New Timber License System Tested

Monday, September 22, 2008 12:57 PM

Prince George, B.C.- A new method of timber sales is being tested this fall, with hopes of getting harvesters to utilize more of the trees they cut.

Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell says instead of selling a license based on cubic metres of lumber, the bids will be a "lump sum" for the whole licence area.

icences are being advertised this fall by BC Timber Sales business areas to facilitate harvesting of mountain pine beetle-attacked trees, pulp stands or other timber. The results of the innovative timber sale licence initiative will be evaluated before determining whether to expand the program.

During the recent Regulatory Review, BC Timber Sales was challenged to find ways to develop timber for market in a more effective manner. Bidders on innovative timber sale licences will bid a “lump sum” for the whole licence area, as opposed to submitting a bid based on per cubic metre.

Once harvesting starts, loggers will pay stumpage based on the area harvested rather than a scale of timber removed. The changes are expected to improve efficiencies in the sale of timber. They are also expected to enhance ongoing efforts to reforest areas hard hit by the mountain pine beetle.

BC Timber Sales manages about one-fifth of the province’s allowable annual cut. It manages public forest land, issues licences to harvest timber, and is responsible for reforestation and road construction activities in areas that it manages. Its role is to provide a credible reference point for costs and pricing of timber harvested from public forests in B.C.

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Posted on Monday, September 22, 2008 12:57 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: downnotout on September 22 2008 1:10 PM

what happens to the idea that just the beetle infested trees get harvested now and the good timber gets left for later

Posted by: lost it all on September 22 2008 2:43 PM

That was Mr Bell's idea on friday downnotout, this is a whole new week. Mr Bell must be changing to adapt to the fast moving global economy. Or something like that.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on September 22 2008 2:58 PM

"the bids will be a lump sum for the whole licnece area"
So,one company can come in and buy up everything?
If that is in fact the case,then we are back to 40's and 50's when the giants like MacMillian Bloedel,Crown Zellerbak etc. came in and bought it all thanks to the coalition government at the time making it all possible.
The smaller outfits and gypo's could not compete, so they got nothing.
That left them no choice but to sub-contract for the big guns and they were slowly squeezed out of existance...on purpose.
And that put a lot of people out of work and gave unreasonable power to the forestry giants.
We are still paying for that, and that is the way big forest companies have always wanted it.
Looks like the Campbell Liberals will grant their wishes...again.
They just can't sell off our resources fast enough can they?

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on September 22 2008 11:30 PM

Andyfrenzy I think you didn't read again. Heehee!!

And what's to prevent the giants from taking it all under the stumpage system?

No different.

This area based bid is similar to the oil/gas area bid system. This way the outfits will try to get as much timber value out of the block as possible.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on September 23 2008 6:49 AM

Only partly true Yama.
Under the present system,at least everyone has a shot at obtaining timber in the bid system, but under this new system,the big guy with all the dough gets it all.
It also leaves the door open for backroom deals and corruption as it did in the 50's.
Back then,it was a done deal before anyone else even got a shot at it, according to who you knew and who's palm got greased.
Once they have it all,that will lead to total control with supermills doing all the cutting and timber being hauled away to wherever they want it to go and processed in supermills.
Smaller communities and sawmills will be no more and the smaller forestry companies will once again disappear.
Sure,the system is similar, but it would make it easier to obtain control of the resourse by eliminating the competition.

Posted by: govsux on September 23 2008 9:04 AM

All things for all mega corporations.