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KINGSEY FALLS, QC, June 18, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Cascades Inc. (TSX: CAS), a leader in the recovery and manufacturing of green packaging and tissue paper products, announces that it now owns 217,...

For the second consecutive season, Quebec's favourite paper towels, SpongeTowels®, is the official paper towel of LES CHEFS! MONTREAL, June 18, 2013 /CNW/ - The fourth season of LES CHEFS! pre...

The Fourth Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Legally-Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe (INC-Forests4) made substantial progress in revising the draft negotiating text of a forest convention, but decided to suspend work until autumn because it had run out of time to conclude a few key issues in the text, reach consensus on institutional issues and prepare the interim arrangements for the convention. INC-Forests4 was held 10-14 June 2013 in Warsaw, Poland. The five-day session was attended by 140 participants, including delegates from 33 governments and the European Union (EU), and observers from the government of Japan...

 

The John Deere 75G and 85G excavators are the latest models to join the successful, customer-driven G-Series line. Both models feature reduced tail-swing configurations to maneuver and work around congested jobsites in efficient fashion. The machines feature a wide variety of improvements, to increase visibility, operator comfort, and productivity.

“The 75G and 85G were designed to handle a variety of jobs, including landscaping, light residential excavating, site development or underground work,” said Mark Wall, product marketing manager for excavators, John Deere Construction & Forestry. “Their compact size and pinpoint metering combined with the reduced tail-swing design allow the machines to rotate freely within a small radius, increasing productivity in confined spaces and around obstacles.”

The 75G and 85G boast a 53 hp (39.6 kW) Final Tier 4 diesel engine outfitted with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) that cleans automatically without impacting the machines’ productivity. The FT4 design is based on John Deere’s IT4 strategy that has a track record of exceptional reliability.

Optional rubber track pads or heavy-duty rubber belts let the new models work on paved surfaces and even cross curbs without causing damage. Numerous track-widths, arm, bucket, and other options allow contractors to customize the excavator to the way they work. The 85G brings additional maneuverability to the jobsite with an independent swing boom that allows contractors to work closer to curbs, around structures, or in the midst of traffic.

Like all G-Series excavators, the 75G and 85G include an unsurpassed operation environment with spacious, comfortable cabs and easy-to-use enhanced LCD monitors. A simple turn and tap of the rotary dial allow operators to select work mode, access to operating info, check maintenance intervals, source diagnostic codes, adjust cab temperature, and tune the radio. The cab includes a comfortable, fabric-covered adjustable suspension seat with ample legroom. The wide expanse of front and side glass, narrow front cab posts, large tinted overhead hatch, and numerous mirrors provide all-around visibility.

Two productivity modes (power and economy) allow the operator to choose the digging style that fits the task at hand. Power delivers a balance of speed and fuel economy for general excavating and economy reduces engine speed and noise to help save fuel during lighter digging jobs.

Another benefit of the 75G and 85G is the ability to reduce daily operating costs. Daily and periodic maintenance is quick, easy, and convenient. Large hinged doors provide wide-open access to service items and lube banks, filters, and checkpoints are grouped together for added convenience. Large fuel tanks and 500- and 5,000-hour engine and hydraulic oil-service intervals decrease downtime and expense.

Fleet managers, owners or operators looking to get the most out of their equipment can rely on John Deere WorkSight™, the most comprehensive, easy-to-use suite of technology available for increasing uptime and productivity while lowering operating costs.

www.JohnDeere.com.

 

When Bandit Industries unveiled the enhanced line of XP-series hand-fed chippers in the early 1990s, they completely reset the bar for efficiency, production and longevity in the hand-fed chipper industry. Now, the legendary line of Beast® Recyclers will carry the XP badge to reflect over 35 specific enhancements and add-ons in eight different categories, making the world’s best line of horizontal grinders even better. 

“Our customers are facing new challenges every day, so we are constantly working to develop and implement the changes they need to stay competitive and profitable,” said Bandit Industries President Jerry Morey. “This has been the case since the first Beast Recycler in 1995, and with so many enhancements added in just the past year, we knew it was time to christen a new line of Beasts. XP stands for extra power, extra performance, extra production and extra profit, and that’s exactly what our customers can expect with the new XP-series Beast.”

Model 2680XP, 3680XP and 4680XP Beast Recyclers now feature angled front infeeds with larger infeed drive chains. Track Beasts feature height-adjustable pans for adjusting feed angle. A new rail system on the return side of the infeed replaces the roller system, significantly reducing load on the tail shaft. These machines also offer a new “Big Mouth” option that increases the height of the opening into the mill. An extra-large 32-inch diameter feed wheel is optional and includes a brush deflector to better direct material into the machine.

