Vancouver, BC – The Council of Forest Industries (COFI) welcomed today’s announcement of the BC Climate Leadership Plan, which includes a new Forest Carbon Initiative and a continued commitment to encourage the use of B.C. wood products to meet provincial climate targets.
“The new Forest Carbon Initiative will rehabilitate and replant up to 300,000 hectares of Mountain Pine Beetle and wildfire impacted public lands,” said Susan Yurkovich, President and CEO of the Council of Forest Industries. “This initiative will augment the work that industry undertakes to reforest every hectare of land that is harvested.”
“British Columbia’s sustainably managed forest industry is part of the solution to tackling climate change,” said Yurkovich. “Growing forests sequester carbon and when forest products are used in building materials and construction, they continue to store the carbon for the lifecycle of the structure, long after the trees are harvested.”
“COFI is pleased that the province is continuing its commitment to the provincial Wood First Initiative which encourages the use of B.C.’s high quality wood products in public sector construction,” said Yurkovich. “This initiative encourages collaboration between the forest industry, researchers and design professionals to innovate and promote wood products and climate-friendly wood construction.”
“The Climate Leadership Plan is an important next step in achieving our provincial 2050 targets,” added Yurkovich. “We understand there will be more work to do. However, we are pleased that government is taking a prudent approach, balancing our collective desire to reduce emissions while recognizing that BC companies need to be able to compete in a global marketplace.”
The Council of Forest Industries is the voice of the BC interior forest industry. COFI members produce lumber, pulp and paper, panels and engineered wood products at more than 60 facilities across the interior. All share a commitment to a future based on employee safety, sustainable forestry and manufacturing practices, and innovative product development.
Media contact:
Cam McAlpine
250-961-6611