NEWS

Forests and wood products provide tremendous benefits to society, from storing carbon to reduce climate change to providing warmth and beauty in our built environment. This month, the Real American Hardwood Coalition launched a new public website spotlighting the beauty of hardwoods and their financial benefits to homeowners.

In addition, Congress is increasingly highlighting the carbon storage benefits of wood products, most recently in discussions on the farm bill, which sets federal policy and funding for agriculture and natural resources. We are also relieved that a stand of giant sequoias has been spared from a devastating wildfire, as we have too often seen wildfires ravage communities across the country. Saving the sequoias wasn't an accident. According to Yosemite forest ecologists, decades of prescribed burns protected these trees. Hopefully, policymakers can learn from this experience to better protect our forests and forest communities across the country.

If you have questions or comments, contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.


Keith A. Christman, President
Decorative Hardwoods Association

The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry held a hearing about potential forestry-related provisions for the 2023 farm bill reauthorization, where representatives from both parties emphasized the crucial role of wood products in preventing wildfires, capturing and storing carbon, and growing the economy. The committee underlined the economic and environmental benefits of wood buildings and recommended that the farm bill promote storing "even more carbon through forest products."

The DHA-supported Real American Hardwood Coalition launched its new consumer website featuring beautiful, inspirational photos of hardwood projects. The website promotes how investing in real hardwood pays out and compares real hardwood products to fake, look-alike products.

American Hardwood Export Council commented on draft EU deforestation regulations that would require geolocation data for the specific "plot(s) of land" where all regulated materials—including wood—were sourced. This could be challenging for materials sourced from small landowners, typical for U.S. hardwoods. AHEC urges companies that export to Europe to ask their customers to comment on this important issue before it is put to a vote as early as September.

U.S. imports of hardwood plywood have grown 45% year-to-date through May. However, this is lower than the 60% year-to-date growth through April. In May, imports from Russia dropped to 26 million square feet from an average of more than 51 million square feet per month through April. The skyrocketing growth in imports from Vietnam also appears to have slowed somewhat in May, reaching 108% year-to-date, after surging to 183% year-to-date through April.

Imports of engineered wood flooring have grown 31% by volume and 33% by value so far this year. The top sources of imports are now Vietnam and Cambodia, which have overtaken China. China faces significant tariffs.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has determined that a U.S. importer transhipped Chinese-made wooden cabinets and vanities through Indonesia to avoid duties.

U.S. Customs has begun a formal investigation of another U.S. importer of wooden cabinets and vanities from China, after finding "reasonable suspicion" that the importer evaded antidumping and countervailing duties.

Decorative Hardwoods Association has scheduled our next annual meeting for May 24-26, 2023, at the beautiful Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach in Florida. We look forward to seeing all of you there!

The sequoia trees in Yosemite National Park are no longer under direct threat from wildfire. Foresters say that 50 years of intentional burns significantly reduced available fuel for the fire, so the forest fire passed through, leaving the sequoias unscathed. A Yosemite forest ecologist said, "If there's a silver lining from this fire it's that federal, state and nongovernmental organizations are working more closely than ever sharing information, lessons learned as well as research tools and techniques on intentional fire and how to help reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire."

Which curious forest animal's activities can change an entire forest?