Wildfire Season Starts in BC

Wildfire season is upon us again in BC. Weather forecasters are calling for a warm, dry summer overall.

Press release from BC government on recent wildfire activity in the Prince George area.


WILDFIRES RESULT OF CARELESSNESS AND DRY CONDITIONS

PRINCE GEORGE – Since April 1, the Prince George Fire Centre has responded to 51 wildfires, all of which have been human-caused and therefore considered preventable.

The fires have burned over 464 hectares, with the largest of the fires estimated at 170 hectares in size. Compared to this time last year, there had been only two fires that had burned one hectare.

To ensure you are not the cause of a wildfire, please take the following precautions when conducting any sort of open burning, including campfires:

· Only burn in appropriate conditions. Never burn when it is windy. Gusty winds can carry embers to other combustible materials and start new fires.

· Have enough water and hand tools nearby to control your fire, keeping in mind that winds can materialize quickly, even on a seemingly calm day.

· Ensure that all other combustible materials are cleared well away from the fire.

· Never leave your fire unattended at any time. Before leaving an area, douse the ashes with enough water that they are cold to the touch.

· If you are planning to do any open burning, obtain a burn registration number ahead of time by calling 1-888 797-1717.

The Prince George Fire Centre’s jurisdiction stretches from the Yukon and Northwest Territories to Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, the Cottonwood River and Robson Valley in the south, and from the Alberta border west to the Skeena Mountains.

To report a wildfire or unattended campfire call 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on most cellular networks.

For more information on open fire restrictions or for updates on current wildfire activity, visit www.bcwildfire.ca.

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Forestry woes in China

Canada isn't the only country in the world suffering from problems in the forest industry.

The past winter's storms in China that you probably saw on tv have cost their forestry sector 57.3 billion yuan ($8.01 billion) in losses.

The worst winter in five decades in some areas damaged 20.86 million hectares of forests, one tenth of the total, setting back efforts to meet a national 20-percent forest coverage target by 2020, according to the administration.

Link to article:

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-02/19/content_6466875.htm

Mining exploration in Ontario forests

Article in the Feb 13 Toronto Star - Mining threatens northern forests, activists say

The price for many metals has been going up for a few years, which has increased exploration in Canada for mineral properties. Now, some groups are concerned about the impact of this exploration on forests.

The inside joke in forestry has always been that if you are a forest company, you are held to very high standards in regards to your impact on the environment, and that all logged areas must be reforested. But with mining, you can build roads and explore and not be held to the same standards. I don't know how true this is, but that is the thought out there.

From what I've read, environmental groups seem to be focusing less on forest companies these days, and more on oil and metals exploration and production. In a way this makes sense. If you were in one of these groups, would you chase the company who cuts down a forest and makes sure it's stocked with trees again through planting and natural regeneration, or the company that digs a big hole in the ground?

Highlights of the article include:

The group ForestEthics said it's concerned that the opening in a few weeks of the province's first diamond mine, De Beers Canada's Victor mine, will open the floodgates to overdevelopment in the north and threaten the environment.

An average of almost 400 mining claims have been staked in each of the last four months in the northern boreal forest, and Gillian McEachern of ForestEthics said she's concerned it's just the start of a growing trend of prospectors running rampant in search of precious metals and minerals.

Michael Gravelle, the minister of northern development and mines, said so many claims are being staked across the province because the mineral sector is currently booming. He said it represents a great opportunity for the province, but added the government is ensuring environmental and community interests are addressed. Gravelle said the claim-staking process has a very small effect on the environment and only grants companies temporary use of Crown land.

Link to article:

http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/303351

BC mountain caribou recovery plan released

BC plan includes spending 3 million dollars, killing predators, and protecting 2.2 million hectares of land. There are currently about 1,900 mountain caribou in 12 B.C. herds. It will be interesting to watch this plan unfold, because nothing has ever been attempted like this in BC.

Full story:

http://www.cbc.ca/cp/science/071016/g10169A.html

Global call for community Forestry

Participants attending an international
community forestry workshop organized by the Canadian Environmental Network
(RCEN) will be calling on global forest leaders to take action on community
forestry-a novel form of forest management and tenure which grants local
peoples rights over the management of local forest resources.

