Region Archives: Canada West

The Chinook Community Forest in Burns Lake was honoured with the 2024 Robin Hood Memorial Award by the Province for excellence in forest management and wildfire mitigation on June 12, 2024, in Mackenzie. “The people who manage and operate the Chinook Community Forest provide a great example of how community-based forestry enriches rural towns and economies,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Forests. …Chinook Community Forest has taken a leading role in sustainable forest management and wildfire mitigation in the Burns Lake area. …“Despite their land base being severely impacted by beetles and wildfires, they are committed to resilience in their forest management and governance,” said Randy Spyksma, president, BC Community Forest Association. “The Chinook Community Forest board and their manager, Ken Nielsen, exemplify the innovation and dedication required to govern a partnership between six First Nations and two local governments. This award is well deserved.”

Nearly three years after British Columbia’s deadly heat dome, its largest municipality says it will plant 100,000 trees to protect people from the effects of extreme heat. On Wednesday, Vancouver city council passed a motion instructing city staff to create a timeline and budget to plant 100,000 native and climate-resilient trees across the city. The motion specifies that the trees will be planted in neighbourhoods that have less tree coverage, which is shown to cause warmer temperatures. …“Science shows that tree canopy actually mitigates against that excess heat and actually brings down air temperatures considerably, and so that was one of the motivating reasons,” explained Green Party Coun. Adriane Carr, who brought forward the motion with Coun. Christine Boyle. …Vancouver’s motion is welcome news to the David Suzuki Foundation.

The province is not expecting to see as extreme a wildfire season as last year, but there is still the potential for large fires, especially in the northeast and the Central Interior. “Continue to be vigilant and know that the province is doing everything we can to be prepared for another challenging fire season,” Matt McDonald, the BC Wildfire Service’s lead fire weather forecaster, said during a news conference on Wednesday afternoon. McDonald, as well as Forests Minister Bruce Ralston and Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Minister Bowinn Ma provided an update for the summer’s seasonal wildfire outlook on Wednesday. McDonald said 2024 could still be another challenging wildfire season for B.C. due to persistent drought, lack of snow and remaining holdover fires that, given a bit of warm weather and wind, can exhibit aggressive fire behaviour. …As of Wednesday, there are 108 wildfires burning across B.C., most of which are in the Prince George Fire Centre, Ralston said.

Government of BC Press Release: B.C. takes action ahead of summer wildfire season

Additional coverage by Wolf Depner in Black Press: Northeastern B.C. likely to see large, challenging wildfires this summer

Chris Kallal

To mitigate the most disastrous effects of climate change, scientists estimate that up to 10 gigatons of atmospheric carbon will need to be removed annually by 2050. …While we must scale our efforts to harness nature to benefit our planet, people and wildlife, it’s not sufficient to simply plant trees. …organizations must consider the forested ecosystems as a whole. If we plant 100,000 trees in the wrong location and they either can’t survive or harm native species, did we accomplish anything? A recent study determined the carbon sequestration power of forests can be increased by 25 percent simply by carefully selecting species. …In 2011, I founded Wild + Pine to enhance the ecosystem restoration and nature-based solutions markets and help corporations reach their environmental and climate objectives by investing in legacy forest projects from seed to stewardship. When done right, nature is the most powerful tool we have to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss — let’s put it to work.

Experts are concerned that low snowpack levels recorded across much of B.C. this year could lead to negative impacts on salmon populations later this summer. …Much of the province, including the B.C. Interior, currently sits between level one and three on the B.C. government’s zero to five drought classification scale …Drought can impact salmon populations through its impact on streamflow and water temperature. …In mid-August 2023, Fortune Creek near Enderby dried up, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and First Nations partners attempted to relocate salmon as a last-resort option. …Another salmon expert, University of British Columbia professor Scott Hinch, predicted the need for similar relocations will grow in the future. …“Salvage logging or things like that that remove the trees has a big impact on the stream temperatures. So whatever we can do to protect the streams and keep the temperatures from not increasing any further is going to be really important.” Hinch said.

With record low snowpacks and moisture levels priming much of the province for an active wildfire season, experts say drought conditions this year could make fire suppression more difficult for firefighters. Mike Flannigan, a wildfire researcher at Thompson Rivers University, said drought conditions and drier fuels mean wildfires can burn deeper — especially in peatlands where organic material can reach 40 centimetres or more in depth — making them challenging to fight. “It means either digging, or if you’re fortunate to have a significant water source, because basically, you have to flood it. You have to flood that area to put that smouldering fire out, or you get equipment,” Flannigan said. “So it either costs you in time or money.” Dry fuels are also more receptive to ignitions, Flannigan said. Whether a campfire or lighting strike ignites fuels, a wildfire is easier to start thanks to the little moisture.

