Tag Archives: mountain pine beetle

British Columbia Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson issued the following statement today with regard to proposed amendments to the Forest Act that would enable the conversion of volume-based forest licences to area-based forest licences:

“The mountain pine beetle infestation has had a devastating environmental impact on the province’s Interior forests and significant economic impact on forestry-dependent communities. It is important that the provincial government have as many tools as possible to enhance mid-term timber supply.

“In response to the 2012 Special Committee on Timber Supply’s report and to improve forest stewardship and support community resiliency, we proposed amendments to the Forest Act that would enable the conversion of volume-based forest licences to area-based forest licences.

“Area-based tenures can act as an incentive for enhanced silviculture, since the licence holder who is making the investment will gain the benefit, which is not the case for volume-based licences.

“This is an important piece of public policy, however, it has become clear to me that greater public engagement is needed before legislative amendments can proceed. We will therefore be initiating a process of broader public consultation this summer based on the recommendations of the special committee and the proposed legislation.

“More public engagement will ensure everyone is better informed about area-based tenures, their intent and their benefits.”

Source: Government of British Columbia

British Columbia has released a 10 year forest inventory plan with an average annual investment of $8 million over the life of the plan.

Over the next decade, the annual funding increase to $8 million will ensure 35 million hectares are inventoried in mountain pine beetle affected and other priority areas. The plan outlines nine goals, each with five- and 10-year targets, ensuring no forest cover data is older than 30 years, while integrating 100 per cent of harvest, reforestation and fire information updates into the inventory.

Developed in consultation with a variety of industry and academic experts, the forest inventory plan is guided by a common vision for an efficient, reliable and complete forest inventory. Key strategies include focusing resources where need is the greatest, collaborating with stakeholders, public reporting of program performance, and using a mix of new cost-effective technologies such as satellite imagery, high resolution digital aerial photography, and software applications for managing large data sets.

A forest inventory plan is part of B.C.’s commitment to address mid-term timber supply. Information produced by the forest inventory program is used in many ways, such as forest condition forecasts, timber-supply analysis, silviculture, timber-harvest planning, habitat mapping, wildfire risk assessment, and biodiversity assessments.

“We congratulate the ministry for committing to long-term, stable funding for forest inventory. Solutions to a mid-term timber supply must begin with a good forest inventory.”

~ Steve Lorimer, president, Association of BC Forest Professionals

Learn More:
To read the forest inventory plan, visit: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hts/vri/
For more information on the Mid-Term Timber Supply Action Plan and the mountain pine beetle, visit: http://www.gov.bc.ca/pinebeetle

British Columbia introduced amendments to their Forest Act this week that the provincial government say will help improve forest stewardship and support community resiliency in mountain pine beetle impacted areas.

The legislation fulfils recommendations made by the Special Committee on Timber Supply in their August 2012 report, which was based on public hearings and written submissions from First Nations, local communities, industry stakeholders and the public.

The legislation proposes a new section 34.1 be added to the Forest Act that will create the ability to convert volume-based forest licences to area-based tree farm licences at the minister’s invitation. Invitations will be publicly advertised, and applicants must make their application for an area-based licence available for public review and comment for at least 60 days and indicate how they have incorporated public feedback before submitting to the minister.

The minister may reject an application if the best interests of the public are not met. This summer, the ministry will consult with the public on the evaluation criteria and use the results to refine policy before the first application for a conversion to an area-based tenure occurs.

Supporting area-based tenures has a number of benefits, such as creating an incentive for licence holders to make enhanced silviculture and infrastructure investments that will improve the mid-term timber supply. As with other forms of forest licences on Crown land, public consultations on forest stewardship plans and timber supply reviews are required on any new area-based tenures.

Another important legislative amendment will create a supplemental forest licence, which ensures wood fibre can be obtained for bioenergy, pellet producers and secondary manufacturers by providing greater fibre security for licence holders.

The legislation will also create the ability to establish sustainable maximum harvest limits on the amount of low-grade timber credited to a non-sawlog facility. This will ensure access to low-quality timber but prevent overharvesting. A number of related and consequential amendments are also included in the legislation, such as creating regulation-making powers.

