The natural rhythms of the mature forest are often comfortably familiar. Every year, for example, wild flowers reappear on the forest floor in the same places they always have. But new plans influencing how B.C. forests are managed and harvested have the potential for long lasting and widely spread changes to familiar patterns. …This musing is prompted by the British Columbia government’s recent decision to not make a decision surrounding the issue of harvesting ‘old growth’ forests. Instead, the provincial government opted to foment uncertainty by deferring for at least two years any harvesting decisions on about 2.6 million hectares of B.C. Crown-owned forest land. The area joins at least a further 10 million hectares of Crown forest land already protected for other uses.
Don Kayne, Canfor’s President and CEO said the manufacture of lumber in sawmills is the backbone of B.C.’s forestry sector. “Without a solid primary industry in British Columbia that has got the hosting conditions to invest … then we have no pulp and paper industry, we have no pellet industry, we have no secondary manufacturing industry, we have no (cross laminated timber) plants—we have none of that,” declared Kayne. “We need to figure out how to have a sustainable, globally competitive primary industry here in British Columbia to support all the rest of our ambitions.” Right now, that’s not happening. …The risk is continued government inaction could permanently dim more lights in communities across the province.
B.C. export momentum slowed in December but still posted a blockbuster year for international sales in 2021. Full-year exports rose 36 per cent to a record $53.9 billion, smashing the previous high of $48 billion in 2018. While monthly patterns have bounced around with a particularly noteworthy surge followed by a retrenchment in the forestry sector, resources-oriented industries led 2021 gains. Specifically, energy exports, which captures to a large extent natural gas, electricity and coal rose 76 per cent. Forestry products rose 42 per cent. Annual imports rose 22 per cent to $65.5 billion, reflecting double-digit gains observed in most product segments, although growth was slower in consumer goods imports (up 12.8 per cent). …On the forestry front, softwood lumber shipment data showed a 63 per cent increase in dollar-volume exports and three per cent increase real activity.
The B.C. government is preparing for falling revenues and rising unemployment in the wood products industry as it works toward Indigenous-led forest management with greater protection of old and rare forests. Projections in Tuesday’s B.C. budget show a decline in provincial revenue from timber cutting, from $1.8 billion in the current year to $1.1 billion in 2024-25. The drop is mainly as a result of province-wide deferrals of harvesting in areas identified as rare and threatened old-growth forests, Finance Minister Selina Robinson said Feb. 22. The budget includes $182 million over three years to “support forestry workers and communities affected by old-growth logging deferrals,” the finance ministry said in a statement. “This includes connecting workers with short-term employment opportunities and providing education and skills training for community members.” …Another $44 million is set aside to create a new ministry of lands, water and resource stewardship, split off from the current forests ministry.
VICTORIA — This week the New Democrats were again touting a glowing future for the forestry sector in B.C. …Despite the official optimism from the government, there are some less-promising signs for the forest sector on other fronts. One of the most telling involved news regarding B.C. government pension funds that are invested in a large tract of forest land in Texas and Louisiana. Those being two of the states in the southern U.S. where B.C. based forest companies have been investing in production facilities in recent years. B.C. Investment Management Corp., the independent agency that manages public sector pension funds, has a piece of the action as well. The corporation announced Sunday that it had entered into a partnership with a division of BTG Pactual, a Latin American investment bank, to create Caddo Sustainable Timberlands. …But the holdings include more than 3,000 square kilometres of timberlands in east Texas and western Louisiana.
…Finance Minister Selina Robinson has promised a budget that will boost the economy while funding NDP priorities. …The Council of Forest Industries… reminded government during pre-budget consultations that its sector contributes more than $2 billion annually to provincial revenues and provides more than 100,000 jobs. “It is a sector that helps to pay for things like hospitals, schools, mental health support and other critical services,” said Alexa Young, COFI’s vice-president of government and public affairs. “We’d like to see recognition of the outsized role that the forest industry plays in supporting people’s well-being across British Columbia and that the future can be bright.” …“It is important to regularly modernize forestry policy to reflect the fact that climate is having an affect on our forests, to continuously look at how you better engage and increase the participation of First Nations in the sector. …how you get there is important, too,” Young said. 
