Region Archives: Canada West

The current challenges facing BC’s forest industry was the focus of this year’s Truck Loggers Association convention and trade show, which saw more than 1,000 delegates at Vancouver’s Westin Bayshore Hotel from Jan. 18-20. “Firmly planted. Standing strong” was the theme for the 78th annual convention, which TLA executive director Bob Brash said was fitting given the current climate of the industry. …Keynote speaker Nikolas Badminton said this was the trickiest keynote he had to write so far, since the industry, and the world in general, have some of the biggest challenges right now. …“I don’t make predictions. I speculate,” he said. …When asked a question by event moderator Vaughn Palmer, Badminton said the industry needs to work hard to change that perception. “Machines do not put humans out of work,” he said. “Instead, we should think about what we can invest in to improve our businesses.”

University of British Columbia forest ecologist Suzanne Simard is defending her research on how trees communicate after a citation review claims there is insufficient evidence to support her work. …Through mycorrhizal networks, Simard says, trees are able to exchange resources, sharing nutrients with younger saplings and releasing chemicals to warn each other of distress. But authors of a citation review published in Nature Ecology and Evolution says this research might not be applicable to every forest. Review co-author Justine Karst, who studies mycorrhizal ecology of forests at the University of Alberta, says she is questioning the claim that mycorrhizal networks are widespread in forests. …Karst and her co-authors’ analysis also questions the study’s claims that fungal connections benefit seedlings and trees can recognize their kin through mycorrhizal networks. Simard told CBC the article misses a major point about the research, maintaining that studying interactions between trees is crucial for protecting forests.

Two environmental groups and a British Columbia First Nation say the federal government is recommending an order to protect the critically at-risk northern spotted owl. Just three of the tiny owls are known to be in the wild in B.C., with a fourth recovering at a rehabilitation centre after it was suspected to have been hit by a train. A statement from the Wilderness Committee, Ecojustice and Spuzzum Nation says they have learned federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault is recommending an emergency order to protect the spotted owl from imminent threats to its survival and recovery. The statement says the minister has determined that logging must be prevented in two watersheds within Spuzzum Nation territory along the lower Fraser River canyon, about 180 kilometres east of Vancouver.

The finished product of sewage treatment produced in the capital region will soon be on its way to the Nanaimo area to fertilize trees and jump-start other vegetation. Biosolids, the granular remains of sewage treatment, will be spread in the mid-Island region to pump up new vegetation in logging and reforestation sites and for the reclamation of gravel pits and other mine sites. Land application of the biosolids is something the Capital Regional District vowed it would never do since the early stages of the $775-million wastewater treatment plant. In a narrow vote after a two-hour debate, CRD directors decided shipping biosolids to the Regional District of Nanaimo — which had offered to take them — was the only short-term plan on the table. …“I find it very hypocritical of us to allow biosolids to be land-applied outside of our region when we are against land application in our own area,” said Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins

Activists opposed to old-growth logging in British Columbia are planning to converge on the B.C. legislature grounds for a “super-rally” Saturday, prompting a warning from Victoria police to expect traffic disruptions in the downtown core. Police are planning to close Douglas Street to traffic from Centennial Square to the legislature grounds between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., when protesters plan to march to the government buildings. Additional police officers and surveillance cameras will be deployed downtown for the duration of the protest. …Dubbed the “United We Stand for Old Growth Forests! Declaration, March and Super-Rally,” the action is in response to the B.C. government’s failures to protect the province’s most at-risk old-growth forests from logging, according to a statement from the organizers.

Sarah Dixon

University of Northern BC student Sarah Dixon was honoured this past fall to have been selected as one of three recipients from across the country to receive a 2022 Skills Award for Indigenous Youth from the Forest Products Association of Canada and the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers. …The 22-year-old Bachelor of Arts student is from the Esk’etemc First Nation, within the Secwepemc Nation, and grew up in the communities of Esk’et (Alkali Lake) and Williams Lake. …It was while on a campus tour with OYEP that the seeds were first planted for pursuing her post-secondary studies at UNBC. …Dixon is also participating in a Forest Products Association of Canada project called Forestry for the Future which aims to amplify the stories of those furthering sustainability in the forest industry.