On Oct. 9, 2012, the Province announced the Mid-Term Timber Supply Action Plan, consisting of nine sustained and 11 new actions. To facilitate implementation of the action plan, the Province committed to introducing supporting legislation at the earliest possible opportunity.

For more information on the Mid-Term Timber Supply Action Plan and the mountain pine beetle, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/pinebeetle
To view a copy of the bill, visit: http://www.leg.bc.ca/39th5th/1st_read/index.htm

More Information: Guiding principles – Implementation of volume-based to area-based tenures

Conversions of volume-based replaceable forest licences to area-based management will be guided by the following principles:

• The minister will only approve applications for conversions that will provide a clear, measurable benefit to the public. Examples could include:
  • Return of allowable annual cut (AAC) to government to support priority programs such as First Nations woodland licences, community forests, woodlots and BC Timber Sales.
  • Creation of new business models, which are not supported through volume-based tenures, which will provide long-term, incremental employment and revenue, for example, development of the bio-energy sector.
  • Commitments for licensee-funded activities or investments that have a very high likelihood of increasing the AAC of the landbase and/or improving stewardship or other economic opportunities as compared to the status quo.
  • Commitments to conduct a long-term forest management regime that is incremental to the minimum standards required by current legislation and policy.
  • Furthering First Nations’ involvement in the business of forestry over the long term.
• The area proposed for area-based management will support an AAC that is commensurate with the AAC being surrendered under forest licences and commensurate with the general timber supply forecast for the timber supply area as a whole. If the replaceable forest licence holder offers to return AAC to government as part of an application, the new area-based tenure landbase must reflect the reduced AAC.
• The AAC and management of the residual timber supply area will not be unduly impacted.
• The proposed area-based tenure must represent a fair and balanced exchange of rights and opportunity.
• Conversions will support, or not hinder, existing government forest tenure commitments and goals for example, issuance of First Nations woodland licences and expansion of the community forest and woodlot licence programs.
• Conversions will not unduly impact existing forest tenure holders or tenure holders within other resource sectors, for example, oil and gas, mining, and must not result in payment of compensation by government to any tenure holder or stakeholder.
• The protection of Aboriginal interests must be supported.
• Existing land-use plans must be supported.
• The application must be available for public review and comment for at least 60 days, and the applicant must submit the results of the public review process and show how public concerns have been addressed before submitting to the minister for decision.

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport is working to protect the Lodgepole Pine Forest in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park so that park visitors can continue to enjoy the unique landscape.

A contract has been awarded to Duncan Henderson Contracting for up to $240,000 over three years to cut, pile and burn Mountain Pine Beetle infested trees in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. Duncan Henderson Contracting is located in British Columbia where they have been managing the massive die off of lodgepole pine due to Pine Beetle infestation over the past few decades.

In the last four years, Mountain Pine Beetle populations have been steadily increasing and are now threatening the existence of the Lodgepole Pine Forests in the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park and surrounding area.

Historically, outbreaks have been limited by cold winter climate but due to mild winter conditions in 2011, the overwintering survival of Mountain Pine Beetle larva was high resulting in an increased emergence of adult beetles in spring/summer of 2012. The numbers of infested trees have increased from two in 2006 to 433 trees in 2012.

“The Mountain Pine Beetle poses a serious threat,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Kevin Doherty said. “Left unmanaged it could have devastating results. We continue to be pro-active in our strategy to contain infestations so that park visitors to the Cypress Hills area can continue to enjoy this amazing forest.”

The ministry takes a collaborative approach to manage Mountain Pine Beetle on a landscape level with adjacent land holders such as Parks Canada, Alberta Parks, Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Rural Municipality of Maple Creek, Carry the Kettle First Nation, Little Pine First Nation and as well with many private landowners and other stakeholders in the Cypress Hills area.

The Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport works closely with the Ministry of Environment and the Forest Service Branch who will continue to monitor and address the control and management of the Mountain Pine Beetle in the province.

Government has invested $33 million to improve Saskatchewan’s provincial parks from 2008 to 2012.  Government is continuing to improve Saskatchewan’s provincial parks by investing, over and above base capital funding, an additional $10 million in park upgrades from 2012 to 2016.

