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By Caden Fanshaw

Forestry

‘The common sense is out there’: Stop the Spray founder says forest transition overdue

Jul 4, 2023 | 5:49 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — The BC Forest Practices Board has called for a stark change in BC’s forestry management strategy.

The call to action echoes many of the ideas that James Steidle, local forestry advocate and founder of ‘Stop the Spray’, has said for years.

“The common sense is out there,” said Steidle. “It’s just how do you bring that together into creating political action and creating policy change? And maybe I’ve helped that in some respect, but I mean, all the ingredients are there. It just takes somebody to kind of add it all up together.”

Steidle points out that while many of the trees within Prince George’s city limits are deciduous, a matter of kilometres away lies a vastly different picture of monoculture.

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The special report from the BCFPB calls on BC’s Ministry of Forests to pivot on forest management to be more resilient against catastrophic wildfires.

“Fire prevention and suppression policies over the past century have led to a buildup of fuel in our forests, and have contributed to the loss of natural firebreaks in some areas,” said Keith Atkinson, chair of the Forest Practices Board. “These shifts, combined with forestry policies and climate-change effects greatly increase the risk of catastrophic wildfire. We’re already seeing the consequences this year, with its unusually early start and record-setting wildfires.”

Provincial government data indicates that 45% of public land in BC is at high or extreme threat of wildfire. Catastrophic wildfire impacts human health and safety, housing and infrastructure, wildlife, climate and the economy. The direct cost of suppressing wildfire is rising and now averages $1 billion annually in Western Canada.

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Twitter: @CadenFanshaw

Email: Caden.Fanshaw@pattisonmedia.com