NEWS

A federal court has rejected a Trump-era rule that limited the definition of "critical habitat" to areas that currently support protected species, under the Endangered Species Act. This adds legal backing to the Biden administration's decision to withdraw the rule. Now, federal agencies can include areas that can support—but are not occupied by—protected species as "critical habitat."

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In May, the U.S. Trade Representative notified DHA that the Biden administration was considering ending some Section 301 tariffs, including the 25% tariffs on imports of hardwood plywood and multilayered wood flooring from China. Broader review of the tariffs on China is required by law after four years, but the Biden administration is also considering removing some tariffs to reduce inflation.

Decorative Hardwoods Association (formerly HPVA) eNews Volume XV, Issue XII: U.S. Imports Of Russian Hardwood Plywood Continue To Grow | Skyrocketing Diesel Prices Are Shutting Down Logging | Fake Wood Flooring Linked To Forced Labor In China | Hardwood Pays Off & Increases "Joy" | Russian Sawmills Will Curtail Production

What's the oldest tree on Earth, and will it survive climate change?
 

Answer:  Bristlecone pines, which can survive for up to 5,000 years, were thought to be the planet’s oldest living things. Now a tree in Chile is posing a challenge.

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The 2022 Remodeling Impact Report shows that hardwood projects had the highest payoff. Refinishing hardwood floors and installing new wood flooring provided a return on investment of 147% and 118%, respectively. Homeowners who invest in hardwoods and conversions of basements into living areas are most likely to more than recover costs when selling.

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