Nearly $3 million is being invested into projects intended to lessen wildfire risk across Oregon. The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office says $2.7 million are going towards what’s called community wildfire protection plans (CWPP.) There are over two dozen ready-to-go in 25 counties. They include fuel mitigation programs, defensible space projects, and home assessments. Alison Green, the public affairs director for the OSFM, said this is a new initiative. “Our office was very fortunate in 2021, the last biennium to actually get an investment to reduce risk to communities,” Green told KLCC. “For us to really have this money to lessen the risk, and protect people, this was such an amazing opportunity.” The funds are part of the OSFM’s Fire Adapted Oregon initiative, created by Senate Bill 762. …Green said the wildfire outlook for 2023 looks more typical than some of the more severe seasons in recent years.

Since 2016… billions of dollars have been lost to firefighting and property damage in British Columbia. Both timber supply and ecosystems have been devastated. Wildfire smoke now casts an eerie pall over B.C. summers. …Fire experts tell us that when industrial forestry abolished Indigenous-controlled burning, it set the stage for the recent catastrophic wildfires. …Part of the solution is to recognize ancient wisdom, and to “fight fire with fire.” Modern fire ecologists recognize this, and now widely prescribe controlled burning to create fire breaks and reduce forest fuels. …B.C. is now expanding prescribed burning, and has begun pilot projects with First Nations to restore cultural burning. But we lag far behind Australia and the United States. …While the BC Wildfire Service has limited programs… we urgently need to expand the training system. …Second, we need to reduce legal liability of certified prescribed-fire practitioners. [To access the full story, a Globe and Mail subscription is required]

VICTORIA – An audit of First Nations Woodland Licence N2I, held by the Lake Babine First Nation, has found compliance with British Columbia’s forestry legislation. “Our audit found that Lake Babine Nation complied with all requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act,” said Bruce Larson, acting chair of the Forest Practices Board. “We are pleased to see Lake Babine Nation participating in the forest economy and carrying out sound forest practices on their traditional territory.” The First Nations Woodland Licence is located north of Burns Lake and has three separate operating areas on the west side of Babine Lake. The licence provides the Lake Babine Nation with exclusive timber harvest rights within the 36,500-hectare area, with an allowable annual cut of 74,000 cubic metres.

Additional coverage in My Bulkley Lakes Now, by Logan Flint: Lake Babine Nation audit finds compliance with provincial legislation

VICTORIA – An audit of BC Timber Sales (BCTS) and timber sale licence holders (TSL holders) in the Cariboo Chilcotin business area, in the Cariboo Chilcotin Natural Resource District, has found compliance with British Columbia’s forestry legislation. “BCTS and TSL holders complied with requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and complied with almost all requirements of the Wildfire Act,” said Bruce Larson, acting board chair of the Forest Practices Board. “The one issue auditors found was that the TSL holders did not complete fire hazard assessments after logging. However, because they removed all logging debris that could pose a fire hazard as part of their standard procedures, this is considered an area to improve in the future.” The board examined forestry activities carried out between June 2021 and June 2022.

B.C.’s bats are threatened by a fungal disease headed towards the province from Alberta and Washington State. The Kootenay Community Bat Program, in collaboration with the Province of BC, are asking the public for help in the effort to detect and prevent the spread of White-Nose Syndrome (WNS). Residents are urged to report any bat activity observed in winter and any sick or dead bats found before May 31^st. White-Nose Syndrome is a fungal disease that is harmless to humans, but has devastated North American bat populations. The fungus attacks bats while they are hibernating, appearing on their wings and faces to give an appearance of a white nose. Bats often wake to clean the fungus from their skin. This uses valuable energy, and finally the bats die from hypothermia and starvation. If anyone finds a dead bat or have sightings of winter bat activity, please report to the B.C. Community Bat Program online at www.bcbats.ca, via email at info@bcbats.ca or by calling 1-855-922-2287 (1-855-GOT-BATS).  