BC has been warming to the idea of community forests in the past few years, with ones established in places like Kaslo, Revelstoke and possibly Nakusp. There's definitely a place for community forests in the forest tenure system, although sometimes people within communities have a difference of opinion on how forests should be managed.

Full story:

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2007/28/c6444.html

Low food sources for Bears

Drought impacts on berry crops, fires affecting habitat, human development, all are playing a role this year in a lack of food for bears prior to hibernation. The same situation in the US west applies to many areas in BC.

Pushed from their homelands by a drought and pulled by the scent of human food, black bears across western US states are breaking into homes and tearing up garbage cans in a desperate search for nourishment ahead of hibernation.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070915/sc_afp/environmentuswildlifebears

New city trees suffer from drought

It was a tough summer for the City of Toronto. The city's newly planted trees along roads and sidewalks were seen to suffer from lack of rain and watering. I imagine it was the same for trees planted in cutblocks in parts of Canada that had a long, hot summer, like the Southern Interior of BC.

See full story here:
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/254784

Will the forest workers return?

Campbell River news reports that some skilled forest workers may not be returning to their jobs after the strike.

This makes sense in a hot economy. If you set your workers free into the job marketplace these days, can you really expect all of them to return? Mills and the forests are full of skilled management, trades people, truck drivers, and strong workers. Most have skills that are transferable elsewhere, into jobs that may be more stable and pay a similar wage. Construction is booming for the Olympics. Mining and Oil will be strong into the forseeable future. Families have to eat and bills need to be paid. So when the strike is settled and the workers are called back, will there be enough of them to keep things runnings?

But while the union and forestry companies are willing to wait to see who blinks first, skilled forestry workers are not. They’re leaving the coast to find jobs in the Interior logging industry or in the oil and gas industry in northern B.C. and Alberta.

http://www.campbellrivermirror.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=6&cat=23&id=1059442&more=0

Changing role of Forest Industry in Port Alberni

Interesting article on Port Alberni describing changing times for forestry. The influence of the forest industry seems to be moving down while other areas are picking up. Is this reflective of other areas on the coast? Forestry will always play a part in the economy, but other influences are moving ahead in BC like never before, such as technology, tourism, retirement, and people's desire for a less hectic lifestyle.

Two years ago, Mayor Ken McRae believed that if only a company with deep pockets would invest in a new small-log sawmill, the town's forestry future could continue.

Today, he sees the rising economic clout of first nations, tourism and the provincewide construction boom as playing a larger role. The valley's relatively low housing prices have made it an attractive alternative to higher-priced real estate on the Island's East Coast. New construction is booming.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=2148f121-366f-4a43-b31e-d4da7f97646a&k=42515

Forest fires near Nelson BC

Smoke could be seen over the mountains to the north of Nelson BC in the afternoon on friday. From what I've heard there are two or more fires burning in areas near Nelson and Kaslo. Schroeder Creek and Sitkum Creek were two locations named. There wasn't really any smoke in Nelson, but tomorrow could be different. Hot weather is in the forecast for the next week at least. When you drive into Nelson from any direction you can see the dry, dead, red foliage of pine trees in the surrounding mountains. The conditions are almost perfect for forest fire activity. A forest fire fighter was interviewed on the news tonight, and he mentioned how difficult it was to fight fire in dead pine stands. The dry standing timber burns too hot and fast, making control efforts that much harder.

No cellphones in Slocan Valley

Canadian valley aims to keep cell phone-free quiet

Officials in a rural valley in British Columbia hope that keeping out cell phones will help attract residents and tourists who want to escape to the quiet of nature.

We are so used to cellphones now we expect that cell coverage will only keep increasing. Interesting to see a place (close to Nelson, BC) where the residents want to keep cellphones out. I wonder if all the residents feel the same way?

