Blistering heat, no rain in sight… The hot and dry weather now has branches falling from on high. Around the region this week there have been a number of reports of Garry oaks ­losing massive limbs due to the extreme heat. “We absolutely see that every year, usually in July, when Garry oaks have sudden limb failure due to the heat — they just dry out and crack,” said Steve Taylor, president of Capital Tree Service. Taylor, who has been in the business for 17 years, said it happens every summer, especially after long stretches of dry heat. There is often no predicting which branches will drop, as there are seldom any telltale signs of an imminent crack, he said. “They can be a perfectly healthy tree and it will still crack off,” he said, noting the weight of the dense oak wood can be too much for a limb that is compromised.

A new economic study shows ancient trees in the contentious Fairy Creek region on southern Vancouver Island are worth considerably more standing to nearby communities than if they were cut down. And it confirms investments and efforts by the former forestry hub of Port Renfrew to rebrand itself as an ecotourism hot spot are right on track. Protecting all old-growth forests in Pacheedaht and Ditidaht First Nations’ territories near Port Renfrew could result in an additional $40 million in net economic benefits over the next 100 years compared to logging as usual, said Andrea Inness of the Ancient Forest Alliance …Mike Hicks, Port Renfrew’s Regional Director, said logging will likely remain part of the region’s economy no matter what decisions are eventually made around old-growth. Even if some old-growth logging continues, Hicks believes Port Renfrew’s economy is diversified enough to weather any limited damage to the community’s brand.

Prince Albert, SK – Paper Excellence is proud to award its first national Métis scholarship to Jolynn Amyotte who attends Carlton Comprehensive High School in Prince Albert. …Amyotte is a grade twelve student with broad ambitions related to healthcare. Her long-term goal is to improve overall access to and quality of care, as well as bring new ideas of what health looks like to her community. “We’re pleased to be able to offer scholarships to Indigenous youth who live in the communities surrounding our mills,” said Graham Kissack, VP EH&S and Corporate Communications. “Paper Excellence understands the importance of being good neighbours and greatly values its relationships with Indigenous communities.”

B.C.’s newest conservation area will conserve a wildlife corridor grizzly bears use to meet and mingle. The 274-acre property was acquired by the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program, a partnership between the province, BC Hydro, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and public stakeholders to conserve species in watersheds impacted by existing BC Hydro dams. The Gates Creek lands, located nearly 43 kilometres northwest of Pemberton, were recently transferred to the Nature Conservancy of Canada. “There’s been a lot of business or agriculture development in the valley environments between Pemberton and Lillooet,” said program director Steven Godfrey. Industrial development – if it fragments land between grizzly populations – threatens the species’ survival. Without connectivity, bears grow less diverse genetically and their risk of being poached or hit by a vehicle increase. The now-protected area will provide bears a path for travel between the Stein-Nahatlatch and South Chilcotin bears.

Prince George-based environmental group Conservation North is giving a mixed review to the latest pronouncement on how the provincial government plans to deal with old growth forest in the Prince George timber supply area.  In December 2020, the Forest Practices Board called for a revamp of the way old growth forest is treated in the PGTSA. The public watchdog noted, in part, that it is one of the few in B.C. where the amount to be conserved is not specifically identified on maps, but as a percentage of the overall forest inventory. …Conservation North welcomed news that deferrals are in the offing but noted they will be based on regulations set out in an order that dates back to 2004 despite the FPB calling for it to be updated to reflect current science on biodiversity.  The group also raised concern that science will be left out of the equation as stakeholders negotiate the land-use plan.

Zeb King

Central Saanich council is calling on the provincial government to defer logging in high-productivity old-growth forests on Vancouver Island. The step comes after Coun. Zeb King had filed a notice of motion with Mayor Ryan Windsor joining Couns. Bob Thompson and Chris Graham to vote in favour. Couns. Carl Jensen, Gordon Newton and Niall Paltiel voted against the measure. Council’s narrow vote means the municipality joins other communities (including the City of Victoria) calling for a review of forest practices.

Activists connected to the old-growth logging protests at Fairy Creek brought their dispute to Mesachie Lake on Friday, June 25, blockading a yard containing logging equipment. Teal Jones confirmed that it leases office space at the site, which houses operations of several businesses. Loggers arrived at the yard on Friday morning to discover a number of protesters chained to the gate, blocking the only entrance to the yard. The Rainforest Flying Squad reported via the Fairy Creek Blockade Facebook page that they were all women, led by a protester who goes by the name “Lady Chainsaw.”