NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release 2008FOR0108-001091 July 11, 2008	Ministry of Forests and Range
RESEARCH FOREST INVIGORATES RESOURCE EDUCATION IN NORTH

PRINCE GEORGE – The Province is offering the College of New Caledonia a research forest through a special use permit to help train natural resource management students and serve as a centre of applied research in Prince George, Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell announced today.

 

“The B.C. forest sector is faced with some tremendous opportunities,” said Bell.  “We need to become world leaders in growing trees, we need to maximize the value from our existing resource, and with the growing global focus on environmental values and climate change, we can market our products based on the strength of our environmentally sustainable practices. By supporting applied research and the training of skilled forest managers and technicians, the proposed forest tenure for the College of New Caledonia will help ensure our industry’s continued success.”

 

The Province is consulting with five First Nations in the area regarding 11 parcels of land in the Prince George Forest District that have been proposed to form the research forest. The proposed land parcels cover about 12,000 hectares and would be added to the college’s existing 600-hectare woodlot to form the forest. The research forest will support the college’s redeveloped resources technology program, which expects to accept students for the fall 2009 term. The proposed research forest would have an allowable annual cut of about 27,000 cubic metres per year that could generate as much as $300,000 in revenue a year, which would be reinvested in the college’s forest and resources technology program.

 

                “The College of New Caledonia strives to provide its students with the skills, leadership and experience that the workforce demands,” said College of New Caledonia president John Bowman. “The research forest will enhance students’ academic and practical experience and prepare them for successful careers in forestry and other natural resource management fields.”  

 

The college is redeveloping its former forest resource technology program into an environmental forest management program for the 2009/10 academic year. The redevelopment of the program is supported by a coalition of forestry stakeholders including the Ministry of Forests and Range, Council of Forest Industries, Association of B.C. Forest Professionals, University of Northern B.C., Canfor, Canadian Institute of Forestry, Central Interior Truck Loggers Association, Consulting Foresters of B.C. and the Western Silviculture Contractors Association.

 

“In the next few years, the forest industry could very well be looking at a shortage of qualified and well trained workers and the research forest and program could help fill that void,” said Council of Forest Industries vice-president for northern operations Doug Routledge. “Government and industry representatives have all worked together to support the college’s efforts.  Training resource management specialists in Prince George will benefit B.C.’s workforce, economy and environment.”  

 

After First Nations consultations are complete the college will be required to prepare a management plan for the research forest. The forest resource technology program is anticipated to be in operation at the College of New Caledonia’s Prince George Campus in the fall of 2009.

 

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Contact:

Sophia Proctor Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Forests and Range 250 387-4592

Steve Raper Manager, Marketing & Enrollment College of New Caledonia 250 561-5869

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