Silviculture Discussion Paper Released

Wednesday, March 25, 2009 12:05 PM

Prince George, B.C.- The Ministry of Forests and Range has released a discussion paper on silviculture.

The province is developing a new framework to guide silviculture investments and make B.C. a world leader in growing trees.

This discussion paper, (accessible here) Growing Opportunities: A New Vision for Silviculture in British Columbia, outlines current silviculture successes, opportunities for improvement, principles to guide how the new vision might be implemented, and some questions to stimulate discussion on the future of silviculture in British Columbia.

“British Columbia is already a world leader in reforestation – but there is far more to silviculture than planting trees,” said Minister of Forests and Range Pat Bell. “Whether it’s the growing market for carbon offsets or next generation forest products, there are significant opportunities that will drive a broader range of silviculture activities. We want to make sure British Columbia’s silviculture framework encourages new investments to maximize the economic, social, and environmental benefits from our forest lands.”

The paper sets a new vision for silviculture: “British Columbia’s silviculture policies encourage investments that maximize productivity, value, and support forest resilience.”

Currently, most silviculture activities in the province are driven by the requirement to reforest harvested areas to a “free-growing” state. The goal is to build on this success at reforestation and expand silviculture’s focus and resulting benefits throughout the broader life cycle of forest stands.

“Our silviculture framework must continue to deliver sustainable forest management while providing the flexibility necessary to face climate change, address the timber supply impacts of the mountain pine beetle epidemic, and produce forests that are suitable for new product and carbon sequestration opportunities,” says Bell. “By consulting broadly with forest sector stakeholders, I’m confident our new framework will make British Columbia a world leader in growing trees.”

Comments on the discussion paper will be accepted until Sept. 30, 2009 and recommendations will be developed in fall 2009. Copies of the survey/comment form are available here.

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 12:05 PM in News by 250 News

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: woodwoman on March 25 2009 12:27 PM

Pat has been busy at the typewriter these days - wants everyone in the North to see how busy he is- must be an election soon!
Silviculture - did he helped out when the seedling firm went down in PG last year? No, but now he is going to create a new framework - who actually believes him?

Posted by: camoose on March 25 2009 2:54 PM

In answer to your question Woodwoman - I certainly don't believe a word this puppet utters.

Posted by: caranmacil on March 25 2009 6:05 PM

Maybe you guys are right, maybe not. But helping out a seedling firm has nothing to do with successful silviculture programs. There is no resulting shortage of seedlings, nor has there been a significant increase in the price of seedling due to the removal of a nursery from active production. There is still room for someone to take over the nursery and run it in a profitable manner without taking on the debt load the old firm accrued (or getting the govt to guarantee it).

Posted by: gus on March 25 2009 8:35 PM

"There is no resulting shortage of seedlings, nor has there been a significant increase in the price of seedling due to the removal of a nursery from active production"

Less lumber sold = less trees harvested = less trees planted = less need for seedlings. Simple economic equation.

What is left out of the equation? The reduction of tree stock due to a major epidemic. Who should pay for the reforestation of beetle killed wood - government, licensees, man in the moon?

BC is working its way to the lowest tree planting year for at least a decade, if not more. That is at the same time that the MPB have devastated the forests.

Read the following to get a better understadning of how the responsibility of planting of trees has shifted from government to licensees starting some two decades ago http://www.bcbusinessonline.ca/bcb/top-stories/2008/08/01/stumped-b-c-reforestation?page=0%2C1

Read the following to see the background from a nursery point of view.

http://www.workingforest.com/node/379

Then write about it with some knowledge rather than shooting from the hip.