forestry

Ecologist Greg Utzig in an area of old growth cedar-hemlock forest near Nelson that is not in an Old Growth Management Area and which therefore could be logged any time. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Kootenay forest management ignores old growth protection, two experts say

Some younger forest is protected as old growth, while much actual old growth is not protected

Ecologist Greg Utzig in an area of old growth cedar-hemlock forest near Nelson that is not in an Old Growth Management Area and which therefore could be logged any time. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
A pair of U.S. senators say tariff relief on imports from Canada would take inflationary pressure off the U.S. housing market. (file)

Let’s make a deal with Canada on softwood, U.S. senators urge Biden administration

About 30 per cent of the timber used in the U.S. comes from Canada

A pair of U.S. senators say tariff relief on imports from Canada would take inflationary pressure off the U.S. housing market. (file)
Softwood lumber is pictured along the Fraser River in Richmond, B.C., Tuesday, April 25, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

West Fraser Timber shuts down takeover report; shares spike

Company says it has not received a proposal and there are no ongoing discussions

Softwood lumber is pictured along the Fraser River in Richmond, B.C., Tuesday, April 25, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
The Lheidli T’enneh First Nation will have exclusive timber harvesting rights to an estimated 217,312 hectares within the Nation’s territories east of Prince George (contributed photo).

217,000-hectare deal near Prince George creates B.C.’s largest First Nations woodland

Lheidli T’enneh First Nation license will see greater forest stewardship benefits and harvesting rights

The Lheidli T’enneh First Nation will have exclusive timber harvesting rights to an estimated 217,312 hectares within the Nation’s territories east of Prince George (contributed photo).
The proposed cedar grove protected area is outlined in red. It is located at the north end of the Duncan Lake reservoir. Map: Valhalla Wilderness Society

Petition asks for protection of ancient cedars at Duncan Lake

Some of the trees are over 1,000 years old and one is 2,100 years old

The proposed cedar grove protected area is outlined in red. It is located at the north end of the Duncan Lake reservoir. Map: Valhalla Wilderness Society
Police officers forming outside the protest camp on the forestry road. (RCMP handout)

Vancouver Island Mounties dismantle Fairy Creek old growth protest camp, arrest 5

RCMP say that of the five arrested, two were repeat offenders

Police officers forming outside the protest camp on the forestry road. (RCMP handout)
Two Save Old Growth protesters blocking Highway 1 at the Columbia River Bridge in Revelstoke. The group says it will end its highway protests as of June 29. (Josh Piercey/Revelstoke Review)

Protesters say B.C.’s old growth forest battle will no longer be blocking your commute

Save Old Growth ending campaign of highway protests while maintaining its call for logging ban

Two Save Old Growth protesters blocking Highway 1 at the Columbia River Bridge in Revelstoke. The group says it will end its highway protests as of June 29. (Josh Piercey/Revelstoke Review)
Two Save Old Growth protesters blocking Highway 1 at the Columbia River Bridge in Revelstoke. The group’s co-founder Zain Haq says he’s gone into hiding out of fear of deportation. (Josh Piercey/Revelstoke Review)

Save Old Growth organizer fears his climate activism has made him a target for deportation

Zain Haq, who is in Canada on a study permit, says he’s gone into hiding

  • Jun 20, 2022
Two Save Old Growth protesters blocking Highway 1 at the Columbia River Bridge in Revelstoke. The group’s co-founder Zain Haq says he’s gone into hiding out of fear of deportation. (Josh Piercey/Revelstoke Review)
Save Old Growth demonstrators blocked the northbound Pat Bay Highway early in the morning on June 13. (Courtesy of Save Old Growth/Twitter)

Save Old Growth protester shatters hip during B.C. highway blockade

Campaigners say they will continue actions until old growth logging is halted in B.C.

  • Jun 17, 2022
Save Old Growth demonstrators blocked the northbound Pat Bay Highway early in the morning on June 13. (Courtesy of Save Old Growth/Twitter)
Save Old Growth announced the return of their highway blockades as of June 13 during the 2022 Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. A new group, Clear The Road, which is frsutrated with the regular blockades is now pursuing a class-action lawsuit against Save Old Growth. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. commuters consider lawsuit over logging protest highway blockades by Save Old Growth

Drivers have missed appointments and work shifts, lost out on money, says Clear The Road group

Save Old Growth announced the return of their highway blockades as of June 13 during the 2022 Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. A new group, Clear The Road, which is frsutrated with the regular blockades is now pursuing a class-action lawsuit against Save Old Growth. (Black Press Media file photo)
The remains of a cut block is seen in the Fairy Creek logging area near Port Renfrew, B.C. Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Understanding B.C.’s old-growth logging deferrals by the numbers

Forests minister: deferrals a temporary measure aimed at preventing irreversible biodiversity loss

