https://thenarwhal.ca Deep Dives, Cold Facts, & Pointed Commentary en-US Copyright 2026 The Narwhal hourly 1 https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-logging-culturally-modified-trees/ Wed, 16 Nov 2022 23:35:52 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=63989 Culturally modified trees are an important marker of Indigenous Peoples’ presence on and stewardship of the land — and not enough is being done to protect them, experts say Judith Lavoie News B.C. forestry Indigenous Rights logging Photo: Mark Worthing / Awinakola Foundation A culturally modified tree that was logged https://thenarwhal.ca/nuchatlaht-title-case-evidence/ Tue, 07 Jun 2022 18:20:15 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=52653 For weeks, the B.C. Supreme Court has been hearing arguments by the Nuchatlaht First Nation and province about who has the right to 20,000 hectares of Nootka Island Judith Lavoie News B.C. environmental law Indigenous Rights Photo: TJ Watt Nootka Island is off the west coast of Vancouver Island. Photo by TJ Watt https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-caribou-habitat-wood-river-basin/ Tue, 29 Mar 2022 19:33:36 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=47163 Satellite imagery reveals new cutblocks are ‘nibbling away’ at the critical habitat of the endangered Columbia North caribou herd, widely considered to be the Kootenay-area population with the highest chance of persisting in the long term Judith Lavoie In-Depth B.C. caribou Endangered Species forestry logging wildlife Photo: David Moskowitz Clearcut logging in the snowy B.C. mountains in the habitat of endangered caribou https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-sea-lice-farmed-salmon-data/ Mon, 28 Mar 2022 16:31:56 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=47131 Open-net fish pens are the perfect breeding grounds for the parasites, which feast on the mucus, skin and flesh of wild salmon, causing infection and even death. But the tools industry has to deal with the legions of sea lice are becoming less effective Judith Lavoie In-Depth B.C. Indigenous Rights Oceans salmon salmon farming wildlife Photo: Tavish Campbell Sea lice on a wild B.C. salmon https://thenarwhal.ca/nuchatlaht-indigenous-title-undrip/ Wed, 16 Mar 2022 20:07:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=45816 Extensive industrial clearcutting destroyed salmon streams on an island the B.C. government says the Nuchatlaht ‘abandoned.’ Now the nation is taking the matter to one of the province’s highest courts in the first case to cite the precedent-setting Tsilhqot’in land title decision Judith Lavoie Explainer B.C. forestry Indigenous Rights logging salmon Photo: TJ Watt Nootka Island clearcutting from the air https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-mining-tailings-ponds-safety/ Fri, 04 Feb 2022 18:02:35 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=43238 Despite the province’s world-class claims, the safety of mine tailings storage is not up to international standards Judith Lavoie News B.C. mining Mount Polley Photo: Garth Lenz / The Narwhal An aerial view of the tailings pond at the Red Chris mine in northeast B.C. with several vehicles driving along the massive tailings dam https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-fish-farms-proposals-dfo/ Tue, 25 Jan 2022 20:42:03 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=42940 Twelve proposals to expand or create new open-net pen operations — many pitched in partnership with First Nations — may shed light on industry’s emerging tactics to keep fish farms alive in the Pacific Judith Lavoie In-Depth News B.C. salmon salmon farming Photo: Tavish Campbell The nets of a salmon farm on the B.C. coast are seen in dark waters https://thenarwhal.ca/imperial-metals-bc-mining-skagit/ Thu, 20 Jan 2022 23:49:35 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=42683 After the mining company accepted $24 million from a coalition of groups in exchange for releasing mineral claims to the province of B.C., conservationists and First Nations are celebrating the end of potential exploration in an area known as the Doughnut Hole, an anomaly of unprotected land about half the size of the city of Vancouver that is completely encircled by Manning and Skagit provincial parks Judith Lavoie News B.C. mining Mount Polley transboundary water Photo: Fernando Lessa / The Narwhal A clearcut patch of forest is seen on the site of a snowy green mountain https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-floods-clearcut-logging/ Thu, 18 Nov 2021 04:02:31 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=38968 Deforestation dramatically alters how landscapes are able to cope with extreme weather events like the atmospheric river that surged across southern British Columbia earlier this week Judith Lavoie In-Depth B.C. climate change forestry logging old-growth forest Photo: Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-old-growth-forest-dakota-bowl/ Sat, 09 Oct 2021 14:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=36182 The treasured high-elevation Dakota Bowl has been slated for auction with BC Timber Sales every year for the last five years. Determined to protect the old-growth forest, home to culturally modified trees, hanging lakes and ancient cedar bear dens, a local conservation group brought new tactics and independent science to the table Judith Lavoie Photo Essay B.C. forestry logging old-growth forest Photo: Shayd Johnson / The Narwhal https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-mount-polley-mine-fine/ Mon, 13 Sep 2021 15:06:22 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=34840 The Environmental Appeal Board found the mining company responsible for the worst mining disaster in Canadian history has failed to investigate and test long-term water treatment systems at the Mount Polley mine site, which currently relies on discharging waste into Quesnel Lake, one of the world’s deepest glacial lakes and a source of drinking water Judith Lavoie News B.C. Environmental Appeal Board mining Mount Polley tailings ponds water Photo: Louis Bockner / The Narwhal