Input Sought On Local Forest Harvesting

By Michelle Cyr-Whiting

Jon Erickson, Canfor Quesnel, Dan Szekely, Canfor Mackenzie, Scott Scholfield, BC Timber Sales

Prince George, B.C.-  While offering up information to the public, foresters from Canfor and BC Timber Sales (Prince George) are also hoping to generate some new interest in their Public Advisory Groups...

The two companies have an information booth set up at Pine Centre Mall until 9pm this evening to discuss their forestry harvesting in the Prince George Forest District and Timber Forest Licence 30.  The information on-hand includes the Sustainable Forest Management Plans for both areas, information on roadbuilding, and the companies' annual reports.

BC Timber Sales Planning Forester, Scott Scholefield, says, "This is a way to get out to the general public and tell them what we're doing out there (in the forest district) and what kinds of things we're planning and get people's input."  Scholefield says two women from the Dome Creek area stopped to speak very passionately about preserving the old growth forest in their area.  He says others have stopped looking for recreation maps, or just with a story to tell.

Jon Erickson, with Canfor's Quesnel Division, says both companies hope to recruit some new members for their Public Advisory Groups.  "We have PAG groups in Quesnel, Prince George, Fort St. James, Mackenzie, Vanderhoof, and Houston -- we have all these different groups and, depending on a person's interest in their local area, there's always opportunity for them to come and participate." 

Erickson says the PAGs meet regularly and provide input for the development of the Sustainable Forest Management Plans in the region. "So we're always trying to find ways that people can sort of access us and find out about this opportunity (to be involved)."

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