An age-old building material is making a 21st-century comeback in Ontario but under provincial rules, you can’t construct a wood-frame building more than six storeys tall — but new technologies and initiatives could change that. One of the University of Toronto’s latest building projects, a 14- storey academic building on top of the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport, is going back to basics — with a twist. Source: TVO This building will be constructed mainly of mass timber, and when it’s done, it will be one of the tallest mass-timber-and-concrete hybrid buildings in North America. The building material comes with a number of benefits — environmentally friendly, lightweight — and support from the Ontario government. Provincial rules don’t allow for the construction of wood-frame buildings of more than six storeys — the new U of T academic building was granted a building-code exemption as part of the Ontario government’s $3.15 million Mass Timber Program, which it launched last spring to jump-start the industry. The program’s other demonstration projects include a 12-storey building at George Brown College on Toronto’s waterfront, a condo development in downtown North Bay, and an eight-storey office building in Toronto. Mass timber is on the rise in Ontario, but it won’t become commonplace until building codes change (the Mass Timber Institute is already advocating for this), local supply chains make for cheaper prices, and large developers start using it. Today’s wood building products use what’s called mass timber, which is factory-made to be so dense and large-scale that it’s fire resistant. (We still have building fires because, even if you build with non-combustible concrete, steel, and glass, people fill buildings with flammable items.) “This is a new kind of wood product; it comes out of R&D and scientific research,” said Anne Koven, adjunct professor of forestry at U of T and a member of the newly formed Mass Timber Institute, which promotes research and education on the material. “It’s about taking wood and putting it together in different ways. It’s been engineered to have certain properties, to be stronger and fire resistant.” Today’s mass-timber building materials resemble a far sturdier form of plywood. The U of T building will be constructed with cross laminated timber. Such wood structures often end up concealed beneath drywall or panelling. But designers will sometimes leave the wood exposed so that it’s visible in interior spaces or on the exterior. Architects, builders, and academics are increasingly looking to mass timber because wood is a renewable resource. “Mass timber is much more environmentally friendly than steel or concrete,” said Ms Koven. The concrete industry is one of the world’s top producers of carbon, and steel is made from iron ore, a non-renewable, mined resource. Forests, on the other hand, reduce carbon. Modern forestry practices are making the industry more environmentally responsible. And wood is light, which means it’s ideal for towers on top of existing buildings, such as the one at U of T. Mass-timber products can be preassembled and then easily shipped to the building site. Because urban construction is so costly and causes traffic jams, New York City and London have been building more with preassembled mass timber — full walls, full floors, or entire rooms — in recent years. Most mass-timber projects in Ontario use materials imported from Austria and Germany, which have made this a specialty. There are well-established manufacturers in Quebec and British Columbia (most mass-timber companies in Canada make, design, and preassemble as part of their services), but Ontario’s capacity is set to grow. Ontario has ample forests, and 40% of all construction in Canada happens in southern Ontario.

Climate change is having a devastating impact on the planet, despite Trump's bizarre intimations that the recent cold weather in North America is proof that global warming is welcome to "come back."

Washington D.C. - We are pleased to announce that the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and the American Forest Foundation (AFF) have formed a new partnership to grow the amount of certified family and other small holdings in North America. Through this partnership, SFI and AFF are working together on a Small Lands Group Certification Module (Module), an innovative way to grow certified family lands and small holdings by building on the foundation of SFI's Fiber Sourcing Standard, and drawing on the strengths of the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) forest management standard. 

In an age of unprecedented high atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, the question of whether or not plants and trees can utilize excess carbon through photosynthesis is one of paramount importance. Researchers have observed what has been called the CO2 fertilization effect, whereby plants' rates of photosynthesis increase in response to higher levels of CO2 in the atmosphere, although this is thought to be dependent on various other factors such as temperature, moisture, nutrient availability, etc.

