Region Archives: Canada West

AI and other technologies may help detect wildfires sooner, but the human element is still integral to preventing fires from spreading, says a local researcher. A wildfire solutions symposium is scheduled to run in Kelowna from June 3 to 5, and one of the co-hosts has been leading the charge to snuff out the flames before they explode into the kind of destructive infernos we saw last summer in parts of the Southern Interior. Dr. Mathieu Bourbonnais, with the Centre for Wildfire Coexistence at UBC Okanagan, has been working with Rogers Communications for the past three years. His team has been installing low-cost sensors in the forest that collect data on moisture levels and other elements used to predict fire risk. There are about 100 scattered around the Okanagan. The data is helping craft models to predict where fires might start and what that fire might do.

PORT ALBERNI, BC — Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle met with Minister of State for Sustainable Forestry Innovation Andrew Mercier and Local 592 and 686 leadership to tour the Paper Excellence Port Alberni facility. …Unifor representatives met with Mercier to discuss B.C.’s forestry industry, including the state of the Port Alberni pulp mill and long-term economical fibre supply. …Despite the province’s enormous supply of timber, most of B.C.’s pulp and paper mills are struggling to find the fibre they require to operate on a consistent basis. …Fibre supply and strengthening B.C.’s entire forestry industry to grow good jobs and support forestry communities is a core component of the joint campaign initiated by Unifor, the United Steelworkers, and the PPWC. …Unifor representatives were joined on the pulp mill tour by Tseshaht First Nations Chief Ken Watts to explore working together on forestry and employment initiatives to help secure an ongoing local fibre supply.

The B.C. government has released a report on its progress protecting old-growth forests, but some First Nations and environmental groups say the plan released Friday falls short. …Sarah Korpan, B.C. government campaign specialist with non-profit Ecojustice, said she was disappointed to see the province change its timeline for implementing enhanced old-growth protection. …Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, said in a press release the action plan is a “welcome step,” but the B.C. government must accelerate its timeline. …Tegan Hansen, senior forest campaigner for Stand.Earth, said the government’s plan lacks a commitment to bring a long-term end to logging in old-growth forests. …Jens Wieting, the senior policy and science adviser for Sierra Club B.C., says that the last time the province collected data, covering a full year of old-growth logging, was in 2021.

From massive kelp forests to monumental old-growth on land, British Columbia’s biodiversity — which is unrivalled in Canada — provides an array of cultural, economic, social and other benefits. …However, current conservation initiatives lack co-ordination and there is no independent organization or provincial governing body overseeing the many actions underway. …The fragmented nature of B.C. biodiversity work is a missed opportunity that can lead to gaps and blind spots that ultimately undermine action. Potential interconnected threats like diseases, invasive species, ecological impacts of new developments and a range of other issues may be missed. …Establishing a system of natural capital accounts would provide a clear picture of the value our ecosystems provide empowering decision-makers. …We may not have to look far for an effective model. Québec recently launched Biodiversité Québec — a partnership across government, scientific and Indigenous partners — to create an integrated monitoring system for nature.

The town of Logan Lake spent 18 years preparing for a wildfire they hoped would never come. And then, in the summer of 2021, it did. The Test is the story of the town of Logan Lake’s efforts to make their community more fire resilient, eventually becoming the first FireSmart community in Canada. But when the 2021 Tremont Creek Wildfire roared toward them, all eyes were on the little community as nobody knew if all of that work would pay off and if they would pass the test. Many thanks to FireSmartBC, The District of Logan Lake, The Co-operators, The Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, and Teck Highland Valley Copper for helping to make this possible.

Pressy Lake, B.C. – Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd. (CCR), a joint venture company owned by the Tŝideldel First Nation and the Tl’etinqox Government, is proud to announce the release of two new videos highlighting the ongoing efforts and successes of a pilot project to rehabilitate areas severely affected by the 2017 Elephant Hill wildfire. In the wake of significant challenges facing the British Columbia forestry sector, including mill closures and timber supply shortages, CCR has taken a proactive approach to create new opportunities within the industry. The videos “Trying Something New” and “What We Learned” explore these innovative approaches to manage and utilize damaged and burnt trees to create a higher value product like biomass and wood chips at their Pressy Lake project, as well as rehabilitate large areas of land.

