Region Archives: Canada West

Protecting the most at-risk old growth forests in two B.C. timber supply areas would lead to $10.9 billion in economic benefits over the next century, a new report has found.  However, those gains would be wiped out if logging were to carry on as it is today across the Prince George and Okanagan timber supply areas, concluded the environmental consulting firm ESSA Technologies in a report published Monday. Together, the two timber supply areas (TSA) contain about 10 per cent of B.C.’s total old-growth forests mapped in 2021. If they were fully protected, modelling in the report found the two regions’ old-growth forests could generate up to $43.1 billion in net economic benefits over the next 100 years. That accounts for $4.1 billion in losses in timber production across the two supply area.

The Ministry of Forests have responded to questions about what will happen to Cai Creek just outside of Castlegar if B.C. Timber Sales fails to sell it by April 24. In a written statement to Castanet, the ministry explained that if it is not bid on by April 24, it will be reposted for auction until it is sold. “Public comments are considered within the context of all information compiled to help inform the decision maker about local concerns, but they are only one aspect in a broader determination, which also includes First Nation consultation,” Ministry representatives stated in an email. BCTS Kootenay Business Area is planning to sell off three cut blocks in the Cai Creek area under timber sales license (TSL) TA2185.

The Province is taking action to adapt B.C.’s forests to ensure long-term sustainability and good-paying jobs by enlisting BC Timber Sales (BCTS) to play a larger role in reducing wildfire risk and enhancing forest and community resilience through its operations. This work is increasingly urgent given the threat of sector-specific tariff threats coming from the United States. … BCTS manages forest harvesting on more than 20% of B.C.’s public land. In January 2025, the Ministry of Forests initiated a review of BCTS, undertaken by an expert task force, to create pathways for a stronger, more resilient forestry sector. A progress update was announced at the Council of Forest Industries convention on Friday, April 4, 2025. “We have all witnessed the impacts of wildfire on B.C.’s communities, and we are uniting all parts of my ministry to tackle this challenge head on,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests.

• Global News – B.C. premier seeks to assure forest industry as U.S. trade war intensifies

Nine-axle lumber truck-and-trailer combinations are now approved to travel on some BC logging routes, Premier David Eby announced at the 2025 Council of Forest Industries convention in Prince George on Friday, April 4. …Eby presented more forestry-specific commentary and announcements this time around to hundreds of delegates in the Civic Centre’s main hall. The premier said as part of the conversation on making it easier and less costly for fibre products to get to mills, the province was approving the use of nine-axle truck and trailer combinations. A media release sent out by the provincial government the same afternoon said approval was granted for “some logging routes” without providing further specifics. The province has mulled over granting permission to nine-axle combinations for years, at one point appointing a committee to investigate the safety and road impacts they would have on BC highways.

B.C.’s wildfire season is fast approaching, and experts are warning that urban areas of the province – including Metro Vancouver – may be at risk as fires grow more frequent and intense. A panel of experts – including bestselling author of Fire Weather John Vaillant and UBC Centre for Wildfire Coexistence co-director Dr. Lori Daniels – spoke about urban wildfire risks at the university’s Vancouver campus Thursday night. Daniels told CTV News a combination of climate change, forest management practices and urban expansion into fire-prone areas has contributed to a rise in the amount of land and structures burned in recent years. While in some parts of the province – such as the Okanagan Valley – there is a sense that it’s “not if, but when” a destructive wildfire will hit, Daniels said Metro Vancouver is also vulnerable.

The federal government is pitching in more than $180,000 for a Kamloops-area study to determine whether rehabilitating wildfire-damaged landscapes can provide an economic opportunity through carbon credits. It’s part of a total $20 million the federal government will be injecting into B.C.’s forestry sector. Jonathan Wilkinson, minister of energy and natural resources, said 67 projects in the province will receive funding, including a number of Kamloops and Shuswap-area initiatives. The Secwepemcul’ecw Restoration and Stewardship Society will receive $184,355. …Tolko Industries will be getting $400,000 in federal funding to conduct further research into a finger jointing process for parallel laminated veneer products produced at its Heffley Creek facility. Local Indigenous groups are also set to receive funding as part of the Indigenous Forestry Initiative program. …And as part of the Global Forest Leadership program the Wood Pellet Association of Canada based in Revelstoke is set to receive $180,000 to help advance international standards for wood pellets.

