With COVID-19 restrictions limiting people’s movement and behaviour, the normally large impact of human activity on wildfires in British Columbia is a wild card this year, say federal and provincial analysts. Human activity — anything from careless campers dropping cigarettes to industrial accidents, sparks flying from trains, or car crashes — is responsible for about slightly more than half of all wildfires nationwide, and about 40 per cent in B.C. On Monday, the provincial government concluded that the hugely destructive 2017 Elephant Hill wildfire was caused by a type of human activity — specifically, “smoking materials,” which includes cigarettes, matches, cigars and pipes. But this year the impact may be harder to measure, said Northern Forestry Centre fire research analyst Richard Carr. B.C. has banned most “open burning” activity across the province as of April 16, including industrial and backyard burns, slash burns, fireworks and sky lanterns.

Mountain bikers and trail users in Campbell River have reason to be happy after BC Timber Sales announced it would be changing the road building and timber harvesting plans for the Snowden Demonstration Forest. “The bottom line is that BCTS listened to the concerns that we raised, took them seriously, and responded appropriately,” Snowden Forest advocate Garry Ullstrom said in an email to the Mirror. “I’m hoping that one of the lasting benefits will be that the local groups mentioned in the update will work together more closely on other issues of common concern in and around our community. “When we work together we can accomplish a lot.” …“From the River City Cycle Club perspective we are generally pleased with the BCTS update,” said president Bryan Yells. “Trail access is going to be maintained in evenings and weekends which is fantastic.

Invasive-species experts are preparing for the possibility that insects dubbed “murder hornets,” which have been found in British Columbia, could spread elsewhere in the country, endangering people and honeybees, though they say the risk still appears low. Asian giant hornets were discovered last fall on Vancouver Island, near Nanaimo, where local beekeepers tracked down and destroyed the nest. The hornets were sighted last year in Washington state, where entomologists are working to wipe them out. …Gard Otis, who studies apiculture at the University of Guelph, said domestic beehives are the hornets’ favourite feeding grounds. “They attack … they just kill them all,” …Gail Wallin, executive director of the B.C. Invasive Species Council, said the hornets could cause significant ecological damage. “It’s an apex predator and preys on such a vital organism,” Ms. Wallin said. “When you haven’t had it here, you can’t totally document, you can only project what the impact will be.”

On May 10 and May 11, around 50 planters with Waterside Ventures, will be coming to the Burns Lake area to finally start the planting season for them. …The delays in the start for the planting season were due to the COVID-19 situation. Contractors were grappled with concerns ranging from worry over safety of the planters and townsfolk, to the frozen trees potentially going to waste, to what would happen to all the people and equipment, if the tree planting didn’t start on time. However, the government, BC Timber Sales, licensees and the Western Forestry Contractor’s Association collaborated to come up with plans for safe working conditions. …Sheamus Hughes of the Waterside Ventures informed us of the strict measures their company would be taking to ensure the safety of the planters and the community.