Almost a year after a wildfire ripped through the forest behind her home, burning almost 10,000 hectares and destroying dozens of properties, Michelle Nortje is documenting its natural recovery.

“It’s amazing how fast stuff comes back,” she told reporter Zoë Yunker, who visited Nortje at Gun Lake, north of Whistler, B.C. “Their root systems are still there.” 

But amid signs of regeneration are literal signs too: flagging tape on burned trees noting the boundaries of designated logging cutblocks.

These trees? They’re slated for what’s called “wildfire salvage” — an industry that’s growing as B.C.’s wildfire seasons worsen.

The B.C. government has been pushing to accelerate salvage logging.

But as Zoë details in the story, “salvage” is not always the right word. That’s because logging in wildfire zones can include living trees in old-growth forests. So long as some wood in an area is considered to be “fire damaged,” companies get salvage-logging rates for the whole area — meaning they can get premium lumber at a discounted price.

That can be a problem for the health of the forest. Left untouched, scorched and burned trees still offer benefits for wildlife, including endangered species like spotted owls, while dead or dying trees also nourish forest ecosystems.

“Is there a better way to do it? The answer is yes,” one wildlife advocate told Zoë. “Are we doing it a better way? The answer is no.”

But there is hope things are moving in the right direction: First Nations, government and industry have recently come together to map out the course for responsible wildfire salvage in B.C. 

We’ll be watching to see where that leads. In the meantime, be sure to check out Zoë’s deeply reported investigation — with stunning photos from Taylor Roades.

Take care and find a better way,

Arik Ligeti
Director of audience


P.S. Want to stay up to date on this summer’s B.C. wildfires? We’re keeping track with our real-time map.
 

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