Region Archives: Canada

The BC government has approved a legal order to extend temporary protections to an old-growth forest on Vancouver Island even as the minister of forests acknowledged that the RCMP are investigating reports of tree spiking. Ravi Parmar called the news of such vandalism “incredibly alarming.” Spikes are typically metal and can injure or even kill a person who attempts to cut down or mill the tree. …The minister said spiking puts health and safety of forestry workers at risk, adding that the province immediately notified both the forestry licensee and the local First Nation. “It is outrageous that… they feel that causing serious injury to workers furthers their cause,” said Brian Butler, president of United Steelworkers Local 1-1937. The provincial government’s announcement… came at the request of the Pacheedaht First Nation, whose territories encompass the entire watershed. The protections allow for continued discussions about the long-term management of the watershed.

Related coverage:

• Province extends Fairy Creek old-growth deferral – Government of BC
• Minister’s statement on RCMP investigation in Fairy Creek – Government of BC
• Photos of spiked trees in Fairy Creek sent to Forests Ministry – Roxanne Egan-Elliot in Times Colonist

…changes in climate are expected to drive wildlife seeking refuge up mountains and further north. But for trees… the changes in climate are often coming too fast to get out of the way, especially when combined with pressures from logging, said Suzanne Simard, a professor in the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Forestry. …In a new study published in Global Change Biology, Simard and her UBC colleagues took three-year-old interior Douglas fir seedlings from locations in southern B.C. and planted them as far north as Fort St. James, the northern limit of the species’ range … to find out how the trees would handle the human-assisted migration, and if they would do better in a colder climate.  …As early as 2006, University of Alberta researcher Andreas Hamann published a study that concluded climate change could push the range of B.C.’s tree species north at a rate of 100 kilometres per decade.  

Ten hectares of community and Crown forest in Kaslo are ready to champion the next wildfire season, following a nearly $100,000 risk-reduction project. The Kaslo and District Community Forest Society (KDCFS) has wrapped up nearly two years of wildfire mitigation work on eight hectares of its land and two hectares of Crown land, which have a popular bike trail network and were deemed high-risk areas in Kaslo’s wildland-urban interface. Risk reduction efforts included fuel reduction by removing select trees and forest debris, with support and $96,900 in funding from the Forest Enhancement Society of BC. According to KDCFS manager Jeff Reyden, this was a “full-phase” project that started in spring of 2023 and included surveying wildfire assessment plots, consulting with the community, and creating a fuel-management prescription document with detailed instructions and objectives.

VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board has completed its audit of BC Timber Sales (BCTS) and Timber Sale Licence (TSL) holders in the Haida Gwaii Natural Resource District. A compliance audit examined all forestry planning and activities carried out in the area between May 1, 2022, and May 31, 2024. The parties complied with most legislative requirements with two exceptions. Auditors found BCTS was not diligent in inspecting approximately 90 kilometres of its roads and structures in its Sewell Inlet operating area. …Following the audit, BCTS inspected these roads … and has committed to working with the Ministry of Forests and the Haida Nation to develop road deactivation plans as needed. …Auditors found all three TSL holders audited had abated fire hazards within the required period. However, two TSL holders did not complete the required number of fire-hazard assessments and did not conduct fuel-hazard assessments on time. This is considered an area requiring improvement…

In this newsletter you’ll find these stories and more:

• Become a Member: At the BCCFA, we are honoured to advocate for our members and community forestry in BC. Membership is open to all who are interested in supporting community forestry in BC.
• Mandate Letter for the Minister of Forests states: “Work to secure a more sustainable future for First Nations and communities that depend on local forests for their economic strength by expanding the community forest program.”  
• Join us in Nanaimo for our 2025 Conference & Annual General Meeting
• BC Wildfire Service released their 2024 wildfire season summary

Keith Atkinson

Issue #28 – Winter 2024/25 includes these stories and more:

• Message from board chair, Keith Atkinson
• The Secret Life of Board Members, by Bruce Larson
• Audit Program Update: In 2024, we released four audit reports
• Complaint Investigation Program: In 2024, we received 7 complaints and dealt with 48 concerns from members of the public. 
• New Special Projects: The Board has approved two new special investigations 
• Appeals Program: The Board did not initiate or join an appeal in 2024. However, we are currently still participating in two appeals
• Recommendations: The Board tracks the implementation of its recommendations and posts all responses to our recommendations with the relevant report on our website.
• People: Since 2023, we have had staff members retire or transition to new roles outside of our organization, necessitating the need for new staff to assume these positions. 