A mystery disease outbreak that has devastated more than 20 species of starfish along the western coast of North America since 2013 has claimed yet another victim: the sunflower sea star (Pycnopodia helianthoides), a major predator within kelp forests in the Northeast Pacific. The “sea star wasting disease,” as the infectious disease is called, kills […]

With approximately 20 new sawmills expected to be completed between 2017 and 2022 and production capacity increasing by more than 25 percent, the southern yellow pine (SYP) lumber industry is changing rapidly.  This blog post, the second in our series about the North American lumber trade, offers a preview of the key technologies these new SYP sawmills will employ. 

North America's fox squirrel, the venomous striped eel catfish (SN: 4/29/17, p. 28) and 64 other species are now considered invasive threats to existing species in the European Union, scientists report online on December 12 in Global Change Biology. Emphasis on the word 'threat.' None of these organisms have been found yet in the EU, except for in captivity.

The Global cross laminated timber (CLT) market expected to reach USD1606 million in 2024, growing at a CAGR of 15% between 2018 and 2024. The cross laminated timber (CLT) market is likely to be driven by rising product demand for construction and building applications, due to its cost-effectiveness and sustainability concerns in the forecast period. Source: Timberbiz Zion Market Research has published a new report titled “Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) Market By Type (Adhesive Bonded CLT and Mechanically Fastened CLT) and By Application (Residential Buildings, Educational Institutes, Government/Public Buildings, and Industrial and Commercial Spaces): Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, and Forecast, 2017 – 2024”. According to the report, the global cross laminated timber (CLT) market was valued at USD 603 million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD 1606 million in 2024, growing at a CAGR of 15% between 2018 and 2024. The cross laminated timber (CLT) market is likely to be driven by rising product demand for construction and building applications, due to its cost-effectiveness and sustainability concerns in the forecast period. However, moisture trapping and wetting potential in certain climatic conditions might impede this market. Nevertheless, new market avenues are likely to create new opportunities in the global cross laminated timber (CLT) market in the years to come. The cross laminated timber (CLT) market is divided based on the type and application. By type, the market is split into adhesive bonded CLT and mechanically fastened CLT. Adhesive bonded held the largest market share in 2017 and is projected to dominate over the projected years. This can be attributed to its seismic performance and great strength. However, growing environmental awareness for adhesive usage, owing to its carbon emission properties might impede this segment’s demand. By application, the cross laminated timber (CLT) market is segmented into residential buildings, educational institutes, government/public buildings, and industrial and commercial spaces. Residential buildings held the largest market share in 2017, around 50%. The demand for wooden residential buildings including multi-family apartments and single-family homes is rising owing to their design flexibility and aesthetic appeal. The earthquake-proof and improved fire resistance qualities of CLT homes are anticipated to drive the market in the upcoming years. By geography, Europe dominated the global cross laminated timber (CLT) market and accounted for around 60% market share in 2017. The presence of major manufacturers, such as Mayr-MelnhofHolz Holding AG, Stora Enso, Binderholz Bausysteme GmbH, HASSLACHER Holding GmbH, and KLH Massivholz GmbH, in Europe is attracting a large number of CLT customers. The consumption of CLT in Germany is higher than in other countries, due to CLT’s widespread acceptance among builders and architects. In the Asia Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, and Japan are major consumers of CLT. Earthquake-prone countries, such as Japan and India, have shown significant interest in using cross laminated timber as a construction material for residential and non-residential buildings. North America’s CLT demand was valued around USD 130.8 million in 2017, owing to the rising CLT use in residential and institutional applications. Increasing consumer demand for luxury and stylish apartments is anticipated to fuel this industry’s growth. The growing CLT use in residential applications, including floors, ceilings, and walls, is also estimated to drive this market. This region is projected to be the second largest market in the future. The Middle Eastern and African and Latin American regions are expected to witness moderate growth over the forecast time period, owing to the increase in construction activities and rapid industrial development. The key manufacturers of the cross laminated timber (CLT) market are Stora Enso, KLH Massivholz GmbH, Binderholz Bausysteme GmbH, HASSLACHER Holding GmbH, Mayr- MelnhofHolz Holding AG, Structurlam Mass Timber Corporation, Eugen Decker  Holzindustrie KG, Nordic Structures, Sterling Lumber Company, Ed. Zueblin AG, and W. u. J. Derix GmbH & Co.

