forestry

Two Save Old Growth protesters blocking Highway 1 at the Columbia River Bridge in Revelstoke. The group says it will end its highway protests as of June 29. (Josh Piercey/Revelstoke Review)

Protesters say B.C.’s old growth forest battle will no longer be blocking your commute

Save Old Growth ending campaign of highway protests while maintaining its call for logging ban

Two Save Old Growth protesters blocking Highway 1 at the Columbia River Bridge in Revelstoke. The group says it will end its highway protests as of June 29. (Josh Piercey/Revelstoke Review)
Two Save Old Growth protesters blocking Highway 1 at the Columbia River Bridge in Revelstoke. The group’s co-founder Zain Haq says he’s gone into hiding out of fear of deportation. (Josh Piercey/Revelstoke Review)

Save Old Growth organizer fears his climate activism has made him a target for deportation

Zain Haq, who is in Canada on a study permit, says he’s gone into hiding

  • Jun 20, 2022
Two Save Old Growth protesters blocking Highway 1 at the Columbia River Bridge in Revelstoke. The group’s co-founder Zain Haq says he’s gone into hiding out of fear of deportation. (Josh Piercey/Revelstoke Review)
Save Old Growth demonstrators blocked the northbound Pat Bay Highway early in the morning on June 13. (Courtesy of Save Old Growth/Twitter)

Save Old Growth protester shatters hip during B.C. highway blockade

Campaigners say they will continue actions until old growth logging is halted in B.C.

Save Old Growth demonstrators blocked the northbound Pat Bay Highway early in the morning on June 13. (Courtesy of Save Old Growth/Twitter)
Save Old Growth announced the return of their highway blockades as of June 13 during the 2022 Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. A new group, Clear The Road, which is frsutrated with the regular blockades is now pursuing a class-action lawsuit against Save Old Growth. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. commuters consider lawsuit over logging protest highway blockades by Save Old Growth

Drivers have missed appointments and work shifts, lost out on money, says Clear The Road group

Save Old Growth announced the return of their highway blockades as of June 13 during the 2022 Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. A new group, Clear The Road, which is frsutrated with the regular blockades is now pursuing a class-action lawsuit against Save Old Growth. (Black Press Media file photo)
The remains of a cut block is seen in the Fairy Creek logging area near Port Renfrew, B.C. Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Understanding B.C.’s old-growth logging deferrals by the numbers

Forests minister: deferrals a temporary measure aimed at preventing irreversible biodiversity loss

The remains of a cut block is seen in the Fairy Creek logging area near Port Renfrew, B.C. Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
RCMP are seen here making arrests May 17 near Argenta, B.C., north of Nelson. A group had been camped out protesting a logging company’s plans for the area. Photo: Louis Bockner

RCMP make arrests at logging protest north of Nelson

Last Stand West Kootenay was camped out on a road near Argenta

RCMP are seen here making arrests May 17 near Argenta, B.C., north of Nelson. A group had been camped out protesting a logging company’s plans for the area. Photo: Louis Bockner
Nelson’s Thor Smestad (third from the left) is seen here at a tree planting ceremony April 18 at a school in the Brazilian community of Alter do Chão. Smestad and his partners have been working with the Indigenous Borari to replant trees at a local tourism destination. Smestad is joined here by (L-R) the local Chief Neca Borari, his tree-planting partner Diêgo Figueiredo de Siqueira Simplício, three students and two professors. Photo: Submitted

On a beach in the Amazon, a Nelson man is helping restore the rainforest

Thor Smestad and his team are fixing what tourists have ruined in Brazil

Nelson’s Thor Smestad (third from the left) is seen here at a tree planting ceremony April 18 at a school in the Brazilian community of Alter do Chão. Smestad and his partners have been working with the Indigenous Borari to replant trees at a local tourism destination. Smestad is joined here by (L-R) the local Chief Neca Borari, his tree-planting partner Diêgo Figueiredo de Siqueira Simplício, three students and two professors. Photo: Submitted
Activists with Save Old Growth block traffic on the Trans-Canada Highway in Metro Vancouver last month, calling for an end to old-growth logging in British Columbia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Save Old Growth *MANDATORY CREDIT*

B.C. highway blockades over old-growth logging aimed at forcing a dialogue, activists say

Demonstrations have targeted busy commuter routes in Metro Vancouver and southern Vancouver Island

Activists with Save Old Growth block traffic on the Trans-Canada Highway in Metro Vancouver last month, calling for an end to old-growth logging in British Columbia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Save Old Growth *MANDATORY CREDIT*
An adult male gypsy moth. (Government of B.C.)

