The Carney government’s strategy to protect nature is expected to be released in the coming weeks — and some nature advocacy groups worry it won’t come with any new funding. Billions of federal dollars earmarked for conservation are set to expire at the end of March. If they aren’t renewed, the groups say Canada will not meet its 2030 targets. …national nature groups have been sounding the alarm that previous investments in biodiversity projects are in jeopardy, [saying] they haven’t received any assurances that long-term funding would be extended. …Funding for projects meant to halt and reverse species loss is set to soon expire. The enhanced nature legacy program earmarked $2.3 billion over five years, ending March 31. As The Hill Times reported, there was no mention of renewing the fund in the November federal budget and the main estimates tabled in February showed a drop in conservation funding — from $953 million in 2025-26 to $366 million in 2026-27.
Woodland Almanac from the Federation of BC Woodlot Associations is now available, offering a look at the people, programs, and practical tools shaping woodlot management in British Columbia. This issue highlights the Charles Bloom Forestry Program, a hands-on training initiative that introduces high school students to forestry skills and careers while working on a real operating woodlot. The newsletter also features the Executive Director’s report, details on the 2026 Woodlots BC bursary program, and an invitation to attend the Woodlots BC Annual Conference and Workshop in Parksville, October 1–4. Readers will also find updates on value-added opportunities for woodlot licensees and revisions to the Commercial Thinning Guide, along with two “Meet a Woodlotter” profiles featuring the Zemanek Family and Garrett Ranches. Together, the stories showcase the innovation, stewardship, and community connections that continue to define BC’s woodlot sector.
North Cowichan has a looming water crisis. A permanent closure of the Crofton Pulp Mill and the shutdown of the pulp mill supply system would result in the diversion of most of North Cowichan’s future development water to supply water to Crofton. As a former process engineering and environmental supervisor at the mill…. my solution would solve the looming Cowichan Valley water crisis regardless of the mill situation. First, the province should revoke the mill water licence and assign it to the CVRD. Second, the CVRD would purchase the pulp mill water supply system from Domtar with a contractual obligation with Domtar that the pulp mill would continue to be provided with water at the CVRD‘s cost of operation. Third, The CVRD/North Cowichan/Duncan/Ladysmith… would install a new water supply distribution system from Ladysmith to Cobble Hill using the old E&N railway grade and the Crofton pulp mill spur line.
Ecologists Rachel Holt and Karen Price, landscape analyst Dave Daust, veteran forester Garry Merkel and economist Lisa Matthaus, members of a former panel the British Columbia government appointed to identify old-growth for potential protection in 2021 now says they’re concerned about continued logging in those same rare and “irreplaceable” forests. In a document sent to Premier David Eby, Forests Minister Ravi Parmar and Resource Stewardship Minister Randene Neill they say the proposed old-growth deferrals were meant to be an interim measure to reduce the risks of logging, allowing time for long-term planning. But the process has not worked as intended says the document provided to The Canadian Press. Instead, the B.C. government continues to approve logging in forests the panel identified, while long-term plans have yet to be finalized, Holt said in an interview.
Join us in Nanaimo, March 25 at the Shaw Auditorium, for an exclusive screening of this urgent and impactful documentary, exploring the roots of British Columbia’s wildfire crisis and what we must do to protect our forests, communities, and future. This powerful documentary addresses British Columbia’s escalating wildfire crisis and the urgent need for solutions. … But within this crisis lies opportunity. The film explores how proactive forest management and policy reforms can reduce fire risk. A fact-finding journey to California highlights innovative strategies from its Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan. BC is Burning is more than a documentary—it’s a call to action to rethink how we manage our forests, protect our communities, and secure a sustainable future for British Columbia.
Whistler’s forests are home to one of the region’s most elusive birds of prey: the northern goshawk. Bob Brett, a local biologist and co-founder of the Whistler Naturalists, says Whistler is almost uniquely positioned among southern B.C. communities to support the at-risk forest hawk because of the remaining old-growth forests scattered along the valley’s lower slopes. “[Goshawks] hunt inside the forest, so they need wide-spaced trees, they need big branches to nest on and they need access to the forest floor for hunting,” Brett said. “They’re in big trouble on the coast of British Columbia because of all the logging and the lack of old-growth suitable habitat,” he added. “…And our challenge is to make sure that Whistler continues to have habitat for them.” Brett said that challenge extends to the protection of connected ecosystems—particularly the Rainbow Wildlife Corridor, identified as the 21-Mile Creek corridor.
Taan Forest, the forest management enterprise owned by the Council of the Haïda Nation, is leading the way under the Forest Stewardship Council Verified Impact program. This milestone marks the first Verified Impact project in Canada and one of the first globally to be verified for enhancing Indigenous cultural values, showcasing how FSC certification can credibly demonstrate positive outcomes for biodiversity, cultural heritage, and community-led stewardship.
Fears of a wildfire devastating a drinking water source for up to 80,000 people in the North Okanagan are bringing local Indigenous and non-Indigenous governments together to protect their shared watershed. Last month, leaders of Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB), the District of Lake Country and City of Vernon declared that protecting the crucial North Aberdeen Plateau watershed goes far beyond just preventing or mitigating wildfires. “We can’t let it go back to what it was,” Lake Country Mayor Blair Ireland told fellow members of the Okanagan-Similkameen Collaborative Leadership Table at the Feb. 20 meeting. …In November, a North Aberdeen Plateau Guidance Plan was signed by Ireland, OKIB Chief Dan Wilson, and Vernon Mayor Victor Cumming. The plateau, near Kalamalka Lake in the North Okanagan, includes four smaller watersheds that provide water for homes and farms across Lake Country and the greater Vernon areas. 
Alberta’s forestry minister says wildfire preparations have gone smoothly as the season opens, but he is concerned about the lack of precipitation and warm weather in the southern part of the province. Alberta’s wildfire season officially began March 1 with 30 wildfires extinguished already so far this calendar year. Two fires remain active, according to the province’s online wildfire dashboard, and more than 280 hectares have been affected so far. Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen said Wednesday that while parts of the province are in relatively good shape ahead of the key spring weeks still to come, the southwest corner of the province in particular faces a more risky set of conditions. …Loewen said the province’s overall wildfire readiness is in a good state with most staff hiring already completed, but added the weather over the next two months will greatly affect how many fires crews the province will have this summer.
Quesnel City Council has endorsed the “Forestry is a Solution” campaign. Erin Robinson, Forestry Initiatives Manager at the City, talked about the “Forestry is a Solution” campaign at the most recent Council meeting. “It was launched in January at the BC Natural Resources Forum in Prince George. The “Forestry is a Solution” campaign is led by a coalition of forest sector organizations, community leaders, workers, and industry advocates to demonstrate strong public support for British Columbia’s forest sector. The initiative highlights forestry’s role in: supporting affordable housing, reducing wildfire risk through active forest management, sustaining family-supporting jobs, generating public revenues, and contributing to lower carbon construction.” Robinson said it is in line with Council’s concerns over the current state of the industry.
City of Powell River councillors were provided an overview on March 5 of Tla’amin Nation’s negotiations to repatriate access to forest lands currently held by Western Forest Products (WFP). Adam Culos, general manager of Thichum Forest Products, said that Tla’amin had announced a milestone agreement, where Thichum Forest Products, through Tla’amin, is working on an agreement with WFP to acquire Tree Farm Licence 39 block one. Seanna McConnell, Western Forest Products vice-president, Indigenous partnerships, said Qwoqwnes Forestry Holdings Limited Partnership, wholly owned by Tla’amin, will be purchasing 100 per cent ownership of WFP’s Stillwater forest operation for $80 million. …Culos said the acquisition … supports Thichum’s long-term success through investment in their business and the future of the community, [adding] that almost all the wood supplies domestic mills, so there are three fibre supply agreements. One will be WFP, supporting the company’s five coastal mills, along with Mosaic Forest Management and Domtar.
Webinar: March 24, 2026 | Invasive species are an unintended consequence of globalization and one that is wreaking havoc on forest ecosystems. From the blister rust fungus that decimated BC’s white pines to more recent invasions of Dutch elm disease and the emerald ash borer beetle, invasive pests and pathogens are a real and present danger that are reshaping forest and urban ecosystems in lasting ways. Join Dr. Richard Hamelin, a forest pathologist specializing in forest health and the application of genomics to disease management, for a timely and engaging look at the scope of the problem and the scientific tools being used to respond, including the application of genomics and tree breeding. Increasingly, citizen scientists play a critical role in detecting emerging threats, helping enable early intervention and improved forest protection.
The Ontario Professional Foresters Association will host its 2026 Annual Conference and AGM in Pembroke, Ontario, April 21–23, bringing together forestry professionals, government representatives and industry leaders under the theme “Professional Forestry in Action: Diverse Roles, Shared Impact.” The conference opens with an optional field tour through the Ottawa Valley, where participants will visit forest management sites and hear directly from field practitioners about harvesting, regeneration and forest renewal practices. The program also features a series of technical sessions and plenaries examining key issues facing the profession. Among the highlights is a presentation by Derek Nighbor, President and CEO of the Forest Products Association of Canada, who will discuss how evolving Canada–US relations are affecting the forestry sector and what may lie ahead. The three-day event also includes networking opportunities and the Association’s Annual General Meeting, with both in-person and virtual attendance options available.
