…the Nesslin Lake Forest Advocates are campaigning to put a temporary stop to clear-cut logging in the Nesslin forest, and are asking the government to take a step back and reconsider future plans. Tyson Johnston, spokesperson for the advocacy group … told paNOW parts of the forest have been protected for about 30 years. …Johnston added the reason they are advocating for the protection of the area is not to preserve only the trees, but also the lakes, and the water quality of the rivers, and creeks that flow through the forest. …The advocacy group from Nesslin Lake is wanting to work with the Ministry of Environment on alternative logging methods such as traditional land-based learning. …The area forester in Prince Albert, Bill Thibeault explained on behalf of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment the plan is to regenerate the forest, and maintain the long-term health of the forest.

CAMPBELL RIVER – An audit of the provincial forest district manager’s obligations to maintain forest service roads (FSRs) in the Campbell River natural resource district has found that the FSRs and crossing structures were built, maintained and deactivated appropriately, as required by the Forest and Range Practices Act. The provincial government, through the district manager, must maintain those FSRs that are not being maintained by forest companies or BC Timber Sales. In the Campbell River district, this consists of 83.5 kilometres of road, including about 60 kilometres of the road accessing Fair Harbour and the community of Zeballos on the west coast of Vancouver Island. … “The FSRs the district manager is responsible for are very important to local communities and we are pleased to find the district is doing a good job of looking after them,” said Kevin Kriese, chair, Forest Practices Board.

The need for a wildfire risk mitigation project in the town of Midway started in the summer of 2018 when a strong windstorm came through the southern Boundary region and blew over a vast number of trees. Through daily inspections by the Midway Trail Society volunteers, blowdown from the storm was noted as significant, and an aerial inspection verified the extent of the damage. This project is on actively used trail systems and the work has been a very light touch on the landscape using an innovative harvesting/forwarding system to minimize soil disturbance, with hand treatments where possible.

An audit of the provincial forest district manager’s obligations to maintain forest service roads (FSRs) in the Campbell River natural resource district has found that the FSRs and crossing structures were built, maintained and deactivated appropriately, as required by the Forest and Range Practices Act. The provincial government …  must maintain those FSRs that are not being maintained by forest companies or BC Timber Sales. In the Campbell River district, this consists of 83.5 kilometres of road, including about 60 kilometres of the road accessing Fair Harbour and the community of Zeballos on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Another eight kilometres of the maintained FSRs are part of the walking trails on the Beaver Lodge Lands in Campbell River. “The FSRs the district manager is responsible for are very important to local communities and we are pleased to find the district is doing a good job of looking after them,” said Kevin Kriese, chair, Forest Practices Board.

PRINCE GEORGE – Forestry will be under the City’s microscope for much of next year. It was identified as one of the important “cluster” industries identified by the Economic Development department as significant to the local economy. A survey will be conducted of all sectors in forestry to identify what works and what doesn’t for the industry and identify gaps in skilled labour. “That industry really fluctuates. We feel up’s, we feel down’s. Right now it’s in an up. Lumber prices are doing fantastic,” says Melissa Barcellos, Manager of Economic Development. “But we want to find a way that we can support the industry to steady and consistent.” The survey will be used to put together a five-year action for the industry. …  And she invites anyone who wants to participate to reach out to her at City Hall.

The province is delivering relief to small- and medium-sized forestry businesses for the extra costs of keeping their employees and communities safe, while operating through the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our government worked with forest contractors to plant 300 million seedlings this year with no recorded COVID-19 transmissions,” said Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. “This $9.3-million fund will help forestry businesses keep their employees on staff, and their communities safe with the additional costs they’ve already faced related to COVID-19. “It’s a credit to these companies that they were able to keep people safe while planting trees that will help keep B.C.’s forest sector sustainable and fight climate change.” Amid the unprecedented conditions of COVID-19 and additional health and safety protocols issued by the provincial health officer in April 2020, a record number of trees were planted in 2020, with no recorded COVID-19 transmissions.