Category Archives: Forestry

Conrad Browne

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In the seventh episode of the ForestWorks podcast, host Stewart Muir and guest Conrad Browne discuss Teal Jones, First Nations, and misinformation. On this week’s show, ForestWorks speaks with Conrad Browne, Teal Jones’ director of Indigenous Partnership and Strategic Relations. Conrad brings us an important perspective on the year of protests on southern Vancouver Island – the company, the logging, the First Nations, and the misinformation. Teal Jones is a value-added manufacturer that employs more than 1,000 British Columbians, most of those in milling and manufacturing. It does not ship any raw logs. Most of its logging on Vancouver Island is in second-growth, and the company has invested millions to build a mill specialized in maximizing value from smaller second-growth trees. It has a history of respectful engagement with First Nations in whose territories it works. So, why is the company facing blockades? Listen to find out.

Dana Collins

Dana Collins of the Comox Valley has been named one of Canada’s top 100 most powerful women in 2021 by Women’s Executive Network (WXN – North America’s only organization that meaningfully propels and celebrates the advancement of women at all levels, in all sectors, and of all ages.). The list celebrates Canadian women who are proponents for workforce diversity and inspire future leaders. Collins was selected in the Manulife science and technology category. She is the managing director of the Juniper Collective and was previously the executive director of the Canadian Institute of Forestry. “I’m honoured to be named amongst this illustrious group of powerful women who are all committed to inspiring change,” said Collins. “I feel fortunate to work within Canada’s forest sector, building a career dedicated to the sustainable management of our natural resources.” …Collins was also the winner of the 2017 Prince of Wales Award for Sustainable Forestry.

Magali Nehemy

University of Saskatchewan graduate Dr. Magali Nehemy (PhD) and her research team investigated how plants use water — where they get it, when they need it and how these processes impact overall water availability. …The project also analyzed how water-consuming forests impact the water supply available to other plants. “Changes in forest composition because of logging, forest fires, or insect outbreaks, may affect water availability downstream, and understanding the source and origin of this transpired water improves our ability to manage these complex systems,” said Nehemy. …The research revealed that the status of a plant — how thirsty it is at any given time — has major effects on the type of water sources it uses from the soil. …The work is the first of its kind in that it identifies that trees constantly change where they are sourcing water from, causing a ripple effect of impact to other vegetation.

Stakeholders are voicing differing viewpoints in the battle over whether or not the government should continue B.C.’s controversial wolf cull program. The province began the program in 2015 to protect declining caribou populations from predators. Since the program began, over 1,000 wolves have been killed. The province is now looking to extend the program for another five years. Pacific Wild cites studies, like one published in the Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation which found that the program has had no tangible impact on caribou populations and instead threaten’s B.C.’s wolf populations. …Scott Ellis, executive director of Guide Outfitters Association, agrees that the best outcome for B.C. caribou is to restore the habitat that sustains them, but argues that in the meantime predator reduction is the best option to protect herds.

B.C.’s forest industry is a vital part of the province’s economy, and according to the Interior Lumber Manufacturer’s Association (ILMA) representing independent and innovative lumber manufacturers in the southern interior of B.C., small mills create more jobs per cubic-metre of timber than any other forest products producer, keeping economies and communities strong. A new Achievement Report, released by Vaagen Fibre Canada, shares the economic, social, and environmental benefits of the mill to the Kootenay-Boundary region. “As one of our member mills, Vaagen Fibre Canada in Midway does an outstanding job keeping local people employed, and they understand what value over volume means,” said Dan Battistella, President of the ILMA. “Vaagen’s inaugural Achievement Report highlights their accomplishments, and we acknowledge their innovative and collaborative work.”

Huu-ay-aht First Nations announces that Tayii Ḥaw̓ił ƛiišin (Head Hereditary Chief Derek Peters) and Elected Chief Councillor Robert J. Dennis, Sr. will host the Anacla Old-Growth Summit on November 23, 2021, on old-growth management and process for Huu-ay-aht’s Hišuk ma c̕awak Integrated Resource Management Plan. C̕awak ʔqin Forestry and Huu-ay-aht Forestry Limited Partnership will participate as co-chairs.  The purpose of the summit is to hear from forestry professionals regarding discrepancies in the scientific data related to old growth (the “science gap”), to tour the Huu-ay-aht ḥahuułi (traditional territory of the hereditary chief), and to discuss Huu-ay-aht’s approach to old-growth management and the Huu-ay-aht Integrated Resource Management Plan process. …Forest professionals working with Huu-ay-aht, including Bruce Blackwell, Chris Niziolomski, and Stan Coleman, will attend the summit, along with Shannon Janzen, chair of C̕awak ʔqin Forestry. 

Additional coverage in Business in Vancouver by Nelson Bennett: Huu-ay-aht FN to host summit on old growth logging

BURNABY, B.C. (Coast Salish Territories) – A new Research Co. poll on wildfires in B.C. commissioned by the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) reveals that half of British Columbians have been personally impacted by wildfires, 85% believe more should be done to prepare for and prevent wildfires, and more than 90% support increased investment in B.C.’s world-renowned wildfire fighters. The poll was conducted from October 20 to 22, three weeks after the BC Wildfire Service released its official Wildfire Season Summary for 2021. According to the summary, from April 1 through September 30, 1,610 fires burned more than 868,000 hectares of land — making 2021 the third worst fire season on record.  Stephanie Smith, president of the BCGEU, said, “if we are serious about protecting our communities, economies, and ecosystems, it’s time to radically rethink our entire wildfire service model—including how we recruit and retain top quality, professional wildfire fighters.”

This video discusses forestry planning and operations in the Mission Municipal Forest and reviews new initiatives planned.

