A “remarkably quiet fire season” in Yukon so far this year may be due in part to the Fort McMurray fires, said fire information officer George Maratos. He says the number of human-caused fires in Yukon is down. “I think it was just more of an awareness thing, where people saw the devastation [in Fort McMurray] and…
Look up. Way up. And gaze upon the hidden treasures at Cottonwood Island Park where carver Elmer Gunderson has bestowed upon the bark of a few select trees images of a host of characters and wee fairy houses for the whimsical enjoyment of all who pass. It’s crossed the mind of many a tree lover…
Every Wednesday, climate journalist Tyler Hamilton gathers up the latest Ontario climate news and cutting-edge research on how climate change is shaping the world. It’s a recurring theme in our weekly roundup, but it’s difficult to talk about climate change during the summer without some mention of wildfires. And on that front, Alberta has suffered…
Preemptive work done in the Lillooet area proved effective in June when wildfire struck. Two fires started on June 30 in the area, but never got very intense, thanks to the fuel reduction efforts of local municipalities, First Nations groups and the B.C. Wildfire Service, according to a release from the B.C. Wildfire Service. The…
One year ago, the wildfire situation in the region was significantly different than it is this year, and that’s good news. This time last year, 219 fires had been sparked in the Kamloops Fire Centre, scorching a total of 3,600 hectares. This year, according to fire information officer Max Birkner, there have been 92 fires…
When Pritzker Prize–winning architect Shigeru Ban was commissioned to build his first skyscraper in Canada, many predicted the structure would be akin to his other designs around the world: bold and innovative. Today, the Japanese architect unveiled his plans, and it appears he has, indeed, stayed true to form. Although Ban and Vancouver-based developer PortLiving…
Science and research are key to innovation and environmental sustainability in the natural resource sectors. The Government of Canada is making strategic investments in scientific research infrastructure to support the competitiveness of Canada’s natural resources industries, create jobs and to support Canada’s transition to a low-carbon economy. An investment of $3.3 million at the Laurentian…
Hopes of avoiding a new round of U.S. duties on imported softwood lumber are fading for companies like EACOM Timber Corporation which owns sawmills in Timmins and Gogama. “The American market is critical for us … the majority of our shipments are destined to the U.S.,” said Christine Leduc, EACOM’s director of public affairs. “If…
Over the last decade, fires have burned through some 15,500 square kilometres of B.C.’s forests and charred some 38 million cubic metres worth of trees from within the designated timber-harvesting land base, according to figures from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. In any given year losses to forest fires can swing from negligible to substantial. For example,…
A new forest management plan aimed at protecting caribou will prevent the logging of 223,000 hectares of forest for 20 years.The plan, which was recently approved by the provincial Ministry of the Environment, covers part of the Pasquia Porcupine Forest Management Area, a two-million-hectare area with the town of Hudson Bay at its centre, said Gord Vaadeland of the…