Lil’wat Forest Ventures (LFV) is the focus of the first episode of a new documentary series launched by the B.C. Silviculture Innovation Program (SIP). The multi-part series, Out On A Limb, is sharing innovative forest management practices from around the province. …The B.C. SIP was born of the 2020 Old Growth Strategy Review, which provided 14 recommendations for old-growth forest management aimed at boosting the adoption of alternative forestry practices in the province. …In March 2023, the Government of B.C. announced a $10-million investment to establish the Silviculture Innovation Program, administered by the Bulkley Valley Research Centre (BVRC)—A not-for-profit organization operating out of Smithers, B.C. …SIP’s release said LFV’s approach serves as a reminder of the important role First Nations play in “effective and sustainable forest management.” …To see the full episode, visit sip.bvcentre.ca/ooal-episode1.

The BC Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit from Teal Cedar Products, a forestry company, which claimed it lost millions of dollars due to new timber rules in Haida Gwaii. The company argued that the new regulations unfairly devalued their forest tenures. The rule changes included reducing the amount of timber that could be harvested and implementing conservation measures. Teal, which owned forest licenses affected by the regulations, claimed these changes amounted to “constructive expropriation,” meaning the government’s actions took away the value of their property rights, without formally seizing the property. Chris Tollefson, a University of Victoria law professor and public interest lawyer who represented the Haida Gwaii Management Council, said private operators need to know rules evolve based on changing values and science, and companies aren’t owed compensation “where the change is bona fide, is not being used to discriminate or target them.” 

Don Wilkins

A lot has changed in the 40 years that Don Wilkins has spent trapping in the forests of north-central British Columbia. …As more primary forests fall in industrial logging operations, marten, lynx and other species once easily caught by trappers are plummeting in number… Fisher and marten, two members of the weasel family, “like big branches where they can rest and watch for prey species,” Wilkins says. “You don’t get those resting areas in tree plantations after logging. The trees are too young and they’re so close together. You can’t see anything.” Wilkins, who once worked in one of B.C.’s last steam-driven sawmills near Christina Lake, says he wants to be clear that he has never been opposed to logging. “It’s the extent of fibre extraction that bothers me,” he emphasizes as we head east on Highway 16, leaving his hometown of Prince George behind.

Crews finished up the last of the tree pruning activity in Okotoks last week, giving way to the annual elm pruning ban. The ban is in place from April 1 to Sept. 30 of each year to prevent the spread of Dutch Elm Disease. Tree pruning is done in the ‘dormant season’ to target certain harmful species and diseases, as bark beetles rest during the winter months, and cuts aren’t likely to attract them. The beetles spread the disease by carrying the Ophiostoma ulmi fungus from tree to tree… Thanks largely to those efforts, Alberta has the largest Dutch elm disease-free American elm in the world.

A debris slide in the central Okanagan has closed off the only direct road running between Vernon and West Kelowna. As Brady Strachan reports, it happened along steep slopes where a wildfire burned trees and vegetation two years ago. 

Related content: 

• CBC News: 90-metre landslide shuts road north of Lake Okanagan Resort

The wildfires that rampaged through and around Los Angeles at the beginning of the year prompted 120 new volunteers to join the Broombusters Invasive Plant Society in an effort to prevent the same catastrophe from happening here. Joanne Sales, executive director said that there’s been an increase in wildfires globally, and the primary culprit is climate change. She said on Vancouver Island, the main invasive species is Scotch broom and that FireSmart has listed the invasive plant as one of the highest-risk flammable plants in the region… those who are looking to stop its spread have said that allowing it to grow densely over the extensive network of B.C. Hydro’s transmission lines from Campbell River to Victoria creates a dangerous pathway for wildfires to spread quickly across the Island.

