David Suzuki on the Site C dam, population, power and asking critical questions.

David Suzuki is liberated since he resigned from the board of his non-profit. He is speaking his mind and his heart at every opportunity. With all the political bafflegab, it's a pleasure to hear straight talk, based on some real understanding and experience. In this case, he focuses on the Site C dam in northern British Columbia as an example of excess.

We've disconnected ourselves from the real economy and elevated the market as an object of worship. "What's an economy for?" "Are there no limits?"

Coastal first nations are 100% against the Enbridge pipeline. "There are things more important than money." We're out of touch with the planet, largely because of the shift to city life.

More Wild Cariboo Backyard Plants

I've done more work on the Wild Cariboo backyard plants page and improving it, including the addition of nine new photos.

Corrections, comments etc. very helpful and very welcome.

Here's a bit of a perspective on at least part of the land on which these plants grow:

Beetle-killed trees probably less flammable than green trees

NASA Satellites Reveal Surprising Connection Between Beetle Attacks, Wildfire
The results may seem at first counterintuitive, but make sense when considered more carefully. First, while green needles on trees appear to be more lush and harder to burn, they contain high levels very flammable volatile oils. When the needles die, those flammable oils begin to break down. As a result, depending on the weather conditions, dead needles may not be more likely to catch and sustain a fire than live needles.

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For some years Dave Neads has been pushing this point. Perhaps it takes an authority like NASA to get past the sceptics and vested interests. In 2004, in his series, The Other Side of the Story, he wrote:

On the bright side, once the trees are dead, they actually are less of a fire hazard than the green tree that used to stand so prettily in your garden. This is because all those oils and turpentines have left the tree needles, and they are actually not as prone to explosive crown fires as green trees.

One they reach the gray stage, they are very low risk for naturally occurring fires, but once felled, these naturally air dried trees make good firewood, so there may be a bonus if you have several of them on your property.

From Backyard Beetles by Dave Neads

Other posts by Dave Neads:

• The pine beetle aftermath requires a fundamental culture change
• Perspective on the Lodgepole Pine
• Factory fences: aliens in the Chilcotin

Dave's personal blog: Chilcotin Ark

BC Government has lost its environmental credibility

Bob Peart, a member of the B.C. Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy from 1989-1992, reviews the many ways in which the BC government has alienated those concerned about support and protection for BC's natural environment.

A war in the woods appears to be heating up again in British Columbia to the point that a B.C. cabinet minister was caught calling a group of environmentalists eco-fascists for being critical of his position on the creation of a park in the Flathead Valley.

 The list is long and pretty damning.

British Columbia's government is cancelling funding for monitoring and updating land-use plans that took a decade of hard work to put in place; eliminating research budgets in the Ministry of Forests and Range, thereby deregulating forestry standards and moving to a system of private forestry practices; refusing to increase the number of conservation officers to a level required to protect our fish and wildlife; and failing to renew funding for valuable projects such as Biodiversity B.C., which contribute to environmental policy decisions.

Provincial policy isn't safeguarding our abundant natural resources

The only inland temperate rainforest in the world

An ancient interior BC cedar forest is getting attention and, fortunately, also some extra care. This may include government protection.

More on this story

Birds From a Cariboo Deck No.8: Evening Grosbeak

Male

Female

Those of you living in Douglas fir territory might have noticed flocks of these birds from time to time, especially if you have a feeder with good supply of black sunflower seeds. Apparently they tend to follow the outbreaks of spruce budworm (right). These are the worms that descend from the higher branches on a thread of silk, until they land on lower branches where they begin to feed on the tender shoots and buds of their host; or on bare ground, where they usually die. The grosbeaks are no doubt one of an array of natural controls and they seem to enjoy chasing the moths too.

Spruce Budworm

For more on Cariboo birds, see my Birds from a Cariboo Deck

Birch syrup is healthier and fetches a very good price

It's that time of year again: the sap is rising - the sugaring season is upon us.

Not here, you say? You were thinking maple, I presume . . . Think again . . . Try birch.

Three of the country's 11 birch syrup producers are in BC. And, according to my source, an article in today's Province, a 250ml bottle sells for $22 - when you can get it. Demand far exceeds supply. Here's a reason to be careful what we do with the living trees amidst the dead pines "everyone" seems so keen to take out. And, of course this little value-added enterprise leaves the trees alive and good for another season.

As if that's not enough, unlike maple syrup which is largely sucrose, birch syrup is comprised largely of the healthier fructose and glucose.

If I've got you thinking, there's lots more in the article in The Province, including instructions on how to make the syrup.

If you give it a try, some back here and tell us all about it.

Upcoming CBC Week-long Series on Pine Beetle

From a press release issued by the Cariboo Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition:

CBC Radio (Almanac) is producing a week-long series of shows on the beetle issue running from Mon. Jan. 7 through Friday, Jan. 11. The shows should be broadcast on your local CBC station. A community forum will be held on Wednesday, January 9 at the Williams Lake Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex - Gibraltar Room, 7pm - 9pm, moderated by Mark Forsythe (host of Almanac).

If at all possible, it would be helpful if you could attend this event or take part in the call-in session. The purpose of your participation is to bring balance to the audience and to present any relevant, accurate information to the forum from your community. Here is the line-up for the week as supplied by CBC.

Monday, January 7
Impact of the Pine Beetle...We'll be speaking to a forester who's struggling in seeing a future for himself and his family in BC's forestry industry. We'll also speak with an economist about what impact the pine beetle is having on the BC economy and where he sees things need to change. Also why the Lower Mainland should care about what's happening in the interior.

Tuesday, January 8
The most up to date research in the Pine Beetle and what's happening now. We'll speak to some researchers about shelf life of Beetle kill wood.

Wednesday, January 9
An open-line segment of the show (1pm to 2pm). What is the plan and is it working? Debate over Pine Beetle Forest Management. We'll get a First Nations perspective and environmental perspective as well.
Evening (7pm to 9pm) Williams Lake Forum at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex in the Gibraltar Room. This forum will be taped and will air on Friday's show. Focus: helping communities and how we're going to move forward...what is the plan?

Thursday, January 10
Innovation... What can we do with the Pine Beetle Wood? Focus on bio-energy and new product development.

Friday, January 11
Air taped forum.

See also:

• The pine beetle aftermath requires a fundamental culture change
• BC Replanting a Pine Monoculture
• Planning for when the pine gets scarce