More than 60 forestry, Indigenous, government and economic development leaders gathered in Williams Lake to identify shared priorities and advance collaborative action for the future of forestry in the Cariboo Chilcotin. Hosted on Thursday, July 23, 2026 by the City of Williams Lake, the Cariboo Chilcotin Forestry Forum brought together a diverse cross-section of forestry leaders and stakeholders for discussions focused on strengthening the region’s forest economy, supporting sustainable jobs, improving wildfire resilience and advancing long-term forest stewardship. “It was a pleasure to see so many forestry and community leaders gathering in Williams Lake,” said City of Williams Lake Mayor Surinderpal Rathor. “The depth of experience, knowledge and commitment was inspiring. What stood out was the shared determination to work together on practical solutions that will support healthy forests, stronger communities and a sustainable forest economy.”

In 2004, Dr. Geoff Scudder of UBC completed one of B.C.’s most important biodiversity analyses. By mapping species rarity and richness, he identified where the province’s most threatened species occur and where biodiversity is most concentrated. These biodiversity hotspots are the places where conservation matters most. These hotspots occur mostly in the South Okanagan, the Lower Mainland, and Southeastern Vancouver Island along with the Gulf Islands. Despite their global significance, these hotspots remain largely outside B.C.’s protected area network. As Canada advances its 30×30 plan to protect 30% of land and ocean by 2030, the gap between what is protected and what needs protection is poised to widen. Canada has committed to 10 new national parks, and B.C. has proposed three new conservation areas. Yet none of these proposals capture Scudder’s hotspots. Once again, B.C. is protecting more of what is already safe and less of what is truly at risk.

PORT RENFREW, British Columbia — The five-car caravan crept down a gravel logging road as the day’s last beams of golden light filtered through the trees. About 20 forest defenders were making a stand in southwest Vancouver Island, at a spot where a logging company was expected to cut old-growth trees the following morning. …“There is no dispute about what happened to our land,” said Bill Jones, a First Nations Pacheedaht elder who sat in the road as daylight crept in. …“There’s nothing left — it’s practically naked, bare,” he said. “There’s few remnants here and there, and so we have to save what we can.” …Vancouver Island’s remaining [old growth] stands — some are home to thousand-year-old trees — store more carbon per hectare than nearly any other forest system, according to the Sierra Club of British Columbia. …Still, the transition away from old-growth logging cannot happen overnight, said Parmar, the forests minister.

Critical ecosystems throughout B.C. will be safer and better protected, thanks to provincial funding for a new partnership led by the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF). B.C. is providing $1 million to HCTF to identify and assess water-control infrastructure on conservation lands and other areas that support ecological values throughout the province, helping guide investments that improve habitat, reduce risks and support local communities. …As part of the work, a shared database will be created to identify infrastructure such as small dams, dikes and water-control structures. It will track infrastructure condition and safety risks, while taking into account ecological, cultural and community needs associated with each site. …The initiative is expected to provide, for the first time, a co-ordinated inventory and assessment of water-control structures allowing government and conservation partners to better understand infrastructure needs and prioritize future upgrades. 

Timberwolf Wilderness Society is asking for a judicial review in federal court after a permit was provided for a logging operation in Kananaskis Country in an area with threatened bull trout. Timberwolf launched legal action after Fisheries and Oceans Canada approved West Fraser Timber to build a bridge over the Highwood River and 13 other temporary river crossings in the Loomis Creek and Upper Highwood area. The group argues the project “may result in harm, harassment or killing of the threatened bull trout … or damage or destruction of the bull trout’s critical habitat.” Bull trout are listed as a threatened species … Joyce Wagenaar, director of communications for West Fraser, said the company couldn’t speak to the judicial review since it’s before the courts. She said after the company took over the project, it paused logging plans to further consult with people and groups that could be impacted.