In a letter to the Wilderness Committee… Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault is recommending an emergency order to protect the at-risk species from imminent threats to its survival and recovery. Federal cabinet now needs to accept the minister’s recommendation for the emergency order to come into effect, after it consults affected First Nations. …The minister has determined that logging needs to be prevented in Spuzzum and Utzlius watersheds, within Spô’zêm Nation territory, as well as in a further 2,500 hectares of forest habitat critical to the spotted owl’s survival and at high risk of being logged within the next year. As the Minister has found there are imminent threats to spotted owl survival and recovery from logging, he must by law recommend an emergency order. If accepted, the emergency order would be the third ever to be approved by cabinet under the federal Species at Risk Act. 

PRINCE GEORGE — The future of forestry is going to be discussed at a forum next week and a group of speakers will be looking at how to increase sustainability and maximize job potential in the industry. The forestry sector has been dealing with many setbacks recently and there has been lots of discussion on the path going forward for the industry in British Columbia. James Steidle. …The Future of Forestry forum will take place on Tuesday February 28th at the Canfor Theatre at UNBC, starting at 6:30pm.

Snuneymuxw Territory (Nanaimo, B.C.) – The Indigenous Forestry Scholarship Program (IFSP) is an existing program that the Forestry Council, in partnership with the Ministry of Forests has developed. The program is designed to grow and connect Indigenous talent to BC Forest Sector Workforce opportunities. It is a work and study mentorship program that provides the opportunity for Indigenous students to access funding and enter into forestry-related training or educational programs plus a mentored summer work experience in their field. The program provides Indigenous students with: Tuition and living expenses scholarship; Paid summer work-term experience and one-on-one mentorship with a program partner; and Support from your local Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program (ISETP) centre. Our work includes helping Indigenous students find appropriate pathways to work placements they are interested in, and providing continuous support to keep them on track towards their professional development and success.

In this issue of the Woodlot Communicator: Welcome Gord Chipman – New FBCWA General Manager Woodlotters and the Federation of BC Woodlot Associations are pleased to welcome Gord Chipman as their new General Manager. He takes over the reins from Brian McNaughton, who has tirelessly served for 22 years, ensuring the woodlot program was in good hands. Brian will still be sharing his knowledge through his company, Lone Tree Consulting, and will also be enjoying more time with his grandchildren! …The Association of BC Forest Professionals honours Al Waters – Retired RPF and Woodlotter Since 1970. Al has made a significant impact on the woodlot program, first as a Senior Woodlot Licence Forester in the Tenures Branch (1997-2003), and later as a manager of two woodlot licences near Quesnel.

The Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC), together with the Office of the Chief Forester, the BC Ministry of Forests, and many project partners across the province of British Columbia, has released an accomplishments update highlighting the innovative nature-based forestry solutions taking real action on climate change. …The accomplishments update titled “Rising to the Climate Change Challenge,” shares details about the collaboration of provincial, national, and international partners to harness the power of forestry as a part of the global solution. …Since inception, FESBC has approved $261 million in funding for 305 projects through all eight regions of the province. …Throughout the province, 4.8 million cubic metres of wood has been put to efficient use in secondary forest products facilities instead of burning that wood in a cutblock. 

A U.S.-based non-profit advocacy group is pushing toilet paper manufacturers to stop using Canada’s boreal forest as a resource.  The Natural Resources Defense Council recently released a report on manufacturers that it says are using what it calls virgin forests — previously untouched forests (sometimes called old-growth forests) — as a resource for toilet paper.  CTVNews.ca reached out to the toilet paper manufacturers mentioned in the report to understand sustainability goals and how the industry is adapting to the changing climate. But experts say these big companies need to do more by shifting toilet paper away from forests to more sustainable options.  …The group claims the majority of popular brands in Canada and the U.S. are using wood fibre and pulp from the Canadian boreal forest, alleging that this practice leads to the destruction of ecosystems and decreases the carbon-capturing power of trees.

