About 30 participants showed solidarity for the Fairy Creek forest blockade on Vancouver Island with signs, drums and songs, calling on the BC NDP government to act upon its promise of enacting all 14 recommendations of the old-growth review. A rally was held in front of Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons’ office on February 26. According to Elena Martin, one of the event organizers, the rally was not an anti-logging-protest as some media has been describing it. “It is an ancient forest-protection rally to protect the last two per cent of the remaining ancient forest in BC,” said Martin. “The protection of the most biodiverse and high-functioning ancient forest ecosystems are vital in mitigating the very real effects of climate change.”

Certain environmental organizations have recently made public statements drawing erroneous conclusions about FNFN forestry initiatives without talking to the FNFN and without specific knowledge about the FNFN partnership with Peak Renewables Ltd. The FNFN/Peak partnership is a model for land stewardship and sustainable economic growth. …Peak and FNFN have committed to the adoption of the FNFN Land Management Framework… developed under the guidance of world-class ecologists and FNFN Indigenous knowledge holders. It includes a collaborative long-term harvesting planning process which comprehensively, and proactively, integrates traditional and ecological values. …Chief Sharleen Gale questioned recent statements by certain environmental organizations: “Without talking to us, conclusive statements about FNFN’s forestry projects have been made by groups that are far removed from our territory. These statements totally fail to take into account the livelihoods of our people and our extensive land stewardship work. … We unquestionably hold the best knowledge of our territory.”

The Fort Nelson First Nation and the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality are voicing their support for a proposed wood pellet facility after a Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives report criticized the project, which involves cutting down vast tracts of forest and turning them into pellets for export overseas. Most wood pellets are made with waste materials… But Peak Renewables doesn’t have access to byproducts and plans to log whole trees for pellets, which would be shipped overseas and burned to produce heat and electricity. The report said the plan would not do enough to support Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, but those communities disagree. Last year, the First Nation signed an equity agreement with Peak Renewables to ensure it has a say in logging activities and plant operations. …The Narwhal requested an interview with the Fort Nelson First Nation but did not receive a response prior to publication.

The B.C. government is investing $2.4 million to complete wildfire risk reduction projects in the Columbia Basin as part of its economic recovery plan to create jobs and help communities recover from COVID-19 impacts. “Our government’s support of this program will help mitigate wildfire threats and also provide training and employment opportunities,” said Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. “Increasing wildfire resiliency in and around our communities is a key part of B.C.’s overall wildfire strategy.” The funding will be allocated in partnership with Columbia Basin Trust, which will administer the program and distribute grants to the successful applicants. StrongerBC: BC’s Economic Recovery Plan provides employment and economic opportunities to support a wide range of projects throughout the province.