Forestry News
Suzanne Simard: The destruction of the last old growth forests has to stop
June 12, 2021
UBC professor of forest ecology Suzanne Simard’s work helped to inspire Avatar. Her memoir, In Search of the Mother Tree, is set to become a Hollywood film with Amy Adams playing Simard. The “mother tree” is the tree in ancient forests that communicates with and helps to supply nutrients (including carbon) to surrounding trees via a network of fungi.
Time lapse map shows the loss of ancient forests on Vancouver Island
May 4, 2017
A stunning new animated map of logging on Vancouver Island was released today by well-known BC environmentalist Vicky Husband. The map displays 150 years of logging in 30 seconds, and provides important perspective to public debate over logging and the escalation of raw log exports from the province.
BC’s farmlands open to fracking & other development? Stop Bill 24
March 30, 2014
The BC Government is about to pass a bill – Bill 24 – that will allow industrial development through the vast proportion of that farmland. That development would include fracking, mining, diversion of water for oil and gas, and other invasive industrial activities. We must stop Bill 24 from becoming law.
Vancouver Island Ancient Forests
May 10, 2013
In only 60 years, forest companies have clearcut the vast bulk of Vancouver Island’s ancient forest. Clayoquot Sound (lime green bit near bottom left of right-hand map) is the only significant tall old growth forest remaining. Meanwhile export of raw (non value-added) logs has risen, while job numbers have fallen.
Fifteen Things Worth Doing
May 6, 2013
Commons BC—comprised of a volunteer group of scientists, land use and policy experts and citizens—proposes the following course of action for the next BC government as it sets out to manage BC’s Crown lands—that is, 94% of the province.
“Economic Democracy” by the legendary Bob Williams
March 14, 2013
Superb, wide-ranging talk on “Economic Democracy” by the legendary Bob Williams. Worth watching! And it is worth looking at this definition of the economics term “rent seeking.” In short, rent seeking is the effort to obtain benefits for oneself through the political arena.
Bill 8 defeated
March 12, 2013
We Won! Privatization of BC’s public forestlands through Bill 8 defeated. Section 24 of Bill 8, the section that would have permitted rollover from Timber Supply Area to Tree Farm License at a minister’s discretion, was deleted before Bill 8 was tabled, as we requested.
Bill 8 – Mass Virtual Privatization of BC’s forests
March 11, 2013
WE WON! See statement here. To all who helped spread the word, congratulations. The offending Section 24 was removed from Bill 8 before it went forward in the Legislature. More to come in later post. Thanks again! You all did a great job.
Crown and Private Lands in British Columbia
March 5, 2013
94% of BC is “Crown” or “public” lands. Resource corporations and other users gain rights to use public lands through a variety of processes. Please note that the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that First Nations Title co-exists with Crown Title.
