NEWS

A few of Zillow's predictions for the 2023 housing market: affordability will improve, the Midwest will become a hot market, more families and even friends will combine resources to buy homes, more new rentals will be built, and people who bought second homes during the pandemic may now become landlords.

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The November action by CITES, the Center on International Trade in Endangered Species, includes a set of new requirements for Khaya, also known as African mahogany. The changes will go into effect on February 23 and require re-export documentation to be sent from the country of origin.

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The U.S. Forest Service will form a new federal advisory board to provide input on the Northwest Forest Plan, which covers Northern California, Oregon, and Washington. Nominations for the advisory committee must be submitted by January 17. The group will consist of 20 diverse members from all three states, including scientists, organizations with an interest in the forests, and government, tribal, and public groups.

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A new law to combat deforestation has been agreed upon by the European Parliament and Council of the European Union. Once adopted and applied, the new law is designed to ensure that goods that enter the EU market will no longer contribute to deforestation and forest degradation in the EU and elsewhere in the world. However, the law would require unworkable geolocation that the American Hardwood Export Council and others have opposed.

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What is the fastest-growing hardwood tree in the world?

Answer: The empress splendor hardwood tree is one of the fastest-growing hardwood trees in the world and can grow 10-20 feet in its first year.

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Worldtree: Meet the Empress Splendor

Photo ©  Jean-Pol Grandmont