As US officials work to counteract the increasing toll on the nation’s forests from wildfires, insects, and other signs of climate change, the Biden administration said the government will plant more than one billion trees across millions of acres of burned and dead woodland in the Western US.
News in timber
Biden Administration Takes Steps to Reverse Changes to the Endangered Species Act
On Wednesday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USF&WS) canceled a policy adopted during the previous administration that weakened its authority to identify lands and waters where declining animal and plants could receive government protection—the latest move to undue changes to the Endangered Species Act.
US National Interagency Fire Center Wildfire Update for July 25, 2022—5 New Wildfires Reported
The US National Interagency Fire Center reported on Monday that the total number of large wildfires and complexes currently burning in the US has expanded to 93, with more than 3,116,631 acres across 15 different states currently burning. Five large new wildfires have been reported within the past 24 hours.
Stz’uminus First Nation and BC Provincial Government Sign New Reconciliation Agreement
The signing of the reconciliation agreement is an incremental step toward the parties’ together identifying potential provincial Crown land for transfer, and a commitment to land transfer agreements as much as $28.5 million. Implementing the agreement will be an immense undertaking over several years.
The Lheidli T’enneh First Nation Reaches Timber Harvesting License Agreement With BC Government
The Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, located in the Prince George, BC, area, has reached an agreement with the BC government and will have exclusive timber harvesting rights to an estimated 217,312 hectares within the Nation’s territories east of Prince George.
West Fraser Issues Statement Regarding Recent Media Speculation About CVC Capital & Kronospan’s Interest in Acquiring the Company
Reuters reported on Tuesday (7-19-22) morning that according to a source familiar with the matter, private equity firm CVC Capital and wood panel manufacturer Kronospan have submitted a joint expression of interest in acquiring Canadian lumber company West Fraser Timber Co.
Quatsino First Nation and Western Forest Products Enter Into an Agreement on Shared Forest Resource Opportunities
Building on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2020 by Quatsino First Nation, Western Forest Products Inc, and the B.C. Provincial government, Quatsino and Western have entered into an agreement that provides for a joint vision and approach to share opportunities related to forest resources in unceded Quatsino traditional territory.
U.S. National Interagency Fire Center Wildfire Update for July 18, 2022—6 New Wildfires Reported
The U.S. National Interagency Fire Center reported on Monday that the total number of large wildfires and complexes currently burning in the U.S. has increased to 89, with more than 3,100,941 acres across 12 different states are now ablaze. Six large new wildfires have been reported within the past 24-hours.
Nieman Enterprises Announces Reduction in Production at Its Hulett & Spearfish, South Dakota, Sawmills
A lack of available timber from the Black Hills National Forest has prompted South Dakota-based Neiman Enterprises to announce that it was eliminating a shift at its Devils Tower Forest Products sawmill facility, which is located in Hulett, and was reducing hours at its Spearfish sawmill as well.
U.S. National Interagency Fire Center Wildfire Update for July 11th , 2022 – 19 New Wildfires Reported
The U.S. National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) reported on Monday (7-11-22) that the total number of large wildfires and complexes currently burning in the U.S. has increased to 73, with more than 2,805,239 acres across 10 different states now ablaze.