Region Archives: Canada West

The beaver is a well-known symbol associated with Canada. But in Alberta, beavers are not always looked upon favourably. Historically, tensions between beavers, farmers and ranchers have been high, as beavers can fell many trees and their dam-building can cause fields to flood, damaging crops and grazing areas… The researchers are exploring the impacts of beavers and their structures on hydrology and ecosystem health within the Sibbald Valley in Kananaskis Country… The researcher is also interested in how clear-cut logging on the slopes above the pond complex might alter the volume and speed of water entering the ponds. This work includes monitoring soil moisture levels on nearby slopes that remain treed and those that have been clear-cut.

The Terrace Community Forest is a private company owned by the City of Terrace and managed by an appointed board. The City isn’t involved in the day to day of the company, and the company generates its own cashflow through its resources. The Community Forest’s land base covers three areas, with portions in the Kitimat Valley, Amesbury/Shames, and Deep Creek/Spring Creek. Revenue is generated from their commercial thinning and retention harvesting program, and revenue stays within the community. This year’s annual contribution by the Community Forest to the City of Terrace is $200,000… To date, the Terrace Community Forest has allocated $5 million dollars to community projects.  They also aim to create local employment opportunities, and have created direct local employment valued at an estimated $30 million dollars.

The Miles Family

From Ginty’s Pond in Cawston to Vernon’s Okanagan Landing Elementary, the Okanagan Simlkameen Stewardship Society is celebrating this year’s efforts to replant native species across the region. More than 3,800 native trees, shrubs, grasses and wildflowers were used to restore natural habitats across the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys. “While the Okanagan’s mountain forests are abundant, our valley bottoms — where wildlife like American Badgers, Tiger Salamanders, and Burrowing Owls thrive—are under pressure from human activity,” said Lia McKinnon, OSS stewardship biologist. “We’re focusing on grasslands, wetlands, and riparian habitats because they provide essential resources, without them, wildlife cannot survive, no matter how much forest remains.”

TEDxVictoria returned to the region in May 2024, and saw several experts speak about issues facing not only BC, but the international community. One speaker was TJ Watt, an environmental advocate, Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) photographer, self-proclaimed big-tree hunter and National Geographic explorer. His TEDx Talk was titled ‘One Last Shot to Protect Old-Growth Forests in British Columbia.’ In his time on stage, Watt issued an urgent and passionate call for the permanent protection of these old-growth ecosystems. “I’m honoured to have been a TEDxVictoria speaker and to have the opportunity to share my life’s mission to protect endangered old-growth forests in BC with the world,” said Watt. …Watt was born and raised in Metchosin and his photography work, as well as his environmental advocacy, have established him as a leading voice in the movement to protect old-growth forests in BC.

A unique phenomenon has appeared in Jasper National Park after the 2024 wildfire. The locals call them “cheetah” or “leopard” trees after their spotted black and yellow appearance, and they’re the result of an explosive release of heat and pressure courtesy of the moisture that hides behind the thin outer bark of lodgepole pine trees. “The first time I saw them I thought maybe it was a woodpecker flaking the bark off burned trees, but that’s not actually what’s happening,” says Jasper National Park Resource Conservation Manager David Argument. “In an intense fire situation, the moisture in the sapwood beneath the bark, which can have quite high moisture content, is heated to steam so quickly that it turns into steam explosively and flakes off those patches of bark.” 

The Philippine Mars has flown for the first time in 17 years. “Today’s flight was short and so sweet,” pilot Pete Killin posted on social media following the flight on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. The Philippine Mars has not been flown since 2007 when the Coulson Group purchased the last two Martin Mars waterbombers from TimberWest (now operating as Mosaic Forest Management). Killin flew the Hawaii Mars on its final flight to Patricia Bay outside of Victoria in August, and will fly the Philippine Mars to its final destination outside of Tucson, Arizona. …Once the test flights are done the company can apply for a ferry permit to transport the plane down the west coast and then inland to Arizona, where it will end up in the Pima Air and Space Museum.