The Lil’wat Nation is undertaking a proactive wildfire risk reduction initiative to ensure the safety of the entire community this summer. The Forest Fuels Management Project is being led by Lil’wat Forestry Ventures Ltd (LFV). The project is being conducted in a residential area in Mount Currie. Trees will be thinned in 50-acres of forest, residents can suggest work they think should be done within 30 to 50 metres of their homes. General manager of LFV, Klay Tindall, emphasized the importance of selective thinning work to create more resilient forests. “The selective thinning of the forest will not only mitigate the risk of wildfires to the local homes and properties but will also enhance residents’ visibility to observe wildlife such as wolves, bears and cougars in the area to better ensure their family’s safety,” said Tindall. …One of the challenges the project faces is a lack of provincial or federal funding.

Todd Loewen

ALBERTA — Recent rain in many areas of the province has led to a significant decline in active wildfires, but experts are warning Albertans to remain diligent with more than three-quarters of this year’s wildfires determined as human-caused. Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen said preparation from Alberta Wildfire and municipal firefighters have allowed the province to take advantage of favourable weather conditions. …At this time last year, Alberta had over 520,000 hectares of forest burned. Whereas so far in 2024 we have just under 29,000 hectares burned,” Loewen said. There are currently 30 wildfires burning in the forest protection area. Two-thirds are carry over wildfires from the 2023 season, three are classified as being held and the rest are under control. So far this year the province has responded to 358 wildfires, of them 346 have been extinguished. This year 77% of wildfires have been determined to be human-caused.

Additional coverage on Alberta wildfires in CBC News: Weather helping damp down Alberta wildfires but careless behaviour still a worry

ZOOM: June 25, 2024 | 12-1 PM. Vancouver’s iconic Stanley Park recently captured headlines following plans to remove looper moth-killed trees from the forest. Water scarcity and extreme heat are adding layers of complexity to urban landscape management. What can urban foresters tell us about this valuable community resource, along with present and emerging best practices in the field? What role do residents play in decisions surrounding living infrastructure in their neighbourhoods? Dr. Richard Hamelin will moderate a panel discussion with guests Bruce Blackwell (Principal of Blackwell & Associates Ltd.) and Joe McLeod (Urban Forestry Manager for the City of Vancouver). Join us for an engaging expert panel discussion to answer these questions and more, including audience-generated queries.

The B.C. government continues to move at a glacial pace to meet an overdue promise to transform the logging industry and protect endangered old growth forests and ecosystems, say B.C. conservation groups. On Monday, the province issued its progress report on transforming forestry practices to preserve ancient forests. The plan is a hollow effort that fails to include any new steps, specific details, or deadlines urgently needed to preserve what little old growth remains, said Jens Wieting, Sierra Club BC’s advisor. …In the old growth update, the province highlighted a $1.1-billion three-way agreement with Indigenous leaders, and Ottawa to protect 30% of B.C.’s land and oceans by 2030. …Ralston’s office did not provide comment or respond to questions by Canada’s National Observer about what the plan is for the unprotected priority deferral areas moving forward and what level of protection, if any, they can expect.

This week, the BC government provided an update on their actions to better protect old-growth forests within the province, however some environmental activists say their actions have fallen short.  In 2020, an independent review of BC’s old forests was conducted by an independent panel titled, A New Future for Old Forests, who offered the Province 14 official recommendations. …Sierra Club BC said that this latest update did not contain the “critical actions needed to implement a paradigm shift in forest stewardship in the near future”, and they are critical of the Province delaying the finalization of their Ecosystem Health (BEH) Framework from 2024 to 2025. Sierra Club BC says that the province needs better outlined ecosystem-based targets to protect old-growth and easy-to-access funding for First Nations who have lost revenue to this endeavour. … Stand.earth, the Ancient Forest Alliance and the Endangered Ecosystems Alliance have all spoken out regarding this old-growth update.

B.C. Premier David Eby is preparing for war ahead of this year’s wildfire season, with more crews, tech and aircraft than ever before. “Functionally, at the provincial level, we’re standing up an army between equipment and the frontline wildfire staff fighting those fires,” Eby said. …He said the province is spending “nine times more than the previous governments” on fire preparation work across B.C. He also noted the BC Wildfire Service is now operational year-long, and more money is being spent on firefighting equipment. “This is not a cheap enterprise, but safety for our communities when it comes to wildfire is non negotiable,” Eby said. BCWS provincial wildfire information officer Erika Berg noted myriad initiatives the province has undertaken to be better prepared for wildfires this year, including using AI to predict wildfires, extending the hiring window for firefighters and spending millions of dollars in more equipment.