The invasive spotted lanternfly, which can cause damage to many plants, has been detected in a few Tennessee counties. …The adult female spotted lanternfly lays egg masses in September through November on host plants and other smooth surfaces, such as railroad ties, rocks, lumber, downed limbs and logs. Egg masses survive cold winter temperatures, and the first instar nymphs begin emerging in the spring. The nymphs mature through the spring and early summer before becoming adults in the beginning of June. The first, second and third instars feed on a variety of host plants. The fourth instars and adults prefer tree of heaven, grapes, black walnut, silver maple, red maple and willow. …“The best way to control spotted lanternfly outbreaks is to prevent them,” said Midhula Gireesh, University of Tennessee Extension specialist in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. For more, refer to the UT Extension publication 
In 2002, Crater Lake National Park ecologist Michael Murray thought the park’s majestic whitebark pine trees were as good as gone. An invasive fungus called white pine blister rust was killing the trees around the crater of the lake. …It was accidentally introduced to the U.S. in a shipment of infected nursery trees from Europe around 1900. Since then, it’s wiped out millions of whitebark pine trees and threatened the survival of the species. But Oregon scientist Richard Sniezko, a geneticist with the U.S. Forest Service, said some whitebark pine trees have natural resistance to the blister rust disease. …Murray took this science with him to his current job as forest pathologist for 
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by timber industry groups and operators seeking to force increased old-growth logging in the Tongass National Forest, ruling the industry groups had no valid legal claim. U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason granted the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Forest Service’s motion to dismiss and directed the clerk to enter final judgment for the federal defendants. “This ruling is a big victory for the Tongass’ old-growth forests. I’m relieved the court squarely rejected the logging industry’s rash attempt to force large-scale logging,” said Marlee Goska, Alaska attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity in a statement. “We need to leave the Tongass standing for the sake of wildlife, climate and local communities.” The case centered on how the Forest Service manages timber sales in the Tongass, the nation’s largest national forest and the world’s largest temperate old-growth rainforest.
Four Montana-based Conservation Groups — Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Gallatin Wildlife Association, Native Ecosystems Council, and Council on Fish & Wildlife — sued the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service for removing wildlife protections on 1.1 million acres of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in Montana. The federal government agencies issued a “Forest Plan Amendment” in 2025 to remove protections on 1.1 million acres of habitat that was formerly mapped and protected as “lynx habitat” for the Canada lynx, a threatened species listed under the Endangered Species Act. …The lynx population in the Greater Yellowstone Area is currently at risk of extinction, but if managed properly, the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest could aid the recovery of the imperiled Greater Yellowstone lynx population by serving as a connectivity corridor with the healthier lynx populations in Northern Montana. 
ELOCHOMAN RIVER VALLEY, Washington — Investment companies have whittled away the land hunters can use in Wahkiakum and Pacific counties. Access to tens of thousands of acres of longtime hunting grounds is now blocked because a new generation of private landowners won’t offer access. The landowners are often investment companies, not based in the region or even the country. Not only is hunting off limits on their lands, they also often block access to adjacent properties that are state-owned — and therefore should be public — or adjacent privately owned property that still allows free hunting. Steve Ogden, an assistant manager for land operations at Washington Department of Natural Resources, said the agency’s hands are tied — private landowners can’t be forced to allow people on their land. The companies’ land restrictions have begun to erase generations-old family traditions, especially among the working class, and reduce access to affordable foods, like elk, in Washington’s second-poorest county.
When Hurricane Helene swept through western North Carolina, forestry officials conservatively estimated the storm damaged 822,000 acres of timber. Now satellite imagery showing changes in forest cover suggests the extent of damage was much greater. Nearly 18 months after Helene, forestry officials and the state fire marshal warned legislators Thursday that North Carolina needs to be much better prepared to battle wildfires. Deputy Forester Kevin Harvell with the North Carolina Forest Service said from the air, it’s easy to spot areas where complete stands of trees were flattened, making forest roads and logging roads impassable. …In many counties, N.C. Forest Service staffing consists of just three people – a county ranger, an assistant ranger, and a heavy equipment operator. That means a local county fire department may be the first responder when a brush or woods fire is reported. As in many areas of state government, Hicks says low pay is making it increasingly difficult to keep experienced staff.
As the EU’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) nears implementation this year, furniture giant IKEA may need stronger traceability systems to prove its timber isn’t linked to post-2020 deforestation. Although nearly all IKEA wood is FSC-certified or recycled, past investigations show this voluntary scheme can miss illegal or unsustainable logging. The EUDR requires geolocation data and stricter due diligence than existing certifications or regulations, but repeated delays and possible rule changes have created uncertainty for companies like IKEA preparing to comply. Industry watchdogs say high-profile companies like IKEA can “do more” to champion the landmark regulation and implement leading wood traceability systems, rather than relying solely on existing — voluntary— certification schemes.