British Columbia announces initiatives to improve coast forest economy
January 17th, 2013 | Posted in Woodlands | 5 comments »
To increase harvesting activity on the coast, the government of British Columbia is exploring the use of new scanner technology for scaling logs, accelerating the auction of an additional 500,000 cubic metres by BC Timber Sales, improving the log-export system and exploring ways to better harvest the timber profile.
Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson announced the initiatives today in his speech to the 70th annual general meeting of the Truck Loggers Association.
BC Timber Sales is accelerating the auction of 500,000 cubic metres of wood between now and June in order to address a shortage in short-term log supply. The new scanner technology uses lasers to determine the volume of a log and could be a more efficient way of scaling. The ministry is also exploring ways to ensure the entire timber profile available on the coast is harvested more consistently.
Log export policy revisions include a change to the fee structure for exporting some logs. Actual export fees charged will be based on the difference between the domestic and export price of logs. With a current average price difference between the domestic and export price, this represents a 20 per cent increase in fees charged for exporting logs from the coast. However, the revised fee does not apply to logs exported under existing Orders in Council. The new fee schedule comes into effect March 1, 2013.
A change in the fee schedule for logs exported under Order in Council from the Mid Coast timber supply area is also coming into effect immediately. The fee on low- and mid-grade logs will be reduced to a minimum of $1.00 per cubic metre for a two-year trial period. The high cost of logging and low value of timber in this remote area has resulted in lessened economic activity. The lower fee should increase harvesting activity in this remote area.
The higher price from exported logs allows forest companies to harvest stands that would otherwise be uneconomic and provide for increased harvesting and economic activity.
The log export review also improves transparency and predictability by clarifying that freight will be considered on any domestic offers for logs proposed for export. The cost of transporting logs from one of four commonly used locations to Vancouver will be a factor considered when addressing bids by domestic buyers.
Other administrative changes include improvements to the log export data system and clarifying policies for timber marking and scaling.
Read more: Steps taken to improve coastal forest economy (includes coastal log export fee schedule)
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so what is that going to do for the coastal mills ? 500,000 meters going to the far east again STOP RAW LOG EXPORTS
i got no problems with roadbuilders,loggers or truckers but what about contruction, operations, packaging and periodic maintainance ! what about us christie ? we got families too what about families first ? your pipelines are pipedreams girl our wood supply is renewable
hey steve thomson are you trying to line you and your frinds pockets before an election ? it reads like a big clearcut
New Log Scanning Technology will not accelerate BC Timber Sales in auctioning off an additional 500 000m3! maybe if the Liberal Government had not “gutted” the Forest Service they would have the administration sell 500 000m3 of timber. The Coastal Scaling community has the resources and the people to Scale and Grade this so-called “additional” volume, this new initiative will destroy good paying scaling jobs and will in fact do more to damage the economy on the Coast but it will support the Corporate Adjenda that the Liberal government supports. As for charging $1.00 per/m3 for low to mid grade logs with bring the ire of the Americans(remember the Softwood Lumber Agreement) These and other forestry initiatives brought in by the Liberals will lead us to a Factory Fibre Farm mentality. Mr Thomson should return agriculture and pick apples.
Mr. Thomson has failed to explain to all of us how they plan on using Log Scanning to Grade(value) the High-grade logs on the Coast or does that not matter to the Liberal government? If we are to have a truly working free-market system for the Coastal Log Markets it must be based on Honest Weights and Measures, Mr Thomson leave the Scaling and Grading of our most precious natural resource to the people who are most qualified; The Coastal Scalers who Licenced to measure and value timber!!! Why are you trying to get rid of Log Scalers? I know; lest their evil deeds be exposed!