The Cowichan Lake weir will be put into operation this month to regulate the water flow out of Cowichan Lake into the river. Crofton Pulp Mill Owner, Domtar, says it will be done to ensure an adequate flow can be maintained during the summer. Once the weir is mechanically and electrically confirmed to be ready for another control season, the boat lock gates will be lowered, and boaters will need assistance from Boat Lock operator to pass through. While the weir lock is operated 24 hours per day during control season, passage through the locks is intended to be a daylight activity… Paper Excellence, owner of the Crofton Mill, rebranded itself as Domtar after acquiring Domtar Corporation and Resolute Forest Products last year.

The Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) and American forestry company Weyerhaeuser have struck what they describe as a “landmark partnership” to manage a tree farm licence (TFL) east of OIB reserve land near Oliver. The OIB said stewardship of their traditional territory “is both a responsibility and an opportunity”. Through this partnership, OIB says it has taken a co-leadership role in managing TFL 59, an area of “profound cultural, ecological, and economic significance”. The two aim to raise the benchmark for sustainable forestry by balancing modern forestry practices with traditional knowledge… The tenure has a broad and ambitious set of management objectives, including reducing wildfire risk, protecting water resources, enhancing wildlife habitat, increasing forest resiliency and rehabilitating areas impacted by the devastating 2021 wildfires.

The senior vice president of the Alberta Forest Products Association says there are a few things people in the Peace can do to support an industry dealing with tariffs and duties. Brock Mulligan says there is “a huge opportunity to build more with our wood.” “We see a growing demand for recreation centres. We think that a lot of them should look like the Philip J. Currie (Dinosaur) Museum out in the County of Grande Prairie. Amazing, beautiful wood building.” “We also see increasing urbanization and folks living in increasingly taller apartment buildings and those should be built with resources that are made here in Grande Prairie.” Mulligan says there are 2500 forestry jobs in or near Grande Prairie between the Canfor, International Paper, Weyerhaeuser and West Fraser mills.

Conservation groups are warning that a proposed Alberta government plan for a sub-region in west-central Alberta would wipe out two caribou populations if implemented. The draft plan for the Upper Smoky sub-region would enable the U.S.-based timber company Weyerhaeuser to entirely clearcut the last winter range forests… A Caribou Task Force, made up of Indigenous groups, industry, municipalities, various user groups and interest groups, had been established to advise the Alberta government on Upper Smoky sub-regional planning. These multi-stakeholder conversations were held from 2019 to 2021; however, none of the task force’s recommendations related to caribou conservation and recovery were reflected in the report. Public engagement runs until June 25 and can be completed online.

Jordan Gabriel

The Silviculture Innovation Program (SIP) of the Bulkley Valley Research Centre (BVRC), recently launched its first episode of a new series titled ‘Out On A Limb’. The goal of the series is to uplift voices of trailblazers in B.C. communities who are leading innovative management practices for the betterment of the forests of tomorrow. “The series helps tell stories to inspire and motivate practitioners who are carrying out innovative forestry practices by celebrating creative solutions to complex problems” shared Gillian Chow-Fraser, Extension Specialist for the SIP, a program created following the government-led Old Growth Strategic Review (2020) focused on increasing the uses of alternative forestry practices in B.C. The inaugural episode, released on March 31, features Líl̓wat Forestry Ventures (LFV) and highlights their unique holistic approach to forest management.

