l-r Bill Downing, Pierre Lapointe, Tim Sheldon and Minister of Forests Steve Thomson -photo 250news

Prince George, B.C. – A capacity crowd in the seats   at the Civic Centre in Prince George as the  Natural Resource  Forum got underway.

The two day forum started with a focus on the challenges and opportunities  that  lie ahead for the Forestry sector.

Minister of Forests, Steve Thomson  pointed to the growing markets in China ( now 30% of annual  lumber exports) and new market opportunities in  Korea and India.

“We have seen the future” says Pierre Lapointe of F.P Innovations.  He says  a new market  has been opened for lumber with the changes to the building code that allow  taller buildings to be built with wood.  He noted there is  now a plan for a 42 storey wood structure building  in Chicago.

Bill  Downing, President of Structurlam Products  says while the drop in oil prices has  created a challenge for his company when it comes to  it’s  matting  construction business,  the low Canadian dollar has opened up and increased  sales to the U.S..  The company has provided the  laminate beams in a number of iconic buildings throughout  North America including the  Wood Innovation Design Centre , the RCMP  building and the  Airport in Prince George.  while the  slump in the oil patch means folks may be losing their  jobs  in that sector,  on the up side, Downing says it means  those workers are coming home, and they  are now available to work in the forestry sector.

Looking at the past and the future of the sector, Tim Sheldon,  the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Forests reminded those in attendance that one in every 16 jobs in B.C. is directly  involved in forestry.  Sheldon  says there are forest management challenges, including climate change, “How do we know which are the best trees to plant today when they won’t be harvested  for 50 years?” asked Sheldon.

Sheldon  spoke of the challenges posed by rising costs, and  the  impacts of the Tsilhqot’in  decision. That ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada granted Aboriginal title to more than 1,700 square kilometers of land in BC to the Tsilhqot’in First Nation, it clarifies what  Aboriginal title means, and  how that could impact resource development projects.  Sheldon says the decision gives the sector “clarity on the processes we need to undertake as w go forward with  reconciliation and consultation with First Nations.”

Sheldon says he doesn’t agree with those who say the forestry sector is in decline, “I think the future is bright for the sector,  new innovation, new opportunities,  good quality fibre, I think the industry  is redefining itself, thinking of new ways to  adapt to the current realities whether it’s our forest practices policies  seeking new markets, the forest sector continues  to be a key component to the economy of this province.”

Premier Christy Clark will deliver the keynote luncheon address today.

This afternoon,  there will be panel sessions that update  LNG projects and  focus on the  education and skills training for resource development.