Presenting....

British Columbia

FORESTRY

The History In 1900, investment had grown to $65 million. During the years of development, the provincial government was eager to promote the forest industry. The promotion offered a large number of 21 year leases to cut timber in British Columbia coastal forests. The pressure forced the government to establish Royal Commission on Timber and Forestry. In the history of the forest industry, concerns have grown and people looked for new innovative ways to add value to harvested wood. The development of Canada’s railway system gave the lumbering industry in British Columbia an advantage. Before building the CPR, lumbering was expensive and wasted time to ship lumber to Eastern Canada which lumber exports were small.

In 1992, the provincial government set a goal of protecting 12% of the British Columbia forest as parkland. Logging companies announced that regulations are excessive and difficult to meet. The government response angered environmentalists who want more controlling of harvesting. This investigation led to the 1912 Forestry Act which legislated competitive bidding for the timber leases and established a forestry service to give the new regulations. In 1947, the Forestry Act was modified and for the first time, steps were to made sure that forests do not cut down faster than they were growing. In 1995, the British Columbia government brought the Forest Practices Code, which enforced strict regulations for harvesting and replanting.

The legislation didn’t just limit on size of clear cuts but also protected stream flows and animal habitats and mandated reforestation along with sulviculture. Ever since the act, the government modified some of the legislations more stringent requirements because of declining overseas markets. The 1987 United Nations Report on the Environment that has been controversial inspired the goal. In 1995, the government of British Columbia passed a new Forest Practices Act. Environmental groups like Greenpeace and the Western Canada Wilderness Society wanted clear cutting banned and old-growth forests to be preserved. Spring of 1998, one of the largest forest companies MacMillian Bloedel announced that clear cutting and restrictions on harvesting old growth announced forests will discontinue for over the next five years in favor of selective logging.

The Present Like the Forest Practices Code it is replacing, the new results-based act applies to any forest or range activities on public land that’ll makes up 95 per cent of B.C.’s land base. The new regulatory framework specifies requirements to conserve soils, to reforest logged areas, and to protect riparian areas, fish and fish habitat, watersheds, biodiversity and wildlife also it specifies requirements for the construction, maintenance and deactivation of forest roads. Today, the industry is going really well because B.C. have new technology and has some of the world’s most stringent, environmentally sustainable, forest management practices. We carefully managed forests for the long-term availability and reliability of wood products for our global clients. The Forest and Range Practices Act that will be fully implemented at the end of 2005, will maintain the province’s high level of environmental protection in a more efficient and effective manner.

Employment rate for this industry is 21.6% today. Activities are usually normal, only the traditional forestry stuff happen and animal activities, time to time especially in the summer forest fire happen from global warming. Since the tsunami that hit Indonesia, British Columbia with many other countries, provinces, states help the people there; B.C. shipped wood to Indonesia for the people and helpers to build the buildings, housing back Under the Act, forest companies have to develop forest stewardship plans which outline how they will meet objectives set by government for soils, timber, wildlife, water, fish, biodiversity and cultural heritage resources, and they are held accountable for their on- the-ground performance. Government requires special management of areas of local concern. All activities must be consistent with existing land use plans.

Impact on the Environment These impacts even started in the 1920's with such incidents as damaging insects destroying large areas of forests. Other things like tree diseases have been a problems since the forestry industry began. Issues with insects like the Pine beetle have had devastating effects and destroyed many forests.

An insect just under the size of a centimeter can have horrible effects. Another impact on British Columbia’s forests is the widespread forest fires. In 2003, over 2500 reported forest fires destroyed over 250 thousand hectares of forest and lost almost $5.6 billion dollars in timber. The last cause of destruction of forests is the impact of clear cutting. This method of clear cutting causes great amounts of erosion to the land.

Method of Unsustainable Forestry Practice: The unsustainable method on forestry is clear-cutting. Although clear-cutting is less expensive than selective logging and is safer for the workers, it has more disastrous effects. Such effects are unsightly bare areas, greater erosion and harms wildlife habitat. Method of Sustainable Forestry Practice: The sustainable forestry practice is Selective logging. Selective logging is the method of how diseased or mature trees are removed leaving the young trees to grow more mature. This practice promotes wildlife habitat to flourish and bio-diversity. The process is although more difficult and time consuming, however the area looks more attractive.

Industry Relationships With the Environment: Clear-cutting is an uncommon method among today’s forest industry, it still happens. With the elimination of clear-cutting, we can save areas of forests. Limiting the amount of timber that can be exported to neighboring countries and planting more trees in forested areas are great and effective ideas to limit harm on the environment. Effective measures to decrease the amount of pollution given off by a logging operation would limit green house gases, in turn helping wildfires. Even such actions like preparing for wildfires would save millions of trees and land for future forest development. Pollution 

Economic Value Nearly 45% of all wood logged in Canada is logged in British Columbia. Woodcutting has almost doubled in the last 30 years. Since the 1800s BC’s wood has been shipped worldwide. By the mid-1990s the total value of all forestry products exported for B.C. was $1.5 billion. Today the value of forestry product that contribute to BC's economy is $1.2 billion annually. Though forestry does contribute a lot to BC's economy, the forest industry revenues has gone down by one-third.

Over the past 25 years the revenue in forestry in BC has declining slowly along with job employment. This might be the lack of employment or because the public does not want BC to export all its wood to other countries. Also it might be because BC puts such a low value in its wood. Americans say that BC is dumping its wood in the USA. Since BC’s wood is good quality and cheaper.

Exports: In 2005 British Columbia's forest exports totaled 47% of the entire export. It decrease 3% by After the United States severe hurricane season with disasters like Hurricane Katrina, The Canadian government expects the export sales of timber in Canada to grow another 3% if not more. Sales: The sales in 2004 had a 9% increase since 2003 that total to 15.4 billion dollars in the forestry industry. In 2005 the sales increased by 1% with a total of 15.5 billion dollars. After the free trade agreement in 1989, the export total dramatically changed.

Future projections for the forest industry: Future projections for British Columbia's forest industry are to start making drastic changes to wipe-out the mountain pine beetle. Research has been on going for 3 years and have seen improvements. Another future project is to maintain research and survey long-term and short-term management for forest land, reforestation, fire prevention and fire suppression programs, wildfire management, road building, and insect and environmental protection and prevention. The government also is developing programs for seedling production and nursery operations. With research in seedling production, forest soil, and tree improvements.

British Columbia is the world leader for wood since 1800s 75 million cubic meters produced annually. Used all over the world to build: -Housing -Furniture - Windows, doors, etc. - Buildings British Columbia give high quality, environmentally responsible wood products Excellent wood structures can stand moisture if built, use properly Able to provide warmth for interior and exterior Very durable, resilient give great structures Advance wood treatment and preservatives can withstand bugs and moisture World Market Dependency

Cranny, Michael, Graham Jarvis, Garvin Moles, and Bruce Seney. Horizons: Canada Moves West. Scarborough: Prentice Hall Ginn, May May Credits

Crystal Luu Calvin Leong Shane Berntsen Fiona Kwan Tim Dang