Ian Eddy
Intrigued by the rapidly growing field of geospatial science, Ian Eddy made a life-changing decision—abandoning a future as a lawyer—he jumped headfirst into … a peatbog? The Pacific Forestry Centre in Victoria—one of seven research stations across Canada—is home to a rare breed of geospatial analyst within the Cumulative Effects (CE) Program: Ian Eddy is helping a team of research ecologists build a suite of modular, interchangeable models for simulating landscape level processes, including vegetation succession, fire, timber harvesting, climate change and carbon cycling. But ecology wasn’t always on Eddy’s career radar. …The CE Program aims to use computer models to answer questions about the consequences of various management actions on the landscape. Using high-performance computing resources, the analyses include state-of-the-art applications such as: Projecting trends in forest composition and biomass under a range of future climates; Assessing the capacity of forest management activities to mitigate expected declines in forest productivity; and Projecting changes in the size and frequency of forest fires due to climate change.
Next up was RBC analyst Paul Quinn, who titled his talk, BC – What Went Wrong and What Needs to Happen Now. As for what went wrong, Quinn says it’s “those policy changes that add even more costs to BC’s new status as North America’s high cost producer”. In effect, Quinn described the government’s efforts to modernize the forest sector as “the problem”. “Capital and investment are risk adverse and money flows away from uncertainty or it requires a premium return to offset the increased risk”, according to Quinn. “Unfortunately, the BC industry is producing below average returns while demonstrating a high and rising risk profile. BC has moved from the lowest cost jurisdiction in North America in 2010 to the highest cost in 2021, and recent policy changes will exacerbate the situation. Simply put, BC is becoming uninvestable”.
Can anyone remember a more tumultuous time in BC forestry? Changes are afoot but the question is whether these changes are built on the solid foundation needed for success. The truth is, probably not. Let’s start with the old-growth issue and government’s decisions to “start” deferring substantial areas from harvest forever. …The truth is, BC has world leading levels of outright protection of land and forests, truly sustainable harvesting, stringent regulatory requirements, and the highest proportion of independently certified forests in the world. …The truth is about 30 per cent of BC’s old-growth forests can grow the “big” trees most of the public associates with their definition of old growth. …The truth is, BC’s value-added sector heavily depends on continued old-growth harvesting.
As we ring in 2022, B.C.’s forest product producers face ongoing uncertainty with renewed resolve. Globally, we continue to tackle the biggest health and economic crisis of a generation… At the same time, expectations on important issues like climate change are ramping up. More consumers are rightfully demanding products that are good for the planet. Investors are backing companies that are embracing the importance of environmental, social, governance (ESG). And many of our biggest trading partners are driving towards net zero. …The forest sector continues to be a shining light – keeping people working and revenue to government flowing during the pandemic. …The sector provides an outsized contribution to government revenue – $4 billion annually – helping pay for hospitals, affordable housing and COVID relief. …Our hope is that 2022 will be the year we double down on efforts to put B.C.’s forest sector on a positive path forward, ensuring it continues to contribute to a better province and a better planet.
Vancouver, BC – For many months, the Truck Loggers Association (TLA) has strongly advocated for much-needed, real dialogue on successfully moving BC’s forest sector forward. On January 12 and 13, the TLA will initiate this long overdue dialogue through a series of virtual sessions with industry representatives offering a broad spectrum of viewpoints. The virtual event will feature a series of speakers and sessions that will address the harsh reality and implications of sweeping forest policy changes by the BC government, and options to move the sector forward. “Government’s policy directions and decisions have set in motion an unprecedented level of uncertainty and concern among the thousands of hard-working men and women in our sector,” says Bob Brash, Executive Director of the TLA. “A decision to defer 2.6 million hectares of old growth came without meaningful consultation, followed by government fast tracking legislation … warrants the very discussions to be held during these virtual sessions.”
Last November’s floods in southwestern B.C. added to inflation in the construction sector that is approaching double digits for many builders. Damaged highways and railways introduced transportation bottlenecks for B.C. lumber producers and added competition for gravel supplies already in high demand for a booming building market. And that was on top of supply chains that were already strained by the COVID-19 pandemic. Construction costs on wood-frame detached homes in particular “are taking a big hit” because lumber is such a big component of their price, said Ran Rapp, CEO of the Homebuilders Association of Vancouver. Rapp’s association estimated a typical detached house costs about $30,000 more to build now than it did a year ago. “At the same time, almost every other material has been subjected to some kind of increase,” Rapp said. 
A report by Dexter Realty tells everyone to brace for a fascinating year. “As the Metro Vancouver housing market comes off a record sales year, we are entering what could be the most interesting 12 months this region has ever seen,” executive Kevin Skipworth wrote. …1. Canada does not have enough housing supply. To make matters worse, Skipworth said that the government “does not have…the political gumption to provide the housing needed for the biggest surge in immigration this country has ever seen”….2. Federal government wants to tax homes some more What’s the proof? Skipworth cited new report funded by Canada’s national housing agency, which calls for a new and additional tax on houses. …3. Homes will remain expensive. “The price increases are being fueled by the housing shortage, and the shortage is because of rising prices”.
We are happy to announce the start of a new partnership with Mosaic Forest Management on Vancouver Island in BC, Canada. LOTS, through 
A new conservation foundation is working to provide Indigenous and other land-based communities with funds to protect endangered ecosystems and build economic alternatives to the logging of at-risk old-growth forests. It’s unjust and impractical to expect communities that rely on revenue from activities such as forestry, ranching or resource extraction to bear the financial burden of shifting their local economy on their own to protect areas for the benefit of all, said Ken Wu, chair of the recently established Nature-Based Solutions Foundation. … Conservation financing allows communities to protect or conserve valuable ecosystems and is ideally paired with the development of economic alternatives in areas such as tourism, recreation, clean energy, sustainable fisheries and agriculture, or the setting up Indigenous Guardian programs, where people who live on the land become the stewards of conservation areas in their territories … provincial and federal governments need to step up and provide the lion’s share.
Ombudsperson Jay Chalke released his final update regarding an investigation highlighting gaps in oversight of the regulatory scheme that seeks to protect some of B.C.’s most sensitive ecosystems. The ombudsperson’s initial 2014 report Striking a Balance examined the Ministry of Forests use of what’s known as a professional reliance model in the protection of land surrounding streams, lakes and inland waters when development occurs. Under the Riparian Areas Protection Regulation government relies on the registered members of five environmental professions — agrologists, applied biologists, applied science technologists/technicians, engineers and foresters — to conduct assessments and make recommendations to protect riparian areas from development, while government provides oversight. The ombudsperson’s investigation found there were significant gaps in how this system operates and recommended changes to strengthen oversight, compliance with the law, public accountability and transparency.
I support the B.C. Government proposal deferring old growth logging in Crystalline and Stockdale Creeks. I urge local [and provincial government] to take back the planning and control of our forests. The liquidation of our forests is occurring by a few large corporations who are in charge of the harvest of our most valuable resource. …The Liberal Government [2001 – 2017] essentially eliminated forest management by the Forest Service and delivered our most valuable resource to public enterprise. …What we see now is systematic logging of all merchantable wood, which is harvested drainage-by-drainage and will continue to be harvested until precious little of the forests remain. …At the present time the Forest Licensees are free to operate with very few restrictions. …A good place to start would be to eliminate full log exports and instead sell manufactured products within B.C. and the world instead of shipping full logs and jobs to the US.
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…Molly Hudson, director of sustainability, and Colin Koszman, land use forester of Mosaic Forest Management, appeared before Cumberland council in December to update the village on the company. “We’re always happy to talk about our activities,” Hudson said. “Our company is really based on the tenets of responsible stewardship.” The company operates on some Crown land and on a tree farm licence, as well as privately owned land, as is the case with Cumberland forests. Most of their operations take place in second- or third-generation forests. One of the longstanding issues in the Cumberland area, raised at previous council meetings, has been burning, though Hudson said the company is making progress by reducing the level of pile burning by about 10 per cent a year over the last few years. The province, she added, is moving toward having waste chipped rather than burned by the end of this decade.
Richmond, B.C. — WorkSafeBC announced today that it will be supporting B.C. employers as they reactivate their COVID-19 safety plans. These efforts follow the Provincial Health Officer’s order that COVID-19 safety plans will be required by all employers currently operating in B.C. A COVID-19 Safety Plan involves a multi-step process to assess the risks of COVID-19 transmission in the workplace and to introduce measures to reduce those risks. “Fortunately, employers in B.C. are experienced with COVID-19 safety plans and they now need to reactivate their plan by reviewing and updating it for the current environment,” says Al Johnson, Head of Prevention Services at WorkSafeBC. To support employers and workers, WorkSafeBC is posting COVID-19 safety plan resources online, including sector-specific protocols, checklists, planning templates, education and training materials, signage, and other tools.