Wildsight, a local environmental activist group, said B.C.’s newly unveiled Old Growth Action Plan is a welcomed change, but urgent action is still needed. The Provincial Government outlined the next steps toward better forest care and job security for B.C.’s forest sector. This will include the following: establishing the $1-billion Tripartite Framework Agreement on Nature Conservation (the Nature Agreement); Ensuring forestry communities get more local jobs, including boosts to made-in-B.C. wood manufacturing; and Improvements to mapping, data and knowledge sharing. “Additionally, through Forest Landscape Plans (FLPs) the Province is ensuring local values drive decisions on the landbase, including those related to forest resilience, wildfire prevention, economic development and community well-being,” said B.C. officials. They note that nine FLPs are in development with more to come later. …Wildsight feels B.C.’s current logging regulations, particularly regarding old-growth, are unsustainable and will ultimately lead to further harm to the environment and humans.

Land One, a first-year cohort program at UBC, has won the D2L (Desire 2 Learn) Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning in recognition of its transformative approach to student-centred learning. The program launched in 2018 supported by the Faculties of Land and Food Systems and Forestry offers integrated first-year courses in a supportive environment as students adjust to university academics, as well as several opportunities for personal development, such as learning about different worldviews and participating in field trips. “By fostering a holistic understanding and providing practical skills, Land One empowers students to contribute meaningfully to sustainable solutions,” says Dr. Fernanda Tomaselli, program coordinator in the Department of Forest Resources Management. Central to Land One is inclusive pedagogy and decolonizing education, integrating diverse ways of knowing such as Indigenous perspectives and worldviews. Students speak of the transformative impact of this approach, with many expressing a newfound interest and appreciation for Indigenous knowledge.

Ed Wood

Harrison Hot Springs declared a local state of emergency over the threat of wildfire on Tuesday, and rescinded it the following day. Mayor Ed Wood issued a notice about the measure on Tuesday, saying it was needed “due to the significant threat of an interface fire and imminent threat to the loss of life and property.” The order was rescinded on Wednesday following a request from B.C.’s Ministry of Emergency Management. Wood had told CBC News on Wednesday that the nearest current wildfire was around 18 kilometres away. …A statement from the Emergency Management Ministry on Wednesday said that officials were in direct contact with the village to determine the reasons for the emergency declaration, and “to ensure a shared understanding of the appropriate use of such declarations.” …Council in Harrison Hot Springs has been wracked by infighting and disagreement since Wood was elected in 2022, hampering its ability to function and govern the village.

Carson Binda

Parks Canada will spend about $12 million on a plan to kill invasive deer and restore native vegetation on Sidney Island (beside the Saanich Peninsula in BC), according to documents obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. That’s more than double the cost that has been widely reported for the controversial project on the small Gulf Island. “It’s appalling that Parks Canada blew $12 million on a project that local hunters have been doing for free,” the federation’s B.C. director, Carson Binda, said on Wednesday at a news conference in front of the B.C. legislature. …Parks Canada’s forecast spending of $11.988 million on the restoration of Sidney Island is spread over eight years, according to its Fur to Forest budget… Including $2.8 million in salaries and benefits to Parks Canada staff, $1.5 million in studies, $800,000 for Indigenous participation, $53,000 for forest restoration services and plants and trees — and $4.1 million in deer-eradication services. 