Source: Government of Saskatchewan

Visit Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park’s website

The British Columbia government has released its response to the Special Committee on Timber Supply’s report, and have included 9 sustained and 11 new actions as part of their governmental action plan.

The Government’s response signals the start of the final phase in its decade-long response to the mountain pine beetle infestation. Since 2001 the B.C. government has invested over $884 million on forest management and economic development in the mountain pine beetle-impacted areas, to assist forestry-dependent communities diversify their economic base.

‘Beyond the Beetle: A Mid-Term Timber Supply Action Plan’ puts a sharper focus on increasing the mid-term timber supply and better utilizing timber for bioenergy and other purposes, to complement the traditional focus on sawlogs.

Highlights of the action plan include a 10-year forest inventory strategy, innovative silviculture practices to grow more trees faster, and landscape fire management planning to reduce risks to the midterm timber supply. Other key elements of the plan includes proposed new legislation to convert volume-based forest licences to area-based forest licences, and the creation of a new supplemental forest licence to increase bioenergy opportunities.

The action plan also supports the special committee’s recommendation to ensure any harvesting in areas set aside for old growth, wildlife and scenic values only be considered if it is scientifically and ecologically sound to do so, and has the support of local communities and First Nations. Some communities have asked the provincial government to consider harvesting within sensitive areas of the timber harvesting land base.

The action plan acknowledges government, communities, First Nations, and forest industry as partners to ensure success, taking into account current fiscal realities. Further funding for reforestation, inventory and fuel management will be reviewed as the fiscal situation improves and the recommendations are fully implemented.

11 new commitments to increase mid-term timber supply

‘Beyond the Beetle: A Mid-Term Timber Supply Action Plan’ identifies 11 new actions in response to the Special Committee on Timber Supply’s Recommendations, specifically:

Recommendation 1.2 – A community engagement framework will be in place by spring 2013 to monitor the intent of land and resource management plans.

Recommendation 2.1 – As part of ongoing ministry business, forest analysis and inventory staff will identify marginally economic stand types during timber supply reviews and quantify their potential contribution to timber supply.

Recommendation 2.2 – A science-based framework to revisit designation of sensitive areas will be ready for discussion with local governments, First Nations and stakeholders in early 2013. As well, the highest priority sensitive areas will be assessed in spring and summer 2013.

Recommendation 2.4 – The applicable government ministries will review, on a case-by-case basis, the feasibility of any new proposed road and power-line infrastructure proposals into currently underdeveloped areas affected by the mountain pine beetle.

Recommendation 3.1(c) – A review of partial cutting harvesting systems and associated training material will be completed by March 31, 2013.

Recommendation 3.3 – The ministry is piloting landscape fire management planning in the Merritt timber supply area and portions of the Prince George timber supply area. As well fire management planning is being incorporated into Type 4 silviculture strategies.

Recommendation 3.4 – A completed analysis of the not sufficiently restocked areas, because of the mountain pine beetle infestation, will be released later this fall. By March 31, 2013, a review of emerging technologies to improve cost-effectiveness of treatments will be completed.

Recommendation 4.4 – During 2013, the ministry will review how unsalvaged losses (timber damaged by natural causes, but not harvested) are estimated during timber supply reviews and ensure necessary systems are in place to more effectively promote utilization of this type of fibre.

Recommendation 5.1 – At the next sitting of the legislature, the minister will introduce legislation to enable the conversion of volume-based to area-based forest licences.

Recommendation 5.2 – At the next sitting of the legislature, the minister will introduce legislation to enable a new supplemental forest licence to provide security to the non-sawlog users of the forest sector and enable changes to the cut control regulation.

Recommendation 6 – Between now and December, ministry staff will be working closely with Hampton Affiliates, local government and First Nations in the Lakes Timber Supply Area to provide Hampton with the security they need for their final agreement to rebuild its Burns Lake mill and to meet the commitments in the minister’s letter of Sept. 11, 2012.

Links:

Read the action plan

A history of government’s battle against the mountain pine beetle: http://ow.ly/eeCn2

Saskatchewan will contribute $450,000 to mountain pine beetle control efforts in Alberta as the two provinces work together to aggressively detect and remove infested trees at the leading edge of the infestation in eastern Alberta.

