Prince George, B.C.- This is  National Forestry Week in Canada, and  the theme is, Sunrise in the Forest.

That theme is a reflection of the state of the forestry industry,  one which the Council of Forest Industries says is in good shape. ( see previous story)

 Minister of Forests, Steve Thomson says the theme  speaks to the “resiliency of the forest sector.”

Gone are the dark days of 2008, 2009 when the US housing market collapsed and BC Forest companies had few options for the sale of their product.  Since those days, markets have diversified, with BC  growing its share of  exports to Asia.  That growth continues with trade missions to India and Korea.

The B.C. building code was changed to allow for 6 storey wood frame buildings, a move which  has been replicated in Ontario.  Those changes will  mean  future demand for   wood products says James Gorman, President of the Council of Forest Industries “What we’re seeing is building codes across North America start to change and what is really exciting for our  industry is British Columbia led the way in allowing  6 storey residential construction made out of wood.  We are now seeing the Ontario  building code make a  similar change, we’re seeing a similar change to the national building code and we’re watching that same  move happen across the United States and that opens tremendous market  growth for wood products and that’s going to benefit  British Columbia and our industry. “

COFI definitely agrees with the theme of Forestry Week in that this industry is definitely in sunrise, not sunset  mode “ I think the sawlog industry in British Columbia  will continue to be the most efficient and most competitive in the world” says Gorman. “I think we have a unique position there, we are the major player in Canada and Canada is the major player in the world when it comes to wood, and I don’t see that position eroding.  I think what makes it exciting  is the innovation that’s  going on, not only in terms of the bio-products that we talk  about, but in the new  technologies, and whether its  new technologies such as cross laminated timber etcetera, etcetera,  but those new  building technologies are allowing us to span further and build taller than  we’ve  ever done before.  We’re talking bridges that are now 200 meters long  built out of wood.”

Tomorrow, B.C.’s National forest Week coalition will release a “Tree Identification App” that be downloaded by clicking here.  The app will  show you  photos and provide information on every native tree found in the province. The app will also allow you to take  photos, record notes and GPS the location of your favourite trees.