The Wilderness Committee says the province’s latest plan for old-growth forests is underwhelming and lacking in any new interim measures to protect the most endangered old-growth forests. The environmental group says the new plan, called From Review to Action, continues to focus on previously announced measures and is “classic 1990’s-style ‘talk-and-log.” It says the government continues talking about how to implement commitments on old growth forests while withholding adequate protections for the most threatened stands. …The group also says the document delays the release of the final Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework, a policy recommended in the old growth review and meant to prioritize wildlife and their habitat over resource extraction. Joe Foy with the Wilderness Committee says too much old growth has already been logged, and “many species, including the spotted owl, have disappeared from much of their former range.”

səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Territories (Vancouver, BC) – Yesterday the Province released its Old Growth Action Plan. The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs and Stand.earth are calling on Premier David Eby to immediately issue emergency logging bans in the most at-risk old growth forests, and to align all sectors with the Old Growth Strategic Review. “The release of the Old Growth Action Plan is a welcome step and we are pleased that this government shares our concern for old growth trees. The Action Plan’s delivery after over four years of increasing temperatures and climate emergency impacts must be accompanied with significant investment and priority in order to protect the forest that is critically essential to sustaining the old growth trees we hold so dear. We must take immediate steps to stop the logging of at-risk old growth on the ground,” said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President, Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs.

Katrine Conroy

The B.C. government’s changes to a law that prevented First Nations from acquiring land have come into effect, meaning nations can now directly buy and own land in the province. Previously, First Nations needed to form a proxy, like a corporation or a trust, to buy land. The legislation, which was introduced in April, came into effect on Tuesday. The changes have no legal impact on other landowners — just federally recognized First Nations.  “To be honest, it is a huge relief.” said Hugh Braker, a political executive for the First Nations Summit of British Columbia and a member of the Tseshaht First Nation. “It gets rid of a rather racist relic from colonial times.” In a statement emailed to CBC News, Finance Minister Katrine Conroy said the changes to the Property Law Act and the Land Title Act are “a step on the path towards reconciliation.”

The Province is securing a better future for B.C.’s forests and communities by taking better care of more old-growth forests, supporting local jobs and building a more sustainable and resilient forestry industry. Released on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, the B.C. government’s update reports on work underway in response to the 14 recommendations made by an independent panel in a 2020 review of B.C.’s old forests. It also outlines next steps as the Province and First Nations, alongside the forestry sector, workers and communities, take action to better care for forests, provide stability for B.C.’s forestry communities, and address challenges associated with climate change and wildfires. …Nine FLPs are underway, with more to be announced in the future. Forest Landscape Plans (FLPs) will be developed in partnership with First Nations, and through engagement with communities and people affected, local knowledge and values can be incorporated into the management of entire ecosystems.

Margareta Dovgal

Last week, Canfor announced the closure of its sawmill at Bear Lake in northern B.C., with the loss of some 400 jobs. …Now, sadly, you can add those lost jobs to the estimated loss of 10,000 jobs in 2023, largely as the result of a shrinking supply of timber. …These losses aren’t an isolated phenomenon, nor is it just one company. It is a widespread issue. It is a real hit, especially when those losses happen in small communities where there are fewer people, especially when these are among the most economically productive jobs that we have in the province of B.C.. The provincial government is putting the blame on commodity cycles. …Canfor’s CEO, Don Kayne, says: “This has got nothing to do with market conditions. It is about certainty of supply — economic supply.” …The forestry sector says B.C. has sufficient timber available for harvest, but the actual harvest level has declined dramatically.

Andy MacKinnon

It’s been six months since the B.C. government released its “Draft B.C. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework” suggesting a radical and welcome shift in its approach to resource management. …Up to and including today, the B.C. government’s primary forestry focus has been on timber supply, and that single objective has driven land use and forest management over public lands (about 94 per cent of the province) for the last century. …Protected areas cover 15.4 per cent of B.C. …Most of the areas important for logging have less than 10 per cent of the land in protected areas. Since the 1950s, most of B.C. has been divided into timber supply areas and tree farm licences. …That’s why the “Draft B.C. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework” is such a big thing. It suggests that, for the first time in our province, forest management and land use is to be driven by something other than a timber focus.

VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will examine the activities of BC Timber Sales (BCTS) and timber sale licence holders in the Haida Gwaii Timber Supply Area (TSA) portion of the Chinook Business Area. BCTS’s operating areas are in the Haida Gwaii Natural Resource District located west of Prince Rupert. Approximately half of Haida Gwaii is in protected areas and about 35% of the nonprotected areas are in the timber harvesting land base. BCTS’s operating areas are predominantly situated on Graham Island, with smaller portions extending into northern Moresby Island. The audit area is located within the territory of the Haida Nation, which includes the protected areas of the Naikoon Provincial Park and Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve. Protected areas are co-operatively managed by the Haida Nation and the provincial and federal governments.