Changes continue inside the mill housing. Base door openings are now larger for easier removal of the cuttermill. Replaceable wear plates are now standard on the left side (radiator side) of the mill base, and optional on both sides. A convenient trap door allows for cleaning in the auger area, while the auger itself is redesigned and easier to change.

Several new teeth styles are available, and they are subjected to a new proprietary strengthening process delivering longer tooth life. Two-inch wide sizes are available for most teeth, allowing operators to run a 30-tooth setup. New teeth mounts are now compatible with knife cutterbodies, eliminating the need to change cutterbodies when switching between chipping and grinding. Freeze-hardened teeth, screens and wear items are also optional. For customers exclusively chipping with the Beast, a new chipping drum is available. 

For engines, adjustable pitch fans are now standard, enhancing engine cooling and fuel efficiency. Mill shafts are larger on the Model 1680XP and 2680XP to accommodate higher horsepower engines, which are now available for these machines.

Numerous convenience options and enhancements include redesigned fuel tanks on track machines for better steep-terrain performance, with increased fuel capacity on the Model 1680XP. Warning lights for clutch and engine operation are relocated for easier monitoring. On-board air compressors are repositioned for more convenient operation, and upgraded impact wrenches are standard. An over-band magnet is optional and recommended for both shingle and pallet grinding.

These are just some of the enhancements found in the new XP-Series Beast Recyclers.

“We have customers all around the world using Beast Recyclers, and there isn’t an application where the new XP-Series won’t make a big difference in performance and production,” said Morey. “Beasts will easily handle everything from waste wood to shingles and plastic, and there isn’t a better machine on the market for turning bulky chunk wood into a quality, saleable product. Whether you are grinding or chipping, the new Beast XP-Series can make a big difference in your operation.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Model 4680XP

 Model 1680XP

For more information on the Beast XP-Series or to schedule a machine demonstration, contact Bandit Industries at 800-952-0178 or visit online at www.banditchippers.com.

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When we talk about combating climate, the most obvious issues that come to mind are policies to prevent carbon dioxide emissions — cap-and-trade programs and carbon taxes and environmental regulations. Then there are the technological solutions like renewable energy and electrified vehicle fleets and more energy efficient infrastructure. If people are feeling desperate, they start discussing geoengineering.

 

But one part of the climate change solution mix doesn’t get talked about as often, perhaps because it’s almost too obvious: we need more plants. Or, more specifically, we need more forests.

 

A recent article in The Conversation pointed to a 2011 study that attempted to measure the effect of living biomass, dead wood, and other organic products from temperate, boreal, and tropical forests between 1990 and 2007. Assessing global satellite data, global forest growth, and density is tough, but the researchers determined that Earth’s forests are taking in around 4 billion metric tons of carbon a year. Unfortunately, deforestation — which exists in a constant tug-of-war with regrowth — rolled a lot of that back, resulting in a net carbon sink effect of 1.1 billion metric tons annually.

 

The problem is the sheer scale of the numbers surrounding the global forest carbon sink. In 2010, fossil fuel burning, cement production, land use — including deforestation — dumped a grand total of 36.7 billion metric tons into the atmosphere. But only half stayed there. (Deforestation’s 17 percent contribution was to that final atmospheric amount.) The rest was absorbed by the oceans and the land, the latter including the forest carbon sink’s 4 billion metric ton contribution.

 

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The Guna General Congress has taken the decision to reject all REDD projects in Guna Yala territory in Panama and specifically to reject a proposed project by Wildlife Works Carbon, a US-based REDD project developer. 

 

The Guna General Congress took place in the community of Muladub from 6-9 June 2013. Delegates from all 51 communities in Guna Yala took part, including two non-indigenous communities. One of the key issues for the Congress was whether to accept or reject the Wildlife Works Carbon REDD pilot project in the Guna Yala territory. 

 

Wildlife Works Carbon presented its proposed project to the Guna General Congress in October 2011. Public consultations about the project, organised by the Research and Development Institute of Kuna Yala, finished in April 2013.

 

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Negotiators at last week’s UN climate change negotiations in Bonn wrestled with the question of how to go about discussing the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation – the source of about 15% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Central to this discussion are the strong market incentives, operating on a global scale, that currently drive the production of commodities in ways that destroy forests. That means discussing international trade.

 

However, some negotiators argued that questions relating to trade should be left out of the talks altogether.  And their reason seems straightforward: trade is the domain of the World Trade Organisation, while climate change sits under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

 

If the negotiators venture into this debate, any agreements they reach could clash with those of the powerful global trade body, possibly triggering disputes.

