Through carbon capture and sequestration, Canada’s forests play a critical role in the fight against climate change. Carbon gains have been realized through world-class sustainable forest management while at the same time, insects, wildfire, and other natural disturbance impacts work to release carbon back into the atmosphere. To monitor and help manage forest carbon stocks, the Government of Canada has developed a sophisticated approach to carbon accounting and reporting. A highly specialized team of research scientists, programmers, analysts, and remote sensing specialists make up the Carbon Accounting Team in the Canadian Forest Service.
Dr. Piotr Tompalski, NRCan’s newest research scientist in the Carbon Accounting Team, has been instrumental in implementing the use of remote sensing data for estimating aboveground biomass. “Today, laser scanning (or LiDAR – Light Detection and Ranging) allows us to create accurate 3D models of a tree or a forest stand that can be measured automatically,” Tompalski explained. …“By utilizing the remote sensing data, we aim to improve the accuracy of carbon modelling and reported greenhouse gas emission values.” Tompalski explained, “Future decisions based on the reported data will therefore become more informed since the uncertainty in the carbon levels will be lower”.
Asian markets are critical to the health of the Canadian forest industry. Canada’s already-established wood-building sector continues to expand in China, Japan, and South Korea. Through funding from NRCan, BCFII, Alberta government and other industry partners, Canada Wood’s programs enhance trade and market diversification goals for the Canadian forest industry; generating a steady long-term demand for Canadian wood products, providing significant opportunities for our producers, and playing a key economic role by supporting the Canadian communities that depend on the forestry industry for their livelihood. …The 2021 Impact Report shows the following economic returns realized by Canada Wood programs between 2016 – 2020:
Western white pine is an important conifer species that produces highly prized straight-grained, non-resinous wood used in lumber and value-added products. Once prevalent in BC’s forests, this white pine species almost vanished when, in the early 20th century, an exotic pathogen called Cronartium ribicola was introduced into North America from Europe — killing up to ninety-five percent of Canada’s wild stands of western white pine. “This situation may become worse because climate change makes the race between trees and pathogens even more unpredictable,” said Dr. Jun-Jun Liu, a molecular forest pathologist working to save the threatened pines.
Vancouver — The Association of BC Forest Professionals is recognizing 17 forest professionals with awards for their outstanding service and contributions to bettering the practice of forestry across the province in 2021. “Peer recognition of a job well done or extended excellence over the course of a career is both humbling and meaningful to the forest professionals responsible for caring for one of BC’s most treasured resources,” said Garnet Mierau, RPF, ABCFP president. The awards are based on nominations submitted by other forest professionals. The winners were honoured at the ABCFP’s 
Climate change is increasing the frequency of hotter and drier weather conditions, while past successful wildfire suppression has created large swaths of fire deficit areas across Canada. At the same time, urban sprawl and out-migration is pushing more people and homes beyond city limits and into the transition zone of wildland areas [creating] a greater risk of a wildfire disaster – driving evacuations when fires strike and dramatically increasing the human and financial losses. …To better prepare for and respond to such risks, a team of research scientists at the Pacific Forestry Centre (PFC) in Victoria are evaluating wildfire mitigation options for communities in the wildland urban interface. Two researchers, Nirmal Subedi and Keldi Forbes — Wildfire Research Economists in the Forest Research Economics Group — are developing economic decision making support tools to aid in deciding when and where to implement wildfire suppression treatments crucial to the safety and viability of communities.
Inside Education is pleased to host the return of ForestEDWest, western Canada’s premier forest education conference and conversation. From March 17-20, 2022, teachers, post-secondary and not-for-profit forest educators, industry, and government representatives are invited to gather in Canmore, Alberta for three days of in-person learning, networking, and direction setting for a new generation of forest education. ForestEDWest 2022 will revitalize forest education with an eye to infusing new technology, integration of online learning, with a return to direct connection with public and formal education audiences in a post-pandemic world. We invite you to contribute to the conversation at ForestEDWest! We are currently accepting proposals for breakout sessions, workshops, resource booths, roundtable discussion hosts, and tours! Please see the format descriptions below and submit a proposal that connects to any of the conference themes! Proposal Deadline is January 15, 2022
Research has shown that soil disturbance associated with some forestry practices can lead to soil degradation and affect long-term forest productivity. Further, these effects are often slow to manifest, taking several decades to measure and understand — demonstrating the value of long-term research efforts that federal science can provide to the sector. Charlotte Norris, is a soil biogeochemist at the Pacific Forestry Centre in Victoria, British Columbia where her research is focused on forest soil health. …Norris brought her skills in data collection and analysis to the Pacific Forestry Centre in 2019 where she continues Doug Maynard’s research legacy in long-term productivity trials in the BC interior … to investigate effects of soil compaction and organic matter retention on forest productivity over the long term.
