VICTORIA – During the week of May 30, 2022, the Forest Practices Board will examine the activities of the BC Timber Sales (BCTS) program and timber-sale licence holders near Williams Lake, in the Cariboo-Chilcotin Natural Resource District. Auditors will examine whether timber harvesting, roads, bridges, silviculture, fire protection activities and associated planning carried out between June 1, 2020, and June 3, 2022, met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act. The audit area is located in the Williams Lake Timber Supply Area (TSA), which includes the communities of Williams Lake, Anahim Lake, Tatla Lake, Alexis Creek, and Horsefly. The TSA overlaps the traditional territories of the Secwepemc, Tsilhqot’in, and the Southern Dakelh Nation Alliance. There are many resources in the TSA, including timber, recreation, tourism, ranching, and wildlife.

Additional coverage in My Cariboo Now: Audit To Be Done In The Cariboo-Chilcotin Natural Resource District

Logging happening on Coldstream Ranch lands is happening to address fire risk in the area. While some residents of the Brewer Road area in Lavington are complaining about noise from the helicopter logging operation, spokesperson Trish Balcaen of Balcaen Consolidated Contracting says all residents of the area were contacted prior to work beginning, and “95% of them are happy and relieved we are doing this.” The ranch is owned by Balcaen’s father, Keith, but the logging arm of the family business is undertaking the work following fir beetle infestation in the forest above the homes that has left many trees dead. Balcaen says about 10 hectares is involved, on steep terrain that can’t be logged from the ground. “The beetle kill poses a fire threat to the ranch and to the area,” says Balcaen. “We are looking at it as a community safety issue.”

Things got a bit messy at the B.C. premier’s constituency office on Wednesday morning, when old growth logging protesters delivered a rather unsightly gift. Activists from the group Save Old Growth dumped five bags of fresh manure outside the front entrance of John Horgan’s community office in Langford. Misha Gervais, who works at a hair salon two doors down from Horgan’s office said she was appalled to see manure being dumped on the sidewalk. “We have people who come here in wheelchairs constantly. This is a hazard. We work here and this is absolutely disgusting and uncalled for,” she said. …“There’s no doubt in my mind that they go too far,” said Paul Quirk, a UBC political science professor… Quirk says protesters who take extreme measures are not always looking for public support. …Quirk added demonstrations that interfere with the public continue because of a lack of political will.

The Wells Gray Community Forest is going through a revamp to become more accessible to the public, said George Brcko, general manager, at the District of Clearwater’s regular meeting on May 17. A documentary was produced last year and has received positive feedback, he added. The WGCF website is being reworked to make applying for grants easier, as well as continue to provide information to the public, such as yearly reports, annual harvesting and silviculture programs and management plans. Considering the low turnout from the public to WGCF meetings, Brcko said they hope revitalizing the website will “draw more people in.” 

Port Alice hosted the North Island Community Forest Annual General Meeting this year and shareholders were given a dividend cheque for $225,000. After being split three ways, Port Hardy, Port McNeill and Port Alice will each receive $75,000.

Vancouver Islanders will have additional car-camping opportunities this summer near Port Alberni with the opening of a new campground on land managed for two private forestry companies. The two companies are also planning to defer logging on 40,000 hectares of old forest for 25 years as part of a carbon preservation plan. The new campground is a basic 27-site campground on Loon Lake off of Highway 4, with views of Mount Arrowsmith. …Since the 1980s, the two companies and their predecessors (Weyerhaeuser formerly owned Island Timberlands holdings) have built campgrounds for public use. In total, the 14 campgrounds provide 365 rustic campsites.

Additional coverage in Mosaic’s Press Release: Mosaic Celebrates Grand Opening of Fourteenth Campground at Loon Lake on its Private Managed Forest Lands

John Horgan

LANGFORD, BC — Police are investigating manure left at the front doors of Premier John Horgan’s local constituency office in Langford. A release from RCMP Wednesday says officers were called to a report of manure being dumped and signs being posted at Horgan’s community office. It says the suspects are believed to be supporters of Save Old Growth and the incident is under investigation as mischief. Supporters of Save Old Growth claimed responsibility for their action and likened the government’s policies to manure. Mike Farnworth, minister of public safety, said while peaceful protest is part of democratic society, “vandalizing property, preventing people from accessing services and harassing local businesses is deplorable behaviour.” Zain Haq, of Save Old Growth, says… more action is planned beginning June 13.