 

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By Lafcadio Cortesi, Rainforest Action Network Blog, 10 June 2013 | Indonesian paper giant APP says it wants to change, but, given its track record, the company must prove itself before it can be trusted as a supplier of pulp and paper products. Unfortunately, APP’s four-month-old commitment to stop destroying Indonesia’s rainforests has already been called into question. WWF Indonesia recently published an open letter to APP’s CEO Linda Widjaja that raises concerns related to documented rainforest logging in APP supplier concessions. The logging is a breach of the paper giant’s public commitment not to clear rainforests starting February 1, 2013. As the story comes to light, it appears that APP may have been misleading paper buyers and the public about what it was actually doing. This video evidence of APP timber supplier PT Riau Indo Agropalma clearing natural forest in a peat area where APP pledged to impose a moratorium on rainforest clearance was released by Eyes on the Forest...

A statement from Brad Thorlakson, Tolko’s President & CEO :

In the early morning of June 15, Bradley Haslam, an 18-year old clean-up crew employee at our Lavington Division, became entangled in a conveyer belt at the mill. He was discovered by the Clean-up Shift Supervisor, who freed him from the equipment and, along with two others, administered emergency first aid until medical services arrived on scene. Bradley was transported to Vernon Jubilee Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival, despite the best efforts of everyone involved.

As a company, we are extremely saddened by the loss of Bradley Haslam and extend our sincerest sympathy to his family and loved ones during this difficult time. To know that a family has been forever changed by this tragedy is devastating. No words can convey the pain. The loss is heart wrenching, the impact lasting. Today, and for many days to come, our hearts will be with the family and friends of this young man as they face the unimaginable.

Our thoughts will also be with our employees at the Lavington Division as they return to work, because the days ahead will be difficult. We will have our Employee Family Assistance Program (EFAP) provider on site to offer support, and I encourage anyone needing help to seek out these services. I especially want to thank those who responded to the accident for their efforts to save this young man’s life. Their efforts are well appreciated.

As an organization, safety is our most important value. This tragedy serves to remind us of the vital importance of safety in our workplace. When something goes terribly wrong, as it did on Saturday morning, we have to step-back, re-evaluate, and move forward with a strong resolve to make sure a tragedy like this doesn’t happen again. For my part, I renew my commitment to take a leadership role across the organization to ensure everyone understands that safety is at the core of Tolko. This tragedy serves as a personal call to action for all of us to look out for each other and to make sure that everyone is safe.

Brad Thorlakson
Tolko President & CEO

ForestTalk.com - Your source for Canadian forestry news

TORONTO, June 17, 2013 /CNW/ - Norbord Inc. (TSX: NBD, NBD.WT) today announced that S&P Dow Jones Canadian Index Services has confirmed that Norbord will be added to the S&P/TSX Composit...

Mobile phones are to be used to monitor illegal logging in the forests of Indonesia under a new pilot project which, if proven successful, could eventually be used all over the world.

The Government of Saskatchewan is seeking input from people across the province to improve and modernize The Provincial Lands Act (1978).

The Act provides the authority to the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment to administer provincial Crown lands.

The Ministries of Agriculture and Environment will be holding consultation meetings throughout the province.  Consultations will help inform changes to the Act.  Crown land clients will receive notification letters of these meetings.

Consultations will address issues such as: improving client service; clarifying language and administration; identifying solutions for land-use conflicts; developing enforcement mechanisms; and strengthening regulatory frameworks.

Public meetings will be held at the following locations:

Regina
July 8, 2013
6 p.m. – open house
6:30 p.m. – presentation
Conexus Arts Centre, Shumiatcher Room
200A Lakeshore Drive

Prince Albert
July 10, 2013
6 p.m. – open house
6:30 p.m. – presentation
Prince Albert Inn, Salons A&B
3680 – 2nd Avenue West

Saskatoon
July 11, 2013
6 p.m. – open house
6:30 p.m. – presentation
Saskatoon Inn, Saskatchewan Ballroom A
2002 Airport Drive

More info:

• For more information on consultations or to provide comments, visit http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/PLA
• Frequently Asked Questions
• The Provincial Lands Act Discussion Paper (.pdf)
• Proposed update of the Provincial Lands Act

ForestTalk.com - Your source for Canadian forestry news

China will mark a climate change policy milestone on Tuesday when the city of Shenzhen launches the nation’s first trading scheme to reduce growth in greenhouse gas emissions, although analysts expect carbon markets to initially have only a modest impact.

 

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Emissions reductions created through forest protection never will become a tradable commodity, and private investors are beginning to realize that, a consultant for the Third World Network said.

 

Forest carbon can’t be measured as accurately as CO2 discharges from industrial projects, Kate Dooley, who advises the environmental group on climate change issues, said today in Bonn. Under the United Nations’ Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation program, or REDD, developing nations protect and manage their forests in exchange for funding from developed states to support their efforts.

