GATINEAU, QC – Minister Guilbeault’s statement on the eve of COP15 in Montréal, “Indigenous peoples have been stewards and caretakers of the land, water, and ice, and leaders in ecosystem conservation, since time immemorial. We can learn from them how to live in harmony with nature. As the world gathers this week in Montréal for the largest United Nations Biodiversity Conference in a generation, Canada is highlighting the crucial role of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners in conserving and protecting nature and monitoring climate change. Indigenous peoples have unique perspectives, knowledge, rights, and responsibilities to teach, inspire, and help improve the natural balance. They have long been leaders in environmental stewardship, sustainable development, and management of the land we all share. Research from the United Nations suggests Indigenous lands make up only around 20 percent of the Earth’s territory, but contain as much as 80 percent of the world’s remaining biodiversity.”
The Canadian government has been accused of putting its domestic timber industry ahead of the global environment, following a leaked attempt to water down the world’s most ambitious regulations on deforestation-free trade. Weeks before the United Nations biodiversity conference, Cop15 in Montreal, the host nation sent a letter to the European Commission asking for a reconsideration of “burdensome traceability requirements” within a proposed EU scheme that aims to eradicate unsustainably sourced wood products. The letter also called for a “phased” approach that would slow down implementation, and a review of plans to include “degraded” forests among the areas considered at risk. … French MEP Marie Toussaint said, “For a country that is supposed to be in favour of conserving natural resources to say ‘don’t go so fast’ is surprising.” …Sweden, another supposedly green nation with a large logging industry, is said to have raised concerns.
Canada’s ambassador to the European Union has voiced concern with proposed EU rules to curb deforestation. A November letter from Ailish Campbell said the rules add “burdensome” requirements and will hurt trade between Canada and the EU. The EU regulation aims to limit the trade of products linked to deforestation worldwide. Climate campaigners have called Canada’s resistance to the rules “shocking”. In the 17 November letter, Ms Campbell says Canada supports the objectives of the proposed deforestation regulation, but is “greatly concerned” that some elements will cause trade barriers for Canadian exporters. She asks for several revisions to the regulation, including providing a delay and a clearer definition for what falls under forest “degradation”. …Ms Campbell did defend Canada’s record on deforestation, calling the country a “world leader on forest management”, with an annual deforestation rate of 0.02%.
A Historic Moment for the Shuswap Band, Town of Golden and Area A, Columbia Shuswap Regional District was celebrated on November 21, 2022 at the Shuswap Band office near Invermere. These three local governments through the signing of a memorandum of understanding, reaffirmed their desire to come together and better understand one another while working towards the acquisition of the ‘Kenpesq’t Community Forest’ within the Golden Timber Supply Area. The ceremony hosted by the Shuswap Band was opened with a prayer followed by the Shuswap Band Drumming Ceremony, then moved to the the signing of the MOU. (left to right in photo) Shuswap Band Councilor Mark Thomas, Golden Mayor Ron Oszust, Area A Director Karen Cathcart, and Shuswap Band Chief Barb Cote. Everyone left the ceremony, feeling positive and very thankful for the opportunity to share with one another. [END]
American forestry giant Weyerhaeuser has joined other companies by pledging not to log in Grassy Narrows First Nation’s traditional territory without the community’s say-so. Though Weyerhaeuser had initially balked at making the commitment, “that finally changed on Oct. 20 when Weyerhaeuser Canada president David Graham committed not to use wood from the area that Grassy Narrows is protecting,” a release said on Friday. For many years, Grassy Narrows has blocked logging roads and engaged in litigation to convince forestry companies to respect their traditional lands. That changed in 2008, when “AbitibiBowater (now Resolute Forest Products) withdrew from Grassy Narrows territory and surrendered their license to log on the Whiskey Jack forest,” the band’s news release said. “It is past time to start on the path of reconciliation by respecting our control over our own land so that we can heal the forest and heal our people,” Grassy Narrow Chief Rudy Turtle said.
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Protecting species at risk and their habitat by working in collaboration with provinces, territories, Indigenous peoples, and other partners, is critical to reverse the situation and recover 
A new study shows how plants “encode” specific chemistries of their lignin to grow tall and sustain climate changes: each plant cell uses different combinations of the enzymes LACCASEs to create specific lignin chemistries. These results can be used both in agriculture and in forestry for selecting plants with the best chemistry to resist climate challenges. Lignin is an important carbon sink for the environment as it stores about 30 percent of the total carbon on the planet. It allows plants to hydrate and reach tremendous heights up to 100 metres; without lignin, plants could not grow nor survive climate changes. At the cell level, specific lignin chemistries adjust the mechanical strength and waterproofing to support plant growth and survival. Scientists at Stockholm University recently demonstrated that lignin has a chemical “code” that is adapted at the cell level to fulfill different roles in plants. How each cell “encodes” specific lignin chemistry however remained unknown.
MONTANA — The sheer scope of logging, road-building and other “treatments” on the Custer-Gallatin National Forest leaves one to wonder: Will there be any forests left when the Forest Service is done “restoring” them? The sad truth is that although these projects purport to “restore” historic conditions and make forests more “resilient,” they will do just the opposite and destroy scarce remaining forest habitat for wildlife and fisheries. The South Plateau Landscape Logging and Burning Project includes up to 5,551 acres of clearcuts immediately adjacent to Yellowstone National Park. That’s at least 139 40-acre clearcuts right in Grizzly Bear Recovery habitat along with 56 miles of new roads. …Despite these stunning numbers the Forest Service has determined that none of the proposed projects are expected to have a significant adverse impact on wildlife.
WASHINGTON — 
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The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has launched the third round of his Grow Back Greener Fund, awarding a further £2 million to community-led tree planting and green space projects across the capital. This year the fund aims to increase tree planting in the capital and improve access to high-quality green spaces for Londoners, especially those living in areas most susceptible to the harmful effects of climate change. Rounds one and two of the fund awarded more than £2m in funding to support London’s communities and grassroots organisations to deliver almost 80 projects, with more than 90 per cent rolled out in London’s most deprived areas and those most exposed to the impacts of climate change. …Access to green space and nature is not just an environmental issue, but a matter of social justice and health inequality. The Mayor wants all Londoners to live within a 10-minute walk of green space. 