Two videos on use of drones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjmF4m74yss and LiDAR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVctLpbM5NY of interest to teachers and students have been added to forest stewardship planning in Forest sector video-description links
Category Archives: 2013-2020 Articles and Resources
Wildfire adaptation action plan-Government short sighted
The recently released Government’s Action Plan: Responding to wildfire and flood risks https://tinyurl.com/ycukqovc focuses on reducing impacts and mitigation of expected future wildfires and floods and recovery from the recent events. Although these are welcomed community assistance actions, it does not take action to strategically reduce the extent of the wildfires and floods across landscapes other than in areas immediately around communities. Bill Bourgeois comments on what is wrong with this scenario and what is needed in Wildfire adaptation-Government short sighted.
Wildfire adaptation-actions and leadership required
Bill Bourgeois outlines the background and action needed Integrated Forest Management Adaptation Plan.
BC IS BURNING AGAIN! It is time to act on treating BC forests so that they can adapt to the increased frequency and magnitude of wildfires caused by climate change. Numerous studies and recommendations have been provided over the last 15 years. There is general consensus among wildfire experts regarding what actions are required. Communities, First Nations and forest resource managers are calling for action. In cases where adaptation is needed regarding catastrophic events, Governments tend to not follow through on implementation. The BC Government needs to deviate from the norm and take a leadership role on this issue. It must go beyond more discussions and creation of pilots and advisory bodies. The wildfire adaptation issue can be a stimulus in moving toward community resiliency and economic development. We have the technology, we have the knowledge on how to move forward in this regard and we have the willingness of the forest affected Partners. Premier Horgan and Minister Donaldson, BC needs adequate resourcing and real, on-the-ground action! Show us the leadership.
Utilize logging residue-build community resiliency
A Letter to Minister Donaldson re community diversification was sent identifying the opportunity to utilize logging residue rather than burn it. At the same time increasing community economic development and diversification and reducing GHG emissions.
Professional Reliance Review-Opinion
Bill Bourgeois’ opinion (Professional Reliance Review-Independent Oversight-Opinion) is the Professional Reliance Review recommendation to create an Office of Professional Regulation and Oversight is overly bureaucratic, unnecessary and does not guarantee to address the objectives of both increased accountability and transparency and improve forest management. A more responsible approach is suggested involving Government providing leadership in addressing the issue.
Independent report on wildfires and floods falls short
The independent review of the 2017 wildfires and floods falls short when it comes to recommendations to adapt to the expected more frequent events. An assessment of the recommendations is provided in BC review of Govt responses to 2017 flood and wildfire events.
Wood and Human Health Connection
UBC and FPInnovations has established a link between wood and human health https://tinyurl.com/y6wxe5us In the study the presence of visual wood surfaces in a room lowered sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation. The SNS is responsible for physiological stress responses in humans. This result opens the door to a myriad of stress-related health benefits that the presence of wood may afford in the built environment. The application of wood to promote health indoors is a new tool for practitioners of evidence-based design.
Multi-class NFW field trips for K-7 classes
The NFW-BC Coalition is encouraging foresters and teachers to hold multi-class field trips as a NFW event to educate K-7 students about forests, forestry and the forest environment. These events focus on a day with multiple elementary classes visiting stops along a trail through the forest to learn about various topics. Examples posted on www.bcnfw.ca resources section.
Teachers interested in class participation should contact info@bcnfw.ca
Tenure reform discussion
The need for tenure reform was raised in several TLA Convention panel presentations. Bill Bourgeois provides his argument why tenure reform is unlikely to occur in the near future Tenure reform-Challenges
Minister Donaldson on BC forest vision and goals
Comment-Bill Bourgeois
I identified to Minister Donaldson the need for a legally binding BC vision and goals Letter to Minister Donaldson re vision-goals Although he is supportive of a vision, goals and objectives Letter to Minister Donaldson re vision-goals-response he did not go far enough in supporting the legalization of the statements. As mention in a previous post SFM-what needs to be done to demonstrate status it is nice to have a vision and goals but if these are not reflected in the strategic plans of management units and other decisions, they are just “feel good” statements. Throughout the past three decades this has been the case, probably because the statements are not legally binding and thus not a Ministry or industry requirement to ensure the strategic plans (e.g., Forest Stewardship Plans-FSP) are measured against the statements. Consequently, the vision statements have seldom been used in operations or forest management planning decision-making. We need to continue to push for legalization of the statements as part of the SFM infrastructure.