The remains of a cut block is seen in the Fairy Creek logging area near Port Renfrew, B.C. Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
RCMP are seen here making arrests May 17 near Argenta, B.C., north of Nelson. A group had been camped out protesting a logging company’s plans for the area. Photo: Louis Bockner

RCMP make arrests at logging protest north of Nelson

Last Stand West Kootenay was camped out on a road near Argenta

RCMP are seen here making arrests May 17 near Argenta, B.C., north of Nelson. A group had been camped out protesting a logging company’s plans for the area. Photo: Louis Bockner
Nelson’s Thor Smestad (third from the left) is seen here at a tree planting ceremony April 18 at a school in the Brazilian community of Alter do Chão. Smestad and his partners have been working with the Indigenous Borari to replant trees at a local tourism destination. Smestad is joined here by (L-R) the local Chief Neca Borari, his tree-planting partner Diêgo Figueiredo de Siqueira Simplício, three students and two professors. Photo: Submitted

On a beach in the Amazon, a Nelson man is helping restore the rainforest

Thor Smestad and his team are fixing what tourists have ruined in Brazil

Nelson’s Thor Smestad (third from the left) is seen here at a tree planting ceremony April 18 at a school in the Brazilian community of Alter do Chão. Smestad and his partners have been working with the Indigenous Borari to replant trees at a local tourism destination. Smestad is joined here by (L-R) the local Chief Neca Borari, his tree-planting partner Diêgo Figueiredo de Siqueira Simplício, three students and two professors. Photo: Submitted
Activists with Save Old Growth block traffic on the Trans-Canada Highway in Metro Vancouver last month, calling for an end to old-growth logging in British Columbia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Save Old Growth *MANDATORY CREDIT*

B.C. highway blockades over old-growth logging aimed at forcing a dialogue, activists say

Demonstrations have targeted busy commuter routes in Metro Vancouver and southern Vancouver Island

Activists with Save Old Growth block traffic on the Trans-Canada Highway in Metro Vancouver last month, calling for an end to old-growth logging in British Columbia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Save Old Growth *MANDATORY CREDIT*
An adult male gypsy moth. (Government of B.C.)

Lower Mainland locations will see pesticide spraying this spring against lymantria moths

Pesticide permit is for Foray 48B, a non-toxic bacterial agent known as BtK

An adult male gypsy moth. (Government of B.C.)
A defaced road sign of a logging truck is seen near the protest site of Fairy Creek on southern Vancouver Island on Oct. 4, 2021. British Columbia’s forest minister Katrine Conroy says the province is working to implement a strategic review of B.C.’s old-growth management and is working with First Nations and other partners to develop a new long-term strategy. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. announces $19 million in funding to Forests Ministry to fight climate change

$15 million will be used to fertilize about 8,500 hectares of forests to increase growth rates

A defaced road sign of a logging truck is seen near the protest site of Fairy Creek on southern Vancouver Island on Oct. 4, 2021. British Columbia’s forest minister Katrine Conroy says the province is working to implement a strategic review of B.C.’s old-growth management and is working with First Nations and other partners to develop a new long-term strategy. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
B.C. Forests Minister Katrine Conroy describes overhaul of forest policy to redistribute Crown timber cutting rights, B.C. legislature, June 1, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

Save Old Growth denies doxxing B.C. forests minister, but says she should be arrested

Minister Katrine Conroy said protesters have been leaving her and her family harassing voicemails

B.C. Forests Minister Katrine Conroy describes overhaul of forest policy to redistribute Crown timber cutting rights, B.C. legislature, June 1, 2021. (B.C. government photo)
Log truck hauls a load on Likely Road in the Cariboo region. (Angie Mindus/Williams Lake Tribune)

B.C. doubles Indigenous share of Crown forest revenues to 8-10%

First step towards a new formula, forests minister says

Log truck hauls a load on Likely Road in the Cariboo region. (Angie Mindus/Williams Lake Tribune)
Old-growth logging protestor Howard Breen says he was taken to hospital Sunday (April 24), on the 24th day of his hunger strike. (Courtesy of Save Old Growth)

B.C. man says old-growth protests escalating after brief hospitalization

68-year-old Nanaimo resident was on day 24 of his hunger strike Sunday

Old-growth logging protestor Howard Breen says he was taken to hospital Sunday (April 24), on the 24th day of his hunger strike. (Courtesy of Save Old Growth)
“Save Old Growth” protesters block Monday morning commuter traffic at Burnside Road and Douglas Street in Victoria, Jan. 10, 2022. Similar blockades were set up in the Lower Mainland this week. (Victoria News photo)

‘Use the Google,’ B.C. premier tells road-blocking logging protesters

Organizers trying to provoke people, raise money, Horgan says

“Save Old Growth” protesters block Monday morning commuter traffic at Burnside Road and Douglas Street in Victoria, Jan. 10, 2022. Similar blockades were set up in the Lower Mainland this week. (Victoria News photo)