forestry Archives

Fairy Creek blockades must go, B.C. Supreme Court rules

After eight months of camping out to protect old-growth forests from logging, Fairy Creek activists have been told their blockades must go. In its decision Thursday morning, the B.C. Supreme Court stated logging activities by Teal Jones Group are completely legal, and by denying access to cutblocks, activists are in fact the ones engaging in…

The Forest Sector & Rural Communities

BC Rural Centre Executive Director Gordon Borgstrom and BC Community Forest Association Executive Director Jennifer Gunter discuss trends, challenges, and opportunities of importance to forestry-dependent rural BC communities and First Nations in this presentation. For more on forestry issues, visit our Forestry page.

BCRC Submission to the BC Provincial Government’s Interior Forestry Revitalization Engagement Process

The most recent downturn in the forest sector is creating significant challenges once again for many rural communities and families. Unfortunately, these most recent layoffs and closures add to an over twenty-five year trend of decline in employment in the provincial forest sector. Technological change, corporate consolidation, and the advent of the so-called “super-mill” has…

Common Interests, Common Purpose

Splatsin First Nation councillor George William and Lumby mayor Kevin Acton discuss how their respective communities came together to create the Monashee Community Forest — and in the process began to build a greater awareness of the similarities between the First Nation and village, and explore further opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation and collaboration.

B.C. Premier Says Wood To Be Used In Two Provincial Megaprojects

B.C.Premier John Horgan announced the provincial government is moving to help revive the provincial forest industry by requiring the use of engineered wood on the new St. Paul’s Hospital and the upgrade to the Royal B.C. Museum, in a speech at the Council of Forest Industries convention in Vancouver on April 5th, as covered in this…

Valemount Sawmiller Expands

Perseverance has paid off for sawmiller Jason Alexander, with his cedar operation in Valemount, BC. A new wood supply agreement allows him to expands his operation and employ more local people. For more on this topic, visit our Forestry page. The BC Community Forest Association is also an excellent source of information.

Sustainable Forestry: the Swedish Model

Are there lessons to be learned from the Swedish approach to sustainable forestry?

Deep Roots 2 — the Harrop-Procter Community Forest Story

Of the over 50 community forests in British Columbia, only one — in tiny Harrop-Procter, located on the rugged eastern shore of Kootenay Lake’s West Arm — has its own mill. With its emphasis on creating local employment and its commitment to ecosystem-based forestry, Harrop-Procter Community Forest stands as one of Canada’s most interesting —…

BC Forestry Trade Mission Heads to Asia

More than 40 senior forest sector representatives are heading to Asia from Dec. 5 to 14, 2018, to grow markets for B.C. wood products. They will explore opportunities and strengthen relationships in China, Japan and South Korea — three of B.C.’s largest markets for wood products. “Our government is committed to creating B.C. jobs by…

Government Takes Action on Abbott/Chapman Report

The Government of BC has released its action plan in response to the government-commissioned, independent Abbott/Chapman report on the unprecedented 2017 wildfire and flood seasons in British Columbia. The plan outlines actions taken and underway, and identifies next steps to address the report’s 108 recommendations. It also considers recommendations from other recent reports, such as…