Region Archives: Canada West

VICTORIA – The BC Forest Practices Board has released its 2023-26 Strategic Plan, setting new priorities for advancing the public interest in forest and range practices in B.C. The plan reaffirms the board’s mission and purpose statements, but includes new values and priorities in recognition of the changing landscape in British Columbia. “Forest management is undergoing a transformation in B.C.,” said Keith Atkinson, chair, Forest Practices Board. “The priorities in our new strategic plan reflect the diversity of values provided by forests and the collaboration required to sustain them.”

Strategic priorities in the 2023-26 plan include:

• encouraging forest and range policies and practices adapted to the effects of climate change and supporting ecological resilience, including conservation of biodiversity and wildlife habitat.
• supporting the inclusion and engagement of Indigenous Peoples in forest and range stewardship;
• growing and maintaining a professional team; and
• increasing the awareness and impact of the Forest Practices Board’s work.

Dry vegetation, record temperatures and powerful winds: this “perfect storm” of weather phenomena fueled the massive forest fires in western Canada’s Alberta province this year, according to researchers. The extent of the fires and their appearance so early in the year illustrate the impacts of climate change, scientists say. …”It is an exceptional year insofar as the accumulation of burned areas is very rapid, as is the number of very large fires at the same time,” Yan Boulanger, a specialist in forest fires at the Canadian ministry for natural resources, said. The vast majority of fires are of human origin, including cigarette butts, campfires that weren’t properly snuffed out or sometimes malicious acts, he said. …Diana Stralberg, a researcher in Edmonton for the Canadian Forest Service, explained that human-caused climate change is making the fire season longer and causing “extreme fire weather conditions” to occur more often.

Real, actual experts in forest industry education are eyeing a Burns Lake asset with hope and interest. Burns Lake Community Forest has one of only three special simulation units in B.C. that teach the ways of operating a Ponsse forwarder-harvester. They use that kind of machine to do some of their timber cutting, hauling, and processing. Their rubber tire design allows them to tiptoe through a forest landscape, rather than the bull in the china shop effect of past harvesting machinery… During a forestry think tank held in Quesnel May 2 and 3 …two of the speakers brought up the importance of that simulator in Burns Lake. Of them was someone who has one of the three, himself. Dominik Roeser is an author, researcher, the former senior director of FP Innovations, and is now an associate professor at UBC’s school of forestry, specializing in forest operations.

Whistler, B.C.  …The Cheakamus Community Forest (CCF), governed by a non-profit society of representatives from the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) and the Líl̓wat and Squamish First Nations, realized the potential impact of a wildfire to the tourists and the critical importance of wildfire risk mitigation. …To mitigate this risk and to do so in a sustainable way, foresters from the Líl̓wat Forestry Ventures LP, an arm of the Líl̓wat First Nation, with funding from FESBC, set out to create a wildfire risk reduction plan which included consultation with the community and other stakeholders. …The wildfire risk reduction treatments were completed by the Lil’wat Nation forestry crews resulting in a reduction of the forest fuels, minimizing smoke emissions and maintaining the forest recreation values. …The successes of their efforts serve as a demonstration of the benefits that a tourist town can reap from implementing wildfire risk reduction measures.

John Innes

VICTORIA — A spell of unseasonably warm weather in the forecast for many parts of British Columbia is raising concerns for further flooding and wildfires. John Innes, a professor in the faculty of forestry at the University of B.C., says he’s especially worried about the wildfire risk in the northeast as temperatures rise. He says it looks like a “serious weather event” is occurring, with a ridge of pressure expected to produce prolonged heat with little to no rain in the forecast. There are nearly 50 fires burning throughout B.C., most of which are small, but the area they’ve scorched has grown significantly in recent days. …Innes says B.C.’s snowpack typically melts fairly slowly… which helps keep moisture in the ground until later in the summer. But if the snow melts quickly, as it has been so far this spring, he says the meltwater will run off, raising the risk of flooding and subsequently wildfires.

