Author: White Oak

Pembina Valley Online—Don Martens, who has extensive experience with residential homebuilding, recently saw a post asking why America should buy lumber from Canada.  “The answer is well, because Canada is where the trees are,” he says. “Canada naturally has so, so, so many acres of trees. Obviously, we have more trees than we can possibly… Continue reading Canada is where the trees are

Reuters—Nonprofit environment watchdogs put their stamps of approval on countless wood products that get touted as responsibly produced. Yet research shows Canadian forests have seen some of the world’s largest declines in ecologically critical primary and old-growth woodlands over the last two decades, even as sustainability-certification programs grew to include nearly all of Canada’s logging.… Continue reading ‘Sustainable’ logging operations are clear-cutting Canada’s climate-fighting forests

Message from Chief Tom Schultz, March 4, 2025 I’m grateful to serve as your next Chief of the Forest Service. First, thank you to Chief Moore for his leadership. He spent his life in service, dedicating a 45-year career to the benefit of the American people. I recognize that I am the first Chief who… Continue reading Meet Tom Schultz, 21st Chief of the Forest Service

The Center Biological Diversity has sued five cabinet-level agencies, seeking to stop the so-called Department of Government Efficiency and its DOGE teams from taking further actions against multiple environmental agencies until each team fully complies with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. This is the first lawsuit challenging DOGE’s efforts to eviscerate the agencies charged with protecting the… Continue reading Lawsuit Seeks to Prevent DOGE, Musk From Gutting U.S. Environmental Agencies

WhiteHouse.gov—Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Chief of the United States Forest Service (USFS) shall issue new or updated guidance regarding tools to facilitate increased timber production and sound forest management. Within 60 days, the Secretary of the Interior shall complete a strategy on USFS and BLM forest management projects under… Continue reading Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production

AP News—When Hurricane Katrina roared through New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward district two decades ago, it wiped out 200,000 trees across the city, which has struggled ever since to restore its tree canopy. Those efforts will be set back by the U.S. Forest Service’s decision to terminate a $75 million grant to the Arbor Day… Continue reading U.S. Forest Service terminates $75 million grant to the Arbor Day Foundation to help disadvantaged communities plant trees

Idaho Capital Sun—Tom Schultz will serve as the 21st chief of the U.S. Forest Service, which oversees 154 national forests and 20 grasslands across 43 states. Schultz previously was the vice president of resources and government affairs at Idaho Forest Group, a family-owned company based in Coeur d’Alene that is now one of the country’s largest… Continue reading USDA secretary appoints Idahoan Tom Schultz to serve as U.S. Forest Service chief

WyoFile—U.S. Forest Service employees opened their inbox Wednesday to find a consoling message from their chief that offered some clarity to the resignations, layoffs, and turmoil that have dogged the federal agency for weeks. It was a welcomed note for many, albeit one conveyed while Forest Service Chief Randy Moore was announcing his resignation. “We provide drinking water… Continue reading Forest Service chief resigns

Louisville Courier Journal—Dozens of U.S. Forest Service staff serving Daniel Boone National Forest are among federal workers who have received notices of probationary status this month — indicating risk of immediate termination — amid the Trump administration’s blitz to cut the size of the federal government. Termination of those workers would land a considerable blow… Continue reading Dozens of U.S. Forest Service workers in Daniel Boone National Forest facing layoffs

KIRO 7—Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will pause timber harvesting in some forests for six months. DNR said the pause was necessary to use advanced technology that would map and provide a better understanding of the forests they manage. The pause will ensure that the DNR follows its policy of conserving 10 to… Continue reading Washington DNR pauses timber harvesting in efforts to conserve older forests