The BC Council of Forest Industries… engaged an independent, third-party firm of Registered Professional Foresters to conduct a study titled Status of BC’s Old Forests – The Situation in 2021, to obtain an accurate overview of the status of old forests on BC Crown land, including the amount, distribution, status, and types of old forests in the province. The study provides summary statistics and analysis on old forest amounts and type by region, including areas protected, and percentage of old forest. It also details the amount of old forests growing on sites capable of producing big trees. Importantly, it describes the many regulations and protections that are in place for old forests including special trees, wildlife management areas and designated areas. The report concludes [that] the province has 11.41 million hectares of old forests located on Crown forested land [and that] 75% of old forests – 8.5 million hectares – are either protected in BC or outside the Timber Harvesting Landbase. While all old forests contribute to biodiversity, there has been much public discussion about the amount of old forests growing on sites capable of producing big trees – with some reports falsely suggesting this amount to be 3%. In reality, the study found over 3.3 million ha of old forests, or about 30%, are growing on high productivity sites capable of producing big trees. [for more information read COFI’s backgrounder / summary of the study)

VICTORIA — The British Columbia government was expected to discuss today the next steps it will take on old-growth logging in the province. Forests Minister Katrine Conroy was scheduled to release the findings of an independent advisory panel established in June to help the province identify at-risk old-growth ecosystems and prioritize them for deferral from logging. The five-member panel was expected to develop maps and analyze all areas of old-growth trees in the province. The issue has flared up in the province with ongoing protests against old-growth logging resulting in more than 1,150 arrests by the RCMP in the Fairy Creek watershed on southern Vancouver Island. Earlier this year, the government approved a request from three Vancouver Island First Nations to defer old-growth logging across about 2,000 hectares of land.

…conservation photographer TJ Watt has been awarded support and recognition by receiving a Trebek Initiative grant and named a National Geographic Explorer and Royal Geographic Society Explorer. The Trebek Initiative grant was announced last week and is named after the late Alex Trebek, the longtime Jeopardy! TV game show host. The grant program aims to promote emerging Canadian explorers, scientists, educators and photographers, said David Court, chair of The Trebek Initiative. …He is co-founder of the Ancient Forest Alliance, an organization dedicated to protecting B.C.’s endangered old-growth forests and ensuring sustainable, second-growth forestry jobs. Watt’s project will focus on creating new “before and after” series of huge old-growth trees standing and then cut… “Ideally, no after photos will have to be taken,” Watt said.

Tayii Ḥaw̓ił ƛiišin (Huu-ay-aht Head Hereditary Chief Derek Peters)

Reconciliation for the Huu-ay-aht Nation on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, in part, looks like a forestry partnership with industry designed in its own image.  The Huu-ay-aht, through its Huumiis Ventures Limited Partnership, and Western Forest Products have relaunched their joint venture to manage Tree Farm Licence 44 under the name Tsawak-qin LP with a promise to improve on stewardship of 1,400 square kilometres of land.   Friday’s relaunch represents a next step in the partnership formed by Huumiis and WFP in 2019. Huumiis finalized the purchase of a 35 per cent stake in TFL 44 in May this year, with the option to buy another 16 per cent in 2023.   “This is something that is key in regards to achieving true reconciliation, especially in terms of economic reconciliation and in terms of the amount of influence we have on our own lands and resources,” said Huu-ay-aht Councillor John Jack.

British Columbians who make their living from forestry appear to be bracing themselves for some bad news any day now from the provincial government.  Some industry insiders say they expect the B.C. government to make an announcement next week – perhaps as early as Monday — on old growth logging, and they fear the announcement will include increased “deferrals” on working forests containing old growth.  Any further deferrals to logging in areas with old growth could have significant impacts on coastal communities, like Port McNeill on Vancouver Island, depending on how extensive the deferrals are.  “I’m concerned because deferrals don’t often get undeferred,” said Gaby Wickstrom, mayor of Port McNeill, where many residents and businesses depend on logging for their livelihoods. …Leonard Krog, former NDP MLA and now mayor of Nanaimo, said the debate over old growth and logging on Vancouver Island is filled with “rhetoric that doesn’t relate to the facts.”

Protesters and forestry worker representatives were among those joining together to protest raw log exports at central Vancouver Island on Saturday, Oct. 30.  With a raw log carrier vessel in the background, speakers, including ones from Extinction Rebellion, Public and Private Workers of Canada union and the Wilderness Committee, spoke of the dangers of exporting raw logs out of Canada at a rally in Nanaimo.  Leah Morgan, Extinction Rebellion Nanaimo coordinator, told the crowd the aim was to unite all walks of life in solidarity to deal with the climate crisis effectively and immediately.  “This raw log barge behind us, this is literally exporting B.C. jobs and money out of Canada,” said Morgan. “These are unprocessed logs being shipped abroad for bottom dollar instead of being processed here and sorted here with the value-added industry that could be on top of milling our own wood. Countless jobs.”

Additional coverage in Nanaimo News Now: ‘We haven’t protected the old growth:’ dozens gather on land & water to protest raw log exports

Troy Baptiste and daughter, Olivia

The chief of ?Esdilagh First Nation in British Columbia says changes to the province’s forestry plan are a step in the right direction that includes government-to-government engagement.  “First Nations and as well as other stakeholders have valuable input on what they would like represented and how that process would look,” says Chief Troy Baptiste. “This allows for forest landscape management that will improve the overall health and resiliency of the ecosystems help reduce the risk to biodiversity.”  On Oct. 20, the government introduced legislation that promises to reshape forestry management in B.C.  The changes will focus on sustainability and includes shared decision-making with First Nation governments.  The move comes after a year and a half of protests over logging of old-growth forests on Vancouver Island, calling for changes in forestry management.