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NOVEMBER 2008

Minister Bell in ChinaNi Hao! Welcome to the November edition of my e-Newsletter.

From Nov. 12-18 I led a very successful Forest Sector Trade Mission to China. We viewed progress on B.C. marketing and demonstration projects, strengthened our relationship with Chinese government officials and pursued new sales opportunities.

With a declining log supply from Russia and continued strong economic growth, Chinese demand for imported softwood lumber will continue to increase.

The Province, through Forestry Innovation Investment Ltd. (FII) and in conjunction with the Canada Wood Group, has been working over the last several years to diversify B.C.’s markets by demonstrating new uses for softwood products.

If industry and government maintain their focus and momentum, I expect B.C. to ship upwards of 4 billion board feet of dimensional lumber to China by 2011.

I also want to recognize the tremendous courage of the Chinese poeple and government officials who are rebuilding their homes and communities following the May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. We were all moved by their strength, spirit and resilience in the face of such widespread loss and devastation.

Until next month,

Minister Pat Bell
Ministry of Forests and Range

BUILDING WITH WOOD

Given its strength, versatility, and climate-
friendly attributes, British Columbia
is promoting greater use of wood in
commercial and institutional construction.

 

VICTORIA FIRM SHOWCASES LOCAL HEMLOCK - Premier Gordon Campbell toured Morinwood Inc., the company tasked with finishing the walls of the Vancouver Convention Centre expansion.  Morinwood plans to use island-grown hemlock  throughout the project.

DISTRICT OF FORT ST. JAMES RECEIVES AWARD FOR USE OF WOOD - The District was honoured with an award from the Canada Wood Council and BC WoodWORKS! celebrating the extensive use of wood in their recently completed Library and Town Hall. For more information on projects and upcoming events visit the BC WoodWORKS! website.

IMPROVING UTILIZATION

British Columbia is working
to maximize the economic
opportunities from wood
fibre previously considered
waste or debris.

 

RECYCLING WASTE WOOD IN NANAIMO - Nanaimo based Island West Forest Products is creating jobs by finding new uses for unwanted wood including hog fuel, boards and a firewood program. For more information on Island West's Nanaimo Wood Products Recycling facility click here.
 

GROWING TREES

By becoming a world leader
 in growing trees, British
Columbia aims to maximize
the growth potential of its
forest resource.

 

CRESTON TO BENEFIT FROM COMMUNITY FOREST - The agreement sets the foundation for environmentally sustainable, long-term economic benefits for Creston’s residents and businesses.

PROVINCE INVESTS $120,000 IN FUTURE ABORIGINAL FORESTERS – The grant to the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Forestry will help increase Aboriginal enrolment and participation through its First Nations Forestry Program.

$800,000 IN GRANTS AWARDED TO FIGHT INVASIVE PLANTS - This year, 13 organizations throughout the province received funding for the delivery of invasive plant projects and activities, including a grant of $170,000 to the Invasive Plant Council of BC.

FOREST SAFETY

The ministry is committed to maintaining
high safety standards to protect both forest
workers and the public.

 Prince George receives $166,411 through the Job Opportunity Program

COMMUNITY TRUST FUNDS TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS – Prince George will receive $166,411 through the Job Opportunity Program to remove mountain pine beetle-killed trees and hazard trees with root-rot on the Greenway Trail.

WORKSAFE BC LAUNCHES DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS Fort St. John and Chetwynd are benefiting from two Resource Roads Safety Demonstration Projects. The road systems were chosen for their heavy use by the public and industry. For a list of initiatives and other projects visit WorkSafe BC's website.

BC FOREST SAFETY COUNCIL RECOGNIZES SAFETY LEADERS - The Council has acknowledged two of its associates for their outstanding commitment and dedication to advancing safety in B.C.’s forests.

MINISTRY RECEIVES GOLD MEDAL AT NATIONAL AWARDS FOR SIGN-OUT SECURITY SYSTEM (SOSS) - At the Government Technology Exhibition and Conference 2008 Distinction Awards Gala in Ottawa the ministry was presented with a Gold Medal for building a system that helps ensure safety by tracking workers and equipment out in the field.

WEB RESOURCES

The ministry's website provides a wide range
of services and a wealth of information regarding B.C.'s forest sector.

