The gender balance in BC’s forest sector is shifting as more women are studying forestry, entering the industry and taking key roles, according to UBC’s Sally Aitken. In other Forestry news, studies in BC and Europe suggest that the amount of moisture in the air will be impacted by climate change with the growing season in some forests becoming more arid.

With expectations of a NAFTA renewal waning, Barrie McKenna (Globe and Mail) says challenging the lumber tariffs under NAFTA is an astute move by Trudeau, in part because currently the US economy—not Canadians—are paying the price. Naomi Christensen (Canada West Foundation) says the end of NAFTA is not going to stop trade but it will get more expensive. And Jesse Robichaud (Guardian) opines that political agendas have a way of getting in the way of the natural ebb and flow of business across borders. Elsewhere, Forest Minister Doug Donaldson speaks to his recent efforts to diversify BC’s lumber markets in China and Japan.

Finally, FPInnovations has a new President and CEO (Stéphane Renou) and Rolling Stones keyboardist and tree champion Chuck Leavell has a new show on PBS called America’s Forests with Chuck Leavell. 

–Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor