Category Archives: Forestry

The RCMP say that a number of its members were assaulted while at a logging protest camp off the Pacific Marine Circle Route on Nov. 29 while conducting a routine safety patrol. A press release from the RCMP said the officers departed the area and returned the next day to locate and arrest those responsible for the assault. “On arrival at the protest camp, the officers were met by a hostile crowd, and were not able to locate the individuals who assaulted the officers the day prior,” the release said. …The protest group Rainforest Flying Squad said in a statement that was authorized by Pali Jones of the Pacheedaht First Nation that on multiple occasions, the RCMP have trespassed into the camp outside the injunction zone known as Bill Jones’s Rest and Relaxation Camp.

VICTORIA – The Huu-ay-aht First Nations on western Vancouver Island have approved deferrals to old-growth logging in most of the area the province proposed for deferrals last month. On Nov. 1, B.C. proposed a two-year deferral on old-growth logging across roughly 2.6 million hectares of old-growth forest in the province. The province then asked affected First Nations to respond to the proposed deferrals within 30 days. Now, the Huu-ay-aht First Nations says it has approved the two-year deferral for 96 per cent of the forest that the province proposed to defer on its land. The nation says the remaining four per cent involves logging operations that are already underway. …The nation notes that most of the area that the province proposed logging deferrals in are already protected by other existing conservation measures or had no immediate plans for harvesting.

A program working to deliver more forestry wood waste to a north Vancouver Island chip plant for salvaging has resulted in both environmental and economic benefits. Logging waste from forestry, including treetops, broken logs and wood chunks, can be salvaged for use in other products at chipping facilities. But because access to and transportation of these materials is often difficult — and hence uneconomic — they are often instead burned to reduce wildfire risk, resulting in greenhouse emissions. To address this challenge, the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) provided about $375,000 in funding to Kurt Leroy Trucking in 2019 to develop fibre salvage and recovery projects in partnership with Western Forest Products Ltd. and Atli Chip Limited Partnership (LP). …“Turning this material into chips reduces the amount of fibre left behind after primary forest harvesting,” said Quinton Hayward, Paper Excellence chief forester. “This results in better utilization of the forest resources and a net carbon reduction.”

VICTORIA – While B.C.’s NDP government is running ads promoting its policy for old growth forests and its relationships with First Nations, several Indigenous leaders are speaking out to criticize the province’s approach. At a news conference slamming the current plans for the forests, several speakers accused the government of not abiding by its law to uphold Indigenous rights, and a duty to consult on major policy. “Asking for consent to defer but not asking for consent to log is a total about face,” said Khelsilem, council chairperson of the Squamish Nation. The news conference, organized by the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, took aim at the 30 days given to nations to sign off on old growth deferral plans. That means no trees would be cut for a defined period of time. Speakers told reporters 30 days was simply not enough time, and accused the NDP of not properly consulting on the policy.

A huge upswing in profits this year through the sale of logs by the Terrace Community Forest is resulting in a $1 million cheque to its owner, the City of Terrace. “There were some eyes that opened wide,” said community forest manager Kim Haworth when city officials were told of the sum, a record annual amount for the more than 15 years the enterprise has been in business. Half of the money will be used for 2022 city projects that fit an agreed upon criteria of how community forest profits should be used and half set aside for city projects in 2023. …Haworth said the $1 million came from an unanticipated COVID-driven demand for lumber earlier this year, a factor that then drove up the prices the community forest could get for its logs. …With this year’s profit, the community forest has produced $3 million since its inception for outside amenities.

Anacla, British Columbia – Tayii Ḥaw̓ił ƛiišin (Head Hereditary Chief Derek Peters) and Elected Chief Councillor Robert J. Dennis Sr. announce Huu-ay-aht First Nations has confirmed 33 per cent of old growth remain in their Ḥahuułi (Traditional Territory) and TFL 44. The total productive forested area within the Hahuuli and TFL 44 is 153,773 hectares (ha), of which 51,240 ha, or 33 per cent, is old forest (greater than 250 years old). Based on a review of maps provided by the provincial government to the Nation, Huu-ay-aht  First  Nations will continue to uphold our right to old-growth harvesting in four per cent of the Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) proposed deferral area in the Huu-ay-aht Ḥahuułi and TFL 44. The Nation has decided on a preliminary basis to defer harvesting for a period of two years in areas that make up 96% of the TAP proposal for old growth deferrals, much of which is already protected under existing conservation measures or not planned for harvest in the next two years.

