NDP Forest Critic Claims Reforestation In Crisis

Friday, February 04, 2011 04:12 AM

Prince George, B.C. - NDP Forest Critic, Norm Macdonald is accusing the B.C. Liberals of risking both the environment and the economy of rural B.C. by failing to invest in reforestation.

"British Columbia's forests are one of our most valuable public assets, and the provincial governmen has a responsibility to manage that asset in the public interest," says Macdonald. "But instead, this government has consistntly underfunded and understaffed the ministry that should be responsible for ensuring that our forests are properly replanted."

Macdonald issued his criticism in a news release from Kelowna where the Western Silviculture Contractors Association's annual conference is going on. He quotes retired forester, Anthony Britneff, as estimating the area of public forest land that should be designated 'not sufficiently restocked (NSR)' as exceeding 9.1-million hectares, an area three times the size of Vancouver Island.

"We need to listen to professionals like Mr. Britneff and demand that the government take seriously its obligation to protect this vital public asset," says Macdonald and he's challenging the Liberal candidates to put forward their plans to "invest in forest health."

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Posted on Friday, February 04, 2011 04:12 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Boudicca on February 4 2011 9:18 AM

i was under the impression that our gov has been undrfunding reforestation programs for about the last decade?

Posted by: northman on February 4 2011 9:59 AM

Nice try NDP.. Dont waste tax dollars on and use things like this for political agendas.. When...

Really its not the govt and tax payer responsibilty to fund reforestation..Unless the govt was the tenure holder one a piticular stand this may be the case.. Its the responsibility of the forest tenure holder..Lets use canfor for example.. To sufficanlty re stock harvested areas/tenures which they are responsible for.

Posted by: Jakersdonk on February 4 2011 10:11 AM

and they do a good job, forest tenure holders. 9.1 million hectares is crap. That may the area in the province between primary harvest and planting, which is about 12-18 months before the land is SR after harvesting. Legal is 4 to 7 years.

Posted by: retired senior on February 4 2011 11:17 AM

Anytime you hear the NDP speaking about the forestry industry it always reminds me when Moe Sohoto was Min.of Forests stated that as long as he had that position there would be no trees cut in Prov. parks, after they had been warned abour the pine beetle. Now they trying to swing the blame on somebody else. Typical NDP

Posted by: giterdun on February 4 2011 11:36 AM

Forest tenure holders ARE responsible to re-plant,however a lot of the bugkill pine logged in the past few years was on crown land. I have been told that these are the areas which have not been re-planted. They are the responsibility of the Min of Forest,and they have dropped the ball. If I am in error, someone please correct me.

Posted by: chrislivingdowntown on February 4 2011 11:49 AM

Note: reposted comment.)Makes me sick they even still exist actually. People that belong to the B.C.G.E.U will vote for the N.D.P because it is in their best interest to do so. They are the ones making the most money here in Prince George besides the drug dealers. Go figure eh.

Posted by: Jakersdonk on February 4 2011 2:35 PM

giterdun, your info is not factual. All of the bugkill pine logged is on crown land, except those small area of lands owned in private land by citizens. Crown lands are rapidly replanted. Rapid is up to two years from harvest. That is a resaonable timeframe. No balls are dropped. Call the top dog, the District Manager and quiz him.

Posted by: Slim2229 on February 4 2011 2:51 PM

Hey Chris:
I was in that union for a while. Never voted for them as NDP put us on strike over
0,1,1% over three years. They talk the talk, get the union on side then the good ol' shaft. Never voted for them, never will.

Posted by: Brownshoe on February 4 2011 4:47 PM

NDP ya nice try lets go back when the bettle kill started

Posted by: astro on February 4 2011 5:51 PM

Gee you want to go back to when the beetle kill started. Which kill was that? Was it 2 000 years ago, 50 000 years ago? It has been around for a long time and it is all over the area around the Rocky Mountains. I was in Colorado a few years ago and they were struggling with it. Stop blaming this on the NDP.