Latest news with #environmentalaccountability
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Vancouver Islanders call for better access and environmental oversight of private forest lands
A survey by a private forest management company on Vancouver Island shows thousands of outdoor enthusiasts want better access to forest land — but an alliance of wilderness advocates is also raising concerns about environmental accountability. Mosaic Forest Management, which oversees roughly 550,000 hectares of privately owned forest land between Victoria, Sooke and Campbell River, reports that the survey received over 7,600 responses and the feedback was clear: open the gates. According to Mosaic's website, the company has over 20 gates on the Island that it can open and close to control recreational use — including those controlling access to popular hikes like Century Sam in Comox and Mount Arrowsmith near Port Alberni, and front-country camping sites like Nanaimo Lakes. Access to the areas is often limited to weekends between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Steve Mjaaland, Mosaic's manager of forest protection, says the company would like to enhance recreational access, but gate closures are often necessary for safety and to prevent wildfires. "It's a working forest. There are a lot of high-risk hazards, especially hauling on the roads, which would probably be the biggest risk with traffic," he said. Among those calling for better access: Jenn Holland, who currently chairs an alliance of almost 30 grassroots groups on the Island called the Vancouver Island Private Managed Forest Land Action Alliance. "There's gates everywhere and people can't get to beloved waterfalls or lakes or camping sites that they used to be able to access," she said. Holland says the issue goes beyond recreation. "We can't get in there, and we can't see what they're doing back there. We can't see if there's been a landslide. We can't see if a water course has been logged. We can't see that they've logged an entire watershed," she said. "It's not just access for recreation, but it's access for accountability that's missing." WATCH | Hikers call for greater access to the Island's backcountry: Issue goes beyond the gates, say conservationists Holland says that while hiking access is something that the public can easily grasp, she's focused on bigger issues, like conservation, private forest landowners and the province, that go beyond Mosaic's control of the gates. Dave Weaver, a retired forestry worker who now volunteers with the Beaufort Watershed Stewards, one of the groups that make up the Vancouver Island Private Managed Forest Land Action Alliance, says he takes issue with the Private Managed Forest Land Program, which was established in 2003 under the Private Managed Forest Land Act. According to the province's website, the program works by setting out management objectives for forest landowners, who in turn develop management strategies most appropriate for their land. Weaver says the act sets a low bar for forestry practices, especially in comparison to regulations for public forest lands, which have more restrictions on harvesting and clearcuts, and greater requirements for public accountability. "We need to have these difficult conversations very soon, with all the parties involved — with the provincial government, with the landowners," he said. WATCH: Vancouver Island groups call for forestry reform on private land: In 2019, the province undertook a review of the Private Managed Forest Land Act, where Weaver says extensive feedback was collected from the public, local government and First Nations. The province published its findings, which show there was a recurring theme of concern about the sustainability of forestry practices and the effects on things like watersheds on privately managed forest land — but Weaver claims no tangible change ever came from the review. In an emailed statement, the Ministry of Forests said it's working to modernize the act following the 2019 review, and that "many of the issues raised during the review are being addressed through the government's work to make sure forestry supports ecosystem values." But Weaver says he believes even that review would be out of date by today's standards and is joined by the alliance in calling on the province to undertake a new review. In a statement, Mosaic said it would be willing to work with community partners toward a sustainable strategy. "Mosaic supports enhanced collaboration between private forest landowners, First Nations, the Province, and communities to ensure responsible forest management plays a key role in BC's economic, reconciliation and climate strategies," said Karen Brandt, the senior vice president of public affairs and partnerships at Mosaic Forest Management.


Al Arabiya
26-06-2025
- Climate
- Al Arabiya
3 Dead and a Dozen Missing as Torrential Rains Cause Flash Flood in North India
Three people died and at least a dozen are feared missing after being swept away in a flash flood triggered by torrential rains in the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, local authorities said on Thursday. A rescue operation has been launched to trace the missing, said Dinesh Sharma, a local government spokesperson in Kangra. The town is about 18 kilometers (11 miles) from Dharamshala, a popular tourist destination known for its Tibetan culture and as the home of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama. Sudhir Sharma, a lawmaker from Dharamshala, said in a social media post that at least 15 to 20 workers resting in a temporary shed near the site of a hydroelectric power project were swept away after water levels at a local reservoir rose suddenly late Wednesday. In a status report issued Thursday, the state government confirmed at least eight people were missing in Kangra and three in nearby Kullu. The authorities have evacuated around 50 stranded tourists to safer places in the state. The state government confirmed three people died, but did not provide details. Flash floods and cloudbursts are common in India's mountain states, such as Himachal Pradesh, during the monsoon season. Deforestation to make way for infrastructure development and expansion of hydroelectric power projects has often led to calls by critics for environmental accountability and disaster preparedness in such states.


Associated Press
14-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Baker Tilly's Insights Into the Sustainable Shift of Manufacturing With Data and Technology
Authored by Cindy Bratel Environmental accountability is becoming as vital as profitability and the manufacturing industry stands at a crossroads. Sustainability is reshaping how products are designed, made and reused. In a recent podcast with CADTALK, Baker Tilly's Cindy Bratel, Principal and leader of the firm's IFS Solutions practice, discussed how the manufacturing shift towards sustainability is being driven by technology, cultural change and a deeper sense of responsibility, highlighting the role of IFS Cloud in enabling a more circular and future-ready manufacturing model. Key takeaways: From linear to circular: Manufacturing has followed linear processes of extract, produce and discard, with profit being a driver but this paradigm is rapidly evolving. Circular manufacturing focuses on designing products with reuse, recycling and recovery in mind. Cindy shared real-world examples, such as the automotive industry's reuse of cores and recovery of rare materials like platinum from oxygen sensors. What began as cost-saving measures now align with broader sustainability goals. Data as a foundation: Before companies can set sustainability goals and start environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting, they need to understand where they stand. The journey starts with education, data collection and establishing a baseline. Clean, centralized and contextual data is critical for tracking performance as well as for making smarter, faster decisions. Technology as an enabler: IFS Cloud empowers manufacturers with a sustainability management module for centralized ESG tracking and reporting and provides users with a real-time emissions tracker. IFS Cloud also offers built-in circular manufacturing capabilities and interactive ESG dashboards for strategic decision-making. Future of manufacturing: As companies consider reshoring and modernizing operations, Cindy emphasizes that future factories won't resemble the past. They will be automated, data-driven and built on circular principles. With the right strategy and technology, manufacturers can lead in both innovation and environmental responsibility. How we can help Baker Tilly brings deep industry knowledge to help manufacturers navigate sustainability challenges by helping build ESG strategies to ensure compliance and cultural adoption. IFS delivers the digital backbone with IFS Cloud, enabling real-time emission tracking and ESG reporting. Connect with a Baker Tilly specialist to learn more.