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 - Thu, 12 Sep 2019, Organizer: FAO (FO), United States of America, Missoula. North American Forest Commission - 30th Session

Global trade of softwood lumber from January through September 2018 was down 2.5% as compared with the same period last year. China, Japan, the United Kingdom and the MENA region reduced their imports, while the US and continental Europe have imported more lumber this year than in 2017. Source: Timberbiz Lumber markets – North America After US lumber imports reached a 10-year high in the 2Q/18, import volumes fell 3.5% to 9.44 million m3 in the 3Q/18, which was still over 10% more than in the same quarter in 2017. The trend over the past few years has been that the market share for overseas lumber supply to the US has increased at the expense of Canadian supply, as reported in the Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ). The Canadian share has fallen from 95% of total imports in 2016 to 91% in 2018. Lumber prices in the US plummeted during the northern summer and autumn, with major grades falling about 40% from June to November. Lumber exports from Canada were down in all markets in the 3Q, and the total export volume was down 4.3% q-o-q. Almost 80% of the shipments were destined for the United States. During the first nine months of 2018, export volumes to China were 16% lower than the same period last year. Lumber markets – Northern Europe Lumber exports from both Finland and Sweden slowed substantially in the late northern summer, with August shipments being down 10% (Finland) and 6% (Sweden) from August 2017. The biggest decrease in Finnish exports so far this year have been in shipments to China and Saudi Arabia, while Swedish sawmills have reduced exports to Egypt, China and Japan the most. Both countries have kept up sales in the European market in 2018 with only minor changes in shipped volumes from 2017. Lumber prices in both Finland and Sweden have remained fairly stable during most of 2018. Lumber market – United Kingdom The United Kingdom is the world’s third largest importer of softwood lumber, after the US and China. In 2017, the country imported 7.5 million m3 of lumber, the highest level seen since 2007 and up almost 50% from five years ago. Sweden has long been the major supplier, with a market share of about 45%. However, demand for imported lumber to the UK has fallen by 20% during the first nine months of 2018. Import prices for lumber have trended upwards in US dollar terms in the past few years to reach a three-year high in the 2Q/18, followed by a decline of 7.3% in the 3Q/18. Lumber markets – China A gloomier outlook by Chinese consumers and a shortage of credits for many provincial governments and state-run firms have contributed to reduced demand for forest products. As a result, total softwood lumber imports to China have slowed in 2018, with volumes in the first nine months falling 11% as compared with the same period in 2017, according to Chinese customs data. Imports were down from all supplying countries except Russia.

North America is the world’s hotspot of salamander diversity. The continent is home to all salamander families but one (Hynobiidae, found only in Asia) and nearly half of all salamander species. The U.S. – particularly the eastern U.S. – is a hotspot within this hotspot, hosting more species than any other country. But biologists are […]

The Mapping The Course: Timberland, Forest Products Processing, And Fiber Issues For 2019 conference and optional workshop will be held at the Heathman Lodge in Vancouver, Canada. Attend this conference for in-depth analysis on forest products market challenges, opportunities, and threats for 2019 in the North American West Coast timberland region. Source: Timberbiz The registration fee is Can$575 if received by January 8, 2019 or Can$675 if received after January 8, 2019. The registration fee includes a book of speaker materials, lunch and reception. More information or registration: melinda@westernforestry.org or www.westernforestry.org/

Growing more than two feet in length, the hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) is the largest salamander species in North America. Hellbenders have been on the decline for at least 30 years, and in some parts of their range have disappeared completely. Researchers think this may be because they require cool, clean water, and much of their […]