2015 is shaping up to be one of B.C.’s most devastating forest fire years on record, with the government already spending more than $97 million, far in excess of its annual $63 million forest-fire-fighting budget. The active fire count stands at more than 180 at time of writing, and the B.C. government expects 30 new…
It looks like something from a computer game, but this church made out of trees is very much real. The picturesque ‘Tree Church’ was built (er… grown?) by Barry Cox in New Zealand. Unsurprisingly couples are stepping over each other for a chance to get married in the magical church, which can sit 100 people. Barry…
Natural resource ministers across Canada have agreed to challenge environmental campaigns that target the forestry industry. Ontario’s Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, Bill Mauro hosted Friday’s Canadian Council of Forest Ministers meeting in Thunder Bay. He said all provincial and territorial ministers were unanimous in their resolve to promote the sustainability of Canadian forestry….
The city is poised on the threshold of yet another pioneering effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the community. Utilizing biomass from locally collected wood waste, the city’s electrical utility is investigating a low carbon alternative to heating with natural gas, and fleshing out a plausible business case for constructing a plant to produce…
Wildfire numbers: Canadian Armed Forces members on the ground, fighting fires: 360 Evacuees staying in Cold Lake, Alta.: 758 Kilometres to drive from La Ronge, to Prince Albert, to Cold Lake: 654 Total evacuees receiving support from Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services: 9,005 Active fires burning: 122 Year-to-date fires: 611 Total number of fires in 2014: 220 Fires…
A Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) conference this fall will focus on the province’s forestry-connected businesses, according to the organization. NEIA leadership has said Newleef 2015 — the annual event themed around the “green economy” — will be dedicated to discussion around opportunities for growth in the forestry sector. “The forestry sector does not…
Robert Brooks has burnt wood to heat his home in Mt. William for 13 years now, but has never had such a hard time getting a load of full-length wood as he has this year. Ordinarily he gets it in April so it’s good and dry. This year he called one person and was told…
It’s another weekend, another 120 new fires for British Columbia – bringing the total number of active blazes in the province to 250. An estimated total of 283,430 hectares have burned across the province since April, according to BC Wildfire Services – an area nearly the size of Metro Vancouver. Cooler temperatures and wetter weather…
A UBC Forestry expert says BC’s Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic may be partly to blame for the tough wildfire season. Speaking on the Jill Bennett Show, Lori Daniels says the infestation helped create the perfect conditions for intense fires. “Some of the forest fires we see burning up in the Cariboo, and up in the…
Resolute Forest Products Inc. and the two other forestry companies working in Quebec’s North Shore region say the entire industry there will soon disappear if the provincial government doesn’t increase subsidies to reflect the higher cost of producing in the area. On Monday, Resolute, Arbec Forest Products and Boisaco removed their equipment from logging areas…