James Steidle

In the wake of sawmill curtailments and shutdowns and the permanent closure of Canfor’s pulp line at Prince George Pulp and Paper, a group of concerned stakeholders is gathering Feb. 28 at the University of British Columbia to discuss future of our forests and how they should be managed to increase sustainability and maximize job potential.  James Steidle, the organizer of the Future of Forestry in Our Region: A Community Conversation, says the forum is needed to inform the community about alternatives to existing forest practices and what should be done to protect species habitat, promote forest vitality and minimize the effects of logging.  “It’s not just about growing plantations for sawmills that are throwing everybody out of work,” said Steidle. “There’s other values there, there’s tourism, hunting, trapping and ranching to consider. We want to talk about tenure reform and talk about maybe getting a community forest for Prince George and alternatives to clear-cutting.

North Cowichan’s tax base will continue to be depleted if elected officials proceed with a flawed study that sells short forestry revenues by 100 per cent while overstating gains from carbon credits.  Since the 1960s North Cowichan has been one of a handful of small municipally owned successful forest businesses. The small forest reserve balanced environmental, recreational, and economic interests until a small but very vocal group started demanding a stop to all timber harvesting.  The reserve, which covers 5,470 hectares, has the potential to generate more than $2.1 million annually in revenue for the municipality.  …The harvest rate is also 50 per cent less than the actual rate of growth which means the forest is growing faster than it is being harvested.  …So, a small group of community leaders, professional and retired foresters reviewed the report and found significant flaws and misleading conclusions.

Changes introduced by the B.C. government to begin to give forest health priority over timber supply don’t go far enough to build up wildfire resilience, says a B.C. expert.  …A key measure is new forest landscape planning tables that will replace industry-led forestry plans.  Robert Gray, a wildfire ecologist with decades of experience in B.C., said the changes, while welcome, don’t specifically address wildfire resilience, which is also a critical issue for forest health, wildlife, biodiversity, watersheds and jobs.  …The forest landscape has to be transformed so that fire behaviour can be changed, said Gray, who has contributed to numerous academic papers on wildfire research and has written on the topic for the International Association for Fire Ecology, the Nature Conservancy and others.  The forest landscape can be made more fire resilient by methods that include logging, thinning and prescribed burns at low fire intensity, according to Gray and other researchers

So far, February has been an interesting month for forestry. Recent forums and announcements have provided more clarity and evidence for the transformation our government intends to forest policy and practice in British Columbia. Our WFCA conference at the beginning of the month anticipated some of this by focusing in part on the threats and opportunities we face in adapting to climate change and reducing the risk of natural disasters. Days after that the joined-at-the-hip Ministry of Forests and Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship held a multi sectoral forum on the implementation of the Old Growth Strategy Review (OGSR) recommendations. Also in this newsletter:

• Latest Forecasts for Seedling Demand Released by MoF
• 2022 Low Bid Auction Tree Planting Tenders Defy Inflation

We’d like to congratulate Al Waters, RPF(Ret), who was acknowledged with the prestigious Distinguished Forest Professional award this year by the Association of BC Forest Professionals. …Gord Chipman reports – “In the past few months, I have been working closely with Brian McNaughton as I transition into my role as General Manager. As a result, there have been many introductions. I have met the Minister of Forests, the Associate Deputy Minister, the Timber Pricing Manager (actually Al is an old friend) and the Tenures staff in the Branch.” …After surveying over 100 woodlot licensees, conducting interviews, polls, participating in meetings, hosting workshops, and obtaining legal advice, the JTF developed the following recommendation. The FBCWA/WPDC Joint Task Force recommends the Federation of BC Woodlot Associations and the Woodlot Product Development Council develop a singularly governed entity to serve the needs of Woodlot Licensees in the Province of BC.