The British Columbia government has failed to sufficiently replant the forests it manages and needs to develop a plan, Auditor General John Doyle said in a report today.
"Significant areas of the forest are presently damaged by wildfire, diseases or pests such as mountain pine beetle, and the decision whether to replant lies with government," he said. "Unlike industry, government is not legally obligated to reforest. As such, very limited replanting has occurred."
The government is responsible for 90 percent of the 22 million hectares of forested land that are available for timber production and harvesting in the province, Doyle wrote.
The government's decisions today will have a big affect on the state of the province's forests in the future, he said. Presently it is not managing the forests in a way that would reverse the trend towards having less timber available for harvest and reduced species diversity in some areas, he said.
Nor has the government defined its objectives and therefore cannot make sure its management practices are effective, he said.
Doyle's six recommendations include developing a plan for forest stewardship and investing enough in silviculture to achieve long-term timber goals.
The forests, lands and natural resource operations ministry issued a statement saying it already has a management plan and is investing in reforestation.
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Find him on Twitter or reach him here.
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Fiat lux
14 weeks ago
There should be investigation
There should be investigation into how many of the seedlings survive after 4 years, which seems to be the critical point, according to our friends in the business.
The government knows this, but they're not counting them after 3 years, so they can come up with good figures.
In any case, stop clearcutting and automation and that will solve most of the problems.
Years ago there were hundreds of contractors, thousands of loggers and sawmill workers, all making very good living. They were wiped out and now we have a few major corporations controlling the forests and the grossly overcapitalized mills, draining the benefits, without real benefit to the province, or the public.
When we grow and make things for ourselves , we don't have to buy them. This is called "self sufficiency". Two words that drive all so called "economists" and most politicians up the wall, claiming that it isn't "economically efficient"
In other words, it improves people's lives, which doesn't count, if it cuts back the profits of the corporate mafia.
Ed Deak.
crh
14 weeks ago
no surprise here
These Liberals only know how to rape and pillage....
pianosaurus rex
13 weeks ago
If this is any indication
In the ‘70’s when I was contract tree planting in Caycuse/ Honeymoon Bay for BCFP the seedling failure rate was about 50% and often higher.
Fiat lux
13 weeks ago
In the dry, Interior areas,
In the dry, Interior areas, it is sometimes a 100% failure rate. We have areas here in the Cariboo that have been replanted 3 times.
Each time reported as new plantings.
Ed Deak.
North of Hope
13 weeks ago
A better idea
Maybe the BC government should use the money it gets from government branches for the carbon offsets.
You said, "The offsets were purchased at $25 per tonne of carbon emissions from the Pacific Carbon Trust, itself a Crown corporation which funds projects in the private sector aimed at reducing the release of greenhouse gasses.
While the offset purchases allow the government to claim it achieved carbon neutrality in 2010, they have been criticized for requiring already cash-strapped bodies to provide money that ends up helping the balance sheet of companies like Encana Corporation."
This might help the environment a bit more than the scheme that is already in place.
Granville
13 weeks ago
Two questions:
1. How are the private logging companies doing in replanting trees on their property?
2. Do THEY meet the replacement criteria?
I had the misfortune to work for the provincial government over ten years ago. It was a harrowing experience, not least because my supervisor was having sex with her supervisor and that led to many AWKWARD moments.
Many of the temporary staff were "let go" from service just short of the 1811 hours they needed to acquire full time status. They were immediately rehired the next week, so they had to requalify all over again.
So it comes as no surprise that the very people who should be leading by example and planting sufficient replacement trees in crown lands to replace those harvested are not doing their bloody jobs. To be fair to them, they may be handcuffed by regulations and policies rather than negligent. Either way, they cannot be appy in their careers.
The provincial government has a great big yellow streak running down the middle where their spine ought to be. They don't protect children in their custody and they don't plant trees. What a surprise!
Even more interesting is the fact that the nurseries always plant 10% more plugstock than they require under their contracts with their client logging companies. So there are millions of surplus seedlings wasted every year. Probably about 1.8 million in fact.
I know this for because about 12 years ago, I negotiated for the donation of surplus plugstock from one single nursery. Being young and foolish, I took delivery of 120,000 seedlings. You got that right, I said 120,000 seedlings. We actually planted 20,000 in local stream restoration projects and some of them survived. If I could plant them, why couldn't the government?
It is always a delight to smear government in the face with a dirty toilet brush. It is a pity they do so much to deserve it. It is enough to make me regret living in BC and I wish it were otherwise.
Our provincial government is a "Silhouette" of itself. Google that word and you will realise exactly how it came to be, in France, over a century ago.
lowball
13 weeks ago
Historical context
Here in BC we tend to forget that the current Liberal politicians in office are mostly the old Social Credit bunch. A little right of Attilla the Hun. These opportunistic shills are not liberals. They are ultra right wing fanatics who protect big business, screw unions and put the people of BC last. Why are we so surprised?