Lower Mainland locations will see pesticide spraying this spring against lymantria moths

Pesticide permit is for Foray 48B, a non-toxic bacterial agent known as BtK

An adult male gypsy moth. (Government of B.C.)
A defaced road sign of a logging truck is seen near the protest site of Fairy Creek on southern Vancouver Island on Oct. 4, 2021. British Columbia’s forest minister Katrine Conroy says the province is working to implement a strategic review of B.C.’s old-growth management and is working with First Nations and other partners to develop a new long-term strategy. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. announces $19 million in funding to Forests Ministry to fight climate change

$15 million will be used to fertilize about 8,500 hectares of forests to increase growth rates

A defaced road sign of a logging truck is seen near the protest site of Fairy Creek on southern Vancouver Island on Oct. 4, 2021. British Columbia’s forest minister Katrine Conroy says the province is working to implement a strategic review of B.C.’s old-growth management and is working with First Nations and other partners to develop a new long-term strategy. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
B.C. Forests Minister Katrine Conroy describes overhaul of forest policy to redistribute Crown timber cutting rights, B.C. legislature, June 1, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

Save Old Growth denies doxxing B.C. forests minister, but says she should be arrested

Minister Katrine Conroy said protesters have been leaving her and her family harassing voicemails

B.C. Forests Minister Katrine Conroy describes overhaul of forest policy to redistribute Crown timber cutting rights, B.C. legislature, June 1, 2021. (B.C. government photo)
Log truck hauls a load on Likely Road in the Cariboo region. (Angie Mindus/Williams Lake Tribune)

B.C. doubles Indigenous share of Crown forest revenues to 8-10%

First step towards a new formula, forests minister says

Log truck hauls a load on Likely Road in the Cariboo region. (Angie Mindus/Williams Lake Tribune)
Old-growth logging protestor Howard Breen says he was taken to hospital Sunday (April 24), on the 24th day of his hunger strike. (Courtesy of Save Old Growth)

B.C. man says old-growth protests escalating after brief hospitalization

68-year-old Nanaimo resident was on day 24 of his hunger strike Sunday

Old-growth logging protestor Howard Breen says he was taken to hospital Sunday (April 24), on the 24th day of his hunger strike. (Courtesy of Save Old Growth)
“Save Old Growth” protesters block Monday morning commuter traffic at Burnside Road and Douglas Street in Victoria, Jan. 10, 2022. Similar blockades were set up in the Lower Mainland this week. (Victoria News photo)

‘Use the Google,’ B.C. premier tells road-blocking logging protesters

Organizers trying to provoke people, raise money, Horgan says

“Save Old Growth” protesters block Monday morning commuter traffic at Burnside Road and Douglas Street in Victoria, Jan. 10, 2022. Similar blockades were set up in the Lower Mainland this week. (Victoria News photo)
B.C. announced a new Mass Timber Action Plan April 7, with an initial invesment of $1.2 million into four structures. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. investing in future of mass timber with 4 new structures, long-term action plan

Province looks to be leading producer in carbon-capturing material

B.C. announced a new Mass Timber Action Plan April 7, with an initial invesment of $1.2 million into four structures. (Black Press Media file photo)
The mother tree experiment involves monitoring regrowth after selective harvesting in B.C. forests. (Submitted photo)

Experts are looking into how mother trees can help reduce risk of wildfires in northern B.C.

Network of ‘mother trees’ keeps forests healthy, says UBC researcher

The mother tree experiment involves monitoring regrowth after selective harvesting in B.C. forests. (Submitted photo)
Carl Archie, an elected councillor of the Canim Lake Band, describes impact of forest changes on traditional Indigenous culture of the Cariboo region, April 1, 2022. (B.C. government video)

B.C. old-growth logging deferrals exceed Great Bear Rainforest

Canim Lake Band reserves right to alter its plans

Carl Archie, an elected councillor of the Canim Lake Band, describes impact of forest changes on traditional Indigenous culture of the Cariboo region, April 1, 2022. (B.C. government video)
Suzanne Simard is seen in an undated handout photo. Simard is a University of British Columbia researcher whose study into old-growth communities has changed the discipline and inspired novelists and filmmakers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Penguin Random House, Brendan Ko, *MANDATORY CREDIT*

‘Ignored’: Climate change fight should shift to look at forest policy, scientist says

Up to 4 times as much carbon is released from forestry, wildfires than fossil fuels in B.C.

Suzanne Simard is seen in an undated handout photo. Simard is a University of British Columbia researcher whose study into old-growth communities has changed the discipline and inspired novelists and filmmakers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Penguin Random House, Brendan Ko, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
A couple are dwarfed by old growth tress as they walk in Avatar Grove near Port Renfrew, B.C.,Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. An environmental organization is offering cautious support for an announcement that the largest private landowner in British Columbia will defer 400 square kilometres of old-growth stands from logging for the next 25 years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Environmental group gives guarded support for company’s old-growth forest plan

Mosaic, B.C.’s largest private landowner, will defer logging in 400 square kilometres of old-growth

A couple are dwarfed by old growth tress as they walk in Avatar Grove near Port Renfrew, B.C.,Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. An environmental organization is offering cautious support for an announcement that the largest private landowner in British Columbia will defer 400 square kilometres of old-growth stands from logging for the next 25 years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A participant at a rally for old-growth forest conservation outside the B.C. legislature on Feb. 14.(Jake Romphf/News Staff)

90 scientists ask feds to protect carbon-rich old forests in upcoming climate plan

Canada is home to about 16 per cent of the world’s remaining old-growth forests

A participant at a rally for old-growth forest conservation outside the B.C. legislature on Feb. 14.(Jake Romphf/News Staff)