Region Archives: Canada West

Whistler is leaning into its fire preparedness as a drier-than-normal winter comes to a close and another warm summer looms. “The need for emergency preparedness is becoming more evident each year with the growing fire season, and the risks associated with that,” said Chief Thomas Doherty of the Whistler Fire Rescue Service (WFRS). …Doherty said the WFRS and the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) are adapting to climate change by increasing their emergency preparedness through, among other things, simulating a community-wide evacuation. The fire department, the RMOW and the RCMP will simulate the scenario of a fire triggering an evacuation from the Spring Creek area in order to prepare them for the real possibility of a wildfire, and hopefully plug any operational gaps. …The event is a first for the WFRS.

Thanks to drastic and evidence-based solutions, more southern mountain caribou roam Western Canada today than in previous decades; however, herd numbers are too fragile to sustain themselves without continued intervention. That begins the conclusion of a new research paper published in Ecological Applications by a team of wildlife and biodiversity researchers led by Dr. Clayton Lamb, a postdoctoral fellow at UBC Okanagan. …Researchers found that while caribou have declined dramatically over the past few decades, there are 52% (or less than 1,500) more caribou on the landscape than if no recovery actions had been taken. …“We have 1,500 more caribou than we would have had without these actions,” says co-author Dr. Rob Serrouya, Co-Director of the Wildlife Science Centre with Biodiversity Pathways. “There is strong evidence that predator reductions have increased caribou populations and avoided further caribou extirpation events.

James Steidle

Recently Lower Mainland MLAs Bruce Ralston, our Minister of Forests, and our fresh-eyed Minister of State for Sustainable Forestry Innovation, Andrew Mercier were in town. I have no idea what was said… They don’t talk to critics like me who volunteer their time to highlight forestry issues. But I suspect it was the usual “solutions.” The moose will pay. …Our primary forests will pay. And of course, eventually, you will pay. …We will scrape the forests barren of life … plaster the landscape in monocrop pine plantations … as every last dollar of investor profit [is] siphoned out of our region to keep the global shareholder happy. …Last week at COFI, the investor class actually had the nerve to say red tape was to blame for the decades-long decline of the forestry sector, a sector that lost nearly half of its work force at the same time the floodgates were opened to deregulation and big capital.   

Community members and environmental organizations recently gathered to discuss their discontent with the state of forest protection in BC at a town hall meeting. Attendees at the April 13 meeting expressed frustration with the government’s recent change in pricing and procedures for forest salvaging in the wake of wildfires. “The government is telling us that to help communities, they’re going to make the access into all burned areas of BC easier, they’re going to give the industry, and loggers, and forest corporations, easier access, less red tape and no environmental protection agencies to access all the burned lands. “You know why? Not for community health, not for forest health… but just to get more money for the sawmills,” Taryn Skalbania, with the Peachland Watershed Protection Alliance. “We need our forests standing behind us for wildlife, for habitat, for water.”

Premier David Eby has issued the following statement marking Earth Day: “Earth Day is a time to honour this incredible place we call home and renew our commitment to preserving it for future generations. Throughout the province, people are celebrating and taking action … committing to small changes that can add up to a big impact on our world. In B.C., we are fortunate to be surrounded by natural beauty, from the rugged coastline to lush forests. But climate change is threatening the places we all love, as well as the health, safety and well-being of people and communities. In recent years, British Columbians have endured record-breaking wildfire seasons, heat waves, floods and droughts – and we are now facing record-low snowpack. The trend is clear and profoundly concerning. Our government is a leader in climate action, and we are ramping up our efforts to address the growing threats of a changing climate.

Last year, Canada experienced its most devastating wildfire season in recorded history, both in terms of carbon emissions and area burned. Our community experienced that firsthand when wildfires forced the sudden evacuation of the University of British Columbia‘s beautiful Okanagan campus last summer. Already, this year is predicted to be at least equally dire. …The Centre for Wildfire Coexistence, led by Dr. Lori Daniels, is taking a balanced scientific approach to wildfire research grounded in Indigenous knowledge. This approach recognizes wildfires as natural ecological processes that, when properly managed, contribute to the health and diversity of forests. Dr. Mathieu Bourbonnais at UBC Okanagan, a former wildland firefighter himself, is working closely with the BC Wildfire Service and rural and Indigenous communities. …This is one example of how Canada’s universities contribute tangible, evidence-based solutions to mitigate climate change and its consequences.