[Watch the first episode of this series on YouTube here]

David Eby

The 80th annual Truck Loggers Association (TLA) Convention brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and experts at a time of significant change and challenge for BC’s forest sector. The attendees engaged in discussions on investment concerns, policy shifts, contractor sustainability, wildfire and climate change mitigation, and technological advancements shaping the industry’s future. Three keynote speakers stood out: Premier David Eby, who took an unusually conciliatory tone in acknowledging past missteps; Forest Minister Ravi Parmar, who laid out ambitious promises for the future, and John Rustad, BC Conservative leader, who provided a strong counterpoint. The convention opened with a sobering but forward-looking message from TLA President Dorian Uzzell and owner of Wahkash Contracting. Reflecting on this year’s theme, he underscored the growing uncertainty in BC forestry, warning that policy-driven inefficiencies are making some forests uneconomical to operate in. “If the entire supply chain isn’t functioning, we all become the have-nots,” he cautioned. 

When it comes to reforesting areas made bare by natural causes, it’s the Ministry of Forests’ job to oversee the progress. “Wildfire…really is the biggest thing we’re focusing on,” said Shelley Barlow, the ministry’s regional silviculture specialist for the Cariboo. According to a February 2018 report by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, 80 per cent of the area affected by the 2017 wildfires in B.C. was in the Cariboo. About one million hectares of forests were burnt in the region, and 609,000 of those hectares were part of the Cariboo’s timber harvesting land base. Prior to 2017, the ministry was planting up to two million trees per year in the Williams Lake forestry district. Since then, Barlow said this number has at least tripled.

PRINCE ALBERT, SASK — As an important deadline approaches, concerned members of a forest protection group in the Prince Albert area are calling on the provincial government to extend a moratorium for clear-cutting in the Island Forests. According to the Government of Saskatchewan, the Island Forests comprise the Canwood, Nisbet, Fort-a-la-Corne and Torch River provincial forests in north central Saskatchewan, with a total area of approximately 227,000 hectares. Over 60 people showed up at meeting last week at Crutwell Community Hall, representing Sturgeon Lake First Nation and Wahpeton Dakota Nation, as well as non-indigenous people who live and farm in the area. …Concerns with the government’s Island Forest Timber Harvest Operating Plan first came to light in January 2024 when over half a dozen people showed up at the forestry centre in downtown Prince Albert. …Roughly three months later, the provincial government announced a one-year moratorium.

BANFF – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s statements that it is federal mismanagement that is putting Banff under threat of wildlife were quickly disputed by Banff Mayor Corrie DiManno as “completely unsubstantiated.” Smith had a face-to-face meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Edmonton Thursday morning (March 20) and came out of the meeting with several demands, including energy demands, but also took a swipe at Parks Canada’s management of fires. “I made it clear that federal mismanagement of Jasper and Banff national parks resulted in last year’s tragic wildfire in Jasper and is endangering Banff, and the situation must be rectified immediately,” she said in a press release. DiManno said Smith’s characterization of federal forest and land management in Banff National Park is “completely unsubstantiated.”

The Dunster Community Forest Society, which also manages the Dunster Wildfire Brigade, has released a new wildfire dashboard for Dunster and the surrounding area, spanning through McBride and Cedarside. The dashboard will update alongside the BC Wildfire Service dashboard, but also includes links to the Regional District’s emergency alerts and a colour-coded legend showing thermal hotspots, volunteer firefighting boundaries, and local government properties, among other features. Dunster Community Forest Society administrator Marie Hyde said she made the dashboard to give residents an interactive database with more information than what the BC Wildfire Service dashboard offers on its own. She has previously made similar maps for the Dunster Community Forest using her experience as a geographic information systems analyst, which she says was useful for building the wildfire dashboard. “BC Wildfire Service, they usually just have a static map… And I thought, why not create an interactive one?” Hyde said.

In this newsletter, we are pleased to share great stories of the impactful work happening in communities throughout our province. As the world continues to navigate the challenges affiliated with climate change, British Columbia’s forestry sector is playing a key role to mitigate its impacts and contribute to a more sustainable future. We take pride in investing in projects that provide enduring economic and social benefits for our local communities and are helping take action on this global issue. Last month, in collaboration with the Provincial Government, we shared more specifics about 70 recently funded projects moving forward to help local communities, community forests, First Nations, and other project partners enhance their wildfire prevention efforts and/or expand fibre-recovery initiatives. …In years past, much wood waste from harvesting operations was piled and burned in slash piles. Today, we invest in projects that recover this waste and use it to make forest products and generate green energy. 