The knowledge and research is there to help reduce the impact severity of wildfires in B.C. But what is lacking is the government funding commitment and consistent regulations that create pathways for industry buy-in to recover landscape resilience to forest fires. In the concluding panel discussion of the Wildfire Coexistence in BC: Solutions Symposium hosted by UBC Okanagan, Jesse Zeman, executive director of the BC Wildlife Federation said dating back to the 1980s, less than one per cent of the provincial budget has been targeted at taking care of the land, while other spending priorities, such as for health and education, have skyrocketed. …Jordan Coble, a Westbank First Nation councillor and president of the band’s forest harvesting company, echoed Zemen’s sentiments about knowledge of how to coexist with wildfires, saying First Nation elders and knowledge keepers remain a valued source of knowledge that needs to be involved in the land use decision-making process.

MLA Ellis Ross will host a wildfire discussion and presentation to address the growing concerns of wildfires in Kitimat, highlighting the urgency of wildfire preparedness. With the weather getting warmer, the region faces challenges similar to those trending across Western Canada, even as early as June. This local initiative coincides with a recent announcement by Canadian federal, provincial, and territorial forest ministers who have signed a national strategy aimed at raising awareness of wildfire risks across the country. B.C. Forests Minister Bruce Ralston, chair of the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers, describes the wildland fire prevention and mitigation strategy as a “call to action” designed to strengthen First Nations partnerships and expand investment in fire prevention. Ross highlights the vulnerability of the Kitimat area, characterised by its beautiful forests along the only access corridor. This he says poses a significant wildfire risk to residents of Kitimat and Kitamaat Village. 

Thomas Hoffman

KAMLOOPS — “The fibre is there, it truly is just an issue of access,” Kruger Kamloops Fibre Manager Thomas Hoffman told Kamloops council Tuesday. Kruger has been working to find new, innovative ways to utilize fibre damaged by wildfires in recent years. It’s an important step to support forestry workers by providing supply for mills while also allowing the province’s ecosystems to recover. “We need to work together. This isn’t just a forest industry topic — it affects us all. We live in rural Canada. We are surrounded by trees, which need to be managed,” said Hoffman. …Trees damaged by wildfire have a 1-to-7-year shelf life before they rot and will be left in the forests. “There are opportunities… to reduce the fire hazard, maintain jobs, reduce the risk to homeowners through insurance and provide value-added products to a world market that needs it,” added Hoffman.

Forrest Tower

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops is ranked No. 1 in a recent study that assesses risk to Canadian cities ahead of the 2024 wildfire season. The study — published last month by MyChoice Financial, a Toronto-based business that operates in the insurance industry — is not comprehensive and should be looked at with a critical eye, according to BC Wildfire Service fire information officer Forrest Tower. “I would really hesitate to make any decisions or be really concerned or be scared by something like this, saying Kamloops is No. 1 in all of Canada, again, based on really long-term weather modelling,” Tower said. …Tower noted several factors not taken into consideration in the study, including proximity to BC Wildfire Service hubs and access to structural and volunteer fire departments, along with local government and private initiatives in wildfire prevention and mitigation, fuel management and FireSmart activities.

NELSON, BC — To help reduce the wildfire risk in the wildland urban interface, the BC Wildfire Service is supporting the Kalesnikoff Lumber Company and the Regional District of Central Kootenay in continuing the prescribed burn in the Selous Creek area near Nelson. The BC Wildfire Service said this burn is located approximately two kilometres south of the City of Nelson on the east side of Highway 6 and will cover up to 14 hectares. BC Wildfire Service said the exact timing of this burn will depend on weather and site conditions, but it could begin as early as Tuesday, June 11, 2024. “Smoke may impact residents near the burn area and may be visible from Nelson and surrounding areas, and to motorists travelling along Highway 6 and 3A,” the BC Wildfire Service media release said. 

Mackenzie, British Columbia – Traditional lands of the Tse’khene People of the McLeod Lake Indian Band. The BC Community Forest Association (BCCFA) will gather in Mackenzie, BC for its annual conference from June 11-13th. This event will bring together experts and representatives from across the province to discuss topics important to community forestry and local resiliency. This year’s host, the McLeod Lake Mackenzie Community Forest (MLMCF), is welcoming delegates to their northern town for a unique learning experience. “We look forward to being hosted by Mackenzie MacLeod Lake Community Forest and getting together with folks who are passionate about community forestry in BC. We hope delegates will join us with an open heart and mind, and be ready to contribute to our discussions and celebrations”, said Randy Spyksma, BCCFA President. …The 2024 Conference and AGM will be an event to remember, with one full day of the programming dedicated to outdoor field tours and recreational networking.