The 2025 Trek BC Gravel Series on Vancouver Island will feature four races in 2025. “For 2025, we are taking things to a new level with the continuation of our great partnership with Trek Bicycles and Mosaic Forest Management,” said race director, Jon Watkin. “With the expansion of the series to four epic events, we want to highlight the Island as the best gravel cycling destination in the world and give a ride experience that will create lasting fond memories.” …The event is sponsored by Trek Bicycles, and Mosaic Forest Management. Mosaic has partnered with key municipal partners such as the City of Campbell River, Cowichan Valley Regional District, Nanaimo Hospitality Association, and the Village of Cumberland. …Participants will be encouraged to take the time to visit the local host cities and take advantage of promotions from select hospitality partners and restaurants.

Tom Whitfield

Qualicum Beach council recently honoured its community volunteers, including two very special acknowledgements. …The 2024 Above & Beyond Award was presented to volunteer Tom Whitfield… Whitfield is a longtime resident and retired forester who exemplifies going ‘above and beyond’ for the community. Described as the “heart and soul of the Heritage Forest,” Whitfield can be found on any given day walking the forest, cheerfully watching over its grounds, observing its wildlife, or enthusiastically educating visitors. He has served as president of the Brown Property Preservation Society since 2009, and a member of the Heritage Forest Commission since 2006, playing a vital role in protecting and maintaining the Heritage Forest.

Chris Gruenwald

Mission’s forestry department took in a net profit of $1,113,699 from July through September. Forestry director Chris Gruenwald presented the department’s quarterly report to council on Dec. 3 to provide an update on finances, strategies, activities and potential issues. The net profit comes after a forecasted net loss of roughly $350,000 for the quarter. Per the report, the positive results are from harvesting the bulk of the volumes from two timber sales over the quarter. “Timber markets continue to remain volatile, despite the fact that markets were trending up early in the year. The department is actively monitoring markets and will release timber sales to take advantage of improving markets and low stumpage costs,” the report reads.

After years of collaboration, a Community Forest Agreement (CFA) has been issued for Quesnel and surrounding area. The Three Rivers Community Forest is an agreement between Lhtako Dene, Nazko, ʔEsdilagh, and Lhoosk’uz First Nations along with the City of Quesnel to enable the municipality and First Nations to manage local forest resources in the area, a news release from the city says. “Community forests are an opportunity for local involvement, investment and community benefit from the forest industry [where] communities can partner with First Nations to develop land management approaches that focus on shared values of sustainability and resiliency,” said B.C.’s minister of forests Ravi Parmar. “The Lhtako Dene, Nazko, ?Esdilagh, and Lhoosk’uz Dene Nations have worked for years with the city of Quesnel to bring the Three Rivers Community Forest together, and I’m excited to see the results of this collaboration and what it will mean for all five communities.”

“Looking at this year’s salmon return, relative to the last 15 years… I would call this year certainly average to above average,” said Greg Taylor, senior fisheries advisor to Watershed Watch Salmon Society. As some B.C. salmon hatcheries are experiencing their best return in a decade, experts across the province are welcoming the refreshing news. “We’ve seen good returns across species and populations,” said Taylor. “On the east coast of Vancouver Island, in most cases, we’re seeing excellent chum returns and very good coho returns,” said Taylor. “On the west coast, we saw excellent sockeye returns.” Another promising sign, noted Taylor, is the reappearance of steelhead, a member of the salmonid family, previously thought to be on the brink of collapse in numerous watersheds.

Doug Donaldson

Andrea Barnett

Oliver Brandes

POLIS Wildfire Resilience Project at the University of Victoria’s Centre for Global Studies — Premier David Eby has appointed a new cabinet, including Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar, who is coming to this role when major economic disruptions due to wildfires are impacting a stated focus of government: affordability. …these impacts will only increase unless smart investment in both community protection and wildfire prevention and mitigation starts immediately and is ongoing for at least a decade. The economic implications of wildfire are wide reaching. …Home and mortgage insurance rates have jumped 33 per cent across Canada since 2018 with wildfire listed as a contributing factor. The root cause is large insurance claims. …Tourism businesses, for example, are hugely affected when evacuations and widespread smoke disrupt or cancel travel plans. …This transformative change must be high on the affordability agenda of our incoming MLAs — and especially Minister Parmar — as we learn to live with wildfire in an increasingly combustible province.

