Kelly, Sandy and Heidi
Nova Scotia’s decision generates despair and elation given Northern Pulp’s coming closure. In related news: Tom Fletcher sits down with Premier Horgan as the BC forest and labour ministers opine on the forestry strike; and Thunder Bay’s hardships are called the canary in the coal mine for the rest of Canada.
On a more positive note: Derek Nighbor on the climate change power of Canada’s forests; Canada’s GHG projections show progress is being made; and the path to sustainable construction with mass timber. Meanwhile: the search for the non-festive mistletoe; and 69 Canadians spend the holidays with their Australian (firefighter) brethren.
Finally, after tomorrow, the frogs will be off until January 2nd. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!
Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor
For forestry workers and communities, 2019 was a challenging year. Market headwinds, cost pressures, combined with the devastating fallout of pest and fire outbreaks has put thousands out of work. Forestry communities across BC have been hit especially hard. …At the same time and as we enter a new decade, Canadians are seized with the need to take real action to address the impacts of our changing climate, in a way that protects family-supporting jobs in communities that need them. Notwithstanding recent setbacks, Canada’s forest products sector is ready, willing, and able to provide innovative solutions to some of our most pressing challenges. ….Let’s make 2020 the year that we collectively embrace our natural advantage and use the power of Canada’s forestry workers to fight climate change, advance smart conservation, better leverage the green power of Canadian wood products, and ensure prosperity for hard working Canadian families.
LINCOLN, Neb.
…Over several decades, fires in the West—particularly in California—have been growing in size and intensity, and have been particularly devastating in the last three to five years. Many factors have contributed. First, one hundred years of misguided forest management aimed at total fire suppression has eliminated the role of natural fire on the landscape, allowing two to four times the normal amount of woody fuel to accumulate even as the biggest, healthiest, most fire-resistant trees were being logged out. Wildland fires are a natural part of the California landscape, but the 2017-2018 seasons were among the most destructive in the state’s history. In addition, California’s population has about doubled since 1970, from 20 million to almost 40 million, leading to unprecedented sprawl along what’s called the wildland-urban interface (WUI), putting millions more people in harm’s way. …The top question for state officials and citizens alike is what to do about the mounting crisis. 
