Region Archives: Canada West

British Columbia’s forests support a diversity of trees, plants, fungi and wildlife, while also providing recreational opportunities, cultural values, and economic benefits to communities. As we recognized the International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22 and Wildfire Awareness Month throughout May, it’s an important time to reflect on the connection between healthy forests, resilient ecosystems, and the communities and wildlife that depend on them. Wildfire resilience and biodiversity are deeply connected. Thoughtful forest management activities, including strategic fuel reduction treatments and cultural and prescribed burning, can help reduce wildfire risk while also creating healthier and more diverse forest ecosystems for generations to come. …Today, FESBC is investing in treatments that reduce wildfire risk around communities, infrastructure and other resources. We are supporting the return of cultural and prescribed burning to the landscape. We are asking questions about how wildfire risk reduction treatments can also support biodiversity and other forest values, such as recreation.

Experts are calling on the B.C. government to halt logging in a Tsitika watershed cutblock on northern Vancouver Island that has been designated for old-growth deferral. But the some First Nations whose territory it falls in say they have their own approach to managing the area sustainably. Pacific Wild, an environmental organization, says B.C. Timber Sales (BCTS) is selling off rare and ecologically significant forests for minimal economic return. In letters sent to BCTS and other government decision-makers in April, the organization presented new data, maps and field evidence showing that cutblock TA1375 — identified by the Old Growth Technical Advisory Panel as a Priority Deferral Area — provides essential habitat for threatened species and stores significant amounts of carbon. The cutblock was auctioned in March despite opposition from scientists, community members and many First Nations whose territories overlap with the Tsitika watershed.

Residents and visitors to Cowichan Bay on Saturday, May 30 take note. A large-scale exercise to help emergency responders train for potential wildfires is taking place in Cowichan Bay from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Please do not be alarmed and help ensure crews can safely complete their training by obeying signage and giving personnel and equipment plenty of space,” said CVRD spokesperson Lisa Moilanen. The exercise will include Shawnigan Lake, Malahat, Mill Bay, Cowichan Bay, Duncan, Sahtlam, Ladysmith, and North Oyster fire departments, as well as BC Wildfire Services and more “working, practicing and learning together to help be aligned, prepared and keep our communities safe,” Moilanen added. The exercise features a scenario where a forest fire is threatening a developed area or community. Moilanen said people will notice emergency vehicles, personnel, traffic cones, and wildfire response activities around Falcon Crescent, and Wilmot, Galdwell, Rondeault, and Hillbank Roads.

When the United Nations released its Global Forest Goals Report 2026 this month in New York, the expertise behind it traced back to the classrooms of UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship’s Master of International Forestry program. Professor Terry Sunderland and Lecturer Peter Wood, director and coordinator of the MIF program respectively, served as lead authors of the report, released at the UN Forum on Forests. It is one of the most comprehensive assessments of global forest management ever produced, drawing on voluntary submissions from 48 nations representing more than half of the world’s forests. The fact the report’s lead authors are also shaping the next generation of international forestry professionals at UBC FES is no coincidence — it is exactly the kind of real-world engagement the MIF program is built around.

When you hear a wildfire is classified as Out of Control, it’s easy to picture massive flames racing through the forest. But Out of Control is used as an operational term, not a description of how dramatic or aggressive a wildfire looks. A wildfire is classified as Out of Control when it is spreading, or expected to spread, beyond the current containment lines. Think of it like plumbing, a slow leak and a burst pipe are both uncontrolled situations, but they behave very differently. One may grow slowly over time and require monitoring and management. The other may move quickly and need immediate, aggressive action. Wildfires can behave the same way.

HAZELTON – The Forest Practices Board will audit the forest planning and practices of BC Timber Sales (BCTS) and timber sale licence holders in the Kispiox Timber Supply Area (TSA) portion of the Skeena Business Area, starting Monday, June 1, 2026. The audit will examine harvesting, roads, silviculture, protection activities and associated planning. These activities will be assessed for compliance under the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act. BCTS operates throughout the Kispiox TSA, within the Skeena Stikine Natural Resource District. Activities in the audit area are administered from the Hazelton Field Office. The audit area overlaps the territories of the Gitxsan, Wet’suwet’en, Gitanyow, Nisga’a, Lake Babine Nation, Kitselas, and Tsetsaut Skii km Lax Ha First Nations. …The area includes mountainous terrain, rivers and lakes that support recreation, wildlife habitat and important fish populations, including several salmon species, bull trout, Dolly Varden and lake trout.

