Category Archives: Forestry

Quesnel mayor Bob Simpson spent more than an hour talking to and answering questions from UBC Masters of International Forestry students. The students are in Quesnel to experience forestry outside of the classroom. Simpson spoke about his role as mayor advocating for Quesnel’s forest industry to the provincial government. He also spoke about taking an ecology first approach to forestry, mentioning environmental activist’s Greta Thunberg’s recent comments that world leaders just go ‘blah blah blah’ when talking about climate issues. …Simpson said he disagreed with the current ministry of forests plans to focus on timber. Instead, Simpson advocates for finding more value in a shrinking timber supply. The UBC Master of International Forestry is a 10-month, course-based master’s program that provides the knowledge, skills, and tools required to address the social, environmental, and economic challenges of the global forest and natural resources management for students from around the world.

…the BC Truck Loggers Association has called for a collective vision for forestry in our province – are asking the BC government to facilitate the way forward, as a matter of urgency. Forestry has been at the forefront of media attention for the last several months… The focus has been the conflict between environmental groups and forestry companies over the logging of old growth at Fairy Creek. Lost … has been any constructive and collaborative conversation or attempt to strike a solution. Now, with a BC Supreme Court Judge denying an extension of the injunction, the rule of law has been thrown out the window, creating a level of uncertainty that goes well beyond Fairy Creek and has serious implications for the entire sector, forest dependent communities and working families. …we are calling on the Premier and Minister of Forests to take a leadership role – in a real, thoughtful and collaborative manner.

After years of monitoring and studying declining wild salmon stocks, the DFO recently decided that they had allowed too many commercial fishing boats to operate on the West Coast to maintain a sustainable salmon fishery. They started a program, (as they had in the past), of buying back commercial licences in an effort to compensate the hardship and lack of income that drastic quota reductions would impose on commercial fishermen….With such an obvious and strong public desire to preserve the few remaining areas of actual old growth, would it not behoove the provincial government to change the logging permits and leases and compensate the affected logging companies to aid transition to completely sustainable logging practices? …It is unfortunate that as the old growth trees become more scarce on the planet, they also become more valuable, so keeping them safe becomes more of a struggle.

A new provincial park will soon be established on Southern Vancouver Island in an effort to protect a vital ecosystem and aiding in the conservation of threatened species. According to the B.C. government, legislation has been introduced to label a 143-hectare area near the Koksilah River in the Cowichan Valley as a new provincial park — an area that is important to the Cowichan people, honouring Indigenous cultural and spiritual history. The new park includes pockets of old-growth Douglas Fir forest, a sensitive grassland ecosystem, rare species of vascular plants, and limestone geological features. Cowichan Tribes have also identified the name of the new park – Hwsalu-utsum (whSALA-utsum). …In addition to the new park, the legislation proposes further amendments to the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act, which would also add more than 2,258 hectares of land and/or foreshore to nine existing provincial parks and one conservancy.

Additional coverage in the BC Government press release: Conservation, culture at the heart of newly protected areas

Katrine Conroy

Forest reform legislation is set to be introduced this fall by the New Democrat government, but the promise of change can’t come soon enough for old-growth logging protesters who gathered outside Premier John Horgan’s office Monday. Forests Minister Katrine Conroy said Monday the legislation the government will introduce intends to bring changes to the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Forestry Act, but she couldn’t guarantee the new laws will end protest actions such as the friction at Fairy Creek over old-growth logging. “We’re going to do this and we’re going to do this right,” she said in an interview. “It’s about our forestry, significant changes.” Conroy could not provide details of the changes but said it goes beyond the issue of old-growth logging and relates to forest workers, communities and Indigenous groups.

