Leading off at the conference was Minister of Forests & Range Rich Coleman, who highlighted the steps he is taking to address the competitiveness challenges of the industry as well as the work of the Forestry Roundtable.

The conference provided participants with perspectives from a panel on "Customer's Wants and Needs", comments on climate change policy from Mark Jaccard, as well as Don Roberts of CIBC on "The Convergence of the Fuel, Food and Fibre Markets".

At the Thursday luncheon Premier Gordon Campbell spoke on the critical challenges facing the forest industry and opportunities to find new markets and solutions in the face of the US market collapse. Premier Campbell announced almost $25 million for reforestation, forest health initiatives and to market BC's forest products.

Friday morning saw Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn highlight the importance of the Canada Wood Export Program. Mikael Eliasson, Chairman CEI-Bois, described the pan-European wood advocacy work. The last session focussed on the Canadian forest industry goal to become carbon neutral by 2015, featuring Avrim Lazar of FPAC and Lorne Johnson, Former National Forestry Advisor and Ottawa Bureau Director for WWF - Canada.

Visit the conference page on COFI's website: www.cofi.org/whats_new/default.htm to access copies of the speakers' presentations.

See page 2 for Convention photos and mark your calendar for next year in Prince George on April 1-3.

• April 10-11 – Nanaimo (FULL)
• April 15-16 – Campbell River
• April 22-23 – Fort St. John
• May 5-6 – Port Clements
• May 6-7 – Kamloops
• May 8-9 – Penticton
• May 15-16 - Smithers
• May 26-27 – Quesnel
• May 29-30 – Prince George

There are 25 scheduled Individual Owner Operator (IOO) SAFEty Courses available throughout the province. The IOO SAFEty course provides an overview of the safety responsibilities of an IOO and how to use the SAFEty Log to make your SAFE certification easy and straightforward. It is a 1/2 day course starting in the morning with an optional session in the afternoon. Attendance is a mandatory part of the SAFE certification process.

• April 11 - Quesnel
• April 14 – Prince George – truckers (FULL)
• April 15 – Prince George
• April 17 – Vanderhoof (FULL)
• April 21 – Nanaimo – fallers (FULL)
• April 21 - Duncan
• April 21 – Fort St. John (FULL)
• April 23 – Campbell River - fallers (FULL)
• April 24 – Powell River
• April 24 - Chetwynd
• April 26 – Williams Lake - truckers
• April 28 – Salmon Arm
• April 28 – Houston (FULL)
• April 29 – Burns Lake
• April 29 – Golden
• April 30 – Kamloops (FULL)
• May 1 – Vernon
• May 2 – Fort St. James
• May 2 – Clearwater
• May 5 – Princeton
• May 5 - Nakusp
• May 7 – Squamish
• May 8 – Kamloops
• May 8 - Langley
• May 9 – Port Clements
• May 30 – Campbell River

There are currently 3 scheduled Internal Auditor training courses:

• April 16-18 - Prince George
• May 5-7 - Kamloops
• June 2-4 - Campbell River

Supervisor training courses are also scheduled:

• Basic Forest Supervisor - April 11-12 – Williams Lake (FULL)
• Basic Forest Supervisor - April 14-15 - Prince George (FULL)
• Basic Forest Supervisor - April 24-25 – Courtenay (FULL)
• Basic Forest Supervisor - April 28-29 – Courtenay (FULL)
• Basic Forest Supervisor - May 7-8 – Port Clements
• Basic Forest Supervisor - June 5-6 – Williams Lake
• Basic Forest Supervisor - June 9-10 – Prince George
• Falling Supervisor – April 16-18 – Prince George
• Falling Supervisor – April 30 – May 2 – Courtenay

For updated information check the Council's Training calendar at: www.bcforestsafe.org/content-program-safeco/program-safeco-12-calendar.htm.

The Day of Mourning was initiated by the Canadian Labour Congress in 1984. Canada was the first country to recognize the day formally and today, 24 years later, the Day of Mourning is observed throughout the world. Day of Mourning ceremonies will be held around the province including Prince George, Penticton, Kelowna, Quesnel, Cranbrook, Nelson, Castlegar, and Trail.

Families, workers, employers, and other interested parties are invited to attend many of these events.

For more information, including a list of ceremonies around the province and a toolbox meeting guide, go to the WorkSafeBC website: www.worksafebc.com/news_room/campaigns/day_of_mourning/default.asp.

Are you someone who develops policy, community or land use plans, or conducts management activities in forested areas affected by Mountain Pine Beetle? FORREX Forest Research Extension Partnership, in collaboration with a number of partners, invites you invites you to Prince George, June 10-11, 2008 to attend a conference to listen, contribute, explore, and discuss what we have learned as a result of the past four years of research and other initiatives aimed at addressing the biological, environmental, and socio-economic questions and challenges associated with current mountain pine beetle epidemic, and how we can use this information to help us better plan and manage our natural resources now and in the future.
The registration fee to attend the Mountain Pine Beetle Conference is $150.
Don't forget to RSVP for the wrap up banquet on the evening of June 11th.

Registration Fee Refund Policy

Participants are entitled to a full refund if notification in writing is received 10 days prior to the start of the event (please note that all cancellations are subject to a minimum $25 processing fee); participants are entitled to a 50% refund if notification in writing is received 7-10 days prior to the start of the event; participants are not entitled to a refund if notification is received less than 7 days prior to the start of the event.

For more information, go to the FORREX website: www.forrex.org
or contact:
Al Wiensczyk (Conference Chair)
Extension Specialist, Ecosystems and Stand Management
FORREX Forest Research Extension Partnership by phone at:
(250) 614-4354 or by e-mail at:
Alan.Wiensczyk@forrex.org.

"This tree represents an incredible milestone in our ongoing commitment to sustainable forest management here in British Columbia," said Campbell. "British Columbia's forests are a critical economic engine for our province, a treasured part of our natural heritage and a powerful ally in our fight against climate change. Since reforestation began in the 1930s, we estimate the seedlings planted have sequestered two billion tonnes of CO2 over their lifetime. As we move towards our goal of net-zero deforestation in B.C., we'll further build on this legacy of reforestation, and further strengthen our forest resource."

"Planting the six billionth tree symbolizes our approach to sustainable forest management," said Coleman. "We have nearly as much natural, diverse forest as we had 150 years ago, while at the same time our forest sector is delivering long-term economic benefits to British Columbians."

"We are proud to have the six billionth tree planted in our community because it's a great reminder of how we can all make a difference to make the world a better place," said Kelowna Mayor Sharon Shepherd. "In Kelowna, we are working to ensure that our policies support a greener city for future generations."

"This is a major accomplishment on the part of many people – tree planters, nursery workers, forest companies, professional foresters and technicians, scientists and researchers, and governments," said John Allan, president of the Council of Forest Industries. "The forest industry helped build this great province and, by planting hundreds of millions of trees every year, we know our forests and forest industry will remain a vital part of our future."

The six billionth tree is a ponderosa pine, a native B.C. species and ecologically suited to growing in the Okanagan. It took 51 years from the time the first seedling was planted in British Columbia in 1930 to the first billion milestone in 1981. The second billion mark was reached in 1989, the third billion in 1993, the fourth billion in 1997 and the fifth billion in 2002.