The partnership agreement provides a framework for a comprehensive regional strategy to combat the beetle before it gets established in Canada’s jack pine forests and aims to stop or significantly slow the beetle’s spread into Saskatchewan’s north.

The mountain pine beetle outbreak has killed approximately 60% of British Columbia’s lodgepole pine forests. Six years ago, the infestation crossed the Rocky Mountains, spreading halfway across Alberta. Research has confirmed that mountain pine beetle can survive in jack pine which means that forests in northern Saskatchewan and across Canada are at risk.

“The mountain pine beetle represents a significant threat to Saskatchewan’s pine forests and to the environmental, social and economic contributions they make to our quality of life,” Environment Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said. “Working with Alberta provides our best chance of preventing this insect from becoming established in our majestic northern forest.”

“We appreciate Saskatchewan’s recognition of the interprovincial implications of mountain pine beetle infestations in our boreal forest and how this impacts our environment, our communities and our economies,” Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Minister Diana McQueen said. “This partnership is a great example of the many ways we work closely with our neighbours to strengthen our region.”

The Government of Saskatchewan is contracting with Great Western Forestry Ltd. to survey forests in Saskatchewan’s northwest and in the Cypress Hills for mountain pine beetle and to mark infested trees for removal. This is the second year the province has contracted with Great Western to a value of $350,000.

“Jack pine makes up 40 per cent of Saskatchewan’s softwood volume upon which a significant portion of our forest industry depends,” Cheveldayoff said. “The mountain pine beetle program will help protect the long-term sustainability of Saskatchewan’s forest and its industry, which currently accounts for more than 2,600 direct jobs and more than $400 million in annual product sales.”

Surveys will begin in September and be completed by November. Last year’s surveys detected no mountain pine beetle in Saskatchewan outside of the known infestation in the Cypress Hills. The information provided by the insect and disease surveys is essential to the development of an effective provincial and regional response.

Source: Government of Saskatchewan

The Vancouver Sun is reporting that the salvage logging of the beetle-killed pine forests in British Columbia is being blamed for moose populations in the interior crashing by up to 70%.

To salvage log the dead pine, harvesters had no limits imposed on the size of the clearcuts.  As a result, extensive habitat of the moose have been eliminated.

Surveys by the B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations over the last couple of winters have discovered serious declines in the moose populations.

The Ministry plans to investigate all possibilities for the decline, and expects to produce a report on the matter in 3-4 months.

Read the article:
B.C. moose ravaged by salvage logging of beetle-killed pine forests – Aggressive drive on pine-beetle killed timber blamed as habitat left exposed and numbers plunge by up to 70 per cent (The Vancouver Sun)

B.C. committed to healthy forests

by Steve Thomson – Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations

Ensuring a sustainable timber supply, with the right mix of tree species, is a top priority for the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.

British Columbia is world-renowned for its sustainable forest management. More than 53 million hectares of land are certified to one of three independent and internationally recognized sustainable forest management standards. That’s more certified land than any other jurisdiction in the world apart from Canada as a whole.

B.C.’s forests are managed sustainably so future generations can also enjoy the benefits from our forests. B.C. has 55 million hectares of productive forests, but of that only 22 million hectares is considerable suitable for commercial forestry. About 155,000 hectares – less than one per cent – is harvested each year.

The current mountain pine beetle epidemic is unprecedented and has now affected over 18.1 million hectares of B.C.’s Interior forests. Since 2001, this government has committed $884 million to the battle the beetle and its economic, social and environmental impacts. This includes funding three regional beetle action coalitions to help them diversify their regional economies.

Equally important over the last 11 years has been this government’s commitment to forest health and reforestation. Aerial forest health overview surveys are done each year to help inform treatments for a variety of forest health pests.

In 2002, legislative changes made it more effective for government to reforest the areas it is responsible. Since 1986, forest companies have been legally required to reforest the areas they harvest and government looks after the rest.

With the advent of the mountain pine beetle infestation, government created the Forests for Tomorrow program specifically to reforest areas impacted by the mountain pine beetle and wildfire that would otherwise remain unharvested. Since 2005, more than $236 million has been invested to survey over one million hectares and plant more than 60 million seedlings over 50,000 hectares.

