Window for Public Input on Silviculture Set to Close

Saturday, September 26, 2009 05:05 AM

Prince George, B.C. Time is running short for submissions on the silviculture discussion paper that was initially released in March of this year.

The discussion paper, Growing Opportunities: A New Vision for Silviculture in B.C., seeks to develop a new framework to help guide silviculture investments and make British Columbia a world leader in growing trees.

"We've been consulting with some of the most knowledgeable and insightful groups within B.C.'s forest sector," says Minister of Forests and Range, Pat Bell, "Their expert advice will help ensure our forests provide the greatest possible benefits to British Columbians."

Since the discussion paper was released in March, the Ministry of Forests and Range has received 126 web-based responses and 25 written responses from individuals and groups involved in silviculture. The contributors range from contractors, land managers and First Nations, to Ministry of Forests and Range staff.

"I'm extremely pleased with the enthusiasm the stakeholders have demonstrated," said Parliamentary Secretary for Silviculture John Rustad. "Their contributions will help us determine how to best encourage activities that maximize productivity, value, and support
forest resiliency."

The public can continue to provide input into the discussion paper until Sept. 30, 2009. The Ministry of Forests and Range will consider all information gathered during the public review period when it develops recommendations for a new silviculture framework. Recommended potential policy and legislation stages will be further consulted with industry and First Nations in early 2010.

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Posted on Saturday, September 26, 2009 05:05 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: gus on September 27 2009 10:06 AM

I find it unbelievable that the MoF is still pussyfootin' around this issue. The MPB has been around for a decade or so by now. The scenarios have been studied to death. We have given money to OBAC and various other regional organizations in the tens of millions to look into this, we have had proposals of what to do and in the meantime we are planting fewer trees than ever before because the MoF and the licensees cannot come together to figure out how to reacg to this and who should pay to get the forested land back up into an ecologically sound state and a prodcutive state at the earliest possible time.

Had we started to plant 10 to 20% of the land base that was productive pine forest with fast growing Aspen/Poplar, or other associated variety plantations as they do in Oregon and Minnesota, we would be 10 to 15 years from harverst by now to mitigate the downfall of the access to harvestable timber.

In addition, little has been done to mitigate forest fires in dead pine stands.

This entire situation has been handled as if tomorrow will never come. Well, tomorrow is here and thes people are still only talking while we spend the money on fighting real forest fires, letting the wood and the money go up in smoke.

The smart money was with intensive silviculture at least 5 years ago if not longer. Why are they still talking rather than doing??????

Oh, yes, it is government. I forgot.

Posted by: caranmacil on September 27 2009 11:54 PM

Gus thats BS. The responsibilities for reforestation of harvested lands are spelled out pretty clearly and licencees are reforesting what they cut, as per the law.
Aspen and poplar do not grow swiftly on all sites. Nor would it be responsible forest management to replace high value softwood stands with low value hardwoods, especially when the processing facilities do not exist and are not expected to.
Its true, the government is in charge of managing our forests. More precisely it is trained professionals who do so. There are rules to follow and scientific and economic realities to respect.
Oh yes, this is 250, I forgot.

Posted by: caranmacil on September 27 2009 11:55 PM

By the way, this isnt oregon. It takes a bit longer to rotation up here.