Three Sea to Sky organizations have been named the inaugural recipients of the Cheakamus Community Forest (CCF) Community Benefit Program, which has awarded more than $25,000 to projects tied to forest education, habitat stewardship, recreation access, and invasive species management. The funding, announced on May 19, comes from the community forest’s carbon offset sales revenue. …The community forest said the program reflects its broader goal of operating “as a model of regenerative forestry and reconciliation” while supporting partner communities through locally driven initiatives. The announcement comes ahead of the CCF’s spring 2026 information session, scheduled for May 28 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Istken Room at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre.

Lindsay Cuff

Lindsay Cuff is an Assistant Professor of Teaching in the Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, jointly appointed with the Faculty of Land and Food Systems. She has developed, implemented, and shared innovative approaches to teaching and strives to weave real-world applications into the classroom. She is a UBC Sustainability Fellow, contributes to an interdisciplinary team developing an Indigenous Land Stewardship Program, and is the author of the open educational textbook Writing Place. As an instructor of discipline-specific scholarly writing, Lindsay supports students from diverse backgrounds, including those in their first year, helping them discover writing as a powerful tool for learning, reflection, and connection. Her impact is reflected in the outstanding feedback she receives from students, who consistently describe her teaching as motivating, engaging, and inspiring.

As wildfire seasons become longer and more destructive, Alberta electricity providers are introducing programs designed to intentionally shut off power in high-risk areas, like the Bow Valley, before wildfires start. The strategy, known as Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS), involves intentionally shutting off electricity during extreme conditions to reduce the risk of power lines sparking wildfires. This month, electricity providers AltaLink and FortisAlberta presented the program to Canmore town council. …Utilities say the decision to proactively shut off power would depend on extreme weather conditions such as wind speed, humidity, vegetation dryness and wildfire danger ratings —all of which can increase the risk of power lines sparking a wildfire. “It is not a decision we take lightly,” says AltaLink vice-president of operations Evan Mitchell. “We need to see conditions where, if a spark were to start, there is a risk it could produce a catastrophic wildfire.”

Local residents are being invited to help shape the next decade of local forestry management at an upcoming public open house in Coldstream. The provincial government, in partnership with local First Nations groups, are hosting a joint engagement session on Monday, June 8, to gather community feedback on the development of the tmíxʷ naqscn Forest Landscape Plan (FLP). …The new FLP framework is a legal mechanism designed to replace older Forest Stewardship Plans. Once established by the chief forester, the 10-year plan will govern all timber harvesting, road layout and silviculture activities for BC Timber Sales and local forest licensees across the region’s watersheds. …The finalized FLP will shift the focus toward long-term ecosystem health, addressing critical modern challenges such as wildfire risk reduction, climate change adaptation, old-growth protection, and biodiversity, while maintaining a predictable and sustainable timber supply

David Broadland of The Evergreen Alliance is asking the Forest Practices Board to launch an investigation into the role that MOSAIC Forestry played in the Mount Underwood fire last summer. …MOSAIC communications manager Olivia Lyle said the Mount Underwood was deemed not related to their harvesting practices and they are confident in their fire hazard management practices. Listed as “human caused”, within 70 hours the August 11th fire became the biggest fire on Vancouver Island in almost 60 years… The Forest Practices Board has yet to comment on the complaint.

City of Powell River Council has approved the spring 2026 not-for-profit organization grants from the Powell River Community Forest reserve fund, with 12 grants, totalling $304,836.68, to be distributed to community organizations. At the May 21 city council meeting, interim manager of partnerships, intergovernmental and public relations Susan Auchterlonie outlined the granting process, indicating the community forest board reviews the applications and recommends grants to be awarded for council consideration, in both spring and fall allocations. She said the community forest board also provides input on projects submitted by the city that utilize the community forest reserve fund. Auchterlonie said a budget of $1.2 million was approved in the 2026 to 2030 financial plan, which is $600,000 for spring and $600,000 for fall grant distribution.

BURNABY, BC – New research from BCAA reveals nearly two-thirds of British Columbians expect this summer’s wildfire season to be worse than usual, with half reporting they feel scared about potential impacts. Yet, despite nearly three quarters describing wildfires as “an overwhelming challenge for BC”, a powerful resolve for action and a sense of hope shine through: Over two-thirds are likely to take action to reduce wildfire risk; six in ten say taking even a small action would give them a sense of hope; and three-quarters are hopeful that BC can become more resilient to wildfires. Championing this collective spirit of hope and resilience, BCAA’s summer Fireweed Pin Campaign is kicking off for its second year… One hundred per cent of Fireweed Pin proceeds directly supports wildfire resilience and recovery work through two organizations: First Nations’ Emergency Services Society (FNESS) and Canadian Mental Health Association BC (CMHA BC).