Thoughts on BC Politics and More

As the author of a book on deforestation in Canada, I feel I have some qualification to comment on recent claims made by an alliance of environmental groups that the federal government is “spinning” the truth on the subject. Unfortunately, there is widespread public (and media) confusion about what deforestation is and isn’t. From a dictionary point of view, it would be easy to conclude that deforestation is simply about removing trees, and that reforestation is about growing them back again. That’s what the commonly displayed images all show: a stark clear-cut, or a young green spruce stretching skyward. But for people whose job it is to track deforestation and to do something about it, it’s a lot more complicated than that ... CLICK HERE for the full story

In many pages of this blog I urge, and encourage, the provincial government to protect, nurture and enhance ecosystems. I regularly stand in the legislature and address the habitat degradation and wildlife extinctions currently happening in British Columbia. This was brought home for us this holiday season. Silas got a new board game called Forestation . It's a lot of fun! This game encourages players to take the health and well-being of a forest into their own hands. For sixteen rounds, broken into four seasons and four years, players are rewarded for making good and sustainable decisions about the landscape they are managing. The goal is to plant diverse forests, attract and keep prey and predator species while maintaining a balance by ensuring that all the various animals have their needs met. Good landscape managers also build nature houses to encourage visitors which generates much needed revenue. They also hire park wardens and wildlife o...