A recent Forest Practices Board report has reaffirmed the importance of reforesting “not satisfactorily restocked” lands. The current estimate of lands that may need reforesting is about two million hectares.

Ministry staff are surveying those areas and doing a detailed cost-benefit analysis. Some areas may be left for wood bioenergy producers to harvest and reforest, allowing government funds to be focused on other areas.

This government has also been investing in forest inventory, despite the challenges in today’s economic climate. As part of being fiscally responsible, inventory efforts are being focused on areas where knowledge is lacking or conditions are changing quickly because of the mountain pine beetle infestation. The ministry is also increasingly taking advantage of innovative and cost-effective tools (such as satellite imagery) to help ensure a reliable forest inventory.

This government recognizes the economic importance of B.C.’s forests to rural communities and is committed to sustainable forest management to ensure that British Columbians can continue to enjoy the economic and environmental benefits of our forests.

A confidential report was leaked this week indicating the British Columbia government is expecting north-central B.C. to lose 32% – 67% of its timber supply due to the mountain pine beetle epidemic without a mitigation plan.

What are British Columbia’s mitigation options?

• Forest Management – intensive silviculture and stand fertilization
• Harvesting – in areas currently considered uneconomical – due to tree size, volume, or species composition
• Harvesting – in areas managed for non-timber values such as biodiversity, wildlife habitat and scenic areas

Currently, in timber supply areas of Lakes, Prince George, Quesnel, and Williams Lake, there is estimated to be sufficient timber, harvested at pre-beetle levels, until 2020. However, most of that timber is pine that has already been dead for 5-10 years. It is not currently economical to harvest dead pine with a long haul distance from a mill. With the haul distance factored in, there is an estimate of 1.5 years of economically feasible harvest supply in Quesnel, ranger to about 5 years in the Prince George timber supply area.

Whatever mitigation options are used by the provincial government, they indicate in their report that they wish to make their decisions before December 31, 2012 to avoid conflict with the May 2013 election.

Listen to Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources chat with CBC’s Chris Walker.

Read the report – Mid-Term Timber Supply Project for the Minister and Deputy Mister Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations

A British Columbia task force is analyzing the timber supply in the Lakes Timber Supply area.

The Lakes Timber Supply Area – Quick Facts

• 1.1 million hectares of land in north-central BC
• includes the  Village of Burns Lake, and smaller communities including Decker Lake,  François Lake, Grassy Plains, and Danskin
• forest is mostly lodgepole pine and spruce, with balsam at higher elevations and some small isolated areas of Douglas-fir along the shores of Babine and François lakes
• current AAC  is 2,000,000 cubic metres, effective July 12, 2011
• AAC was doubled in 2001, from 1.5 million cubic metres, to about 3 million cubic metres, to slow the spread of the mountain pine beetle, and to recover damaged timber
• AAC was increased again in 2003 to about 3.2 million cubic metres
• pine beetle infestation appears to have peaked in the summer of 2009 and has killed 90% of pine trees available for harvest

What is at stake?

There are big decisions awaiting the analysis of the timber supply, including whether Babine Forest Products will rebuild its sawmill in Burns Lake that was lost to an explosion and fire in January.

Depending on the amount of beetle kill, it is estimated the annual cut could drop to just a quarter of what it was, from 2 million cubic metres, to just 500,000 cubic metres, in five years.

Bill Holmberg, the mayor of Houston, British Columbia, is concerned. Houston Today is reporting that Holmberg said, “I just see some knee-jerk reactions coming up here, and I don’t know if they’re well thought out.” Specifically Holmberg has questioned some of the yield numbers projected by the province.

The task force is looking into several options, including:

• relaxing logging restrictions in scenic areas and old-growth stands, and in the winter ranges of some animals, such as mule deer
• logging in lower-yield stands
• cutting into some of the future timber reserve
• awarding logging contracts that encourage companies to harvest more intensively

Holmberg is also questioning why the province is aiming for a rebuild of the Babine Forest Products mill, which handled 1.1 million cubic metres of wood each year, when a mill that handles 500,000 cubic metres may be easier to sustain?

Read more from Houston Today: Lakes timber supply review raises long-term issues