In Friday’s paper we pay tribute to National Forest Week, Sept. 23 to 29, recognizing some of the efforts of local people, companies and organizations.
As one of the main industries in our region, forestry continues to face challenges.
Whether it is wildfires, mountain pine beetle, Douglas-fir beetle or dwindling timber supplies, the industry is forced to adapt.
Most of us live near areas impacted by the 2017 wildfires, and beetle epidemics, and are watching with interest how the forests will rejuvenate themselves over time.
Earlier this week, the Forests Practices Board announced it will audit the Ministry of Forests, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development’s small scale salvage program and salvage licence holders in the Cariboo Chilcotin.
The FPB does about 10 to 12 audits a year around B.C. and randomly selects a forest district to audit, said Darlene Oman, communications with the FPB.
“We have not looked at small-scale salvage for a long time so that’s what we decided to focus on.”
The audit will get underway Monday, Sept. 24, and will take about five days to complete.
It could take three months to a year for the results of the audit to be published.
In the Cariboo Chilcotin we can access forests very easily and as the autumn unfolds there are many ways to get out and enjoy what our local forests have to offer.
There’s nothing like a good walk amidst the trees to calm the spirit and remind us how fortunate we are and the importance of being good stewards of our forests.
Here’s to National Forest Week. May we never lose sight of the forest for the trees.
-Williams Lake Tribune/Advisor