The launch of the 18th annual Global Buyers Mission got off to a great start, with delivery of the Asia Market dates of September 14th and 15th. 145 Buyers from China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan participated in 274 one-on-one meetings with 80 Canadian Suppliers from 30 companies of value-added wood products. Next up will be the North and Latin American markets on September 29th and 30th. We expect to coordinate “face-to-face” virtual meetings with wholesale distributors, architects, designers, builders and contractors and our industry Suppliers over those dates. Over 140 registered architects will also participate in WoodTALKS @ the GBM this year, with presentations delivered by industry and notable architects & engineers. For more information on the WoodTALKS Manufacturer & Specifier Collaboration Series and how you can participate, visit the 
While being a large and lucrative market, Japan has long been seen as difficult to reach by Canadian exporters due to both the physical distance and language barrier. In the past, BC Wood’s in-market staff brought the market closer through language support and client introductions at trade shows such as the Japan Home & Building Show. Unfortunately, COVID-19 created a new large barrier. However, BC Wood quickly pivoted to a new online approach and as a part of that reimagined the physical Whistler Global Buyers Mission as an industry-leading, online business discussion platform this past January. …The efficiency of this format is unquestionable. The BC Wood Japan office alone was able to pre-qualify and pre-set 82 meetings for members over the event’s four short hours. … the success of the Asian GBM speaks to incorporating a more robust online element to our traditional trade shows, such as the Japan Home Show.
WoodTALKS is designed to enlighten, inform and inspire on the use of wood in design and construction. Coming up soon, through 6 live webinar sessions we will feature a manufacturer-specifier collaboration series on new architectural projects and advancements in manufacturing. Join us online to explore Unique West Coast Island Projects, Off-site Prefabrication Projects, Advancements in Mass Timber Manufacturing & Lessons Learned on Projects, New Mass Timber Community Projects in British Columbia, Spectacular Wood Structures and Connections, and Modern Timber Structures & Factory Tour of a Modern Timber Operation. Event registration is $85 and open to all wood industry specifiers. Click the read more for information on the topics, speakers, schedule, learning accreditations, and registration.
Vernon, B.C. — This year marks the 65th anniversary of the founding of Tolko. Our story began in Lavington in 1956 with the Lavington Planer Mill and has grown many folds since then. To help celebrate our anniversary, we have 
Dear Minister Conroy,
BC recently announced changes to regulation that governs the relationship between forest licence holders and timber harvesting contractors and road builders. …Moving to a “cost-based” arbitration was one of George Abbott’s proposals from the [2019] Logging Contractor Sustainability Review. …In my opinion, the newly worded regulation has the potential to improve contractors’ chances of achieving sustainable rates. But…the regulation’s arbitration process will not be a fast route to resolve a dispute. New sections on covering costs of an arbitration will limit abuse. There are many new sections added or revised that will need legal interpretations and precedence to add clarity.
The 2021 event will bring together BC First Nations to share information related to forestry workforce opportunities, and provide a space for communities to share knowledge about forest stewardship and management practices in all regions of British Columbia. The theme for this year’s event is “BC First Nations as Full Partners”. As an organization, the Forestry Council strives to support and advocate for the role BC First Nations should play in the stewardship and governance of forest lands and resources, including access to an equitable share of the benefits derived from forestry activities within their traditional territories. That is why this year, the conference will also provide the opportunity to bring together industry, Government, and Nations to discuss changes to forest policy and legislation, tenure, and workforce partnerships.
OTTAWA—If we want to turn the tide on the troubling statistics, our words and actions matter too. This Pride month let’s be mindful of the importance of calling out bullying and discrimination in all its forms. Like many boys who grew up in the Ottawa Valley, I loved hockey. During the NHL playoffs, I remember racing down to the kitchen table in the morning to check the scores from the night before. Regardless of what shift my dad was working, he always wrote down the scores for me as my bedtime was well before the time the late games ended. …Playing minor hockey, I was average at best and was quite fine with that. I so enjoyed being at the rink and on the ice with my friends. That all changed when I was 14. A new guy joined our team and he decided early that I would be his target. He was relentless in referring to me as “Nighbor girl”. I knew I was different, but this was the first time I realized someone else noticed it too. …As a gay kid growing up in a Catholic home and living in a rural area through the 1980s and early 1990s, I suppressed my sexuality. …I lived in constant fear that someone would find out I was gay, my parents wouldn’t love me anymore, and I would have no friends. It was an exhausting existence.
…Nearly 18 years later, with the support of my family, some incredible allies, and because Canada’s forest sector leaders believed in me, I find myself in a job that I absolutely love—working in service to over 230,000 forestry workers and contractors across Canada to create opportunities for them and their families.