 

“If you think that REDD can be established as a carbon market, if you think that forest carbon can be measured to the level of accuracy to satisfy investors to invest in it as a carbon market, I think that there’s a lot of disappointment in that,” she said in an interview at the UN talks in the German city. “Governments will drive this and the private-sector interest in forest carbon is really falling away.”

 

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The United States is committed to increasing bilateral cooperation in carbon trade with Indonesia. The commitment was revealed in a meeting between Indonesian Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan and US Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International and Scientific Affairs Kerri-Ann Jones at the former`s office here on Monday.

 

In the meeting Zulkifli Hasan said that the Indonesian people had begun losing their confidence in international cooperation in carbon trade.

 

“She (Kerri-Ann Jones) said it was indeed not easy to unite international countries. Therefore the US has expressed its commitment to increasing the cooperation,” the minister said after the meeting.

 

Kerri-Ann meanwhile said the US and Indonesia would meet again to discuss technicalities of the cooperation. “The private parties could become promising partners for finding solutions for the communities living around the forests,” she said.

 

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The UN-REDD Programme released a Policy Brief today that offers some answers to several questions on the prickly topic of the private sector, the ‘who, what, why and how’? Interviews held while writing the brief revealed a wide range of views and emotions on the subject.  At the narrow end of the spectrum, there are those who apply the term only to those involved in the world of carbon credits, or verified emissions reductions. At the broader end of the spectrum, there are those who view the term as encompassing all those involved in the drivers of deforestation and degradation. This tends to bring agriculture into the REDD+ dialogue, and the nexus between the two is an increasingly popular topic of discussion in REDD+ circles which is increasingly reflected in the international conference arena.

 

The Role of the Private Sector in REDD+: the Case for Engagement and Options for Intervention argues that the private sector, using the broader of the definitions above, will have to play a key role in trying to slow, halt and reverse deforestation and forest degradation. As the largest terrestrial land users in the world, they will be heavily involved in activities on the ground that are integral to REDD+. They will play fundamental roles as designers, developers, operators and enablers of ‘forest-friendly’ initiatives at a variety of scales.

 

The private sector is often cast as the villain in the REDD+ world, and there is certainly evidence from around the world to support this argument. However, it would be a mistake to think that REDD+ can function as an effective tool without the private sector in the future. They bring many positive attributes that will be critical to REDD+ including innovation, investment and the implementation of activities. As with a three legged stool, remove any one of these attributes and it is challenging to see how REDD+ can succeed at scale.

 

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The Conference will highlight lessons from initiatives based on a range of social forestry models and approaches from within and beyond the ASEAN region, and how these attempt to balance livelihood and food security needs on one hand, and conservation and climate change adaptation and mitigation objectives on the other. The Conference will also feature the Lao PDR’s Village Forestry Model, and the country’s recent forest-based climate change initiatives and policy reforms.

 

Objectives of this conference are to:

• Share learning and experiences on social forestry particularly in the field of climate change, community economy, livelihoods and REDD+.
• Promote social forestry policy and practice in forest conservation measures.
• Organize a Dialogue between Civil Society and Private Sector for recognizing social forestry roles and contribution to forestry policy and practices in addressing climate change and food security, in the context of the AFCC.
• Learn from social forestry models from ASEAN and beyond.

 

 

Please click here for more information.

Stabroek News, 16 June 2013 | Chinese company Bai Shan Lin is in control of almost one million hectares of Guyana’s forest after taking controlling interest in a number of small forest companies with concessions, which has led to concerns by forest researcher Dr Janette Bulkan that the company is engaged in illegal landlording. In a Power of Attorney, seen by Stabroek News, Bai Shan Lin International identified its subsidiary companies as Karlam South America Timbers (Guyana) Inc, Haimorakabra Logging Company Inc, Sherwood Forest Inc, Wood Associates Industries Ltd and Kwebanna Wood Products Inc.

WWF, 14 June 2013 | The global community was one step closer today towards realizing a formal mechanism to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) at the close of UN climate talks in Bonn. REDD+ negotiators, representing Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), worked overtime over the two-week meeting to address key areas of REDD+. Draft text recommend for adoption at the 19th Conference of the Parties (COP19) in Warsaw in November was agreed to on such key issues as: modalities for national forest monitoring systems, addressing drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, and the timing and frequency of presentations on information as to how safeguards are implemented. “The decision to recommend that these draft REDD+ decisions be adopted at COP 19 in Warsaw is exciting as it opens the door for a UNFCCC decision on REDD+ in 2013,” said Bruce Cabarle, Leader of WWF’s international Forest and Climate Initiative.