Salvage logging a poor option

PRINCE GEORGE – Scientists last Monday evening called for a drastic change to BC’s logging of forests burned by fire and affected by insects. They said “salvage” logging after a fire usually causes more damage to a forest than the fire itself, and explained that logging reduces biodiversity, contributes to climate change, increases the vulnerability of the forest to further fires, and often causes soil degradation and erosion.

They said the only reason for “salvage logging” is to create revenue and jobs, but these benefits aren’t worth the costs. One also noted that little of the revenue is of benefit to the public because the forest companies obtain the rights to the wood for a pittance.

These scientists were speaking in a panel discussion broadcast as a webinar organized by the volunteer group Conservation North and virtually attended by more than 200 people.