The Scottish environment minister, Michael Russell, says a billion trees need to be planted in the country if it is to achieve the goal of ensuring 25% of the country is covered in woodland by 2050. [more]

Biofuels derived from non–food based sources are to be a major investment area for the Obama Administration. [more]

The environment minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jose Edundo, has announced that 60% of the country’s existing timber contracts are to be cancelled as they have been found to be invalid. [more]

The US Forest Service has found that a herbal tea containing a pheromone called verbenone can be used to help reduce the number of bark beetles attacking forests by two-thirds. [more]

The Wall Street Journal has identified forestry as an extremely wise long-term investment, and says that timberland value has continued to grow despite the economic slowdown. [more]

The Canadian budget, announced in the House of Commons on 27 January, has been welcomed by the Forest Products Association of Canada. [more]

The rate of tree deaths in old-growth forests in the Western US and in Canada has doubled in the last 50 years, with climate change being sited as the most likely cause. [more]

Speaking at the Northern Economics Summit, the British Columbian Premier, Gordon Campbell, has suggested that the forestry industry could be the key to Northern Canada weathering the economic storm. [more]

Timber firm, M&M Timber, based in Kidderminster, has announced that its sales rose 40% in December after it launched its range of micronized preserved timber. [more]

Countries including India and the US have measured a significant increase in the price of newsprint in recent months, hitting newspaper profits hard, but bringing welcome relief to sectors of the forestry industry. [more]