The Government of Yukon is sending wildland fire personnel to support wildfire response operations in Alberta. In total, the Yukon government is sending 21 people to Alberta, including six initial attack crews from the Dawson and Whitehorse regions. The firefighting crews will be joined by an agency representative and an additional wildland fire officer.  The specifics of this deployment may change as the situation evolves in Alberta. Personnel will leave the Yukon on May 9 and be deployed for up to 19 days, including travel, depending on the needs of the receiving agency. The situation will be continually reassessed to ensure that Alberta is provided maximum possible assistance while remaining prepared to manage any incidents that develop at home.

Prince George is ripe for a wildfire disaster of a similar scale to Fort McMurray in 2016 that destroyed 2,500 homes and buildings unless the forests that surround the city are managed appropriately, a local logging contractor says. “We’re one serious fire away from losing potentially hundreds, if not thousands, of homes in Prince George,” Liam Parfitt said. “I think the city of Prince George is sitting on a time bomb.” Parfitt is co-owner of Freya Logging Inc., contracted over the winter for a Ministry of Forests wildfire risk reduction project to selectively log the Pidherny Recreation Site. The popular network of cycling and hiking trails about 12 kilometres northwest of downtown Prince George is within the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George but some of the trails encroach city jurisdiction.

The coffee company Nespresso Canada will be helping to restore spruce beetle affected forests in McLeod Lake. Nespresso Canada has partnered with the national tree-planting organization Tree Canada on a number of planting projects around the country. After renewing their partnership in 2022, Nespresso Canada donated $100,000 to Tree Canada for several planting projects taking place in 2023. In British Columbia, a project that began over the past two years on the McLeod Lake Indian Band’s lands will continue with a focus on restoration thanks to the initiative. Severely infested with spruce beetle, 3,750 hectares are being restored as part of this ecosystem-wide reforestation project.

In this edition of the Woodlot Communicator:

• Gord Chipman, general manager of the Federation of BC Woodlot Associations, tours woodlots around the province. 
• Wildlife Tree signs now available to woodlot licensees
• At the age of 80, after 35 years of management, Carl Hennig sells Woodlot W0587
• Save the Date: Woodlot Association AGM & Conference – October 26-29, 2023

EDMONTON — Former members of an elite Alberta wildfire-fighting crew say government budget cuts have left the province battling its current blazes short-handed. “We could have been difference-makers,” said Jordan Erlandson, a former member of Alberta’s Rapattack team. …That program once had 63 firefighters stationed around the province, including at Edson, Fox Creek and Lac La Biche — communities now threatened by one of the busiest early fire seasons in provincial history. But that program was cut in 2019 by the United Conservatives. …The saving was $1.4 million. The province’s wildfire budget for 2019 was about $117 million. Devin Dreeshen, then minister of agriculture and forestry, said those firefighters spend only two per cent of the time rappelling from helicopters, and spend the rest of the time fighting wildfires on the ground. …However, documents obtained under Freedom of Information legislation and supplied to The Canadian Press suggest Dreeshen underplayed the importance of an aerial attack.

As wildfire season descends on B.C., hundreds of firefighters are descending on North Vancouver to sharpen their skills. Residents from Grousewoods to Woodlands will see a heavy presence of out-of-town fire trucks and crews May 10-14 for the first ever Wildfire Resiliency and Training Summit – five days of training that addresses both wildfire prevention and tactics in responding. More than 80 community members who live near the forest interface have volunteered their properties for the weekend… Because of its forest interface, the district has hosted wildfire simulation training before, but this is the first time a major conference combining preparedness and response has happened at the same time. “We’ve got trucks and personnel from from Smithers to Ladysmith on Vancouver Island to Peachland in the Interior. It’s the full gamut. I would easily say we’ve got at least 30 to 40 different fire services,” District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services chief Brian Hutchinson said.

A $6.0 million investment is being made for the preservation and maintenance of northern roads that support the province’s forestry industry. This one-time investment will fund gravel work and brush clearing on several northern roads. “Saskatchewan has the resources the world needs and it is vital we get our goods to market safely and efficiently,” Highways Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. “As a landlocked province, we need a safe, reliable and sustainable transportation system to support economic growth.” The money will preserve and maintain forestry-dependent roads in the north. The funding is planned for roads that are expected to see an increase in traffic resulting from new and upgraded mills. “The future looks bright for the Saskatchewan forestry industry,” Edgewood Forest Products in Carrot River General Manager Trevor Reid said. “This industry is poised for growth, and we’re pleased to see the provincial government supporting forestry.”

