In today’s news: wildfire researchers at the University of Calgary suggest it’s possible to predict where and when lightning will strike; a US ecologist recommends prescribed burning to prevent mega fires in BC; and thinning of beetle devastated forests commences in Jasper National Park. Meanwhile, the Quebec government will allow a small herd of caribou to die off; and Ontario’s rural communities push back on an American activist group’s lobbying efforts. 

In Business news; an opinion writer in Maine suggests Gov. Paul Lepage’s bleak take on forest industry jobs is influenced by his pro-Canadian position on lumber tariffs; while a Toronto Star writer suggest’s Trump’s bully-boy tactics exposes Canada’s US-focused trade policies. Meanwhile, Southern Oregon’s log prices broke last month’s 25-year record.

Finally, researchers at the University of Maryland have done it again. Last month wood was shown to be stronger than steel. This month, wood is the new styrofoam, outperforming just about all existing insulators.

–Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor