Region Archives: Canada West

The Power of Forests Project, a BC-wide coalition of grassroots groups that want to see changes made to the province’s forestry industry, brought its plan for a new forestry act to Prince George on the weekend. It was introduced on Sept. 28, with veteran forester Herb Hammond, Jennifer Houghton of the Boundary Forest Watershed Stewardship Society and Michelle Connolly of Conservation North, speaking. Project organizers are calling for a new provincial forestry act, the primary objective of which would be to maintain the ecological integrity of forest ecosystems while developing community-based jobs as well as local economies that would strengthen the provincial economy. …Schools will have a role to play, he said. “The most important thing is get discussion and facts into the public education system,” Hammond said. “The timber companies are visibly doing this. You can take forestry classes. But it’s forestry like what we’ve been talking about. It’s forestry that destroys.”

British Columbia’s nagging drought could be eased by an incoming weather pattern that may bring a colder and wetter than normal winter, says Sean Fleming, an adjunct UBC professor of atmospheric sciences. The prolonged drought has caused wildfires to burn year-round, forced some communities to ration water supplies and dangerously lowered water levels in rivers, impacting salmon runs. Citing the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Fleming, who works in UBC’s Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, said early projections show a 71 per cent chance that an La Nina weather pattern will move in. …“Potentially, we could be looking at greater than average flooding this winter if the La Nina conditions pan out,” he said in an interview. “That also means, though, greater water supply, greater snowpack in general, greater water supply availability for the next spring and summer.”

A groundbreaking Haida film delves into the 1985 conflict in which the Haida people defended their old-growth forests on Tllga Kun Gwaayaay (Lyell Island) from clear-cut logging. Director Christopher Auchter’s documentary The Stand combines archival footage with animation, taking viewers through the confrontation as if they are experiencing the events in linear time to create a sense of tension and urgency. …The Stand is Auchter’s first feature-length film, and will make its world debut on Oct. 3 at the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF). …Auchter remembers his childhood in Haida Gwaii, when forestry workers would visit and inform the residents that, at the current rate of logging, they would lose all their old-growth forests within 10 years. He says the old-growth stands vital to the Haida as they need the big cedar and spruce for totem poles, building canoes, fruit and bark.

Dana Giesbrecht has had enough with Canfor in Houston. “They’ve done fine with Houston. When you see logging trucks leaving, you know there’s timber. They’re just hauling it down the highway,” she said of the company’s decision to ship wood elsewhere after first closing its existing sawmill last year and then shelving plans to build a replacement. It’s what prompted her to make signs and gather a small group Sept. 21 to express their frustration. “People should know what Canfor is doing to communities, small communities. It’s people leaving. We’re losing good people and Canfor doesn’t care,” she said. Giesbrecht and her husband have themselves been affected by Canfor’s actions in Houston. They have four log processors, devices which cuts trees to length and sorts the logs for transport, and they haven’t worked since March.

John Brink interviews Percy Guichon, Executive Director of Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd., and Councillor of Tŝideldel First Nation. Educated at the College of New Caledonia with a Forest Technician Diploma, and with years of lived experience, Guichon significantly contributes to his community’s growth and sits on several boards enhancing local economic and environmental initiatives. Percy’s role as a director of the Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd. has reiterated his beliefs that reconciliation is not just about acknowledging the past; it’s about reshaping the present and future to embrace the ideals of unity, opportunity, and collaboration.

Part three of the Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation’s (CCR) five-part video series has been released. CCR said The latest video will focus on the economic benefits of forestry, with the previous two covering the economic and environmental focus of forestry. Percy Guichon said ” forestry has opened up opportunities for employment and economic development in our community of Tsideldel  First Nation by way of jobs in many different areas.” Guichon added forestry jobs created through CCR help support small businesses, and provide good, family-supporting jobs, while supporting multiple First Nations.

B.C.’s capital hopes to obtain millions in grants that could help expand Victoria’s tree canopy, revitalize a downtown landmark and lower the cost of potentially replacing the city’s aging pool facility. Council on Thursday (Sept. 26) unanimously voted to have staff apply for capital project grants totalling more than $35 million… Boosting the number of trees in the city is a running theme among the grant opportunities as Victoria will try to get $2.5 million to increase its urban forest. That grant – which is funded by the Government of Canada and delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities – would be used to increase the tree canopy in Victoria’s heat islands and see more trees planted in parks, on boulevards and along Government Street.

While it will always be necessary to probe the ways humans harm wild creatures, some biologists, ecologists and environmentalists believe it’s also worth noting when people have figured out ways to shore up the natural world. Sea otters. Peregrine falcons. Humpback whales. Elephant seals. These are just some of the species that have recovered in B.C… Many lessons can be learned when animal populations successfully return, which scientists say has become possible because humans have developed greater appreciation of the world’s interconnectedness… “There’s more understanding that there are modest things we can do that can bring about big changes in animal populations,” says University of B.C. forestry biologist Peter Arcese. “There’s good evidence that, to a large degree, we have agency in the environment.”

By this time, Jasper National Park’s caribou breeding centre was supposed to be nearly done, ready for pregnant cows to bed down behind its fence, safe from predators and working on replenishing the park’s diminishing herds. This summer’s wildfire had other ideas… The fire not only ravaged homes in the Jasper townsite and much-loved mountain landscapes, it also scorched plans for Canada’s first captive breeding centre for caribou. Parks Canada is building a $40-million centre that would permanently pen up to 40 females and five males in a highly managed and monitored area of about one square kilometre surrounded by an electrified fence. The agency suggests the captive breeding could produce enough calves every year to bring Jasper’s herds to sustainable levels in a decade.

Local logging tenures belong to the people who live here, says the District of Houston council in one of its strongest statements to date since Canfor shelved plans to replace its closed sawmill with a new one. Saying it is aware the company has put both its licences to cut wood and its closed sawmill up for sale, the District remains “firm in our belief that the harvesting of local logs should be directly tied to local jobs,” it stated in a Sept. 26, 2024 release. “Tenures, in our view, are not mere assets to be traded between large corporations. They belong to the people of this community and region, and ultimately, the people of British Columbia.”

A second attempt at a letter of support for a forestry industry lobby campaign against cutting regulations was quashed by Nanaimo city council in a split vote…On Sept. 9, lumber industry representatives presented to Nanaimo council, on behalf of the Forestry Works for B.C. campaign, requesting a letter of support against the current regulations. The campaign is a collective effort that represents several forest-based organizations and companies, including Coastland Wood Industries, Nanaimo Forest Products, Jones Marine Group and the Truck Loggers Association… “The reason why harvest rates are low is in response to all the controversy around old-growth and unsustainable practices,” said Coun. Ben Geselbracht, who voted against the lobbyists’ request… Other council members who voted against included Coun. Hilary Eastmure, Paul Manly, Janice Perrino and Erin Hemmens.

B.C.’s new land and water ministry is in disarray, according to several groups that hoped its creation would lead to better management of the province’s natural resources… The new ministry was created in 2022 with responsibility for land and water management removed from the forestry ministry. About 1,130 staff were transferred from existing ministries, along with $82 million in funding. Another 90 new staff members were hired to fill new roles, while an additional $17 million formed the ministry’s budget that year… As the ministry gained responsibility for sections of the Wildlife Act, Land Act and Water Sustainability Act in 2023, it also gained complex and challenging files as the province worked to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. 

Hélène Marcoux

We had the pleasure of speaking with Hélène Marcoux, Manager of the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, to gain insight into the complexities of managing this invaluable UBC resource. Hélène’s expertise in forest management, combined with her passion for advancing research and education, has been pivotal in shaping the forest’s future. In this conversation, Hélène reflects on her experiences, the challenges of balancing ecological integrity with research needs, and the forest’s vital role in education and community engagement. …My name is Hélène Marcoux – I’m a registered professional forester and a forest ecologist, silviculturist and a nerd when it comes to plants and soils. My primary role includes overseeing the entire 5100-ha Malcolm Knapp Research Forest (MKRF) operations – including the relationships, the finances, the land and our academic mission. 

According to a team of tornado researchers, the Jasper National Park wildfire may have spawned a rare fire tornado – or even two. Aaron Jaffe, a lead surveyor for the Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP), is part of a team studying the destruction left by a fire storm in the Wabasso Campground area this summer… Fire tornadoes, according to Jaffe, are rare phenomena. If confirmed, this would be the second documented case in Canada. The first was confirmed by the NTP in Gun Lake, B.C. last August. In Jasper, Parks Canada officials estimated the winds from the fire storm reached between 150 km/h and 180 km/h – the equivalent to an EF-1 Tornado.

Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said on Wednesday that his ministry is not to blame for the fire that ripped through Jasper National Park this summer, devastating one-third of all structures in the Alberta mountain town, and that nothing could have been done to prevent it… Questions have been raised about whether the federal government, which oversees Jasper through Parks Canada, had done enough to prepare against a catastrophic wildfire, particularly given the amount of dead trees in the area, resulting from years of pine-beetle infestation. The environment minister told the committee that Jasper was one of Canada’s most “fire-prepared” communities before the 32,000-hectare blaze, which started in late July.

Additional coverage in Global News by Sean Boynton: Jasper wildfire: Minister urges ‘need to do more’ during heated testimony

Jeff McWilliams

…Currently there are about 40 thousand people living on the BC coast who directly rely on what has become an unstable industry. The forest sector for some time has been facing a shrinking fibre supply, high harvesting costs and inefficient aging mills. Thousands have already lost their jobs and there’s a great deal of pessimism about the future. Successive governments of all political stripes have tried quick fixes to the forest management framework without much success. Clearly a comprehensive policy review is badly needed. So, what comes next? Jeff McWilliams is a third-generation Registered BC Forester who believes through significant changes to land use planning, tenure and taxation a solution is possible. He says a key pillar would be the establishment of community and regional management of most forested areas. This proposed new management structure would include collaborations between First Nations and non-First Nations residents to oversee “Community Forests”.

PRINCE GEORGE, BC — Who is to blame? It is not just the political landscape that is changing but the picture of the altering economics must be seen through a new frame. …Yes, it was somehow foreseeable, but the recent announcement of closures of the Canfor sawmill in Fort St. John and the big Plateau Mill in Vanderhoof clearly confirms that our forestry industry is in deep trouble. How come? The steadily increasing tariffs along with relatively high taxes and stumpage fees cause lumber producers to not be competitive anymore. The government’s fault? Yes. If corporations cannot earn enough money to invest and stay alive, they must close. No doubt, wildfires and pine beetles have contributed to timber shortages, as well as wrong forest management and policies. …It is difficult to understand why we were unable to establish a secondary manufacturing industry, a wood value-adding industry.

A documentary film set to be screened in Campbell River on Oct. 9 seeks to inspire conservations around the condition of forests and the forestry industry in B.C. Set in the Pacific Northwest, Silvicola showcases the cultural and economic factors that both shape and constrain B.C.’s modern forestry practices. By exploring remote locations and worksites, the documentary provides a platform for workers to share their experiences. Erik Piikkila, a forest ecologist based in Ladysmith, who has worked for B.C.’s Ministry of Forestry, was interviewed in Silvicola, which is Latin for “inhabitant of a wood.” He is joining the film’s Vancouver Island tour in October, for the post event Q&A, alongside filmmaker, Jean-Philippe Marquis, Sierra Club BC’s Jens Wieting, and local expert guest speakers. The next day, Piikkila will lead a forest walk at Beaver Lodge Lands. Silvicola … takes a multi-sided approach, enabling forest workers with different perspectives to share their stories.

NORTHERN BC – In 2017, massive wildfires decimated hundreds of thousands of hectares of forest land in the Chilcotin. Percy Guichon, Executive Director with the Central Chilcotinn Rehabilitation Limited, says one of them was in his own region. “The Plateau fire in the Hanceville area. I mean, that was 800,000 hectares.” It left behind what would appear to be useless timber. Mere blackened shadows of a forest. But not so fast. “We feel we’re obligated to utilize and to rehabilitate these towns so they can, you know, become more productive for for future generations.” Forestry has been a part of Guichon’s life for years, starting as a tree planter. And much has changed in those subsequent years. Especially, the stewards of the land. “One of the big differences today is there’s a lot more First Nations within B.C. are involved and the forest management sector.”

John Streicker

Each year, from September 22 to 28, we celebrate National Forest Week across the Yukon and Canada. This is a meaningful time to reflect on the deep connection we share with the Yukon’s forests and to honour the role they play in our lives. Here in the Yukon, we have more than 28 million hectares of boreal forests that are essential to our ecological, cultural, social and economic wellbeing. As a government, we understand the responsibility we have to protect and manage this land. We strive to ensure that people and companies use our forest resources sustainably, while supporting socioeconomic opportunities and protecting our valuable forest ecosystems. We are pleased to join the Canadian Institute of Forestry to acknowledge this year’s national theme, Two-Eyed Seeing: Welcoming all knowledge to sustain our forests, integrating Traditional Knowledge and western science with mutual respect.

Additional coverage from The City of Toronto: Mayor Olivia Chow joins community to celebrate National Tree Day as part of the City of Toronto’s $15 million investment in 120,000 new trees and shrubs for 2024

From the Arrow Lakes News, by Tracey McKay: A little bit about Nakusp’s forests and logging – National Forest Week

Christine Gelowitz

Few realize that forestry is an applied science, which makes forest professionals, the people who practise professional forestry, de facto ‘working scientists.’ …Within forestry there are specialized fields such as silviculture, forest ecology, forest operations and forest conservation. …In addition to its scientific aspects, forestry can be an art. It involves developing forest management plans to delicately balance many dynamic—and sometimes conflicting—social, environmental, and economic values including biodiversity, wildlife habitat, wildfire management, water quality and watershed management, recreation opportunities, carbon sequestration, Indigenous values, public safety, timber production, and employment opportunities. …How forests were managed in the past is not how they are managed today, and not how they will be managed in the future. Forest professionals support this ongoing change. They are following the science and adapting their practices to meet changing forest conditions for the betterment of forests and the well-being of everyone living in this province.

Stephanie Ewen

In celebration of National Forest Week, we had the opportunity to sit down with Stephanie Ewen, Manager of the Alex Fraser Research Forest, to explore the unique challenges and rewards of managing one of UBC Forestry’s key research forests. Stephanie shares her insights on balancing conservation, education, and operational forestry within this dynamic landscape. “I am responsible for managing UBC’s area-base crown tenure for timber management that is the Alex Fraser Research Forest. We provide research and provide demonstration and education opportunities, while using timber revenue to cover our staff and infrastructure costs. …there are seasonal routines such as spring planting, summer forest development and road building, and winter harvesting that set the cadence of my role. Interspersed with those activities, I get the pleasure of working with researchers to help facilitate their projects, and provide teaching support to UBC Forestry’s various field-courses,” said Ewen.  

Last week, Fort St. John City Council attended the annual Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Convention, engaging with provincial ministries, collaborating with other local governments, and advocating for the priorities of northern communities. During meetings with provincial ministries, Council addressed various critical issues including: Closure of the Canfor sawmill; salvage logging of wildfire-impacted areas; and a year-round forest fire management program. Fort St. John also submitted four advocacy resolutions at the convention that included, supporting salvage logging of wildfire-impacted areas and establishing a year-round forest fire management program. Council also met with Canfor representatives regarding the decision to close the Fort St. John Sawmill, where Canfor cited delays in the provincial permitting process for timber harvesting as a key factor.

Federal officials and researchers say elevated levels of drought across the country are making wildfire seasons longer — particularly in northwestern Canada. At a technical briefing on Wednesday, researchers from several federal departments sharing their findings for this year said higher-than-normal drought levels are driving fire behaviour year-round, and fires are expected to burn at least until the winter in the Northwest Territories, northern Alberta and B.C. Yan Boulanger, a federal forest ecologist, said although fire behaviour is winding down across the country, the federal government will need to shift to a year-round fire management strategy. “We must continue to be vigilant against fires starting all year round,” he said. “We need to shift away from viewing wildland fires simply as seasonal events and move toward the concept of a continuous fire year.”

When wildfires ravaged the town of Jasper in July, it wasn’t hard for Banff residents to imagine it happening in their own mountain community. …Parks Canada says there is a combination of factors that are increasing the chance and severity of intense, faster-moving and longer-lasting wildfires that pose a risk to communities in mountain parks. …Parks Canada is taking steps to reduce the risk of wildfires in Banff National Park through several fire management projects in the fall and through the winter. In November, crews will begin thinning a 200-hectare area on Tunnel Mountain, using machines to clear mature pine and spruce trees. The goal is to reduce fuel for fires that could pose a risk to Banff, Harvie Heights and Canmore.