We appreciate the fact the B.C. Liberal government is in the process of gathering information about the mid-term timber supply shortage, which, by the way, was not a surprise to professional foresters, harvesting companies or other users of Crown land in British Columbia.
This issue is the end piece of the fallout from the mountain pine beetle devastation that hit this province before the turn of the century.
Back then, people, who were being impacted by the ravenous bug, were predicting what we are beginning to experience in the Interior.
The political answer was to race into the Crown forests to harvest the beetle-killed pine trees while they were still marketable, and there was a glut of blue-stained pine in the market.
Harvesting companies had to be enticed to cut down the dead pine by allowing them to take a certain percentage of “green” wood while they did it.
There was so much wood being brought in from the woods, harvesting companies started upgrading their mills to handle it all. They built bigger mills to increase quantities of less-valuable lumber to fill the pockets of the demanding shareholders.
Now, we have hit the point where that strategy is no longer sustainable for either the forests or the harvesting companies.
However, shareholders still demand profits, which means harvesting companies need access to more wood.
And if they don’t get it, there is the very real concern mills will shut down to the detriment of rural communities up and down Highway 97.
So, in jumps the B.C. Liberals with their three-month study that will determine the future of Crown forests in B.C.
The government must remember it is at a very important crossroad in the history of the forest industry in this province, especially when it comes to giving access to areas that are now protected.
We are already feeling the affects of the giant cut blocks in the Cariboo-Chilcotin with the alternating flood/drought seasons.
Once we slash and burn the old-growth forests, they’re gone.
We need to listen to the scientists and the registered professional foresters.
People who want to get involved and give their input must do so by July 20 – go to www.leg.bc.ca/timbercommittee/.
