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Welcome to the March edition of my e-Newsletter.
Following extensive consultations with forestry stakeholders across British Columbia, the 19-member Working Roundtable on Forestry released its report and vision for “a vibrant, sustainable, globally competitive forest industry that provides enormous benefits for current and future generations
and for strong communities.”
The Roundtable Report set six priorities to help achieve this vision:
1. A commitment to using wood first.
2. Growing trees, sequestering carbon, and ensuring
that land is available from which to derive a range
of forest products.
3. Creating a globally competitive, market-based
operating climate.
4. Embracing innovation and diversification.
5. Supporting prosperous rural forest economies.
6. First Nations becoming full partners in forestry.
The Roundtable further identified 29 recommendations that are consistent with these priorities. I encourage you to review the full report, available on the Roundtable website.
The Working Roundtable highlighted a wide range of exciting forest-based opportunities that lie ahead. By setting a clear vision and priorities, everyone in our forest sector – industry, workers, communities and First Nations – can work with common purpose to create new jobs and drive the B.C. forest economy for decades to come.
Until next month,
Pat Bell
Minister of Forests and Range
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WORKING ROUNDTABLE ON FORESTRY
From left to right: Dave Porter, Kaska Dena Nation; Minister Pat Bell; Derek Thompson, Associate Professor, Royal Roads University; and Tom Olsen, President, Triumph Timber.
The Working Roundtable was formed in March 2008 and held meetings in 19 communities around the province. The Roundtable considered over 250 submissions from individuals, communities, First Nations, forest companies, associations, organized labour, environmental groups, and citizens.
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BUILDING WITH WOOD
Given its strength, versatility, and climate-
friendly attributes, British Columbia
is promoting greater use of wood in
commercial and institutional construction.
B.C. WOOD COMPETITION DRAWS RECORD NUMBER OF ENTRIES - The judges of this year's B.C. 2009 Wood Design Awards were excited to see 110 entries and the fantastic caliber of projects in categories ranging from interior beauty of wood, institutional wood design, and green building.
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FOREST SAFETY
The ministry is committed to maintaining
high safety standards to protect both forest
workers and the public.
NEW FUNDING PROMOTES SILVICULTURE SAFETY The Western Silviculture Contractors’ Association received $500,000 for the delivery of four safety programs focusing on all-terrain vehicle use, resource road driver training, power saw operations and silviculture supervisors' training. Photos
DIANE MACKAY RECEIVES AWARD FOR DEDICATION - Ministry employee Diane MacKay received a leadership award for her dedication and outstanding efforts in conservation and fire protection, including knowledge sharing and coaching within the ministry's Protection Program.
COMMUNITY TRUST REDUCES CHILCOTIN FIRE RISK – $61,908 in funding will employ four forest workers to remove fire hazards from a right of way and replace over five kilometres of cattle fencing near Alexis Creek.
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FORESTRY FACTS
- There are 55,000 km of forest service roads
in B.C.
- B.C. has some of the most stringent forest
sustainability requirements in the world.
- Trees are natural filters of the air we breathe.
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INTERNATIONAL MARKETING
British Columbia is working
to expand its overseas
exports, particularly into
the rapidly growing
China market.
WENCHUAN EARTHQUAKE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT UPDATE - Construction of classroom buildings at the Xiang'E primary school project in Dujiangyan, China are near completion. The school has been under construction since December 2008. Photos
SUPPLIERS NEEDED FOR UPCOMING CONSTRUCTION - Forestry Innovation Investment China is currently seeking qualified suppliers to provide structural and landscaping wood materials for use in Phase One projects including the Mianyang School for the Disabled and Beichuan Elderly Care Centre.
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GROWING TREES
By becoming a world leader
in growing trees, British
Columbia aims to maximize
the growth potential of its
forest resource.
NEW MAPPING PROJECT TO MANAGE BEETLE-ATTACK AREAS – The new impact mapping project identifies the best areas for harvesting and reforestation of mountain pine beetle-attacked stands. Mapping will be used to harvest more dead pine and fewer green trees, extend the economic shelf-life of attacked stands, and accelerate regrowth.
COMMUNITY FOREST STRENGTHENS ALEXIS CREEK PARTNERSHIP – A joint community forest agreement offered to the Tsi Del Del (Alexis Creek First Nation) and the Tatla Resource Association will generate ongoing employment and forestry-related benefits in the area.
VANCOUVER ISLAND FIRST NATIONS AWARDED WOODLOT LICENCE – The Ka:'yu:'k't'h' / Che:k:tles7et'h' First Nations succeeded in obtaining a new
754-hectare woodlot licence in Kyuquot Sound, creating new community-based forestry opportunities on northern Vancouver Island.
COMMUNITY TRUST SUPPORTS SILVICULTURE AND EDUCATION – $155,519 in funding is employing ten forest workers to remove beetle-killed pine and improve silviculture conditions on a licensed woodlot in Prince George.
MORE ISLAND WOODLOT LICENCES AVAILABLE - Two new licences on Malcolm Island and a third near Gold River are available as the Province continues to support new or expanded forestry opportunities for individuals, groups and First Nations.
EXPERTS HOST TUSSOCK MOTH AND BUDWORM COMMUNITY MEETING
Forest health experts invited Kamloops residents to an information session on how to treat the threat these two pests pose to the region’s Douglas-fir forests.
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IMPROVING UTILIZATION
British Columbia is working
to maximize the economic
opportunities from wood
fibre previously considered
waste or debris.
MINISTRY'S FORESTRY CENTRE USING WOOD PELLETS FOR HEAT - The Kalamalka Forestry Centre near Vernon is reducing the ministry's carbon footprint by using both wood pellets and solar energy to heat its main building. By using wood pellets, the Centre is using wood fibre previously considered waste.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
DOMTAR TO INVEST MILLIONS FOR BOILER - Domtar is going ahead with the replacement of one of its recovery boilers to ensure a continued safe and viable operation. The project is to be completed over several years and will cost close to $8-million.
CONIFEX OPENS FORT ST. JAMES MILL - By tying wages to market conditions, new company Conifex reopened a Fort St. James sawmill this week after signing a unique labour agreement that put 135 people back to work.
COMOX VALLEY WOODLOT SUCCEEDING - Harold and Judy Macy's Headquarters Creek Woodlot at the base of Mountain Washington is showing continued success by providing timber to niche markets such as house logs, post and beam construction, and crossarms for power lines.
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WEB RESOURCES
The ministry's website provides a wide range of services and a wealth of information regarding B.C.'s forest sector.
The Vegetation Resources Inventory e-mail service is used to send newly released reports and changes to standards, guidelines and procedures regarding Vegetation Resources Inventory (VRI), National Forest Inventory (NFI) and Inventory Projection.
The Nursery Services Section
includes information on seedling stocktypes, the Seedling Trade Program and the registry application system. The Section is responsible for supplying seedlings for the reforestation of Crown lands administered and replanted by the ministry.
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For information on ministry announcements and events, visit the Ministry of Forests and Range Media Room.
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