The Ministry of Forests has confirmed only three to four per cent of residual fibre reports are verified in the field. A ministry spokesperson said 75 to 100 per cent are given an office review and three to four per cent are checked in the field. “An office review of survey data checks for consistency with policy, as many survey errors can successfully be detected from the office.” Limits are set by the province for the amount of residual fibre left following harvesting, as well as requirements for measurement, reporting and how much companies are billed for the residual left behind. Between 2017 and 2023, the residual level after harvest declined by 37 per cent on the Coast and 24 per cent in the Interior, meaning more fibre was hauled out of the bush with less slash burning taking place, the ministry noted. In Budget 2024, the Forest Enhancement Society of B.C. is receiving $60 million to increase the use of low-value or residual fibre from logging…

On the evening of Wednesday, April 3, about 20 Kaslo residents gathered for an open house on the Kaslo FireSmart Program and the Kaslo & Area D Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan. Presenters included Jessie Lay, Kaslo’s FireSmart coordinator, John Cathro and Mark Elder, professional foresters, and Jeff Reyden, co-manager of the Kaslo & District Community Forest Society. …Jessie Lay opened the evening. She talked about the purpose of FireSmart and what the program offers. As coordinator, Lay administers home assessments. She visits homeowners and discusses what can be done to make the property more resilient to wildfires. …John Cathro and Mark Elder presented on the Kaslo & Area D Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan. …Cathro, in partnership with B.A. Blackwell & Associates, was contracted by the RDCK to create the CWRP. …Jeff Reyden offered a short presentation on what the Kaslo & District Community Forest Society has been up to.

VICTORIA, BC — In the morning commute, you couldn’t miss them. Two protesters went to great heights on Thursday to protect tall trees, but it was the lengths to which first responders had to go that had View Royal Fire Chief Paul Hurst fuming. “This is what we would call an epic waste of our time,” he said. …Westshore RCMP responded first, followed by View Royal Fire. “I’ve got a ladder truck here that’s supposed to be protecting people from fire, but we’re cutting protesters down from a tree in a CRD park,” said the fire chief. …Deploying the View Royal ladder truck meant blocking off two of the northbound lanes on the Trans-Canada Highway, which slowed traffic nearly to the McKenzie interchange. …For Hurst, it’s not just a matter of resources, but consideration. …The protesters left the area on foot, but not before a lengthy discussion with Hurst.

Additional coverage in  CTV News, by Brendan Strain: Old-growth forest activists suspend 18-metre banner near Highway 1

Victoria Times Colonist, by Jeff Ball: Police end tree-sit protest near Trans-Canada Highway; banner removed

An environmental group is appealing the government’s decision to allow the aerial spraying of a bacterial pesticide in West Kelowna. …the local group, the Kelowna Citizens Safety Association, wants the spraying halted until “a comprehensive risk assessment can be conducted for the citizens and passersby”, per a press release issued Thursday. The group’s leader, Lloyd Manchester, says a formal appeal against the spraying has been filed with the B.C. Environmental Appeal Board. Current plans are for the spray to be spread over the area from airplanes flying approximately 100 feet above the ground, Manchester says. He says other treatment methods against the spongy moths should be pursued. 

VANCOUVER, BC — Contrary to claims by many climate activists and politicians, extreme weather events—including forest fires, droughts, floods and hurricanes—are not increasing in frequency or intensity, finds a new study by the Fraser Institute, an independent think-tank. “Earth Day has become a time when extraordinary claims are made about extreme weather events, but before policymakers act on those extreme claims—often with harmful regulations—it’s important to study the actual evidence,” said Kenneth Green, author of Extreme Weather and Climate Change. The study finds that global temperatures have increased moderately since 1950 but there is no evidence that extreme weather events are on the rise. …“The evidence is clear—many of the claims that extreme weather events are increasing are simply not empirically true,” Green said.

