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Joseph C. Whitehead,
former publlisher of the Journal of Commerce and BC
Lumberman, anchors BC Scene's first Forestry Edition, to be
launched in December, 2001. Six leaders from BC's Forest
Industry will provide a unique perspective on the future of
British Columbia's largest employer.
"The task force will develop a detailed action plan by mid-September which will include a major public awareness campaign in BC," said NFPA president Greg Jadrzyk. "Without a co-ordinated and long-term strategy, the infestation could go through the roof next year. By the year 2002, it could more than quadruple in some areas of the province," said Jadrzyk. It is known that in 1998, 125,289 hectares were visibly infested by the Mountain Pine Beetle. The 1999 survey indicated an increase of 40 per cent to 175,000 hectares, because of mild winter conditions over the past few years. Experts believe that the actual area of infestations is several times larger than the 175,000 hectares of visible damage because it takes at least one year for infested trees to show visible damage. The Mountain Pine beetle is one of three major bark beetles found in BC. The two other major varieties are the spruce beetle and Douglas-fir beetle. The Mountain Pine beetle accounts for approximately 80 per cent of the total area of beetle infestation in the province. The CLMA-NFPA task force will focus only on the west central Mountain Pine beetle infestation, the most severe, largest and fastest growing infestation in the province covering an area that some experts estimate will cover 300,000 hectares or more when this year's field assessments are complete. Jadrzyk emphasized that while both industry and government have targeted resources in the past to control the Mountain Pine Beetle, the alarming increase in infestation, especially in the northern and central regions of the province, shows clearly that a great deal more must be done immediately if the epidemic is to be stopped. Jadrzyk praised Forest Minister Dave Zirnhelt and Environment Minister Joan Sawicki for their announcement today of an extra $7 million in funding to combat the problem. "The funding will be very well received by the forest industry and it provides an excellent beginning to the work that will be done by the industry task force," he said. Des Gelz, task force Chair and VP, Wood Products of Northwood Inc. said that, "the measures that are now needed require a strong government-industry collaborative response, and that is what we have with today's announcement from the government. Industry is prepared to work closely with government and to direct harvesting efforts where they will do the most good." He also indicated that industry is looking forward to working with staff in the Ministry of Forests and the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks in combating this epidemic in the working forest. Some of the needed government measures already identified by the task force include: • A declaration of a state of emergency by the government of BC so that government processes can be streamlined; • Increased aerial and ground information collection activities to allow for aggressive and jointly-developed beetle management plans; • Accelerated road construction to permit access to stands most at risk to infestation; • Enhanced programs to reduce pine beetle populations; and, • Added regulatory flexibility to speed approval of measures needed to protect trees that are most susceptible to pine beetle attack. While estimates on economic impact vary, it is generally accepted that the pine beetle infestation is likely to cost the province hundreds of millions of dollars in reduced industry and government revenues. A study carried out on behalf of the province in 1993 showed that a $4.5 million pine beetle control program resulted in a net benefit of $72 million in stumpage and lumber value recoveries. For further
information contact:
Web Site:
2,000 Forest Workers Battle Beetle Epidemic PRINCE GEORGE - The efforts of about 2,000 forest workers in west central BC are being focused on a full scale battle to check the epidemic spread of the Mountain Pine Beetle. Details of a forest industry action plan to check the spread of the deadly beetle were announced here today by Northern Forest Products Association (NFPA) Chair Des Gelz and Cariboo Lumber Manufacturers' Association (CLMA) chair Lloyd White. Members companies of the NFPA and CLMA joined forces this summer to form an emergency task force. Plans drawn up by that task force embrace logging activity in Quesnel, Vanderhoof, Lakes and Morice forest districts. Gelz told reporters: "Licencees on the front lines of the infestation are redirecting up to 85 per cent of their annual allowable cuts (AAC) to beetle management in the 1999/2000 season in an attempt to get ahead of the epidemic." "Experts believe the epidemic will soon cover an area spread over at least 300,000 hectares - that's 30 times the size of Vancouver," Gelz added. White said: "Our companies will use a variety of techniques and will look to the Ministry of Forests (MoF) and the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (MELP) for assistance to speed approvals and quickly reforest areas harvested." The CLMA chair emphasized that the beetle battle will be waged in a manner that protects the ecological integrity of the forest. Joint industry/MoF commitments, involving the expenditure of $12 million this year, include: • Aerial overview flights and mapping of three million hectares of forest; • Ground assessments on 35,000 hectares; • Single tree treatments of 50,000 hectares; • Small scale salvage on 4,500 hectares; • Building 570 kms of additional roads; • Redirecting existing AAC to beetle attacked stands. FOR MORE INFORMATION
CALL: KEVIN BROWN NFPA, |
