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Joseph C. Whitehead,
former publisher of the Journal of Commerce and BC
Lumberman anchors our quarterly Forestry Scene
Editions, featuring: •Foreign Markets
•Community Stability •Forest Renewal
•Fish and Wildlife Habitat •Watershed
Management •Wood Utilization •Recreation
•Visual Impact •Commercial Values
•Inventory •Selection Logging •Soil
Conservation •Monitoring •Research
•Harvesting •Insects and Pesticides
•Burning •Biological Diversity
•Public Participation. I have had an opportunity to
travel much of our province. I've been awestruck by
our magnificent forests, unrivaled forest
stewardship and world class forest
industry. But I've also been horrified
by how small groups intent on shrinking the
industry and its contributions to the BC way of
life have been able, in the name of the
environment, to wreak havoc upon our province and
our industry, at home and abroad. It's not right. All British
Columbians want a healthy environment. And all want
a healthy economy. But the minority are not letting
us have our say. As a result, public policy has
lost its equilibrium and threatens to undermine our
objectives for balance. It's time for the rest of us
to speak up… and to be heard. If you support these ideas,
let our public leaders know. Make your voice heard.
Attached are some postcards you can use for this
purpose. I urge you to express your views
now. Sincerely Ron J. MacDonald BC
FOREST FACTS: Unrivaled Protected Areas:
more than 300 new protected areas since 1992, we'll
meet the UN target of 12% this year Abundant Old Growth: despite
120 years of logging, 80% of our forests remain
untouched Limited Working Forest; Our
working Forest comprises less than 50% of our total
forested area and we log less than 1% of our
Working Forest each year Full Reforestation: more
than 200 million seedlings, about three for every
tree cut, are planted each year to supplement
natural regrowth. Forestry drives the
economy Provides Good Jobs: industry
supports more than 270,000 direct & indirect
jobs (14% of the workforce) with an average wage of
$50,000/year, compared with the BC average of
$33,000/year. Supports Communities: of the
37 economic regions outside the GVRD that are
dependent on business, 31 are dependent on
forestry. These 31 regions include more than 270
communities. Contributes Significant
Government Revenue the industry and its employees
contribute $4 billion/year to government
revenue. |
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A
trade association incorporated in 1960, COFI is the
provincial voice of the British Columbia Forest
Industry. COFI represents over 100 forest companies
and six forest industry trade associations. Our
member companies operate throughout the province;
manage forest resources; manufacture lumber, pulp,
paper, plywood and other value-added forest
products; and sell these products locally,
nationally and internationally. COFI focuses on
seven major areas: Aboriginal Affairs; Energy and
Environment; Forestry; Markets/Trade; Occupational
Health and Safety; Taxation and
Transportation.
Dear
Fellow British Columbians
The
forest industry has outlined five ideas for
improving forest policy affecting the industry and
the people, communities and businesses that depend
upon it. We call it our "Blueprint for
Competitiveness". I'd be happy to send you a copy
or you can see it at www.cofi.org
World
class forest stewardship