George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy has issued the following statement to celebrate Earth Day 2021: “Today, we join with people throughout British Columbia and around the world in celebrating Earth Day. …today is a day to recommit to the work ahead – tackling the threats of climate change and unlocking the twin benefits of cleaner communities and clean-energy economies that will determine the future of our planet. …In B.C., our government continues with significant investments in our CleanBC plan to build a cleaner, stronger economic recovery and help us reach net-zero emissions by 2050. …We’re helping people, businesses and communities build energy-efficient homes, buildings and schools. And we’re working with B.C.’s industry and clean tech sectors to reduce emissions, support good jobs and build on our advantages in the clean economy of the future.

What better way to learn about our forests than to be out in it, digging in the ground and planting trees? For a week, that’s exactly what Rutland Senior Secondary (RSS) forestry students did … RSS forestry teacher Marshall Corbett said getting the students outdoors and allowing them to experience planting trees helps them gain a better appreciation for the forestry industry and nature as a whole. “Being able to just get out in the woods, it’s a different way of learning. … It provides them with different opportunities. We’ve had students that maybe didn’t fit the traditional school mold and do really well when they come out here….” Corbett said the goal of the forestry program is to give students a snapshot of what jobs are available in the forestry industry. But mostly, … he wants to instill an appreciation of the land around us in his students.

Katie George-Jim, also known as xʷ is xʷ čaa

A group of activists say they have no intention of ending their anti-logging blockades on Vancouver Island, despite a court injunction and opposition from the political leadership of the Pacheedaht First Nation. …activists, who call themselves forest defenders, said they and hundreds of supporters are ready to be arrested by the RCMP. “I think they thought we were just going to go away,” protester Duncan Morrison said. “We are here for the long haul until Fairy Creek is protected.” A series of camps have been set up in strategic locations to prevent logging trucks from moving in, with kitchens, outhouses and shelters for sleeping. A legal defence fund has also been established. …Industry representatives say old-growth logging is vital to B.C.’s $12 billion-a-year forestry sector. “Old growth in certain areas is critical for the annual harvest,” said Bob Brash, executive director of the Truck Loggers Association.

Despite one fire burning on Vancouver Island near Gold River, the area’s forests came out of the winter in good shape heading into this year’s wildfire season. According to the Coastal Fire Centre, the area didn’t start the fire season in a drought, however, the past two weeks presented warm and dry weather with low relative humidity, said Donna MacPherson, fire information officer with the organization. “The surface of the forest … is the area without roots and is full of branches, twigs and dead leaves. It hasn’t hit the ‘green-up’ where weeds and grasses are up yet and creates a shelter over the dryer debris, and shelters it from the sun and wind,” she explained. “Right now, we’re in a moderate fire rating danger for Vancouver Island.” …Currently, the long-range forecast is calling for an average fire season and MacPherson is hopeful the season will start “well-hydrated as we go back to seasonal weather.

Fostering “resilient” urban forests is the name of the game in the hillsides above Chilliwack. The first 2,000 trees toward a goal of planting 80,000 new trees in Mount Thom Park have been planted, according to a City of Chilliwack release Wednesday (April 20). “Mt. Thom Park is one of Chilliwack’s most popular natural areas, offering great trails for people, and important spaces for wildlife,” said Mayor Ken Popove. The idea is to help the 70-hectare wooded area become more “resilient” in the face of ongoing effects of climate change. Shakti Reforestation workers have been planting 13 tree varieties to maintain the existing woody habitat and prepare a diverse forest cover for the future. The existing birch-dominant forest has been decimated by Bronze birch borer beetles, meaning that prior to the new seedlings, there weren’t enough younger trees to take up the job of filling out the canopy after the forest’s decline.