Category Archives: Forests

Forests, Spirituality

Northwest B.C. church group calls on province to rethink forestry policies

Terrace Standard, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Terrace church group is calling on the provincial government to rethink its forestry practices and “radical policies” and invest in sustainable options. 

The Social Justice Working Group, made up of members of Knox United Church in Terrace is concerned about the province issuing permits to clear-cut primary forests to produce wood pellets for export. 

Continue reading Northwest B.C. church group calls on province to rethink forestry policies →
Forests

Retraction regarding cutting some old growth on Quadra Island

Last week I published a story about some old growth trees cut down on Quadra Island, then almost immediately became aware there was much more to the story and took it down. 

There is no question about old growth trees being cut down on woodlot licence W2031.

Nor is there any question about the legality of the woodlot licensees action. They have not broken any laws. 

Continue reading Retraction regarding cutting some old growth on Quadra Island →
Forests

When does a tree reach maturity?

The photo at the top of this page shows a pile of second growth logs at Mount Elphinstone, on the Sunshine Coast. The yellow ring on the outside is sapwood, which carries water and minerals to the crown of the tree. It both contains more water and is softer than the darker heartwood at a trees core. As trees mature, the sapwood layer grows smaller. 

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Forests

Hibernation hits Fairy Creek blockade camps, but hunt continues for missing defenders

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Fairy Creek old-growth blockade is heading into winter hibernation mode but the search remains ongoing for two activists missing in the remote region on southeast Vancouver Island.

The Rainforest Flying Squad — the grassroots coalition behind the old-growth blockades — recently broke down the last of its publicly accessible camps due to extreme winter conditions.

Continue reading Hibernation hits Fairy Creek blockade camps, but hunt continues for missing defenders →
Forests

Conservation cash vital to securing B.C.’s old-growth deferrals

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A new conservation foundation is working to provide Indigenous and other land-based communities with funds to protect endangered ecosystems and build economic alternatives to the logging of at-risk old-growth forests.

It’s unjust and impractical to expect communities that rely on revenue from activities such as forestry, ranching or resource extraction to bear the financial burden of shifting their local economy on their own to protect areas for the benefit of all, said Ken Wu, chair of the recently established Nature-Based Solutions Foundation (NBSF).

Continue reading Conservation cash vital to securing B.C.’s old-growth deferrals →