The decades-old ban on logging trees 21-inches or greater in diameter in national forest across eastern Oregon and southeast Washington was amended on Friday, January 15th, 2021, when U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary James Hubbard signed off on the change.
News in timber
Critical Spotted Owl Habitat Reduction Increased 17 Times Above Original Proposal
When originally announced last year, the federal government said it wanted to reduce the spotted owl habitat by 205,000 acres. However, as the implementation moved forward the owl’s habitat reduction increased 17 times above the original 205,000 acres to 3.47 million acres.
Sealaska To Exit Logging Business
Southeast Alaska’s regional Native corporation Sealaska, one of thirteen Alaska Native Regional Corporations, announced on Monday (1/11) that after 40-years they are transitioning out of the logging business.
Limited Seedling Nursery Capacity Has Potential to Slow Oregon’s Wildfire Recovery
The Oregon wildfires of 2020 destroyed nearly 1.2 million acres of forest land. Within days of the wildfires starting, nurseries were receiving calls from frantic foresters wanting to place additional orders for conifer seedlings, above what they already had on order for planned replanting operation, needed to replant areas devastated by the fires.
Enviva Partners with Forestry Associations to Rejuvenate Longleaf Pine Growth in the South
A partnership between Enviva, the world’s largest producer of industrial wood pellets, working with the Longleaf Alliance (LLA), Wildlife Mississippi, and the Mississippi Forestry Association is trying to boost longleaf pine habitats by creating new opportunities for public and private landowners.
2021 Brings Two Major Changes to Oregon’s Forest Practice Act
Oregon’s Forest Practice Act amended to expand buffers for herbicide application and protect stream habitat.
Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020 to Help American Loggers and Log Haulers
The American Logging Council (ALC) is reporting that Members of Congress have recognized the important role the timber harvesting industry plays in the U.S. economy by including both logging and log hauling businesses in the recently passed $900 billion Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020.
A List of Products Exported from Australia that China is Banning Importation of or has Levied Tariffs On has been Released
Australia is one of the few developed nations on earth that exports more products to China, than it imports from China. China is Australia’s largest trading partner and a top export destination.
U.S. Forest Service Reports 2020 Wildfire Season Set New Record for Acres Burned in National Forests
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is reporting that 2020’s wildfire season saw the largest number of acres burned in national forests since 1910, which was when previous high record was set. As of December 18th, 2020, 181,234 acres have been reported burned this year in Alaska and 10,069,213 in the other 49 states.
Western Wildfire Season 2020 Cost Insurers $7 – $13 Billion in Insured Losses Through November
The wildfire season of 2020 in the western United States has cost insurers anywhere from $ 7 – $13 billion in insured losses through November.