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“Through the innovative
timber sale licence,
we’re exploring more effective ways to market timber and re-defining
value-added by exploring the potential for new and non-traditional uses for
timber such as biofuels, pulp as well as higher value products,” said
Licences are being advertised this fall by BC Timber Sales business areas to
facilitate harvesting of mountain pine beetle-attacked trees, pulp stands or
other timber. The results of the innovative timber sale licence initiative will be evaluated before
determining whether to expand the program.
During the recent
Regulatory Review, BC Timber Sales was challenged to find ways to develop
timber for market in a more effective manner. Bidders on innovative timber sale
licences will bid a
“lump sum” for the whole licence area, as opposed to submitting a bid based on per cubic metre.
The ministry anticipates that offering timber for sale in this way will encourage buyers to use the whole tree and minimize the amount of waste that’s left in the forest.
Once harvesting
starts, loggers will pay stumpage based on the area harvested rather than a
scale of timber removed. The changes are
expected to improve efficiencies in the sale of timber. They are also expected to enhance ongoing
efforts to reforest areas hard hit by the mountain pine beetle.
BC Timber Sales manages about one-fifth of the province’s allowable annual cut. It manages public forest land, issues licences to harvest timber, and is responsible for reforestation and road construction activities in areas that it manages. Its role is to provide a credible reference point for costs and pricing of timber harvested from public forests in B.C.
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contact: |
Public Affairs Officer 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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