Canada could be hit by duties on newsprint exports to the US that are “worse than softwood lumber”, according to FPAC’s Derek Nighbor, but US newspaper publishers plan to oppose them. Calling this “silly time” as far as Canada-US trade goes, Nighbor adds that he’s not expecting either a softwood or NAFTA deal anytime soon. Fortunately, US housing starts are up again keeping demand for lumber high.

Is burning wood for energy green? The answer is no – according to a story on the “loophole in carbon-accounting rules” in Europe, but yes (according to the Guardian) if instead of coal, waste wood is being burned.

In other news, Jim Bowyer’s new book The Irresponsible Pursuit of Paradise is featured; the BC government has ended the trophy hunting of grizzly bears; and the province’s spruce beetle infestation doubled in 2017.

Finally, a story on how “vomiting fungi” could be a viable solution to the problem with plastics; and how tannins from tree bark can serve as battery materials.

— Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor