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VICTORIA – The government is permitting limited pine log exports to help increase the harvest of mountain pine beetle damaged trees and speed up reforestation efforts in the north, Forests and Range Minister Rich Coleman announced today.
Under the five-year approval, 500,000 cubic metres of timber a year will be eligible for export from the Northern Interior Forest Region, covering the communities of Prince George, Vanderhoof, Burns Lake, Fort St. James, Mackenzie, Dawson Creek and Fort St. John.
Short-term exports will help make room for beetle timber on B.C. markets and encourage more harvesting and replanting in hard-hit areas. Even though mills are running at full capacity, and new uses for beetle timber are emerging, the infestation has produced more dead wood than can currently be sold and processed domestically.
To further aid forest recovery, the Province has invested $161 million in Forests for Tomorrow to ensure a long-term timber supply through reforestation activities, including surveying, site preparation and planting. By the end of 2006, more than 250 million seeds will be sown under both public and private reforestation efforts.
B.C. log export restrictions remain among the strictest in Canada, with the volume of public timber exported as logs typically representing less than 2.5 per cent of the annual timber harvest.
To ensure all laws, policies and regulations governing log exports in B.C. are working, a comprehensive review was completed this fall. A final report will be shared with both stakeholders and the public.
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Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Forests and Range 250 387-4592 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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