By Cheryl Jahn

Quality not quantity

Forests Minister “gets” COFI

Sep 19, 2019 | 4:52 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Forests Minister Doug Donaldson says he has thoroughly read a report completed by the Council of Forest Industries on the future of the industry.

The report, entitled “SMART FUTURE: A path forward for B.C.’s forest products industry,” sets out some dramatic changes to the industry in the coming years, adding it is already a very efficient industry out necessity. It sets out 60 recommendations, with its Number One recommendation being to “define the working forest land base. Like conservation areas, designate the area that will be available for harvesting and lock in the commitment.”

“Generally speaking, there are many of the recommendations that align with what we’re trying to do as a government, which is focusing on maximizing value rather than maximizing volume,” says Donaldson.

COFI says, regardless of the size of a forestry operation, the challenges remain the same with access to a fibre supply becoming tougher and tougher to find.

“All of the jobs that come from being an exporter of high quality being around the world all start with fibre,” says Susan Yurkovich, CEO of the Council.

Downtown Safety

String of downtown fires has business owners fed up

50m ago

UNBC AWARD

UNBC earns Canada West Feature of the Year Award

57m ago

Highway 97 closure

Wildfire causes Highway closure just south of Chetwynd

1h ago

COFI predicts the annual allowable cut will decrease by 30 million cubic metres from its heydey in 2007 when salvage of Mountain Pine Beetle-impacted stands was the priority. But COFI suggests the industry will have to move from quantity to quality.