The wildfire that scorched Canada’s oilsands city of Fort McMurray, endangered lives, and burned 1,929 homes provoked hardly a murmur in news stories about whether climate change was a factor in the blaze, a Tyee analysis has found. A search of Google News from the first two weeks of the crisis for “Fort McMurray” and…
There is more energy than ever inside the simple tree. Humans have burned wood for heat, hewn it for shelter, carved it for tools since the dawn of species existence, but the world is only beginning to understand all the things a tree can do. The oldest of forestry frontiers is still the newest of…
There are still three active fires burning in the northeast, while the risk for more fires ranges from low to moderate across most of the region. The three active fires have been burning for more than a week, but the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says its fire fighters have brought all of them…
The Fort McMurray wildfire is no longer growing. On Monday morning, the province announced it had updated its condition to “being held.” However, this does not mean the fire is under control. Wildfire information officer Lynn Daina said that “being held” means that, with current weather conditions and resources, the flames were not expected to grow past expected boundaries….
From May 16-20, our community hosted nearly 400 biologists, policy-makers, First Nations, environmentalists, forestry, oil and gas interests to discuss the most recent scientific findings on the decline of woodland caribou across Canada. An evening, organized by the Thunder Bay Field Naturalists, was dedicated to sharing information with the general public. At that session, Paul…
The Forest Practices Board will examine the activities of the BC Timber Sales (BCTS) program and timber sale licence holders in the Vanderhoof Resource District, during the week of June 20, 2016. The auditors will examine all operational planning, harvesting, road, silviculture and wildfire protection practices for compliance with the Forest and Range Practices Act…
The province says it will protect an additional 1.8 million hectares of woodland caribou range in northern Alberta and work to increase populations in central Alberta — in what one conservation group is calling a “boreal bonanza and foothills fiasco.” On Wednesday, Environment and Parks Minister Shannon Phillips said the province is moving forward with caribou protection plans for…
The Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (CCFM) met today in Dawson City, Yukon to renew its commitment to key challenges and opportunities for Canada’s forests and forest sector. During their meeting chaired by the Government of Yukon, the Council agreed to renew the Canadian Wildland Fire Strategy, and discussed the ways in which the forest…
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says she’s disturbed 300 South African firefighters working the blaze near Fort McMurray are receiving an allowance of only $15 a day, vowing that they’ll be paid what the province’s labour laws require. After less than a week on the job, the 300 firefighters went on strike Wednesday in a pay…
Over 3.3 million hectares of boreal forest straddling the Ontario-Manitoba boundary could be designated a world heritage site by the United Nations in July. The proposed Pimachiowin Aski site encompasses land surrounding Pikangikum First Nation and stretches as far west as Lake Winnipeg. The recognition would represent “a very important boreal cultural landscape,” project co-ordinator…