BC’s Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources is firing back at a Liberal call to abandon plans to allow hunting of moose calves and their mothers as a way to benefit caribou populations. Liberal MLA for Nechako Lakes, John Rustad, says the NDP plan to okay the hunting of mothers and babies is based on the “misguided belief” that culling moose will reduce wolves, the prime predator of caribou: “It’s a flawed thinking. Wolves are smart, if they don’t have moose to eat they will go out an chase the caribou. It just doesn’t make any sense whatsoever to be taking this kind of approach.” Rustad adds moose numbers are actually declining in many areas, and efforts are underway to bring them back. But Minister Doug Donaldson says while that’s true, the plan is based on science, and hunting would only be allowed where moose numbers have increased.

It was with some dismay that I read the May 6 cover story of how the mountain bike lobby wins Snowden Forest trail protection. First, it should be made clear that the major trails (and 10 metres either side) in Snowden were given protection by a government action regulation (GAR) order long ago, what is at issue today, is the forest lands surrounding those trails. One should note the trails in Snowden were initially constructed illegally without any consultation. The district manager made a GAR order that gave those trails protection. I would argue that this district manager should not have made that decision because of a possible conflict of interest or at least a perception of one. I don’t argue that the decision was wrong just it should have been made by someone with no close attachment to the area. The Snowden area contributes to the timber supply and if you reduce the timber supply you reduce jobs.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC) Kootenay River Ranch Conservation Area just got bigger, thanks to the support of numerous funding partners. This project enhances existing conservation efforts in the Rocky Mountain Trench, south of Canal Flats. Encompassing 260 hectares (637 acres) of prime grassland and open forest habitat, these lands feature native bunchgrass savannah with areas of ponderosa pine, larch and Douglas- fir forest, and even a small wetland. Badgers, bears, elk, deer and many species of birds are just some of the wildlife that rely on these wild lands for their survival. The valley-bottom habitat supports several species at risk, including Species At Risk Act (SARA)-listed grizzly bear (special concern), American badger (endangered) and Lewis’s woodpecker (threatened). The acquisition connects NCC’s Kootenay River Ranch and Griffiths Nature Reserve to create a contiguous area under conservation totalling 1,711 hectares (4,228 acres).

NAKUSP, BC — …The Nakusp Community Forest recently declared a dividend of $465,000 to the municipal government. …The dividend was the second-largest by the community-owned forestry company. The largest, over $582,000, was given to the village in 2014. …For the village, it’s an amazing contribution to the municipal coffers — almost half as much as the village raises through taxes. To generate the same amount of money through property taxes, council would have had to raise them more than 45 per cent this year. …However, the bylaw governing the relationship between the village and the community forester stipulates the money can’t be used for day-to-day village business, or reducing taxes. In recent years, the money has gone to special projects like supporting the big revitalization project downtown.

A team of independent researchers claim that the province’s accounting of old growth trees is vastly larger than the actual number of trees most people would consider old growth, namely coniferous giants. The three co-authors write that most of what is currently considered old growth are small subalpine or bog forests. …The B.C. government reports that of the province’s 57.2 million hectares of forest, 23 per cent is old growth or 13.2 million hectares. “Only about one per cent of that total forest is old growth in the way that you or I would think of as being old forest,” said Holt. …The report warns that… many of the large stands of trees  are at risk of being logged — as much as 75 per cent. …Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, said he wasn’t surprised… a draft was submitted to the independent Old Growth Strategic Review Panel that was launched in July 2019.

Additional coverage in The Narwhal: B.C. old-growth data ‘misleading’ public on remaining ancient forest: independent report

INVERMERE, B.C. — The Nature Conservancy of Canada has added to its area of protected lands in southeastern British Columbia with the addition of prime grassland and forest. The not-for-profit land conservation organization says it has acquired 2.6-square kilometres of property south of Canal Flats in the Rocky Mountain Trench. … The land features native bunchgrass savannah, areas of ponderosa pine, larch and Douglas fir forests and even a small wetland. Endangered American badgers and a species of woodpecker listed as threatened make their homes in the area along with elk, deer, many species of birds and grizzlies, which are listed as a species of special concern. Two separate land owners offered their properties and made sizable donations while the Natural Heritage Conservation Program, Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program, Columbia Basin Trust and Collings Stevens Family Foundation also helped with the purchase.

A Saskatoon city councillor says he is satisfied after a major railway company apologized for cutting down hundreds of trees in a core neighbourhood without notice or warning. Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. removed the trees along its main line parallel to 33rd Street earlier this year. CP owns the land, but the decision took residents of City Park and North Park by surprise. Coun. Darren Hill, who represents the area, condemned the “clearcutting” — which happened without city hall being aware — and asked for an apology last month. In an interview on Tuesday, Hill said a CP vice president apologized during a call earlier in the day and agreed the railway would take part in a working group to replant the embankment.