PRINCE GEORGE, BC — The Wildfire Resiliency and Training Summit (WRTS) is an important five-day event that will attract more than 650 members of the B.C. FireSmart community, including First Nation members, local governments, the Province of B.C., fire departments, local FireSmart representatives, wildfire mitigation specialists, firefighters, researchers, emergency managers, wildfire scientists, and industry partners. The summit will kick off with two days of training for B.C. firefighting professionals, followed by a three-day in-person conference at the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre. The conference offers a range of informative workshops and expert panels led by captivating wildfire resiliency leaders that will help professionals prepare for the upcoming wildfire season. The theme for this year’s event is “recover, rebuild, prepare,” which recognizes the importance of resilience after experiencing unprecedented wildfires, rebuilding communities with FireSmart principles in mind, and preparing for future wildfire activity.

Alberta is bracing for another challenging fire season and with fire officials urging communities to prepare for conditions to grow more volatile as a summer drought settles in. With many communities across the province already parched because of a lack of winter snow cover, officials Thursday urged Albertans to be vigilant in the weeks ahead. Christie Tucker, an Alberta Wildfire information unit manager, said crews are preparing for a long and difficult season. “While there is a temporary dip in temperatures this week, it doesn’t mean that wildfire danger is over,” Tucker said during a news conference. “The drought conditions we’ve experienced in Alberta mean that it is still possible for trees and grasses to burn, particularly in the high winds that we have been seeing.” As of Thursday, 50 wildfires are burning across the province. Of those, four are classified as being held and 46 are now classified as under control. 

North Cowichan and the Quw’utsun Nation announced that they will be partnering to co-manage the Municipal Forest Reserve. Cowichan Tribes Chief Cindy Daniels says that they are looking forward to taking up “stewardship responsibilities within their ancestral territory.”  The collaboration will see the creation of a co-management framework, future trail development and the protection of culturally sensitive areas.  Mayor Rob Douglas says these first steps are a pivotal moment “in our shared journey towards environmental stewardship and reconciliation.”  North Cowichan has paused all new decisions related to the MFR while the framework is established. 

Aerial spray treatments will be done in the Lower Mainland and three locations in the southern Interior in spring 2024 to eradicate spongy moths and minimize the risk they pose to forests, farms, orchards and trees. Under the direction of the B.C. Plant Protection Advisory Council’s Spongy Moth Technical Advisory Committee, the ministry plans to treat the following areas in the Interior and coastal region: Cranbrook: 299 hectares (ha), Kamloops: 80 ha, West Kelowna: 52 ha, Langley: 30 ha, and Tsawwassen: 203 ha. Invasive spongy moths, also known as Lymantria moths, pose a risk to B.C.’s ecosystems and economy. Spongy moth caterpillars feed on tree leaves and have defoliated sections of forests and residential areas in Ontario and the eastern United States in recent years. Untreated spongy moths risk spreading to other areas of B.C. and are a threat to urban forests and farms.

A second press release identifies spray locations on Vancouver Island and Salt Spring Island

Members of several First Nations in the Prince Albert area are claiming a small victory. That’s because the provincial government has for now halted plans to clear cut a section of forest in the Holbein and Crutwell areas. Dave Rondeau has been advocating for the affected communities and relayed his cautious excitement about the one year moratorium. “It is a win for us absolutely because they’ve halted and they’re having a look at the opinions of the people on the importance of that area,” he said. Fearing the province’s forest management plan would have a big impact on their ability to hunt and gather medicines, over a dozen people showed up unannounced last January at the forestry centre in Prince Albert and held a protest. Concerns were also raised with respect to disturbing potential burial sites.

Recently, Percy Guichon, executive director of Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd. and Councillor of Tŝideldel First Nation, presented to third-year UBC forestry students, providing perspectives on forestry and reconciliation from a First Nation’s viewpoint. Almost 90 students, alongside Professor Gary Bull, learned about the success story of the Tŝideldel First Nation and its impact on land management, community development, and partnerships across British Columbia. Bull emphasized the significance of such opportunities, saying, “It made an impact to have Percy in the classroom, it was the best lecture of the year in my class. It is essential that university students are exposed to the lives, challenges, and opportunities of the First Nations in BC. So often students are only exposed to an urban viewpoint and not the views of those who live on and steward the land.”

