Prince George, B.C.- The third update on the progress from the Forestry roundtable indicates positive results continue.

 

"As the forest sector has begun to recover over the last few months, one of the keys to success has been the ability for the entire sector to work together," said Bell. "While our overseas markets continue to grow, we've also made remarkable progress in the other priority areas identified by the roundtable."

 

Examples of progress in response to roundtable recommendations include:

 

* Twenty-seven local governments have adopted Wood First resolutions, bylaws or policies requiring wood be considered as the primary building material in municipally funded buildings since the Wood First Act came into effect.

 

* Sixty-eight mid-rise, wood-frame buildings planned around B.C. because of changes to the B.C. Building Code that increased the limit on wood-frame construction from four storeys to six.

 

 

Formed in March 2008, the Working Roundtable on Forestry released its report one year later with 29 recommendations aimed at all forest sector stakeholders to achieve "a vibrant, sustainable, globally competitive forest industry that provides enormous benefits for current and future generations and for strong communities."

 

The Roundtable Report set six priorities to help achieve the vision:

 

1. A commitment to using wood first.

2. Growing trees, sequestering carbon, and ensuring that land is available from which to derive a range of forest products.

3. Creating a globally competitive, market-based operating climate.

4. Embracing innovation and diversification.

5. Supporting prosperous rural forest economies.

6. First Nations becoming full partners in forestry.