The County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service is on the scene at the Weyerhaeuser sawmill after a structure fire at the facility at approximately 6 a.m. Monday. A total of 30 firefighters from Clairmont, Dunes, Bezanson, Sexsmith, and Grovedale, plus the fire brigade from International Paper were called to the fire this morning. The fire was found inside the building wall, which made it difficult to access. Crews remain on the scene to put out hotspots to make sure the building is safe. No injuries were reported and the building remains operational. The County Fire Marshal is on the scene at the sawmill working together with facility workers to investigate the cause of the fire, which is still unknown at this time. [END]
PRINCE GEORGE, BC—During the province’s hour long press conference Thursday, forestry was not mentioned once. While the industry is mentioned in the 
VANCOUVER, BC — Canfor Pulp announced a minimum six-week curtailment of BCTMP production at Taylor Pulp in response to significant transportation shortages that have resulted in inventories at the pulp mill reaching capacity. “Taylor Pulp has been dealing with ongoing transportation challenges that have significantly impacted the facility’s ability to ship product,” said Don Kayne, CEO. “We regret the impact the curtailment will have on our employees, their families and the community.” Already facing increasing fibre costs due to the constrained fibre supply in the region and a weaker longer- term outlook for BCTMP markets, the current logistical issues have created a very challenging business environment for Taylor Pulp. …The curtailment will reduce the production of BCTMP by at least 25,000 tonnes.
A judge hearing a request to stay proceedings against people arrested at old-growth logging protests on Vancouver Island says the application has a reasonable prospect of success, but he wants another judge to consider it with “fresh eyes.” B.C. Supreme Court Justice Douglas Thompson says he has asked the chief justice to assign a second judge to hear the protesters’ application, which alleges misconduct by the RCMP during arrests where about 400 people were charged with criminal contempt. …Six protesters were part of the application, but the Crown has since stayed charges against two women who also alleged abuse of process by officers who they said used unlawful tactics to arrest them. …Thompson says he anticipates a new judge will hold a pre-hearing conference to get advice before lawyers for protesters and the Crown are told when the stay application will be heard.
Port Alberni, B.C. – A new Indigenous-led approach to resource planning has launched on Vancouver Island that will be coordinated by C̕awak ʔqin Forestry Limited Partnership (C̕awak ʔqin Forestry; formerly named TFL 44 LP). C̕awak ʔqin Forestry will work with nations on whose traditional territories Tree Farm Licence 44 is located to develop an Integrated Resource Management Plan for forest and ecosystem management. The TFL 44 IRMP will consider the present and future needs of the nations and ecosystems while bringing together the teachings of the nations’ ancestors, the wisdom of the nations’ elders and the input of the nations’ citizens and members. …The plan will inform provincially-legislated processes such as forest landscape plans, old-growth management and on-the-ground operational planning to ensure long-lasting socio-economic, environmental and cultural benefits across the area. 
There were more questions than answers at the Feb. 17 Sunshine Coast Natural Resource District Timber Supply Review public information session. The online event was hosted by a handful of Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD) staff to explain and get input on that review and a pilot-project Forest Landscape Plan in the district. Both will shape future forestry operations in the timber supply area (TSA) on the Coast. A couple dozen audience members signed in for the discussion. Multiple members of the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) Board and staff as well as representatives of local community and environmentally-focused groups attended. Those included the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association, Powell River Parks and Wilderness Society, Elphinstone Logging Focus, Atl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound Biosphere Reserve, and others.
The importance of protecting and enhancing the ecological benefits of North Cowichan’s 5,000-hectare municipal forest reserve was a strong theme during the first phase of the public-engagement process to determine the future of the reserve. Megan Turnock from Lees & Associates gave a presentation to the municipality’s committee of the whole on Feb. 8 summarizing the consultant company’s findings after hearing from 1,275 community members through an online survey, four online workshops and other outreach strategies. The consulting company was chosen by the municipality in 2019 to carry out the public-engagement process to help develop a management plan for the MFR. ….“Some participants are supportive of the current management of the MFR,” she said. …“Non-residents are saying they want to see changes in the MFR, while the residents generally want to see things progress they way they are,” Manhas said.
