Glyphosate-based herbicides … have been used in British Columbia’s forest industry since the early 1980’s. Over this time, long-term persistence of glyphosate has not been measured… Given the advancements in analytical techniques that are now available, we have extended the persistence curve of glyphosate to elucidate the actual length of time of persistence in northern British Columbia… We collected plant tissues from five forest understory perennial species growing in two distinct biogeoclimatic regions of northern BC to map out how glyphosate residue quantities change over time according to species, plant tissue type, and climate regime. We found that residues persisted for up to 12 years in some tissue types, and that root tissues generally retained glyphosate residues longer than shoot tissue types. … both raspberry and blueberry fruits contained low quantities of glyphosate in fresh growth at one year after treatment, some of which were above the MRL for human consumption.

Additional coverage in Prince George Daily News, by Peter Ewart: BC wild berries – Unfit for human and animal consumption?

A group of nearly 30 locals gathered in Whistler Olympic Plaza at noon on May 16 to protest against the removal of old-growth forest in Whistler. Armed with drums and signs … the purpose of the gathering was to give a voice to the longstanding cedars and other trees that are “being silently extinguished” in Whistler’s Cheakamus Community Forest (CCF), organizers explained. “We’re talking about these old-growth forests and it’s really important that we stand up for them … They are priceless and should not be touched,” said Tina Pashumati James, who organized the demonstration. …As it relates to the CCF, between 30 and 55 per cent of old growth is currently protected, said board chair Jeff Fisher at a virtual open house on March 29— a fact Pashumati James disputed during Sunday’s demonstration. …“When the community forest was created, the idea was to go to an ecosystem based management … but still to harvest some timber,” Fisher said

Kokanee Bay Fishing Resort at Puntzi Lake (Bendziny) in the Chilcotin has been purchased by Tsideldel First Nation. “It’s a good opportunity for the band, our children and our future,” Chief Otis Guichon told the Tribune. “Community members will be able to utilize the area. We do a lot of cultural events along the lake and some people fish for Kokanee in the fall.” …Coun. Percy Guichon said chief and council worked with its Tsidedel Development Corporation to make the purchase happen …Tsidedel has been in the forestry business through a partnership with Tolko Industries and has created lots of jobs and provided an economy with operations all over the Chilcotin, he added. “Our loggers stay all over the place and now we finally have our own little resort for them. Our development corporation has gained business experience and that has enabled us to buy the resort all on our own.”

A rare and unique-looking fungus called sarcosoma globosum — or more commonly known as witches cauldron — has recently been spotted around Prince George. This fungus, which is normally found in northern Europe, is so rare and unique that it’s missing off the official fungi list in British Columbia. However, photos of the fungus found near Huble Homestead about 40 km north of Prince George have recently been shared on Facebook. “Citizen scientists and naturalists do a fantastic job,” says Michael Preston, an assistant professor with the ecosystem science and management program at the University of Northern British Columbia. As this fungus is so rare, Preston wants the public’s help to find and document witches cauldron in and around Prince George. …One of the big concerns about this species and another reason why it is so rare is clear-cut logging.

Fairy Creek old-growth activists are worried the RCMP will move into protest camps and make arrests with impunity while denying media and other legal observers the ability to scrutinize their enforcement of an injunction. On Monday morning, the RCMP launched the first phase of operations to enforce a court injunction. …But the police are in fact creating exclusion zones… said Kati George-Jim, spokesperson for the Rainforest Flying Squad. The move effectively criminalizes, or limits access, for individuals including media or legal observers who would offer public scrutiny as the injunction is enforced, said George-Jim. …“There’s an exclusion zone because the police are afraid of showing the type of force that they’re going to use in order for industry to go back to work to clearcut old growth,” she said. …”People on the ground and supporters won’t be deterred by the threat of RCMP enforcement,” George-Jim said.

Harry Bains

VICTORIA – Since 2019, the Bridging to Retirement Program has been a high-demand, crucial support for displaced forestry workers in the Interior, especially as it came as the industry was facing downturns and hard times. The program supports older workers in retiring early so they can remain in their communities. The program has enabled employers to engage with their workers to support early retirement, while creating jobs for younger workers and, ultimately, helping mills survive. The program has been such a success that it has reached the maximum number of applications for the final year’s $4 million in funding. “I know first-hand, from my years working in a mill, just how difficult economic slumps can be on the people and communities that rely on forest industry jobs,” said Harry Bains, Minister of Labour.

VICTORIA — Mounties have established a restricted-access zone as they begin enforcing an injunction against protesters who are blockading logging activity in the Fairy Creek watershed.“ …The Mounties have established a checkpoint at the McClure Forest Service Road, where the restricted-access zone begins. The police say all vehicles attempting to enter the area will be stopped and occupants will need to provide identification and state the purpose for their travel, subject to RCMP approval. All hereditary and elected chiefs of the Pacheedaht and Ditidaht First Nations will be allowed to enter the area, according to the RCMP. So too will government officials, journalists, practising lawyers with the Law Society of British Columbia and medical doctors. All visitors will be accompanied through the site by an RCMP officer. The Mounties say a designated space for protesters and observers will be established outside the restricted area.

RCMP say they have begun enforcing a court injunction banning blockades of logging activities in an area of western Vancouver Island. In a statement, RCMP say they are temporarily controlling access to the Fairy Creek watershed area northeast of Port Renfrew as they enforce the civil injunction. The statement says the controls were imposed Monday to allow loggers with Teal-Cedar Products to start work. A checkpoint on a forest service road leading to the area will remain in place until the company has completed its work. The RCMP say enough police officers are in the area to keep the peace. Protesters have had blockades at the Fairy Creek watershed since last summer. …The B.C. Supreme Court issued the injunction April 1. …Teal-Jones vice-president Gerrie Kotze said… The company plans to harvest a small area at the head of the watershed, well away from the San Juan River.

Additional coverage:

Campbell River Mirror: RCMP enforce injunction at Fairy Creek logging blockade

Ricochet: RCMP backtracks on excluding journalists from logging protest site