Photo courtesy BC Gov/ Flickr
Forestry

BC Pulp and Paper Coalition ecstatic over quick action on fire-damaged fibre plan

Jan 25, 2023 | 5:45 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – As forestry operations across the province struggle to obtain adequate fibre to keep the gears turning on sawmills and pulp and paper mills, changes are being made.

After calls from Joe Nemeth, Manager at the BC Pulp and Paper Coalition to fund a fire-damaged fibre recovery program, the province has sprung into action.

The $50 million program will be administered by the Forest Enhancement Society of BC, targeted at salvaging fire-damaged stands across the province.

Nemeth said this will aid pulp mills to keep the doors open for years to come, with big benefits especially in Southern BC where forest fires have burnt across landscapes in recent years. Northern BC will also see some benefit to the program.

“This is a major positive step towards resolving the single biggest issue the B.C. forest sector is currently facing: lack of economic fibre. It is supported by work that government and industry have completed since the fall of last year through the Pulp Fibre Supply Task Force,” said Nemeth. “Salvaging fire-damaged stands and logging waste will result in significant environmental and social benefits for the Province.”

Click here to report an error or typo in this article