It is no overstatement that the outcome of the October 19th election will be hugely pivotal to the future of the province, especially given the dichotomy of the two main political parties, in particular, with their views on the natural resources sector, including forestry.
This election will arguably be the first true expression of public support for the governing NDP’s policies since they were first elected to as a minority government in 2017. The last election was more about strategic maneuvers to strengthen the NDP’s standing than a rigorous debate on policies. As such, policy changes of the last four years will be put to the ultimate test of public opinion with this current election.
A tight race offering different visions for the province means British Columbians will make a choice on the forest sector; continue with the NDP and have faith in their forest policy trajectory to reshape the forest industry or shift to the Conservatives, which will bring more change, albeit with intentions which seems to be more supportive of the forest industry
One thing is for certain, the current state of affairs of the BC forest industry is not tenable.
I have reviewed what is available for forestry related platforms from the NDP, Conservatives and Green parties. While there are elements from each that piqued some interest, there are other elements that are not so good ideas to be quite frank. Rather than analyze each platform I have decided to present my own platform of ideas. I am not running to be elected, but perhaps with this presentation, I can influence the next governing party to consider adopting ideas that come from an independent forester who thinks about policy on a daily basis.
The following platform ideas have been inspired by observing the major themes shaping the future of forestry.
It’s not your grandfather’s industry anymore! Traditional forestry had largely been dominated by an industrial perspective – harvest and grow trees for a manufacturing facility. Various factors including consequences from past actions, greater understanding of the changing natural environment, the rightful rise of indigenous voices has driven an evolution. As a result, contemporary forestry management is guided by several objectives.
Forestry in BC is no longer just about trees, but rather it is becoming about wildfire management considering 8% of the province burnt in the last decade. Wildfire management is not about putting fires out but learning to live with fire. That happens with wildfire mitigation work such as fuel reduction treatments which are effective and in doing so make for tangible management of carbon.
Another reality is that First Nations control and influence is rapidly increasing. Rising First Nations ownership of AAC and the fact that no forestry is practiced anymore without First Nations consultation is a dramatic shift from thirty years ago. The resultant is:
Forestry = Wildfire Management = Indigenous Forestry
However, there is one component that must not be discounted. The forest industry has an important role in terms of its economic function but also in providing the actual physical capacity to serve as the recipient of collected biomass from forest fuel reduction efforts. Therefore, forestry is evolving from an industry centric sector to one that looks like…
Failing to accept this new dynamic in BC forestry will likely lead to policy intentions that will not yield desired results. We need a healthy industry to live with wildfire and to practice indigenous forestry.
With that in mind, herein are my platform suggestions
NATURAL RESOURCES STRATEGY
Create a provincial strategy for resource development. State a commitment to balance between First Nations, ecological, community and capital interests.
Clear direction as how decisions on resource development will be made – with local First Nations, communities and industry given a greater weighting on decisions (as opposed to global frameworks or broader provincial or federal political interests).
A commitment to developing and delivering a balanced natural resources curriculum for elementary and secondary education programs.
FOREST SECTOR ECONOMIC PLAN
Establish an Emergency Task Force to address fibre predictability challenges currently driving BC mill closures (as in lack of permits). At the same time actioning a plan to contend with the expected doubling of US softwood lumber duties by August 2025. (The BC government cannot develop a separate international trade agreement with the federal government of the United States.)
Present a measurable picture of what the forest sector will look like by 2030 and by 2050, supported by a data-driven economic plan that reflects regional strategies, outlining potential products, capital needs and timelines that are coordinated with ecological and social objectives. Include a broad indication of fibre flows and availability.
Set a short-term target for growing the provincial crown harvest at 45 to 50 million cubic metres – because without an aspirational goal, you will never reach it, nor learn what needs to be done to get there. Such a target commitment provides a signal to investors of the government’s commitment.
WILDFIRE
Embrace the principle that wildfire management is the new forest management regime
Commitment of $1 billion of provincial (and federal + NGO/nature-based solutions) funding over next five years for direct investment in developing an action plan and conducting an aggressive forest fuel reduction treatment program to make significant impact in protecting communities. Fuel reduction treatments include thinning (pre and commercial thinning), brushing and prescribed/cultural burning.
Commitment to collaborate with Canadian government to develop a funding model that supports continuous stand re-entries over time to maintain resiliency of forests.
Fuel reduction collected fibre to be used by the forest industry. The connection between a healthy industry and wildfire is key as the industry has the ability to convert collected biomass into the most carbon efficient end-product. Furthermore, by thinning we are supporting the ecological restoration of our forests, improving biodiversity and forest health while supplying fibre to the industry.
Conservation areas should have mandatory forest fuels management plans
No more reviews on wildfire! We have done several reviews over the last 30 years and achieved minimal action.