Bruce Ralston

B.C. Forests Minister Bruce Ralston said he is confident the Kruger pulp mill in Kamloops will be able to secure a long-term supply of fibre for its operation on Mission Flats Road. Ralston was in Kamloops on May 5 to speak to members of the Interior Logging Association, which held its annual convention and trade show in the city. …Ralston said government recognizes the challenges of fibre supply in the region, noting Kruger is working with his ministry and has connections with local First Nations. …“I’m confident that they will be able to resolve their concerns of long-term supply of fibre,” Ralston said. “The Kruger mill is really important in Kamloops and it’s important in British Columbia.” …Given the fibre shortage from sawmills, Kruger is increasing its use of fire-affected wood and slash piles and wants to work with First Nations to access their forest tenures.

A member of parliament from British Columbia has introduced a private member’s motion urging the government to stop old-growth logging on federal land and end the export of old-growth products from Canada by 2030. Liberal MP Patrick Weiler, who represents West Vancouver–Sunshine Coast–Sea to Sky Country, says the motion would help protect old-growth forests, which are tools to combat climate change and “iconic” parts of Canada’s natural heritage. “When we cut down old-growth forest, it’s irreplaceable and it’s inherently unsustainable, so we really need to focus on supporting communities and forestry practices that are going to be sustainable in the long term,” Weiler said. …But the provisions banning export of old-growth logs and log products would directly impact logging operations on land controlled by the province.

A B.C. MP has introduced a motion to ban the export of old-growth logs and any products made from them. Patrick Weiler, Liberal MP for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, introduced the private members’ motion Thursday. The motion calls for an end to the export of old growth as soon as possible but no later than 2030. It also calls on the federal government to end old-growth logging on federal lands outside of reserves, including national parks and land held by the Department of National Defence. “This is really about putting this on the radar to really push the federal government to act on this,” said Weiler in an interview. “There’s probably no more important environmental issue in B.C. than protecting old growth. “This is essentially our cathedrals that are being cut down.”

Quesnel hosted a forestry think tank at the North Cariboo Community Campus this week. Former Mayor Bob Simpson, now a forestry consultant, said, “How do we manage the forest differently, how do we manufacture different products from forest fibre, and then how do we retrain the workforce to both of those things ?” …“If anybody walks into our MDF Plant here, that’s the kind of future we’re looking at in our sawmills, if we get into mass timber modular manufacturing etc, where people are sitting in a control booth and there’s nobody on the shop floor.” Simpson says the type of workers will also then change. …Simpson says Quesnel is already a recognized research hub, and has good research partners, UBC, UNBC, Laval University etc, and good partnerships with West Fraser and COFI.

British Columbia’s chief forester, Shane Berg, has set a new allowable annual cut (AAC) level for the Mackenzie Timber Supply Area (TSA). The new AAC for the Mackenzie TSA is 2.39 million cubic metres. The allowable annual cut was previously 3 million cubic metres in 2010 and was revised to 4.5 million cubic metres in 2014 to address the mountain pine beetle outbreak. More than 50% of the annual harvest included beetle-killed timber. The chief forester has set the new determination as part of an overall harvest risk assessment with input received from the public, key stakeholders, local municipal leaders, the forest industry and extensive consultation with First Nations in the TSA. The new AAC considers forest health, climate change influences contributing to wildfire and drought, current and future spruce beetle infestation, old-growth management, species at risk, and wildlife habitat values.

Chief Harley Chingee of McLeod Lake Indian Band said his people remain committed to the natural resources sector despite its current struggles after signing two agreements with the provincial government. The McLeod Lake Indian Band is located north of Prince George and south of Mackenzie. Chingee said his people have been part of the forestry industry since the 1940s. A band company is currently working on the Site C project… “Most of them are loggers and once Site C is done, they will go back to the forest industry or oil and gas … we are part of the forest industry and will be part of the forest industry generations from now because it’s our bread-and-butter,” Chingee said. …McLeod Lake Indian Band — which joined Treaty 8 in 2000, more than a century after its initial conclusion in 1899 — becomes the latest First Nation in the area to sign an agreement.