and Toledo to deliver skills training programs that meet economic and environmental needs in the region. 

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Wildwood – a thriving example of sustainable forestry

By Hans Tammemagi
Watershed Sentinel
December 19, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

In Wildwood Ecoforest, south of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, the ant hills are but one example of how an old growth forest helps create healthy groundwater. Wildwood is unique in the Pacific Northwest for being commercially logged since 1945. On its 77-acre patch of old growth forest, Douglas firs soar into the sky, the rat-a-tat of pileated woodpeckers echo through the trees, and emerald-green moss blankets the ground. The forest illustrates the diversity of nature, where myriads of species have intermingled and evolved over millions of years to form an incredibly complex web of life. It is in stark contrast to the moonscape clearcuts of modern industrial forestry. At Wildwood, nature rules – while also yielding a harvest for human use. I visited Wildwood for three days to find out how this win-win achievement is accomplished. 

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B.C. trio hopes to revolutionize tree planting industry

By Twila Amato
BC Local News
December 19, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

“Seeing that immediate forest loss is what compelled us to do this.” That’s what Cameron Jones said about the change in his home area of Kelowna Mountain Park in the last few years. Jones is one of the co-founders of Flash Forest. The company’s CEO Bryce Jones also hails from Kelowna, in the upper Mission, and co-founder Angelique Ahlstrom is from Nelson. The three started a reforestation company last year. They modify industrial drones and mount an autonomously-controlled firing device that shoots and lodges the seed pods into the soil. Cameron said the pods are designed so the seeds have what they need for the first nine months. This helps the seeds to germinate and take root quickly. …Flash Forest is now looking to partner with other companies and agencies to run pilot tests so they can bring their reforestation efforts to the rest of the country.

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Indigenous partnership to inform environmental regulatory enhancement

By Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources
Government of British Columbia
December 19, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

The Taku River Tlingit First Nation (TRTFN) is leading an environmental monitoring study in collaboration with industry and the Province that will inform future updates to placer mining regulations for the Atlin region. In July 2019, the TRTFN started the study, including sampling water discharge from placer mining operations around Atlin, with the goal of determining potential discharge limits. The results will inform future amendments to the Placer Mining Waste Control Regulation (PMWCR). “Strong Indigenous partnerships are key to growing a mining industry that creates family-supporting jobs and protects our environment,” said Michelle Mungall, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. “This collaborative, science-based initiative will improve environmental performance, while benefiting everyone who lives in the region. It is a great example of how we can ensure mining is done ‘right’ in our province.”

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J.D. Irving Reacts To New Forestry Measures

By Brad Perry
Country 94 News
December 20, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada East

New measures announced for New Brunswick’s forestry sector are receiving mixed reviews from J.D. Irving, Limited. On Thursday, the province said it will set a timber objective for private woodlots to help energize the private sector. Natural Resources and Energy Development Minister Mike Holland also announced a five-year freeze on the Crown wood supply. J.D. Irving, Limited, said they fully support efforts to “increase efficiency and accountability in the province’s private wood market.” But Jason Limongelli, vice-president of Irving Woodlands, said they want the province to reconsider the freeze on the Crown wood supply. “After close to 40 years of tree planting and over $450 million in silviculture investments on Crown land, New Brunswick’s Crown wood supply could be sustainably increased,” said Limongelli in a statement Thursday. “Wood is good and New Brunswick should celebrate all that our diverse forests provide.”

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Private woodlots to get larger market share to supply mills in new plan

By Jacques Poitras
CBC News
December 19, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada East

Mike Holland

The Higgs government plans to give private woodlots a larger share of the market to supply large mills in New Brunswick while freezing the amount coming from publicly owned Crown land for five years. Mike Holland, the natural resources and energy development minister… saying the change will help spur more economic growth among private woodlots. …Holland didn’t cite a specific percentage of wood that private woodlots would provide to mills. But with their supply growing while the amount from Crown land staying the same, the private share is likely to grow. Auditor General Kim MacPherson wrote in a report in 2015 …that while private woodlot sales were growing, they represented a shrinking share of overall wood sales to mills in the province. …US lumber lobbyists relied in part on MacPherson’s report when it demanded the Trump administration impose tariffs on New Brunswick wood. 

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Ontario Working To Keep Province Free of Deadly Deer Disease

By Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Wawa News
December 20, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada East

PETERBOROUGH – The Ontario government is taking action to help protect wildlife populations and ensure continued hunting opportunities in the province. The government has passed legislation and developed a plan to allow the Province to act quickly if wildlife diseases such as Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) – a progressive, fatal brain disorder that mostly affects deer and elk – is discovered in Ontario. If CWD were detected in Ontario, the legislative changes will allow the government to: Create response zones where special rules would apply, such as requiring hunters to submit animals for disease testing; Enable people to undertake activities that would otherwise be prohibited, such as authorizing a licensed hunter to dispatch symptomatic wildlife within a specified area; Implement long-term measures, such as restricting the exportation of certain live animals from a jurisdiction where CWD has been detected.

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US Department of Agriculture Forest Service surpasses goals and breaks records in 2019

By Forest Service
The US Department of Agriculture
December 19, 2019
Category: Forestry
Region: United States
Washington—The USDA Forest Service announced today that 2019 was a historic year for America’s national forests and grasslands. “In 2019, through Shared Stewardship agreements we forged new partnerships and built on existing ones to better collaborate and share decision space with states, partners and tribes,” said Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen. “We also opened hundreds of thousands of acres of national forests to visitor access and sold more timber in this year than we have in any of the past 21 years, providing a sustainable flow of forest products and supporting rural economies. …2019 was a banner year for us. Next year, we will continue to build on these successes to improve conditions on America’s national forests and grasslands to ensure they are healthier, more resilient and more productive. We will keep building on the partnerships that make these successes possible and commit to increasing access to better connect people to their natural resources.”

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Health & Safety

Safety trainer believes new bush road driving course should be mandatory

By Erik White
CBC News
December 20, 2019
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada, Canada East

The number of fatal accidents on northern Ontario bush roads has inspired a new driver training course. According to a 2015 study there were 8 forest industry deaths on logging roads in a 6-year period. Workplace Safety North will roll out the new training in January. Prevention services director Chris Serratore thinks it should be a mandatory course for new logging truck drivers. …Serratore also says that sometimes logging truck drivers drive too quickly because they are under pressure to get their load to the mill.  “You know, one of the things is complacency. People will tend to drive a little bit fast because they don’t expect or they don’t anticipate seeing other people out there on those roads,” he says. “The roads are a little bit narrower, you don’t have as much visibility along the sides. The right-of-ways aren’t as clear as they would be on a on a major highway or anything like that.”

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Forest Fires

‘The monster’: a short history of Australia’s biggest forest fire

By Harriet Alexander and Nick Moir
Sydney Morning Herald
December 20, 2019
Category: Forest Fires
Region: International

On October 26, an unseasonably warm Saturday following a run of hot days, lightning stabbed at the ranges. One bolt made ground near a disused airstrip at Gospers Mountain, a densely grown area of the Wollemi National Park, and prickled the kindling into life. It would become the epicentre of the biggest forest fire to have started from a single ignition point that Australia has ever known. …The Gospers Mountain fire has now destroyed an area seven times the size of Singapore – more than 444,000 hectares from the western border of the Blue Mountains to the Central Coast hinterland, north to the Hunter Valley and south to the Hawkesbury and past the Bells Line of Road. Three weeks ago it combined with several fires to form a vast complex that has been dubbed “the mega fire”. To those living in its shadow, it is known as “the monster”.

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