Additional coverage in the Vancouver Sun, by the Canadian Press: Old-growth logging protesters gather outside premier’s office as legislature resumes

Millions of people headed out to B.C.’s provincial parks this year to experience the very best that nature has to offer. The record number of visitors is resulting in new investments to make the future BC Parks experience even better. More than 3.1 million campers stayed in provincial parks during the 2021 camping season, and more than 260,000 reservations were made on Discover Camping, marking the highest volume on record. …BC Parks is investing $21.5 million during the next three years to expand and enhance opportunities for outdoor recreation, including new campsites, trails and upgrades to facilities. The investment is part of an $83-million budget increase to the BC Parks operating and capital budgets, combined, to strengthen management of the parks system and provide a more enjoyable visitor experience. …The Province is consulting with First Nations governments and conducting environmental and archeological assessments before moving forward with the projects.

The NDP government can’t keep dodging responsibility for the debacle at Fairy Creek — or the much bigger questions about the RCMP’s role in the province. Especially as increasing RCMP resources — with provincial government approval — are devoted to shutting down protests, frequently by Indigenous people. …Damning for the RCMP… But also bad news for the provincial government, which refused to take any responsibility for protecting the rights of British Columbians. “The RCMP is not directed by government,” Horgan said last week. …Elected officials should not direct police operations… But that does not mean they hide from all responsibility. …And Horgan could have raised concerns about police tactics at Fairy Creek without directing police actions. …Given the high stakes… the lack of accountability and the abuses and illegal acts at Fairy Creek, it’s past time for the provincial government to quit dodging its duty to protect citizens.

Protesters are holding a 10-hour sit-in outside the west wing of the B.C. legislature from 8:30 a.m. onward Monday (Oct. 4) hoping to bring government attention to Fairy Creek and old-growth forests as the fall session begins. In a press release, the Rainforest Flying Squad group described a list of demands for the B.C. premier and cabinet. These include being accountable for mass arrests at Fairy Creek, acknowledging the impact of old-growth logging on climate change, addressing Indigenous sovereignty over logging deferrals, and releasing the report prepared by the Technical Review Panel commissioned by the government in June. …Speakers are planned throughout the day with the group expecting to encircle the building between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.

Forestry companies across B.C. are drawing up plans to salvage log the scars left on the landscape by this summer’s devastating fire season. …The provincial government typically rushes to issue logging permits with discounted stumpage fees after a fire, in an effort to capture any remaining value the forest may hold… But as catastrophic wildfire seasons become normal, there is growing pushback to how B.C. manages its forests after a fire, with current practices blamed for negative effects on wildlife, watersheds and the likelihood of future fires. …While the term “salvage logging” may leave the impression that forestry companies are pulling burned timber out of the bush, one of B.C.’s leading fire ecologists Robert W Gray says forestry companies are actually hunting green, high-value trees. …Academics have started to question B.C.’s current salvage logging practices. Last year, the University of B.C. Okanagan published research examining salvage logged areas…

As autumn rains extinguish the last of this summer’s fires, the final accounting for a brutal B.C. wildfire season is becoming clear. Nearly one million hectares of forest has been burnt and more than $500 million spent containing the carnage. We are no strangers to the impacts of wildfires here in the Kootenays as we have seen our share of devastating fires in recent years. …How we manage our forests in the next five to 15 years will determine whether we can secure a future with healthy forests, healthy wildlife and safe communities.  …Salvage logged cutblocks bring roads, weeds and compacted soil, which destroy and fragment wildlife habitat. Salvage logging can degrade the soil’s ability to retain moisture and regulate temperature, which limits regrowth and encourages erosion, sedimentation and even landslides. 

As cooler, wet weather descends upon the Pacific Northwest, forest managers are easing fire restrictions, but still keeping an eye out for wildfires.  Many national and state forests in Oregon and Washington have lifted campfire restrictions but are urging the public to be aware of what remaining restrictions might still be in place in different parts of the two states. The fire restrictions were implemented during the summer to reduce the risk of wildfires while hot, dry conditions persisted.  The U.S Forest’s Mark Thibideau said national forests have several different fire restrictions at the moment. That’s because each forest can make its own adjustments depending on weather conditions and fuels. Generally, though, conditions have been fairly similar across the region: cool and wet.