The Court of Appeal for British Columbia upheld zoning restrictions on privately managed forest lands on Galiano Island, affirming the local trust committee’s authority to prohibit residential development despite provincial legislative changes allowing limited residential use. The court’s ruling reaffirmed the Galiano Island Local Trust Committee’s authority to restrict residential development on forest lands. The dispute dates back to 2000 when the committee adopted bylaw no. 127, which prohibits residential use in the “Forest 1 Zone.” The appellants, owners of privately managed forest land, argued that the bylaw was invalid or inapplicable due to subsequent provincial legislation, including the 2004 Private Managed Forest Land Act.

With Moose Jaw’s Dutch elm trees “struggling” because of disease, city hall is hoping that hiring two more forestry staff will enable crews to address symptomatic trees and remove dead wood promptly. During a recent 2025 budget meeting, city council voted unanimously to allocate $72,356 to the community service department’s operating budget to expand staffing in the forestry division. This funding will help the city provide a full-time, four-person crew for 30 weeks per year and a two-person crew for 22 weeks during the fall and winter, a budget report said. More staff — there is currently a two-person, year-round crew — would improve response times for service requests, shorten tree pruning cycles, enhance public safety, reduce property damage and promote the urban forest’s long-term health.

As the challenges facing the West Kootenay’s forestry sector deepen, many have expressed concern over the potential for significant job losses. Tom Thomson, executive director of the Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce (NDCC), highlighted the potential ripple effects of the proposed 25 per cent tariffs from the U.S. “Forestry jobs are the backbone of Nelson,” said Thomson. “ If those jobs disappear the ripple effects are felt everywhere…It trickles down.” “It’s a bit too early to say for sure,” he added. “It could lead to huge layoffs in the forestry and manufacturing areas.”.. The provincial government has stated through a preliminary assessment that they project to lose $69 billion in economic growth between 2025 and 2028. They also proposed that the province’s gross domestic product (GDP) could decline by 0.6 per cent each year, with an estimated 124,000 job losses by 2028.

You can add the names of the three men who planted it to the long list of people opposed to the City of Victoria removing a giant sequoia to make way for a re-imagined Centennial Square. Tom Rose, Mike Leahy and Stu Montgomery, the three-man city horticulture crew that planted the tree on a late-winter day in the early 1980s, say they just don’t understand why it has to come down. “It’s a waste,” said Montgomery, 67, who retired in 2012 from the city after 37 years tending boulevards, sports fields and a stint overseeing Centennial Square. “It doesn’t make any sense.” The tree and the fountain would both be removed in a proposed $11.2-million redesign of the 60-year-old civic landmark.

Twenty-one students with the University of British Columbia’s Master of Sustainable Forest Management (MSFM) program visited the Sea to Sky in January to learn from Lil’wat Forestry Ventures (LFV) about economic and traditional elements of forestry. Between Jan. 20 and 24, the students worked with LFV on how to develop a landscape-level forest management plan that respects key conservation, fire management and cultural values. They were led by Ken Byrne, a UBC lecturer and registered professional forester (RPF) and lecturer at UBC. Byrne has been organizing these expeditions for some time, usually working to arrange the MSFM in partnership with a community forest or smaller tenure nearby or owned by a First Nation. …“We’re thrilled to partner with UBC on another project,” LFV general manager Klay Tindall said. “Our collaboration has allowed us to combine traditional forest science with Lil’wat cultural knowledge and values, leading to more informed management decisions.”

Kaslo, B.C. – As wildfires continue to increase in frequency and severity, the Kaslo and District Community Forest Society (KDCFS) completed a wildfire risk reduction project, covering approximately 8 hectares of KDCFS’s tenure and 2 hectares of Crown land within the Wildland Urban Interface. With funding support from the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC), the fuel reduction work focused on selectively removing trees to reduce the high fuel content and excess forest debris within a high-use recreation area that has an extensive bike trail network. This fuel reduction treatment will help protect the community from wildfires and serve to enhance both wildlife habitat and recreational values. “As wildfire seasons grow longer and more intense, projects like this are critical for reducing fuels in forests near communities,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “My thanks go to the Kaslo and District Community Forest Society for taking on this important community-driven work…”

A new University of British Columbia study has pinpointed strategies to help local forests adapt to climate change. …the eight-year study found ways forest ecosystems can be better prepared for the climate threat, with a focus on mitigating the loss of the Douglas fir tree. …professor and co-author of the study Suzanne Simard, said the project looked at the process of relocating Douglas firs that are already adapted to dry, hot weather, further north. …Opting for a two-pronged approach, researchers also explored how various routes of harvesting and regenerating forests would affect the migrated seedlings’ attempt to grow in the face of climate change. Researchers tried various avenues, from clear-cutting to retaining larger densities of the tallest Douglas fir trees, said Simard.

British Columbia-based environmental activist Zain Haq was aboard a plane in Toronto on Sunday afternoon, awaiting a nearly 14-hour flight to Pakistan. But Haq was not on the plane by choice. He was being deported following the expiry of a temporary residency permit and a failed bid by his Canadian wife to sponsor him to stay. …Haq initially came to Canada on a student visa from Pakistan. He co-founded the activist group Save Old Growth and pleaded guilty to mischief charges in 2023 over his role in environmental protests that blocked Metro Vancouver roadways. He was granted a temporary resident permit last spring, but it expired in October, and Haq’s challenge of his deportation in federal court was unsuccessful.

In recent years, the B.C. forestry sector has been characterized by mill closures, permitting delays, and job losses. …Last week, I met with forests minister Ravi Parmar to bring my concerns to his attention. Though the main focus of our conversation was the forest industry, many of the permitting issues fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship as well. We discussed the unpredictability of fibre supply and the burning of cull piles, which I am adamantly opposed to. …B.C. mills will only survive if the fibre approval process is streamlined and access to fibre is expedited. Why wouldn’t we want to simultaneously support mill operations in B.C. and reduce waste?  We must simplify regulations to allow fire-damaged timber and residual fibre to be used efficiently. …A review of BCTS is great but…. time is for sure of the essence! Our industry can’t wait any longer!!

Willow Ellsworth

Willow Ellsworth’s love for the outdoors inspired her to pursue a career in forestry… From BC Timber Sales she later joined the Ministry of Forests in the Authorizations department, working on road permits, cruising, and log scaling. In 2022, she obtained her Registered Forest Technologist designation and Interior Log Scaling license. Ellsworth started working with NorthPac in 2021 as a Forest Technologist and within a year transitioned to the role of Shipping Coordinator and finally Log Yard and Waste Supervisor. …“I am primarily involved in the Coast Tsimshian Resources LP and NorthPac’s fibre utilization project,” Willow noted. “Initially, we were shipping sawlogs via log cars to Dunkley, and the program has since expanded to introducing a chipper on site and shipping chips to Canfor in Prince George. FESBC funding has enabled NorthPac to haul pulp logs and small tops that are usually left to burn in the bush.”

Calgary, AB – The Indigenous Resource Network (IRN) is cautioning British Columbia Premier David Eby and BC Forests Minister Ravi Parmar to consider how forest policy changes could potentially harm Indigenous forestry workers and operators as the new government has committed to reviewing provincial forestry policies. The BC NDP signed an agreement-in-principle with the BC Greens to create a stable provincial government. The IRN is particularly concerned that the agreement commits the government to undertake yet another BC forests policy review as the province is facing expected softwood lumber duties and U.S. tariffs on February 1. We invite the premier and minister to meet with the Indigenous Resource Network to discuss how the province can balance Indigenous forestry resource management with environmental stewardship. We also invite them to view our documentary project Stewards of the Forest: Indigenous Leadership in Forestry to witness how Indigenous forestry operators are balancing resource development with responsible stewardship.

Creating these fuel-free zones around communities and neighbourhoods stops a fire in its tracks because there is little or nothing to accelerate their rapid and enormous growth. In 2024, a delegation of professional foresters from B.C. toured Finland to see what we could learn from how others manage their forests. …Over the last 10 years, Finland has lost an annual average of 323 hectares of land to wildfires. Over the same period, B.C. has lost an annual average of 407,000 hectares. Why this vast difference? Finland has practised intensive forestry for decades. Foresters regularly enter stands to remove weak or damaged trees. …This fibre is then directed to nearby pulp and paper mills or community bio-energy plants. No fibre is wasted. …Another Finnish practice is to maintain logging roads, which are broken down and “put to bed” here after harvesting in an area is complete.

City of Powell River councillors will direct staff to proceed with the city’s wildfire hazard development permit designation to address areas susceptible to wildfire risk. At the January 21 committee of the whole meeting …director of planning services Jason Gow …presented information regarding the wildfire development permit area project. He said in the summer of 2024, Frontera Forest Solutions was retained by the city to lead implementation of a wildfire hazard development permit area. …this project will include the identification of areas susceptible to wildfire risk, and the development of accompanying guidelines and mapping products. …Gow said a wildfire buffer is measured as the distance extending outward from areas near burnable fuels, which are vegetated areas with potential to carry wildfire. …The committee voted unanimously to direct staff to proceed with using a 100-metre wildfire buffer as the basis for the city’s wildfire hazard development permit area designation.

