News in timber

The Oregon Department of Forestry reported that its four-year effort to reforest the Santiam State Forest after the 2020 wildfires hit an important milestone this month.

After nearly two decades of sporadic incursions from Quebec, a more severe spruce budworm outbreak has been detected in Maine’s Aroostook County, the Portland Press Herald reported.

The US Forest Service released a proposal that would overhaul the Northwest Forest Plan that governs about 38,000 square miles, the Associated Press reported.

Thousands of damaged trees will be repurposed under a project developed through Interagency Recovery Coordination, FEMA announced.

The US Forest Service announced that it has awarded $20 million to transport hazardous fuels from forests to facilities for processing into wood products or energy sources.

As of June, the government has signed or was negotiating tree-planting agreements representing a commitment to plant 716 million trees—nearly tripling last year’s total.

As of Tuesday, wildland fire activity continues in 6 states where 7 large active wildfires have burned 290,071 acres.

Rayonier announced completed and pending timberland dispositions totaling approximately 200,000 acres for an aggregate purchase price of $495 million.

On Friday, the South Carolina Forestry Commission released its preliminary assessment of damage to forests caused by Hurricane Helene.

The North Carolina Forest Service has completed an aerial forestland damage assessment following Hurricane Helene, and the damage is extensive, ABC News 4 reported.