BC - Raw Log Exports
In BC, forestry practises have a lot to answer for. The forest is being stripped off in greath swaths, and replanting is far from 100% {as Alberta has been doing for 20 years now}.
In the West Kootenays, where I live, they are still cutting down the remaining bit of CEDAR forest, which takes a long time to become viable. They do not replant ANY Cedar trees because they grow too slowly for commercial interests. But they SHOULD replant Cedar here and there because of it's immense value as compared to most other trees [not just economic values]
The main point is - Do people in BC realise that we are still doing RAW LOG EXPORTS by the mega load? This practise does not take advantage of milling those tress ourselves - as in "value added". Jobs are lost, and forests disappear more quickly when we export raw logs.
And we do it because of political pressures, bogus trade agreements, etc. BAH!!!
Here is an article/quotes/stats on BC raw log exports:
http://www.bcgeu.ca/time_to_get_serious_about_the_crisis_in_BC_forests_2...
".... to hear Minister of Forests, Mines and Lands Pat Bell tell it, BC's forest industry couldn't be doing better: "The industry is back, it is an incredible success," Bell said in a mid-December article, heralding a "great new era" for BC forest communities.
What minister Bell doesn't tell you is, that forest sector revenue has plunged to just $387 million in 2009-10, from $1.34 billion in 2001.
BC raw log exports have more than doubled in the past 10 years. In Port Alberni, raw log exports were up 65 per cent in 2009 (456,000 tonnes) over the previous year, compared to just 80,000 tonnes of lumber exports.
The real impact has come from more than 70 mill closures, after the BC government dropped the requirement to process wood in local communities. More than 40,000 forest jobs have been lost since 2001.
Depends what you mean by forestry practices. The traditional "forestry" jobs are still being done especially in smaller communities I'm sure. Small equipment owner/operators that run feller bunchers or skidders or processors or whatnot. People who drive logging trucks. heavy equipment mechanics. Basically, trees get cut down and replanted.
Is it just the government's job to get the standing timber cut on Crown land, or do they also get to say who cuts it down and what they have to do with it?
Me personally, I'd like to see more paper mills and value added stuff going on instead of just selling pulp and 2x4's.
But if a company can't keep a mill open in Generic Lake BC do we subsidize it?