In a place surrounded by breathtaking forests and rugged mountains, wildfire preparedness is more than just a precaution—it’s a community effort.  With climate change bringing longer, drier seasons, Squamish residents are coming together to protect their homes and neighbourhoods through the FireSmart program. Squamish faces heightened wildfire vulnerability due to a combination of topography, weather, and fuel accumulation. Squamish’s growing tourism and development also impact wildfire risks. Reflecting on lessons from the current and recent wildfires in California and beyond, Emily Wood, FireSmart co-ordinator, stressed preparation. “FireSmart is the best way to protect your home, and small steps like clearing debris or removing flammable vegetation can make a huge difference.” Wood also pointed to bylaws prohibiting highly flammable plants like cedar and juniper near structures. “These regulations are critical, but enforcement can be challenging,” she acknowledged.

Ken Kalesnikoff

What is the impact of a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian products being sold to the U.S.? Let’s look at forestry. Regionally there are local companies employing local people with good jobs, and supporting local contractors and spin- offs to dozens or hundreds of small businesses. The B.C. lumber industry is watching closely. Locally, members of the Interior Lumber Manufacturers such as Kalesnikoff, Atco Wood Products and Porcupine say it is obviously top of mind. Ken Kalesnikoff says there has not been much certainty in the forestry sector for many years, and the uncertainty of lumber tariffs is yet another challenge for the local forestry companies. As much as they don’t know the exact impact yet, it is a huge concern.

The B.C. government has tasked new Forest Minister Ravi Parmar with reviewing its lead timber agency, B.C. Timber Sales. The Jan. 15 news release announcing the review, and Premier David Eby’s mandate letter to Parmar, both downplay the environment in favour of the business side of forestry… There is no mention of watersheds, biodiversity, wildlife, and climate change in either the news release announcing the review or in the mandate letter, which mentions old growth once in passing. Asked why it is not mentioned in the above six reasons for the BCTS review, or in Eby’s mandate letter, Parmar said, “I’m fully committed to fulfilling my obligations on the old growth action plan. … Biodiversity, taking care of our lands, being good stewards of our land, is critical to me, and it’s going to be a huge part of this review.”

In a mandate letter to Ravi Parmar, B.C.’s new minister of Forests, Premier David Eby directs Parmar to somehow come up with “a sustainable land base” that will ensure an annual harvest of 45 million cubic metres of timber to help support a floundering forest industry. That could be a tough order to fill, given the caveat attached to Parmar’s mandate that he do this “while fulfilling our commitment to protect old growth.” Old growth, after all, has been estimated to make up about one quarter of B.C.’s annual allowable cut (AAC) overall, and 50 per cent of the coastal AAC… The single biggest uncertainty is dwindling access to raw timber. In its letter to political leaders, the society asks for a working forest protected through legislation.

PEACE RIVER, Alberta – Mercer Peace River Pulp and Woodland Cree First Nation have signed a historic agreement extending their co-ownership relationship of Peace River Logging. The renewed partnership extends their positive working relationship and reinforces their commitment to responsible forestry practices. …Mercer and Woodland Cree have co-owned Peace River Logging since 2004, and this new agreement ensures the long-term sustainability of the joint venture and secures the jobs of more than 80 local people. “Mercer Peace River is committed to working with Indigenous communities and we look forward to continuing our relationship with Woodland Cree First Nation,” said Roger Ashfield, Managing Director of Mercer Peace River.”

Southern mountain caribou are disappearing in British Columbia and the federal government has been dragging its feet for more than a decade on protecting the endangered herds, conservation groups say in a letter to the environment minister Steven Guilbeault. The letter sent on behalf of the Wilderness Committee, Wildsight (see their press release here) and Stand.earth said three populations of the caribou are in particularly steep decline as logging and other industrial development cuts through their habitat in eastern B.C. Wildsight’s Eddie Petryshen said successive federal governments and environment ministers have “kicked the can further down the road,” and that trend continues today. …Environment and Climate Change Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment. …Predator reduction may be part of a comprehensive recovery strategy for endangered caribou, Petryshen said, but it doesn’t address the destruction and fragmentation of their habitat, which is the driving force behind their decline.