For example, the News Release email service contains full-text versions of ministry media releases as soon as they are posted.

BC Timber Sales (BCTS) was created in 2003 and has a mandate to provide the cost and price benchmarks for timber harvested from public land in B.C. For more information including contracts, bid results and timber sale notices visit the BCTS website.
 

FOREST SECTOR TRADE MISSION TO CHINA
NOV. 12-18

British Columbia is working
to expand its overseas
exports, particularly into
the rapidly growing
China market.

Minister Bell greeted by children in local Qiang minority traditional dress

**For more photos and information on the Minister's Forest Sector Trade Mission to China, visit the Minister's Media Room**

FORESTS MINISTER HEADS TRADE MISSION TO CHINA – Minister Bell and more than a dozen industry representatives visited the cities of Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu and Dujiangyan during the Nov. 12-18 tour of China.

B.C. WOOD SALES IN CHINA SUPPORT B.C. JOBS – Companies that participated in the Forest Sector Trade Mission to China were able to secure 83 million board feet in new orders for B.C. lumber.

Wood truss roofing project

B.C. WOOD TRUSS ROOFING TECHNOLOGY SUCCESSFUL IN CHINA – B.C. forest products and Canadian wood truss technology have experienced a breakthrough with three commercial projects providing new roofs to 38 apartment buildings in Shanghai.

Exterior of the Baoshan-Hogrun Rural Vocational School.

B.C. WOOD ENHANCES CHINA’S LANDSCAPE – Qingdao is the location of a new $125,000 landscape project which demonstrates creative new uses of B.C. hemlock and western red cedar products. 

B.C. WOOD TO BUILD VANCOUVER VILLAGE IN CHINA – The “Vancouver Village” is a new project to develop rural housing in an area of China that is recovering from heavy earthquake damage.

Xiang-E Primary School rebuilding

B.C. WOOD BUILDS XIANG’E PRIMARY SCHOOL CAMPUS – Construction has started on an earthquake-resistant school using B.C. lumber that could soon be a model for institutions and residential buildings across China.

Minister Bell with instructors and students at Canada Wood Group College - Sichuan Campus

GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA, B.C., CHINA SIGN REBUILDING AGREEMENT – The signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) will support an $8-million wood-frame rebuilding project to assist China in its reconstruction efforts following last May’s devastating Wenchuan earthquake. 

B.C.’S WOOD-TRUSS ROOFING SYSTEM EXPANDS TO NANJING Efforts to open up the Chinese housing sector to B.C. wood products has achieved a significant milestone with a major renovation project in Nanjing City.

 

OTHER MINISTRY NEWS

2008 GYPSY MOTH PROGRAM SUCCEEDS – The 2008 treatment program eliminated invasive gypsy moth populations in Saltair and on Saltspring Island, with neither site requiring treatment in 2009. For more information visit the Gypsy Moth website.

FOURTH TIMBER SUPPLY REVIEW STARTS FOR PRINCE GEORGE TSA - The public is encouraged to review and comment on the Prince George timber supply review information report and technical data package. Comments will be accepted until Jan. 30, 2009.

INDUSTRY NEWS

NEW CHIP OPERATION SUPPORTS 70 JOBS - RiverCity Fibre Ltd., a $5-million Kamloops area chipping operation that uses mountain pine beetle wood, utilizing material that was previously going to waste, officially opened
Nov. 17th.

HARMAC OFFICIALLY REOPENS - Workers who pooled their cash together and bought the mill themselves celebrated its official grand reopening on Nov. 6th. They are hoping to set an example that will be followed by other mill workers around the world.

FORESTRY FACTS

  • B.C. harvests less than one per cent of its forests each year.
  • The masts and booms of the famous Bluenose schooner, pictured on the dime, were made from
    B.C. Douglas fir. 
  • B.C.’s provincial tree is the Western redcedar.  

UPCOMING EVENTS

Dec. 6
North Central Guides AGM
Prince George 

Jan. 13-16 
Truck Loggers Assoc. (TLA)
Convention & Tradeshow
Vancouver

Jan. 29
National Workshop on Wood Fibre
Vancouver

Feb. 25-27
ExpoFor 2009
Prince George
www.gov.bc.ca/for
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