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  Recent reports from a variety of sources such as major banks and independent think tanks confirm that British Columbia's economy is going through a very real rejuvenation. While there are a number of factors at play the current provincial government can take a bow for playing a significant role in creating a much improved investment and business climate in the province. There is a level of confidence in the business community not seen for many years. However, it must disappoint government officials when they see one sector played off against another rather than celebrating the successes being enjoyed. Too often commentators fall into the trap of comparing one industry to another when we should be working towards stability and growth in all sectors. "Tourism will replace forestry" is one comment that never ceases to amaze me. We have a great tourism industry in BC and one that should be supported and its growth nurtured. But a quick read of Stats BC's Tourism Monitor confirms that tourism's contribution to our province's gross domestic product (GDP) is one-half that of forestry. And when you consider just how much of the travel business in BC is business travel generated by the forest industry it really does drive home the point that we must take pride in the sectors we have and work to develop them all, not one at the expense of another. What this issue does highlight is the need for the forest industry and those who depend upon it to ensure British Columbians understand the significance of the contribution made to our Province's economic stability by the sustainable use of our forests.  John Allan |
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Professor Cashore studied and compared the forest policy regulations and practices in 38 international jurisdictions. His team of researchers visited the jurisdictions and reviewed circumstances that ranged from western European countries with a long history of forest management, through BC provinces and U.S. states to developing countries that must manage sensitive forests in the midst of political upheaval and uncertainty. The study looked at how each of the jurisdictions responded to five key forest practices criteria - riparian zone regulations, clear cutting regulations, road building, reforestation requirements and allowable annual cut regulations. It also looked at plantation management, biodiversity, enforcement and third-party certification. The resulting report will be a valuable tool for Canada and British Columbia in confirming for our customers in established and emerging markets that they can be confident in our forest regulatory regime and performance in meeting those regulations. The report, entitled "Global Environmental Forest Policies: Canada as a Constant Case Comparison of Select Forest Practice Regulations", provides us with convincing evidence that forest practice regulations in Canada and B.C. are among the most stringent in the world. For more information and a link to the report go to: www.bcforestinformation.com |
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 The year's largest gathering of forest practitioners in North America will occur when forestry professionals from Canada and the United States meet October 2-6 in Edmonton, Alberta. Organized under the theme "One Forest Under Two Flags," the program for this international gathering offers attendees new discoveries and insights about the forests that extend into both countries and will enhance the collegiality and camaraderie between forest practitioners on both sides of the border. The meeting will be organized by the Society of American Foresters (SAF) and the Canadian Institute of Forestry/ Institut forestier du Canada (CIF/IFC). The meeting will offer numerous scientific and technical sessions and opportunities for professional development that are available nowhere else. Sessions devoted to international forest management, North America's forest products marketplace, sustainable forestry, forest health, fire management, and ecological restoration have been scheduled, and there will be a host of papers and posters on topics ranging from ecological forest management to enhanced fiber production. Several technical field workshops and tours to several of Alberta's newest and most productive lumber mills are planned, as are outings to the region's leading forest research and development facilities. The joint meeting between CIF/IFC and SAF will be the latest in a long series of meetings between the two national forestry organizations that began in Ottawa in 1930. More recent meetings have taken place in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1978; Quebec City in 1984; and Anchorage, Alaska, in 1994. For more information about the CIF/IFC and SAF Joint 2004 Annual General Meeting and Convention, visit the SAFwebsite at http://www.safnet.org/convention/index.cfm or the CIF/IFC site at www.cif-ifc.org. The Canadian Institute of Forestry/Institut forestier du Canada (CIF/IFC) is the national voice of forest practitioners. The CIF/IFC (formed in 1908) organized in 23 sections across Canada represent members who are foresters, forest technologists and technicians, educators, scientists and others with a professional interest in forestry. The Society of American Foresters is a nonprofit organization that represents more than 17,000 professional foresters and natural resource professionals. It is the scientific and educational association representing the profession of forestry in the United States. The Society's primary objective is to advance the science, technology, education, and practice of professional forestry for the benefit of society. One Forest Under Two Flags - Joint AGM/Convention CIF/IFC and SAF website: www.cif-saf-2004convention.org |
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Look for excerpts in future editions but, if you can't wait, you can buy the book at: Mosaic Books, Kelowna, 1 (800) 663 -1225 for $29.99 or through the publisher, Manhattan Beach Publishing, 1850 Abbott Street, Kelowna, V1Y 1B5, also available at boardsboxesbins@yahoo.ca |
The facility has a completion date of late 2005. It will create some 300 construction jobs over the 18 month construction phase and, when in full production, will provide 150 jobs in the mill and 300 jobs in harvesting and forestry operations. The mill will cover an area the equivalent of 10 football fields and is designed to produce 820 million square feet of paneling from 1.1 million cubic metres of aspen and cottonwood. The use of deciduous timber from the Peace River area will complement the existing coniferous timber based sawmill industry and the pulp and OSB production from deciduous timber in the area. Taking advantage of the fact that it is an entirely new project, the venture has been able to arrive at a memorandum of understanding with six Treaty 8 First Nations on issues related to incremental business and employment opportunities as well as resource planning and development approaches in the area. For further information contact: Lee Coonfer, Manger Public Affairs and Corporate Communications, Canfor (604) 661-5225 or David Dugan, Manager Corporate Communications, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (503) 821-5285. |
99% of the time the government's inspections of major licensees forest management actions found full legal compliance with the very onerous and stringent Forest Practices Code Act of British Columbia - a job well done by all! For more information see the MOF website: www.for.gov.bc.ca/hen/ |
The embodied energy in building includes the non-renewable energy consumed in the acquisition of raw materials, their processing, manufacturing, transportation to the site and construction. The operating energy includes the non-renewable energy required to heat and cool our buildings. By combining the effects of both the embodied energy of the structure and the operating energy of the building, the designing community and governments now have a better understanding of the impact of their choice of building material. The publication will be distributed to 25,000 architects, engineers, governments, academia and wood manufacturers. A French version will soon be made available. For more information, please contact Linda McPhee by phone: (613) 747-5544 ext. 227 or go to the CWC website: www.cwc.ca |
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 Please see the June newsletter for a comprehensive summary of the status of Canada's softwood lumber trade litigation. Key upcoming dates/decisions include:
For more information please see the following websites: BC Lumber Trade Council: www.bclumbertrade.com Government of Canada: www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/eicb/softwood/menu-en.asp Government of BC: www.for.gov.bc.ca/HET/softwood/index.htm |
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 On July 7, 2004, the Environmental Management Act (EMA) was brought into force. Additionally, two new Regulations were registered, and a number of others were amended. Briefly, this includes:
Courtesy of: Janice H. Walton janice.walton@blakes.com Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP Phone: (604) 631-3354 Fax: (604) 631-3309 |
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