PORT ALBERNI, BC – Huumiis Ventures Limited Partnership, a limited partnership beneficially owned by the Huu-ay-aht First Nations, and Western Forest Products Inc. announced the completion of Huumiis’ acquisition of an incremental 28 per cent ownership interest in TFL 44 Limited Partnership and TFL 44 LP’s general partner, TFL 44 General Partner Inc. from Western, for $22.4 million. With the completion of this transaction, Huumiis now owns a 35 per cent ownership interest in TFL 44 LP and TFL 44 GP, with Western owning the remaining respective 65 per cent. “We are looking forward to Huumiis, as a wholly-owned Huu-ay-aht business, continuing on this path with Western,” said Tayii Ḥaw̓ił ƛiišin (Huu-ay-aht Hereditary Chief Derek Peters). …”I’m thrilled to be celebrating the next phase of this very successful partnership today,” said Don Demens, Western’s President and CEO.

An online petition has been created by a company called Code Blue BC, in order to halt logging by Tolko Industries above the Duteau Creek watershed. The Regional District of North Okanagan received notice April 9 that Vernon-based Tolko Industries intends to begin logging in May on a cut block 500 metres above the district’s Duteau Creek water intake. The RDNO is urging Tolko to halt its plans until both parties can find a mutually beneficial solution. The petition is directed at Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, and Harwinder Sandhu, MLA Vernon-Monashee. …The Duteau Creek water intake supplies 60 per cent of the water for Greater Vernon, and Tolko’s proposed logging activity is on top of a steep slope directly above the water source.

The City of Campbell River is throwing its support behind BC’s forestry sector. Mayor Andy Adams wrote to forests minister Katrine Conroy, urging that any decisions made regarding the sector “be based on facts and science.” “At their April 26 meeting, City Council received correspondence from Bob Brash, of the Truck Loggers Association, outlining their concerns about the City of Nanaimo Council decision regarding logging of at-risk old—growth forests. …“At the same meeting, City of Campbell River Council passed a resolution to contact you,  Premier Horgan and Minister Osborne as well as BC MLAs to urge the Province that decisions made regarding the forest sector be based on facts and science.” Adams says Council believes that coastal forest operations “are threatened by misinformation.” “Campbell River is a coastal forestry hub, and we view forestry as an essential component of economic recovery during and following the pandemic”.

A coalition of protesters behind a forestry blockade at Fairy Creek near Port Renfrew has served the province a third-party notice that brings the government into the civil action by logging company Teal Jones against protesters. The notice from the Rainforest Flying Squad asks government to suspend or amend cut blocks and road permits in the Fairy Creek and Brown’s Mountain/Creek watershed areas, noting the provincial government is responsible for forest management policy and operations. …The group contends the government is infringing on the Charter rights and freedom of religion of Bill Jones, a Pacheedaht First Nations elder who has practised meditation and spirituality in the Fairy Creek forest. The Rainforest Flying Squad said it is also arguing “considerations related to the government’s responsibilities under the Climate Change Accountability Act.”

The B.C. government killed 237 wolves as part of its wolf cull program over the winter despite a court challenge on the legality of the aerial practice. Pacific Wild, a B.C.-based environmental group, launched a legal petition claiming the province’s wolf cull program is unlawful because it contradicts wildlife regulations and federal aviation laws. …The wolf cull involves radio-collaring single wolves, tracking them to their packs, and then aerial gunning the animals from helicopters. The government program is supposed to help caribou populations rebound, but its efficacy is widely disputed by environmentalists and biologists. …However, on Jan. 28, the B.C. government brought in new regulations allowing the use of a helicopter during a hunting expedition. The new regulations also included other provisions where an aircraft or a helicopter can be used for or during a hunting expedition for reasons such as scientific purposes or proper management of a wildlife resource.

New mapping released today by the Wilderness Committee indicates the province approved significantly more old-growth logging over the past 12 months than it did the previous year. …Advocates speculate that the 43-per-cent increase could signal the forest industry’s push to secure harvestable timber as the province promises tighter restrictions on old-growth logging. …Torrance Coste, national campaign director with the Wilderness Committee… said several factors could contribute to an increase in old-growth logging permits. An eight-month strike by coastal forestry workers in 2020 and ongoing mill closures and curtailments may have led to a decrease in permits in the prior year. But he also speculates that the forest industry is preparing for additional restrictions on old-growth logging. …The Wilderness Committee mapping also shows that 80 per cent of approvals were concentrated in areas with the largest trees and highest biodiversity, Coste said.

More coverage in CBC: Old-growth approvals in BC nearly double, report suggests