In an all-too-familiar charade, the forest industry continues to accuse environmentalists, and the protection of irreplaceable forests, of causing current and future job losses. Forestry workers and communities have every right to be upset; we’ve lost nearly 50,000 jobs since 2000. But the problem isn’t environmental protection; it’s corporate investment, automation, poor management decisions, and B.C.’s largest forest companies no longer being as invested in our communities as they once were. …What we know is that B.C. can’t compete with the likes of Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina, where trees in fast-growing plantation forests on private lands are logged every 20 to 40 years. Nor should we try to manage our forests like that. …B.C.’s forest management must prioritize the health of water, wildlife, culture, and local communities, while ensuring that local employment is sustained. It’s time to move beyond our timber-centric thinking.

The term “old-growth forests” has been popping up all over the news, especially in light of the protests happening at Fairy Creek over the last year. Over 1,100 people have been arrested and mas of September 14. Most recently photojournalist Amber Bracken and documentary filmmaker Michael Toledano were also arrested — among 29 others. There is no sign of protests stopping despite logging crews winding down operations for the winter. This leaves multiple people wondering why these trees are so important. Here is a breakdown of old-growth forests, their importance, and what’s happening at Fairy Creek. 

Taryn Skalbania begins her Nov. 15 letter with three excellent questions. …I have three additional questions: About what percentage of the recent B.C. flooding was due to clearcut logging? Why isn’t B.C. Forests Minister Katrine Conroy joining Premier John Horgan, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth and Transportation Minister Rob Fleming at press briefings? Is it time for a new Forest Act? Back in March, in response to the catastrophic flood of 2018, the citizens group Boundary Forest Watershed Stewardship Society said that they have undertaken a project to reform forestry practices in their watershed and turn forest management over to local citizens. …“The new Forest Act must enshrine in law a new concept of sustainability that puts ecosystem integrity and resilience above all else,” said board member Jennifer Houghton.

Environment group Old Growth Revylution blockaded the Akolkolex Forest Service Road south of Revelstoke on Nov. 29, 2021, saying its goal is to stop ongoing logging in the area, including on the Holyk and Pulley Forest Service Roads (FSR). …The group criticized Downie Timber specifically, saying that cutblocks being actively logged in the area “overlap” with areas identified as highest value old growth forests. …Nick Arkle, CEO of the Gorman Group, that owns Downie Timber said he didn’t believe that Downie or its subcontractors is harvesting in the high value old growth areas identified in the OGR media release, and that the company had tried to get members of the protest group to meet to better understand its concerns, but hasn’t been successful. He said he was told the group doesn’t have a set leader. He said he wanted to meet with protesters to review the maps and find out more about their specific concerns.

Additional coverage in the Vernon Morning Star by Jocelyn Doll: Contractors pulled after Old Growth Revylution blocks Akolkolex Forest Service Road

Forestry workers rallied in Port Alberni last weekend against potential logging deferrals that could have a “devastating” impact on the community. A group of forestry workers and their family members braved the rain on Saturday, Nov. 27, gathering outside of Mid Island-Pacific Rim MLA Josie Osborne’s office on Johnston Road. They waved at passing motorists and carried signs that read “Save the working forest” and “Support responsible forestry.” …Mary Ann Cheetham, who helped to organize the rally on Saturday, said she attended the legislature as a guest and was “appalled” by the province’s decision to defer without consulting forestry workers. “That’s going to destroy whole communities, whole businesses,” said Cheetham. “If they want to do this right, at least have a panel with forestry involved, First Nations involved.” …Although the rally in Port Alberni was short notice, a crowd of approximately two dozen received honks of support from passing cars.

Hundreds of forestry workers and supporters rallied over proposed changes that could affect their livelihood at an event in Campbell River on Monday. The event, which took place out front of MLA Michele Babchuk’s riding office and saw nearly 200 attend, was held in response to changes the province is proposing around old-growth logging. …“It’s important that we get the message to the government that these processes that they’re going through are unfair, they’re unjust and they’re going to cause catastrophic damage to our forestry communities,” said Carl Sweet of the forestry alliance. …“We sell used forestry equipment and we would be affected by these deferrals in that our clientele would go from being able to work a lot to working just a little and that would cause the market to flood with equipment,” said Tim Lloyd, who owns Forest Tech Equipment in Campbell River.

BEAVER COVE, B.C.— The economics of salvaging fibre on Northern Vancouver Island is difficult. Most wood waste is not close to chipping facilities, therefore access and transportation can be challenging and often uneconomic. In 2019, the Forest Enhancement Society of BC provided close to $375,000 in funding to Kurt Leroy Trucking to develop fibre salvage and recovery projects in partnership with Western Forest Products Ltd. and Atli Chip Limited Partnership. Leroy said the funding “enabled us to salvage waste wood volumes that would normally be outside the economic range from the chip plant and to recover wood that would normally have to be burned.” [It also allowed the company to] maintain employment … throughout northern Vancouver Island. …The Atli Chip facility at Beaver Cove is a limited partnership between Atli Resources LP, Paper Excellence Canada and Wahkash Contracting Ltd. Atli Resources LP is the forestry arm of the ‘Namgis First Nation.