Link to story:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070723/wr_nm/cellphones_dc_1

Extreme forest fire risk in southern BC

The forest fire hazard is at or close to extreme in southern BC, at least around Nelson where I live. We've had 30+ degree days for over a week now, and forests must be well dried out. If you look at the mountains from anywhere in Nelson, you can see the bright red trees that are dead from mountain pine beetle or douglas-fir beetle. I have some photos that I will be posting here in the next week that shows the red clusters on the hillsides. I haven't seen the news today to know if there are any forest fires in the area, didn't seem like there was any smoke outside today. Tomorrow there is thunder/lightning in the forecast, and yesterday evening a thunderstorm rolled through that didn't carry much rain. Unless we are real lucky or get a change in weather, the area is unfortunately ripe for forest fire activity.

Giant badgers new threat in Iraq

Interesting story on huge badgers in an Iraqi port city that walk the streets at night. Maybe there is some cellphone footage on youtube.

The Iraqi port city of Basra, already prey to a nasty turf war between rival militia factions, has now been gripped by a new fear - a giant badger stalking the streets by night.

Local farmers have caught and killed several of the beasts, but this has done nothing to dispel rumours of a bear-like monster that eats humans and was allegedly released into the area by British forces to spread panic.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/iraqunrestanimal

Lightning in BC

This article talks about the dangers of getting hit by lightning in some BC hotspots, but it also made me think of the possibility of starting forest fires.

Prince George, the Arrow Lakes and northeastern B.C. are the three areas of the province mostly likely to be hit by lightning, a meteorologist warned a week after a teenager survived a strike in one of these hot zones.

Link to story:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/07/05/bc-lightning.html

Lake Tahoe Wildfires

Some facts on this fire:

- covers 12.5 square km
- 225 buildings or homes destroyed, 500 more at risk
- over 1,000 people evacuated
- winds over 50 km/hr played a large part in the fire's spread
- almost 2,000 people working on containing the fire

They expect to have the fire contained by about July 3. This is a reminder what can happen under the wrong conditions when you have homes and structures in forested areas.

Stats from Bloomberg:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=at2Pyi.yep4c&refer=us

Can Vancouver Island Forestry Workers Avoid Shutdown?

Union negotiators are still at four different bargaining tables trying to get a decent deal for their members without a strike or lockout.

Talks involve TimberWest, Island Timberlands, Interfor and Forest Industrial Relations.

Link to article:

http://www.westcoaster.ca/modules/AMS/article.php?storyid=2286

Usable logs cut and left to rot?

"Unconscionably high" volumes of usable logs are being left to rot in coastal forests, costing thousands of jobs and releasing carbon back into the atmosphere, according to a Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives report released Thursday.

The report, by resource policy analyst Ben Parfitt, says that during the last two years 6.2 million cubic metres of timber was cut down but not hauled out of coastal forests -- enough material to fill 200,000 logging trucks.

Link to article:

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=39ab6ec6-46e3-42f8-9e06-fe1b337252d0

Virus in Forestry Manufacturing

Very interesting article describing a poor outlook for forestry manufacturing in BC.

The forestry sector in Canada has been especially hard hit. Mills are being knocked down like ten pins in Northern Ontario, Quebec and elsewhere. And now it is BC’s turn. Forestry towns in the province like Port Alberni, Terrace and others, are already suffering the effects.

Link to story:
http://www.opinion250.com/blog/view/6034/7/a+virus+in+forestry+manufacturing

Flood watch still on for BC

The problem is mainly in the North, but the warm weather we've had over the last week (melting snowpacks), along with expected rains starting Monday, are renewing fears of rising rivers.

the Upper Fraser, the Bulkley and the Skeena rivers will be above local flood stages soon. The Upper Fraser River in the Prince George region is expected to hit flood level by Sunday or Monday. It could stay there for a week or more.

Link to story:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/06/02/bc-flooding.html

Forest worker rescued by military helicopter on Coast

This man is lucky to be alive, and not seriously injured.

The wrong part of a tree came down for a 40 year old logger on Nelson Island this week, taking him with it for a 60 to 80 foot drop.

Link to story:
http://www.comoxvalleyrecord.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=8&cat=23&id=996478&more=0