Stewart Muir

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — British Columbia is a world leader in forest and environmental conservation, with tight regulations protecting and preserving ancient forests and wildlife, as well as creating sustainable economic opportunities for First Nations. A new report from BC’s Resource Works Society, entitled “Forestry in British Columbia: Setting the Record Straight”, examines a wide range of evidence including claims that forests are in a state of crisis that can only be addressed by extreme and immediate actions. Its publication follows a week of escalated protest in the Fairy Creek watershed. On April 1, the Supreme Court of BC granted an injunction to Teal-Jones, ordering blockaders to leave Fairy Creek. On May 17th, the RCMP began enforcing the injunction. Three days later, 21 blockaders have been arrested … claiming their actions are necessary to stop the logging of what they insist is “the last 3% of giant old-growth trees left in the province.”

VANCOUVER — Royann Petrell hopes the presence of the birds… could stop the logging operations. …A local MP agrees and has now asked Ottawa to get involved. The subspecies of kennicottii western screech owls, found on Vancouver Island but usually around its edges, are listed as threatened by the federal government and blue-listed as a species of special concern by BC. …Green MP Paul Manly, said the federal government can order a halt to logging in defence of the owls under the Species At Risk Act. But Ottawa says these particular owls are out of its jurisdiction. …B.C.’s Ministry of Forest said it is aware of four sightings of the owls in the South Island District and has been in contact with Teal-Jones about best practices and regulatory requirements for the species, the nests of which are protected.

The May long weekend is the annual start of summer in B.C. So it’s no surprise that the first arrests have already been made in what looks like might be a long, scorching summer of blockades and protests over old-growth logging. As the arrests on Vancouver Island show, however, a growing number of people are tired of waiting and are willing to… force the government into action. …Three decades ago, the Clayoquot Sound logging protests started this way. …If the current efforts catch on and spread across the province, particularly into areas where major urban media outlets can easily access the sites and the protesters, casting far more public attention on the issue, the Second War of the Woods could be upon us. Unless the NDP move quickly on meaningful changes to protect old-growth forests, there could be a long, hot summer ahead.

RCMP unexpectedly arrested a number of old-growth activists with the Fairy Creek blockades inside the control zone near the Caycuse Camp. Meanwhile, downtown Victoria was plagued by stalled traffic, placards and orange smoke plumes as a large demonstration to support blockaders. …RCMP confirmed the arrests of seven people… [and are] seeking charges of obstruction for two arrestees, as well as charges of possession of stolen property for two others and a charge of assaulting a police officer and obstruction for another individual. The Rainforest Flying Squad (RFS), Noah Ross, an RFS lawyer… [said] “There should be freedom of the press and the ability for them to document arrests. It’s really important for people’s safety. The character of the arrests today were a lot more violent with people being tackled by police.

Suzanne Simard

Suzanne Simard [does] groundbreaking scientific research into mycorrhizal fungi and networks, finding that forests behave as a single organism. …“The industry really shouldn’t be clearcutting if we’re trying to save carbon and save biodiversity and foster regeneration,” she told the Nelson Star, “We should be doing partial cutting.” …Simard says … the tendency of foresters to use herbicides to eliminate deciduous trees in favour of more commercially valuable conifers is a direct threat to healthy forest biodiversity, and is an example of how far behind the times forest policy is. “The plan is to take every last stick, basically. The government needs to shape up. And the problem that they have is that they’ve sold us out. The big corporate industry giants have consolidated, they’ve got their hands on most of the tenure, we’ve made commitments to them for volume harvested, and the government doesn’t want to reduce the timber volume.”

Nanaimo, BC – By popular demand, Mosaic Forest Management’s photo contest will be back for a fifth consecutive year. People are invited to submit their favourite images of BC’s beautiful West Coast for a chance to win one of three 7-day camping passes valid at any Mosaic-managed campsite. The contest, which opens May 21 and ends September 8, will see two winners chosen by a panel of Mosaic staff and one through online voting for the People’s Choice Award. “Getting out to enjoy nature has taken on new meaning through COVID-19, and I think many British Columbians have developed a deeper appreciation for where we live,” said Molly Hudson, Mosaic’s Director of Sustainability. “Our annual photo contest is a fun way to celebrate the recreational opportunities that BC’s Coast has to offer, and we are excited to share this window into summer adventures in our region.”

LAKE COWICHAN, BC — Mounties say they have arrested seven more people… as they enforce a court injunction ordering the removal of blockades. …RCMP have now arrested 21 people, including 17 for breaching the civil injunction. Manseau says police are recommending that two be charged with obstruction, two with possession of stolen property and one with obstruction and assaulting a police officer. Manseau says the area… was cleared to allow Teal Cedar Products to resume work, but several people returned and attached themselves to structures. …The company says in a statement it plans to harvest about 20 hectares from the harvestable area, which is at a higher elevation on the north ridge of the watershed and contains mostly hemlock and cypress trees. Teal Jones respects peaceful protest and has a “decades-long history of engagement with First Nations, responsible forest management, and value-added manufacture” in B.C., vice-president Gerrie Kotze says in a statement.

As summer approaches and the weather continues to get warmer, the B.C. government is encouraging the public to do their part in preventing wildfires for this long weekend and beyond. From April 1 to May 19, 214 wildfires have already burned about 2,147 hectares of land across the province, according to the BC Wildfire Service. Of those fires, 168 of them were human-caused — about 79 per cent. Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests… encourages British Columbians to use caution with any activity that could start a wildfire. …Jennifer Rice, parliamentary secretary for emergency preparedness, encourages homeowners to be “FireSmart” and… mitigate wildfire risk.