This letter has been sent to Premier David Eby urging him to incorporate the following actions in the Ministry of Forests’ new mandate: 

1. Implement Old Growth Strategic Review Recommendations…
2. Review B.C. Timber Sales…
3. Strengthen Forest Act with Legislated Protections…
4. Define “Sustainable” Forestry…
5. Expand Protected Areas…

Without change, the decline in forestry jobs will continue, and the degradation of our environment will continue unchecked. I fear the premier’s office is listening more to forestry industry lobbyists and biased Ministry of Forests bureaucrats than to rational, evidence-based analyses. …It’s time for the B.C. NDP to focus on building a lasting legacy — one that fosters a greener province in every sense, from thriving forests to sustainable economic growth. 

Spotting dead trees that can fuel fires is challenging for forestry crews. Not so for drones, which can survey thousands of acres in a single afternoon… Forest managers are increasingly turning to them to pick out potential hotspots otherwise hidden in plain sight in a bid to protect critical infrastructure. …“Emergency preparedness and management and response are big, obvious fits right out of the gate,” said Bill Lakeland, co-founder and chief executive officer of Spexi, a drone imaging company based in British Columbia… Spexi — which has contracted with government and emergency management agencies across Canada — relies on a network of freelance pilots, who sign up for paid “missions” and agree to download proprietary software that allows the company to take control of their drones. …Researchers at BCIT and Northeastern University in Vancouver trained a computer vision algorithm on Spexi’s data to identify extreme fire risks from fuel loads hidden in vulnerable forests…

Mayco Noel, Erik Holbek & board

The Barkley Community Forest Corporation is chopping its annual cut by more than half and hopes to branch out by planting roots for more recreational opportunities. The community forest was launched in 2014 in partnership between the District of Ucluelet and Toquaht First Nation and has since generated about $3 million in shared profits for the two parties. The Corporation hosted open houses in Ucluelet and Macoah last month to bring both communities up to speed on a new forest management plan that reduces the annual allowable cut from 27,000 cubic metres to 12,600. “That cut was based on the inventory data that was passed on from the previous major licensee and operability and harvesting assumptions that were maybe a little optimistic,” the corporation’s general manager Erik Holbek told the Westerly News during the Ucluelet open house on Oct. 24.

Chris Duncan

Chris Duncan is a partner and national leader of forestry and forest products at MNP in Duncan, B.C. Chris, 38, has risen to become the national leader of the forestry and forest products practice at MNP, where he leads a team serving over 1,700 forestry clients across Canada. Growing up in a family-run logging business on Vancouver Island, Chris’s connection to the industry runs deep. “I remember taking days off school to watch my dad work as a logging contractor,” he says. “When I started with MNP, I naturally gravitated toward our forestry clients.” Over his 14-year career at MNP, Chris has earned a reputation for being a “dirty boots accountant,” regularly visiting client sites to offer hands-on business advice. His work spans accounting, tax services, and strategic consulting, and his influence extends to contractors, tenure holders, and Indigenous organizations, helping the industry adapt to evolving economic and environmental challenges.

Matthew Mitchell

Researchers at the University of B.C. say there’s a nature-based way to protect cities from floods, like the 2021 catastrophic flooding in B.C. or more recently the deadly floods that wiped out towns in Spain. A UBC study says preserving just five per cent of watersheds and two per cent of Canada’s land could shield more than half of urban floodplains, saving lives, crops and infrastructure. Matthew Mitchell, the study author who is a UBC forestry expert, says this is the first research of its kind in Canada to explore how ecosystems function as natural flood buffers.Key ecosystems safeguard 54 per cent of built-up areas and 74 per cent of cropland in floodplains, according to the study. When these areas are preserved, they absorb water, slow run-off and reduce the strain on flood defences,” said Mitchell.

Chris Gruenwald

Mission’s forestry director says the city’s tree farm license is “well positioned” with potential increased tariffs looming. “We don’t have a huge cut,” forestry director Chris Gruenwald said. “It’s big for us but in the grand scheme of things, it’s not huge. So I’m confident we can weather the storm.” However, Gruenwald says there are a number of challenges on the horizon. …Mission forestry doesn’t sell timber directly to buyers in the United States but Gruenwald says a “big chunk” of the product goes south of the border. It’s sold to local buyers who then ship the timber. “It’s another challenge for us. It seems there’s lots of negativity but at the end of the day, we have a very secure, high-quality supply of timber within our tree farm license and that’s not going to change. So I think we just have to ride some of this out and see where it goes,” he said.