Terrace, BC — The Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) continues to play a pivotal role in advancing sustainable forest management practices through its funding for wildfire risk reduction and fibre utilization projects across the province of British Columbia. Funding has been instrumental most recently in supporting three critical projects undertaken by NorthPac Forestry Group Ltd. (NorthPac). These projects have significantly enhanced forest operations while contributing to British Columbia’s carbon reduction goals. While the three projects are similar in nature, each has its own unique aspects. For instance, a portion of the fibre removed by NorthPac and Coast Tsimshian Resources LP includes small-diameter tops and limbs, which were historically left in the forest. 

Mission Municipal Forest reached a major milestone on April 7 at the city’s annual “Cutblock Party”. The forest’s 5 millionth seedling was one of the 140 trees planted at the event. The forestry department plants 80,000 seedlings each year to regenerate harvested areas. Forestry director Chris Gruenwald says there was a focus on planting in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s because so much of the area was heavily logged not replanted. Since 1958, Mission has managed Tree Farm Licence 26, which spans 26,900 acres. …The event also featured axe throwing, cross-cut sawing, and guided walks. Attendees also had an opportunity to learn about the forestry department. “We had a lot of young people interested in the Municipal Forest – we had a great discussion with them. We talked about some issues and they were asking some very good questions,” Gruenwald said.

B.C. is celebrating the 10-billionth tree planted since reforestation programs began in 1930, with two billion of those trees planted in the past seven years. …Last year, 305 million seedlings were planted in B.C. forests. One of these seedlings was the 10-billionth planted since work began almost a century ago. In honour of this milestone, Bruce Ralston, Minister of Forests planted a ceremonial tree in Surrey’s Green Timbers Urban Forest Park. The park, dubbed the “birthplace of reforestation,” is home to the Province’s first reforestation efforts in 1930. …“The planting of 10 billion trees in our province is one of B.C.’s most important mega projects,” said John Betts, executive director, Western Forestry Contractors’ Association. “Besides the hard work involved, it’s an act of optimism where the full benefits won’t be realized until well into the future. It’s a fine legacy for all the thousands of nursery workers, planters and foresters involved over the years.”

Ellen Whitman

Edmonton forest research scientist Ellen Whitman is among nine individuals being awarded the Trebek Initiative 2024 research award to develop her project on post-fire regeneration in relation to post-fire climate. …In her proposal, Whitman said generally with climate change and warming temperatures, they would expect trees to have more space available to move up in elevation or beyond the tree line. In the southern margin of the forest, where it’s very warm and dry, they’re starting to see that trees are no longer occupying those spaces. …Whitman said… in theory they may be able to expand to new habitats that are high elevation and latitude. …She said a variety of factors can play into this including snow pack, light availability or types of soils. 

In related news: The Trebek Initiative accounts nine recipients of grants to fund research and storytelling projects that help preserve the natural and cultural wonders of Canada.

The B.C. government says 10 billion trees have been planted in the province since reforestation programs began way back in 1930, in Surrey. …In honour of the milestone, forest minister Bruce Ralston planted a ceremonial tree at Green Timbers Urban Forest Park, considered the “birthplace of reforestation” in the province. …In Surrey’s Green Timbers area, B.C.’s reforestation efforts began 94 years ago in Surrey with the “inaugural plantation” there. Back in 1928, local residents protested the proposed logging of the area, but concerns were ignored and the entire 2,000-acre forest was chopped down. Chastised, the provincial government of the time looked to make amends by setting aside 640 acres along the highway (now Fraser Highway) to be replanted as B.C.’s first reforestation project. And so, in 1930, the death of the last old-growth trees in the area led to an awakening of sorts, with a new forest given life in the heart of the municipality.

Tzeporah Berman

A Mir Lecture Series event on May 1 will feature renowned environmental activist Tzeporah Berman who will reflect on 30 years of advocacy for old-growth forests and climate justice—and the surprising lessons she has learned about finding common ground with logging executives and with the oil industry. From behind the bullhorn at one of Canada’s largest acts of civil disobedience to working diligently behind the scenes with the leaders of the nation’s fossil fuel industry, environmental activist Tzeporah Berman has spent three decades as a crusader for urgent change. In 1993, Berman was one of the main voices of what became known as British Columbia’s “War in the Woods.” A protest to stop clearcut logging in ancient Vancouver Island temperate rainforests, the Clayoquot Sound camp that Berman helped establish saw more than 10,000 people show up during a tumultuous summer that ultimately helped change how government directs the forest industry.