Snuneymuxw Territory– The B.C. First Nations Forestry Council is calling on the Ministry of Forests (FLNRORD) to properly engage with First Nations on changes to modernize forest policy in BC. FLNRORD began engaging with First Nations on policy and legislative changes in July, when many Nations were under states of local emergencies due to major wildfires. Now… the Province is making sweeping changes to forest legislation without any substantial First Nations input. These expedited timelines do not allow for the meaningful and informed consultation required by provincial law under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, rendering this process disrespectful, flawed and disingenuous. “We just receive letter after letter. The Province has not met with us or responded to our letters, and we don’t have the resources or expertise needed to understand the implications of these changes on our rights,” explained Chief Greg Blain of the Ashcroft Indian Band.

Mesachie Lake now has a solid foundation for the future of its fire service, thanks to a $350,000 grant to retrofit its aging fire hall and a number of donations for a replacement fire truck. …The fire hall required major structural and aesthetic upgrading, and the fire engine had reached the end of its life.  The residents were faced with a choice between two options; borrowing a significant amount of money with the cost borne by the small number of residents, or ceasing operation of the local fire department and amalgamating with the neighbouring community fire service in Honeymoon Bay. …The new fire engine was purchased at a cost of $248,500 with contributions from the Teal Jones Group, Mosaic Forest Management, Northview Timber LTD, Pacific Marine Rescue Society, Gemini Falling Contracting and Tuck Brothers Contracting.

The Ucluelet First Nation (UFN) is refuting old growth deferrals announced by the British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, and Rural Development on Nov. 2, 2021.  In a Nov. 15 press release, UFN president Charles McCarthy said they refuse to accept the proposed old growth logging deferral within Ucluelet First Nation Traditional Territory.  “With no consultation in conjunction with First Nations, this mandate was unexpected and offers an unattainable deferral time of 30 days. 30 days is not enough allowable time to properly engage in the deferral and affects the time required to sufficiently access data, maps, and review overall impacts to harvest areas, within our Traditional Territory,” states president McCarthy in the press release.  The Ucluelet First Nation Government is currently in the process of negotiating new tenure on crown lands within their Traditional Territory.

TJ Watt

On an overcast day last August, TJ Watt made his way around the trunk of a giant western red cedar. In one hand, he clutched a yellow measuring tape. With his other, he pushed away a thick undergrowth of salal and ferns. “It’s a small hike just to get around this thing,” Watt called out. A moment later, he read the measurement of the tree’s girth: a whopping 11.6 metres. It was the biggest tree that Watt had found all day. To get here, he had hiked several hours off-trail, bushwhacking through dense, moss-laden rainforest, near Barkley Sound on Vancouver Island’s rugged west coast. The Victoria-based photographer and activist has spent much of the past 15 years searching for and photographing some of Canada’s biggest, oldest trees. The trees he finds are often upwards of a thousand years old and wide enough to drive a car through. 

On Nov. 18, the Forest Practice Board dismissed Elphinstone Logging Focus (ELF)’s appeal regarding the approval of Sunshine Coast Community Forest’s (SCCF) cutblock HM50 near Trout Lake.  ELF filed the action on Oct. 22, claiming that Sunshine Coast Natural Resource District manager Derek Lefler, failed to exercise his discretion to defer approval of cutblock HM50 when ELF presented him with new information.   The appeal related to issues outside of the board’s jurisdiction, director of investigations, Chris Oman, conveyed in a Nov. 18 letter to involved parties.   “The approval of a cutblock through the issuance of a cutting permit is done pursuant to the Forest Act. As the complaint is not within the jurisdiction of the board, the board cannot investigate it,” said Oman’s letter.  

Arrowsmith Search and Rescue will be able to train for emergencies on the kind of land they tend to get called out to after signing a deal with Mosaic Forest Management for access to private lands on central Vancouver Island. The agreement, expected to serve as a template for more deals between Mosaic and other regional rescue agencies, gives the search and rescue group access to land between Cook Creek and Lantzville. “The ability to conduct crew training and practice scenarios in the areas where rescues will occur is invaluable,” said Arrowsmith Search and Rescue vice-president Nick Rivers. Rivers said volunteers must undergo extensive training … to be certified by Arrowsmith Search and Rescue. Domenico Iannidinardo, Mosaic’s chief forester, said the deal will allow the organizations to leverage the resources and strengths of each group for the benefit of public safety.

Additional coverage in press release: Mosaic and Arrowsmith Search and Rescue Reach Agreement On Training and Access