The Canadian Press reports that the Quebec government intends to create a 10,000-square kilometre protected area for caribou habitat. The decision has environmental groups cheering.

In BC, Quesnel Mayor Bob Simpson says there won’t be any salvage logging in his area as the summer fires burned so hot there is nothing harvest. In the US, the Forest Service is looking to hire 900+ firefighting jobs. “You get to travel” and you “could make $35,000 in a season”. Sounds good to me!

Canada has taken softwood lumber to the World Trade Organization, their pitch “the United States made calculations that fail to comply with international trade rules”. However, it isn’t all doom and gloom. BC’s NDP government says “BC lumber prices are near record highs“, and EACOM Timber in Ontario says the US will continue to be their biggest market, despite high tariffs. 

Finally, have you started your Christmas shopping? A non-profit tree planting organization has some great forest-friendly gift ideas for you.

— Sandy McKellar, Tree Frog Editor