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Illegal timber makes up between 15% to 30% of the global wood trade. China is a major buyer of the world's illegal wood, according to research by environmental NGOs. More than 90% of wood exports from Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu are shipped to China.

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What hardwood was used in the aft main shaft strut bearings for USS Nautilus (SSN-571), the world's first nuclear-powered submarine?

Hint: It's the same hardwood used to craft Pete Seeger's famous banjo.

Answer: Lignum vitae, known for its unusual combination of strength, toughness, and density.

Decorative Hardwoods Association (formerly HPVA) eNews Volume XIV, Issue XII: Vietnam's Wood Exports Continue To Soar | Guitar Industry Struggles With Hidden Environmental Issues | Regulation Is Now $93,870 Of A New Home's Price | Tariffs Double On Canadian Lumber | 22 States End Federal COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits

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Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reports that the export value of wood and wood products has reached $6.6 billion in the first five months of this year - a whopping 61.3% increase vs. last year. Nearly 85% of the total value of Vietnam's wood and wood products exports is shipped to just four countries: the U.S., China, Japan, and South Korea.

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"Fire season 2021 is looking grim," said California's only wildfire research center on Twitter. The researchers' concern is the low level of fuel-moisture content, the statistic that measures the ratio of moisture to flammable material in plants, trees, and shrubs. Last year's wildfire season broke records: there were 9,639 fires across the state, burning nearly 4.4 million acres over 4% of the state's area.