Daily Archives: April 18, 2019

The Ministry of Environment released the State of the Environment report for 2019 on Wednesday with a focus on the province’s forests. The report assesses 24 indicators of forest health, most of which are new or revised from the last report in 2009. Assistant Deputy Minister for Resource Management and Compliance Division for the Ministry of Environment, Kevin Murphy, explained the report at the AGM for the Association of Saskatchewan Forestry Professionals (ASFP). Murphy gave an overall positive response, saying it’s important for the government and the public to continue supporting the forestry industry. “Our forests are doing well, they are being managed sustainably, and the forestry industry is an integral part of that.” Murphy told CTV News.

Wilson Williams and Karen Elliott

A new community forest is on the verge of becoming a reality after the Squamish Nation and the District of Squamish signed an agreement. The agreement formalizes a governance structure for 10,000 hectares of forest land. The District says having a Squamish community forest offers benefits such as long-term economic development and local employment; local level decision-making and planning over timber harvesting in key areas such as cultural and spiritual sites, watersheds, viewscapes and recreational areas; education and research opportunities including increased community awareness of forest management. As per the agreement, the Squamish Community Forest Corporation will be responsible for overseeing the forest operations. On the company’s board of directors, the Nation will be represented by hereditary Chief Ian Campbell, Wilson Williams and Richard Baker. The District will be represented by Mayor Karen Elliott and councillors Armand Hurford and Jenna Stoner.

Scientists, foresters, First Nations representatives and others involved in forestry in our region gathered in Quesnel last week to analyze a land base that has been hard hit by mountain pine beetle and wildfire in the last few years. …“It’s the next step in the evolution of the Quesnel Forestry Think Tank process we’ve been going through,” explained Josh Pressey, district manager for the Ministry of Forests. …Quesnel Mayor Bob Simpson says… it has two streams. One of those streams is looking at the future of forest management and how do we rehabilitate the landscape… impacted by mountain pine beetle and wildfires. …The other stream of the Future of Forestry Think Tank process is the manufacturing stream, looking at how to evolve the manufacturing sector as the land is changing because you will be getting different materials off that land.

The City of Castlegar has received a grant that will help reduce the risk and impact of wildfires.A $30,000 grant received from the Ministry of Forestry, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development will update the City of Castlegar Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The plan update will be complete within one year. “This might be the most important plan we have that few residents know much about,” says Mayor Bruno Tassone. “Given our location, investment in fire prevention planning is an investment in the foundation of our future prosperity and quality of life.” A Community Wildfire Protection Plan helps the city better understand how wildfire might threaten the community, and outlines steps the community takes over a period of time to reduce risk of damage to property and buildings in the event of a wildfire. The city’s current plan was developed in 2007.

Kelly Richardson

Two much-awaited Imax films on Vancouver Island’s old-growth forests premiére at the Images Festival in Toronto on Thursday (April 18). The films are part of a series of work entitled Outer Worlds, a series of five Imax commissions from leading Canadian media artists, each of whom have created films in a cinematic genre typical of Imax films: larger-than-life landscapes. Two of the films will feature the endangered old-growth forests of Vancouver Island near Port Renfrew. Embers and the Giants, by artist Kelly Richardson, a professor of visual arts at the University of Victoria, presents an endangered old-growth forest during last light, articulated by thousands of floating embers of light. …Forest, by Leila Sujir, of Concordia University, is another feature of the project. Her subject will be the Central Walbran Valley, an area on Vancouver Island that is scheduled for clear-cut logging. 

A newly released report from Saskatchewan’s Environment, Public Health and Safety department warns of the possible spread of the devastating mountain pine beetle into northwestern Saskatchewan. …The province’s latest State of the Environment report warns that recent policy changes in Alberta may contribute to the eastward spread of the beetle. “Alberta announced in 2018-19 that protecting key watersheds along the eastern stages of the Rockies and protecting endangered species would take priority over slowing the eastern spread of [the mountain pine beetle],” the report says. “This could allow spot infestations along the eastern edge of Alberta to establish and spread. …”That would mean mountain pine beetle could easily spread into east-central Alberta and Saskatchewan’s northwest boreal forest.” …The government of Saskatchewan is now looking to survey and prevent any infestations in the province’s boreal forest ecosystems.

Martha Barwinsky

WINNIPEG — Hundreds of ash trees are being removed from Winnipeg neighbourhoods as the city’s forest canopy is hit by another invasive species. The cottony ash psyllid — also known as jumping tree lice — has been added to a list of threats to Winnipeg trees, which also includes the emerald ash borer and Dutch elm disease. “About 700 black ash trees are going to be removed,” city forester Martha Barwinsky said Wednesday. “These are black ash trees that we identified last year that were either dead or almost dead because of the cottony ash psyllid infestation.” …However, Winnipeg’s winters haven’t slowed the invasive species down yet, she said. …”Our ash trees have no resistance or no tolerance to these pests,” she said.

A wildfire protection plan for Prince George is a very good idea for our area but we have forest companies that plant, harvest, and produce products from our forests. They all have their own forestry departments. We have forestry engineering companies. We have a college that has forestry programs. We have a university that has forestry programs that are second to nobody. So why do we hire a Vancouver company – Diamond Head Consulting (DHC) – to come up here and tell us what trees to cut? …Why could we not give UNBC a grant to come up with a plan and be the lead in what clearing is to be done, keeping our tax money here in P.G.? While on the subject of clearing trees, we should be looking at our smaller city playground parks. They should be checked and thinned out for fire hazards.

On Bat Appreciation Day, April 17, 2019, the Province, in collaboration with the BC Community Bat Program, is asking British Columbians to help preserve the diversity of bat species and be on the lookout for white-nose syndrome (WNS) – a disease that could be catastrophic to bat populations. WNS is a deadly fungus that grows on the noses, wings and bodies of bats, causing them to repeatedly rouse from hibernation and often starve to death by spring. The disease has killed millions of bats in both the eastern United States and Canada, but has yet to be detected in British Columbia. In 2016, the disease was found in Washington state, prompting officials in B.C. to be prepared. To help prevent WNS from taking hold in B.C., the Province is making investments in bat conservation projects.

Treaty 8 First Nations involved in caribou recovery efforts in the South Peace hope an extension on public consultations and the appointment of a community liaison will stem the spread of misinformation and some of the racist tone surrounding their negotiations with the provincial and federal governments. West Moberly Chief Roland Willson and Saulteau Chief Ken Cameron met with Premier John Horgan and Forests Minister Doug Donaldson. …the chiefs said Lekstrom will be instrumental in dispelling myths about the agreement. …The two took aim in particular at local MP Bob Zimmer for spreading misinformation about potential closures. …Reductions to annual allowable cuts to forestry companies will amount to 300,000 cubic metres… reductions [that are] are limited and manageable between the companies operating in the area, the chiefs said.