Stakeholders in the Woodlot Licence Program are still working hard to interpret and assess the ramifications of the Ministry of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations recent Old Growth Deferral and Recruitment strategy. It was set out in their document, A New Future For Old Forests. Industry experts predict that as many as 12,000 jobs could be lost as a result of this initiative… For many woodlot licensees, the consequences of this sudden policy shift will be terminal to their woodlot operations. As small-scale, area-based tenures, licensees can’t simply pull up stakes and move to a part of the Crown forest that isn’t under deferral or recruitment. …The province stands to lose some of the best Crown forest stewards…and small towns will be losing the economic benefits of small-scale forestry in their community. We asked licensees to explain the impact in their own words. We heard from Mark Adamson, Rod Blake, Stu Deverney, Kevin Webber, and John Marlow. 
Nelson’s fire chief submitted a report summer of 2021 regarding ways to mitigate wildfire threats. The Chief named water as the only proven effective way to battle wildfires once they flare. The Chief referred to rooftop sprinklers and large capacity pumps to move water from the lake to areas of the City under threat. In both instances, though, getting water where it’s needed is hampered by lack of pipe, pumps and infrastructure. …Our City is regarded as one of the most at-risk wildfire communities in all of Canada. …If water can minimize the threat of losing the city, how much would it cost for pumps to feed pipe, hydrants, and water cannons along the City uphill at the forest line? …Cost always emerges as the determining factor, and some will say they can’t afford a tax increase. But, what may be the cost of doing nothing?
A letter signed by 25 municipal officials from communities throughout B.C. urges the province to allocate funding to support its plans to defer harvesting in old-growth forests as part of the budget set to be released next week. The letter, addressed to Premier John Horgan, Forests Minister Katrine Conroy and other provincial officials, says significant funding is needed to support First Nations who would be affected by the deferral of old-growth logging in their territories. It says the government cannot ask communities that depend on logging to choose between logging and conservation when the latter is not economically viable, and adds that additional funds are needed to support workers in the forest industry. The letter was released by the Ancient Forest Alliance and signed by the mayors of Duncan, Port Moody and the Village of Tahsis.
I learned yesterday that the government is currently engaging with forestry districts to establish the allowable logging quotas for the next 10 years. I searched online but found it impossible to get the whole story. What I did find was that in each succeeding 10-year period, logging companies cut down more trees than in the period previous. …the amounts of timber logged are always higher than what the government considers sustainable. [With] fewer harvestable trees, companies are now taking them from sites that are less suitable for logging … I mention that because the Sunshine Coast Community Forest, once it is finished logging HM50, is planning to log the adjacent cutblock (HM70), which is even steeper and more unstable (it is literally a mountain of small rocks held in place by the forest). Logging should not be permitted there, and I join with ELF and others in calling on the SCCF to abandon that plan. 
The 2021–2023 Forestry High Risk Strategy (HRS) is a comprehensive prevention strategy that addresses workplace safety in forestry operations. The intent of the Forestry HRS is to execute focused and impactful inspectional activity in those areas of the timber harvesting segment that represent exceptional risk to workers. Identified high risk work activities typically fall into five areas of operations: Manual tree falling; Log transportation; Cable yarding; Mechanized harvesting (primary focus will be on steep slope and tethered/winch-assist operations in 2021–2023); and Silviculture. The goals of the 2021–2023 HRS are to: Reduce the serious injury and fatal injury rates in forestry operations with the greatest risk exposure, and Raise awareness and promote adherence to safe practices. For 2022 inspections, prevention officers will take a risk-based approach to ensure that the most significant risks are effectively managed. This approach involves workers and employers identifying hazards, evaluating risks, and implementing the appropriate controls specific to the on-site activities.