Suzanne Simard

This week’s B.C. Supreme Court decision on Fairy Creek has cracked the 18-month struggle wide open, and like a hatchling emerging from a broken egg, the ruling presents new life and new opportunity for a science-based resolution of the problem deemed “intractable” by Premier John Horgan.  …A new process is urgently required to replace the antiquated policy of liquidating these irreplaceable ancient trees with bold reforms that recognize the link between our forests and the climate change and biodiversity crises facing B.C. and the entire world.  …Fairy Creek presents Horgan a golden opportunity to begin this transformation.  …Scientists have estimated there are 1,300 tonnes of carbon per hectare stored in the forests at Fairy Creek. …Biodiversity underlies the great carbon sequestration capacity of this ancient forest. …Clear cutting, however, eliminates the ability of trees to capture carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. 

A BC judge cancelled an injunction against protesters blockading an old-growth logging site. …To continue to uphold a civil injunction forced in such a banana-republic way, the judge said, would call the reputation of the court into question. …But why should a court order be required for the police to act against self-evident crime? Because the Crown prosecutors in British Columbia don’t like to lay criminal charges against protesters engaged in “civil disobedience.” …So the province takes a hands-off approach to protesters, who reliably play their part by escalating their tactics to the point of destruction and criminality. Once they do this, a judge can usually be persuaded to take action. And at that point, if the police run wild, it’s the fault of the courts, not the government. …Judge Thompson just doesn’t want to play his assigned role anymore, and it’s easy to understand why.

When a court injunction stopping them from blocking old-growth logging near Fairy Creek expired Tuesday, protesters celebrated as RCMP officers packed up their tents and left the area. …The next day, however, the battle continued. …Surrey-based forestry company Teal Jones Group used an excavator to dig trenches in a logging road, blocking vehicle access. Protesters quickly attempted to fill in the trenches. Tensions flared between workers and protesters when someone climbed on top of an excavator. A small altercation ensued, and police were called. Then on Friday, three more people were arrested for blocking industry workers from using forestry roads. …Teal Jones said in a statement that the trench the company dug this week was on an unsanctioned road created around a gate. “It is not a public road, and could be unsafe. …Protesters disagree, saying it was a public logging road.

The Supreme Court of BC refused to extend an injunction against old growth forest protests in and around Fairy Creek. But the rejection had nothing to do with logging or the actions of the protesters. Instead, Justice Thompson turned down the logging company’s request because of how the RCMP have behaved while enforcing the injunction, offering a stinging rebuke of the national police force. Kent Roach, a law professor at the University of Toronto [said], “I am not aware of any case where police misconduct has been cited as a reason to stop such an injunction.” …The decision of Justice Thompson is not the first rebuke of the Mounties in recent years, including the force’s handling of other protests. And Robert Gordon, a professor of criminology at Simon Fraser University in BC, said it is unlikely to be the last.

The British Columbia government says it’s making progress as it responds to a B.C. Supreme Court ruling that found it breached a First Nation’s treaty rights by approving industrial development without the nation’s approval over many years. A joint statement from Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Minister Murray Rankin and Blueberry River First Nations Chief Marvin Yahey says they’re negotiating an interim approach to industrial activity that’s already been approved in the area of northeastern B.C. The statement says the ruling, which requires a “rebalancing” of treaty rights, the economy and the environment, has led to uncertainty for industry and surrounding communities, and their goal is to finalize the approach for existing activities. The court ruled in June that the B.C. government had breached the nation’s rights under Treaty 8, signed more than 120 years ago, because it allowed development such as forestry and natural gas extraction without the nation’s approval.

VICTORIA — A Canadian Press story on Sept. 29 about a B.C. Supreme Court injunction quoted an environmental group as asserting that forestry company Teal Jones is “intent” on logging all the old-growth forest across a valley on southern Vancouver Island. The story left out comment from Teal Jones that said to date, most harvesting in the area of its Tree Farm Licence 46 is of second-growth logs, and that there are numerous protected areas covering old growth trees within the licence. It also says that most of the Fairy Creek area in southern Vancouver Island has been protected for years.

The environmental group Ecojustice has gone to the Federal Competition Bureau to challenge the B.C. forest industry over its use of the word “sustainable” to describe its products. Paul Johnson explains why the stakes are high for the industry.