See what’s happening in BC’s Community Forests, these stories and more in the newsletter:

• BCCFA 2025 Conference & AGM in Nanaimo May 26th-28th: We are excited to announce that our sessions are coming together. Go to the conference website for more details. Watch for session announcements as details are confirmed.
• Women Leading the Way in Forestry: Step into the Silvicon Services office in the northwestern town of Smithers, BC, and you’ll find a skilled and dynamic team managing the Wetzin’kwa Community Forest—most of whom are women.
• We Work Together with the Land Video: Lil’wat Forestry Ventures (LFV), owned by the Lil’wat Nation, plays a vital role in managing over 75% of their territory while providing meaningful employment for more than 50 people.
• NEW Thinning Guidance for British Columbia: Effective April 1, 2025, and applicable to all of BC, this new guidance is part of an adaptive management framework that leads to increased opportunities and benefits in our forests.

ALBERTA — Conservationists say a new land-use plan from the province stands to “wipe out” two vulnerable caribou populations in northwestern Alberta. The Alberta Wilderness Association and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society released a statement on Wednesday decrying the proposed Upper Smoky Sub-regional Plan. The plan will cover an area north of Jasper National Park. …“The timber harvest proposed in the draft Upper Smoky Sub-regional Plan would allow Weyerhaeuser to clearcut the remaining critical winter habitat and eliminate the ability of these caribou to annually migrate to the foothill’s forests,” the statement read. …To help halt caribou declines, the province has increased wolf reduction programs.  …Minister of Environment and Protected Areas Rebecca Schultz’s press secretary said the plan is not final and the draft materials are designed to generate input and feedback from those most impacted. …An online public survey on the new plan will be open until June 25.

Portage College is partnering with the community of Fox Creek for an applied research project designed to highlight the role fungi could potentially play in reducing the hazards of wildfires. The principal investigator for the project is Michael Schulz, who also serves as the Research Chair in Environment and Sustainability in the Boreal Forest at Portage College. …the objective of the project is to collect species of fungi from a research area within a district of forested lands near the Town of Fox Creek. …they will be catalogued and studied for their individual wood-composting capabilities in ideal laboratory conditions.  …As to how fungi can work to reduce the risk of forest fires, the project team lead explained that fungi create moisture in wood as the decomposition process is taking place, and this lessens the burnability of the wood.  

Members of the Protect our Forest group met with representatives from the province at Crutwell Community Hall on Wednesday, March 19. The group has been protesting clearcutting of forest around Cruttwell and Holbein, including two protests this summer in Prince Albert. The Forest Protection Network group includes members from the Wahpeton, Sturgeon Lake, and Holbein areas, who say forests in that part of the province have important cultural value and house heritage sites along the North Saskatchewan River. Carol Friedhoff-Nelson, a member of Metis Local 66 and a member of the Forest Protection Network in Crutwell, attended the meeting on March 19 in Crutwell Community Hall. “We had as many members of Local 66 as we could,” Friedhoff-Nelson said. “We had a lot of our neighbours from around the area and interested people who use the forest that is up to be cut.”

The BC Parks Foundation recently announced the acquisition of private land including a private portion of the road leading up to Mount Kobau near Oliver.  The land was acquire from Shawn Baenziger of HB Land Company Ltd. and covers over 80 hectares (over 200 acres) in the upper Fairview area of Oliver.  The road access will now be under the stewardship of the foundation, where previously it was Baenziger, Fortis and the BC Forest Service that managed access. Baenziger had worked with the others to install a gate to pro-actively reduce the risk of wildfires and protect a stand of old-growth trees. “I hope that the new owners will find effective ways to manage access to the area while ensuring its pristine condition is maintained for future generations,” said Baenziger.