Update forest management practices such as silvicultural practices (like species selection and stocking standards), harvesting practices, and promotion of commercial thinning.
Create a new form of area-based, community forest-like tenure covering a two-kilometre radius or the wildfire urban interface area surrounding communities. Primary focus of this new tenure is to conduct wildfire resiliency treatments. Economic returns to be used to fund continued treatment work.
Licensees can obtain stumpage credits for carrying out forest fuel reduction treatments that do not generate sawlogs (i.e., brushing stands, prescribed burning).
Support the salvage harvesting of burnt areas, no matter the land designation, given that fire behaviour has become more intense and severe, making the impacts of reburn all that more destructive. Salvaging burnt areas serves to capture fleeting economic value, promote (and fund) restoration for returning burnt stands to supporting the return of wildlife habitat and timber production faster than if left to a natural recovery.
Develop a biomass recovery program using burnt non-merchantable fibre in new non-traditional forest products and support pelletization for community use or for export.
BCTS
Transfer economic benefits and control of BCTS to First Nations. As part of economic reconciliation, all (100%) of net returns to be given to First Nations. Executive management will be First Nations led, using regional boards/councils along local with community representatives. The better the First Nations-led program performs the more economic benefits generated for First Nations.
As much as I don’t want to have strings attached to economic reconciliation, the following commitments will be asked of First Nations in exchange:
1. As long as the province continues to require auction data from timber sales to support a Market Pricing System (MPS) for the stumpage system, all timber under a new First Nations-led program to be sold by auction following the rigors of the auction system.
2. First Nations to endorse the whole-sale conversion of the volume-based tenure (Forest Licences) to some form of area-based tenures.
FOREST TENURE
Convert volume-based tenures to area-based licences. Ensure the process is equitable to current volume-based tenure holders and manufacturers.
Increase the number of Community Forest Agreements (possibly to 20% of AAC), Woodlots and First Nations Woodland Licences.
NATURE BASED SOLUTIONS
Unlock the value of the “land” by allowing area-based tenure holders, indigenous and non-indigenous, to share in the value generation from nature-based solutions, particularly, those projects that fund wildfire resiliency efforts, support jobs and industry function.
IMPROVING COMPETITIVENESS
Provide a BC Carbon Tax rebate on timber harvesting activities until such time that suitable alternatives to fossil-fuel energy sources become commercially available.
Support innovation for reduced or net zero-emission mobile equipment in remote settings used for in-block activities (yarders, bunchers, skidders etc) and log hauling (tractors/trucks).
Expand the Provincial Sales Tax’s production machinery and equipment exemption (PM&E) to include logging trucks and logging road building equipment (PST Bulletin 112).
Monitor and support forest sector needs for skilled labour development. To do so, consider a refundable tax credit for the forest sector to offset the on-the-job costs of training for contractors.
Review the Ministry of Forest’s appraisal system for appropriate coverages of increased costs, adopting indigenous forestry practices, innovations in forest management practices and activities supportive of ecosystem restoration and wildlife habitat enhancement.
FOREST MANAGEMENT
Streamline Forest Landscape Planning and give local industry a seat at the table. Seek to replace the cutting permit process with a simpler process using the Forest Landscape Plans. Provide increased resources for First Nations-led process to accelerate the completion of plans.
Stop work on the Draft Framework on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health. It is impractical to implement, and equally, is redundant to the direction of the First Nations guided FLPs as well as the professional commitments of foresters and biologists. Bottomline, the Framework is paternalistic, special interests driven, will add costs, increase uncertainty, and is not aligned notionally with supporting local management decisions.
Exit the 30% by 2030 commitment for protection of biodiversity, given it is a top down, global framework that services special interests’ agenda.
Instead, let the work of locally developed Forest Landscape Plans (FLPs) be responsible for managing biodiversity.
Commit to promoting commercial thinning (good for wildfire mitigation, wildlife management and fibre generation for sustaining mills). In doing so, commit to reducing the practice of clearcutting, where ecologically appropriate and suitable to replace with various canopy retention silvicultural systems, particularly in parts of the interior where retention supports wildfire resiliency and wildlife habitat.
Invest in updating growth and yield information in second growth stands to improve understanding of site productivity and timber supply.
VALUE ADDED MANUFACTURING
Greater capacity utilization of primary mills as promoted by other elements in this platform will increase the availability of fibre for value added manufacturing.
Set targets for value added manufacturing based on development of a comprehensive strategy.
To create access to fibre for secondary manufacturers, establish a program to become a clearing house for fibre – Crown corp buys large volume of primary product for resale to smaller value-added manufacturers at market pricing.
LOG EXPORT POLICY
No more prohibitive changes!
This editorial opinion was based off of the September 2024 edition of the View From The Stump, newsletter.
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Written By David Elstone, RPF
Publisher, View From The Stump newsletter
Managing Director, Spar Tree Group Inc.