Between October and March, crews logged more than 7,200 trees in Stanley Park, a fraction of the 160,000 that the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation said would be removed due to the Hemlock looper moth infestation. The Park Board is spending almost $7 million on the operation. Reports by contractor B.A. Blackwell and Associates, obtained under the freedom of information law, showed 3,294 trees greater than 20 centimetres in diameter were logged and 3,035 under 20 cm between Oct. 3, 2023 and Feb. 29, 2024. Additionally, 118 loads of brush and 47 loads of logs were removed during the five months. Another 872 trees were logged in March. Total volume of logs removed during the five-month period was 2,214 cubic metres. Another 742 cubic metres were taken in March, for a total of nearly 3,000 cubic metres in 63 loads. “The total net revenue generated from the logs is $30,069.77, after paying hauling costs of $72,275.68,” said a memo from Park Board general manager Steve Jackson to Park Board commissioners.

Canada’s Minister of the Environment and Climate Change took too long when he waited eight months to recommend cabinet issue an emergency order to protect the northern spotted owl — Canada’s most endangered bird, a federal judge has ruled. The June 7 decision hinges on how government interprets “unreasonable delay” under the Species at Risk Act. It will likely guide Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault to act swiftly to protect species his office deems are under severe and imminent threats, said Joe Foy, campaigner with the Western Canada Wilderness Committee. …Spô’zêm First Nation Chief James Hobart said the federal government’s assessment on the status of the spotted owl should have rung alarm bells for all levels of government. …“Wood products are increasingly sold as environmentally friendly products — here in Vancouver, for taller and taller buildings. And only a few kilometres away … there’s this hellscape where habitat for critically endangered species is being cut,” said Foy.

Additional coverage in the Narwhal, by Ainslie Cruickshank: Environment Minister Guilbeault broke the law in stalling potential spotted owl emergency order: court 

Kamloops, BC – The Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) continues to accept applications to fund forest enhancement projects, year-round. In the Provincial Government’s Budget 2024, FESBC was entrusted with $60 million in funding; $20 million to be allocated each year over the next three years. Projects to receive funding are those whose primary goal is wildfire risk reduction, enhanced wood fibre utilization, or both, while also achieving additional benefits such as wildlife habitat enhancement, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from utilizing wood fibre, improving recreational opportunities, and rehabilitating forests. “FESBC has played a pivotal role in our work to support a strong and sustainable forest sector by supporting projects that focus on better fibre utilization and wildfire risk reduction, helping to slow or stop the spread of wildfires by removing fuel from forests and also getting more fibre into the hands of the forestry sector,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Forests.

Suzanne Simard

Suzanne Simard says she’s too involved in her work to pay much attention to the awards and accolades that keep coming her way. “I’m so busy, I don’t really have time to think about it very much.” Among her many honours, the forestry ecologist was recently named to Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2024. But she said it was still a “pleasant surprise” when Royal Roads University announced that she would be the recipient of an honorary doctorate of laws during this year’s spring convocation on Friday, June 14. …Royal Roads honorary doctorate recipients have demonstrated visionary leadership and have had a positive effect on society on a national or international scope. Recipients can be nominated any member of the university community and are selected by a committee.

Read about Reece Allingham’s experience as a young woodlot licensee, from wildfires to managing for biodiversity and wildlife. Being a woodlot licensee has shaped how Reece operates in life and business. Whether he is packing around tree seedlings or apples or one of his 3 young children, he knows that his hands-on involvement today is an investment for the future.

• Executive Director’s Report
• Open Fire Policy Change
• Fuel Hazard Abatement Assessments
• Budget and Work Plan
• Safewoods Bulletin
• 2024 Woodlots BC Conference
• Gearing up for Wildfire Season
• Contractor’s Corner
• Stephanie Mooney Retirement

British Columbia’s deputy chief forester has set a new allowable annual cut (AAC) level for the Sunshine Coast Timber Supply Area (TSA). Effective June 6, 2024, the new AAC for the Sunshine Coast TSA is 1,050,000 cubic metres. This is a 12.3% reduction from the previous AAC, while remaining 2% above the average harvest level over the past decade. In light of the old-growth deferral areas in place within the TSA, as well as to ensure sustainable forestry practices, the determination includes two partitions. A maximum of 262,500 cubic metres may be harvested from stands older than 140 years and a maximum of 787,500 cubic metres may be harvested from stands 140 years and younger. The Sunshine Coast TSA comprises approximately 1.7 million hectares on the southwestern coast. The TSA overlaps the territory of 22 First Nations, all of which were consulted during the timber-supply review process, and feedback considered. 

Lawrence Hewitt lives on a heavily forested property on the northern outskirts of the city and like many Prince George residents he’s worried about wildfires. Those are real fears after an unprecedented 2.8 million hectares of B.C. forest burned in 2023 and the lingering hangover of extreme drought conditions that have persisted this spring through much of the northern half of the province. Hewitt caught wind of the new FireSmart BC fire mitigation program the provincial government has introduced to encourage people to take charge of making their own homes less likely to burn and he’s been busy doing exactly that. …Hewitt knows there will be costs incurred by thinning the Pidherny Recreation Site forest to reduce the fire hazard and the risk of a crowning fire that moves from treetop to treetop but it’s worth it if it leaves the city less likely to burn like Fort McMurray did in May 2016.