Every few years, we witness new vocabulary emerge into the BC forest sector’s world. The most recent term to emerge is resilience. …The question is, will it become another passing buzzword, lead towards true, positive changes to advance our sector, or will it be a cloak for protectionism? BC’s forest sector has long been a cornerstone of the province’s economy and culture deeply intertwined with the natural environment, providing livelihoods for thousands and sustaining communities. However, the sector is currently facing unprecedented challenges that require innovative and resilient approaches. In this context, building multi-dimensional resilience means considering comprehensive environmental, economic, and social factors to ensure the forest sector can adapt and thrive in the face of these stresses.
…There are many things resilience cannot mean. It should not be a surrogate for even more protectionism or unreasonable constraints. The discussions leading to implementation of any forest management plans need to be objective and not subjectively guided. The prescriptions on a stand level must be achievable and financially viable. The moves toward their utilization cannot be abrupt or ignore the practical need for a real transition strategy. Uncertainty on interpreting the impacts of new policies cannot continue ad infinitum because tangible investment decisions will simply not happen. In the opinion of many, which we share, our forests need more management, not less to become more resilient on all fronts. By adopting a strategy addressing all necessary elements, BC can ensure that its forest sector remains a vital, prosperous, and sustainable part of its economy and heritage. The challenges are significant, but if environmental, economic and social resilience is properly considered, the BC forest sector can adopt a pathway to thrive amidst the complexities of the 21 century.
In early 2023, Canfor closed the original mill as it was too old and oversized for the available timber supply, later announcing they would move forward in with building a new, smaller mill. In May 2024, they then announced, “we have made the difficult decision to suspend our plan to build a new state-of-the-art sawmill in Houston, as we are not confident that an investment of this magnitude can be successful at this time.” …This announcement may look somewhat like many sawmill closures from a lack of fibre in BC, but this one is much more serious. It is a message to government that BC is “uninvestable” as some analysts have stated due to policy changes that create business uncertainty. …In terms of BC marketing, permanent mill closures and withdrawn investments are some of the worst news a lumber exporting region can deliver to world markets. …What a shame it has gone this way, and so quickly.
The twin-peaked lumber bubble of 2021 and 2022 is now nothing more than a memory. Spot lumber prices have plummeted 75% from their May 2021 record high to just $366 this week. …While the demand side of the lumber market is ailing, the supply side may be in an even worse position. …“It’s a classic bullwhip,” Jalbert noted. “The supply side [responds] in a like manner to demand, and by the time it comes to the market that demand picture is already changed—and in this case in a negative way.” …Jalbert also believes lumber prices will likely stagnate through year-end 2024, but in 2025, he argues things could turn around. Some sawmills will be forced to slow or shut down production due to depressed lumber prices in the second half of this year, lowering lumber supply—“the bullwhip in the opposite direction.”… “But that’s going to take time.”
Expressions of Interest are now being accepted for Intake 4 of the Mass Timber Demonstration Program (deadline October 2024). Priority will be given to projects that leverage the new 2024 BC Building Code provisions such as encapsulated mass-timber construction (EMTC) up to 18 storeys for residential and office buildings, as well as new building types, such as schools, retail, and industrial occupancies. While advancements in mass timber products and wood construction can help to build more resilient, climate-smart communities, there are still barriers, such as limited knowledge and experience about technical performance, constructibility and cost management best practices. Since 2020, the Province of British Columbia (B.C.) and Forestry Innovation Investment have invested over $9.1 million through B.C.’s Mass Timber Demonstration Program (MTDP) to help with the incremental costs associated with the design and construction of 19 building projects and 8 research projects that demonstrate emerging or new mass timber or mass timber hybrid building systems and construction processes.
HAMILTON— The Ontario government is investing over $3.6 million through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) in four training projects and one building expansion project in Hamilton. These investments will provide free training for up to 3,800 apprentices, journeypersons and jobseekers, preparing them for careers in in-demand jobs such as millwright, welding and electrical trades. …United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 1916 is receiving $248,338.86 for a project to build a new mezzanine level to improve Local 1916’s existing training centre in Hamilton. This will increase available training space by 15 to 20 per cent, growing Local 1916’s capacity for apprenticeship programs and training certifications for safety training and technical and leadership skills…
Headlines this month include:
A majority of B.C. residents support the province’s 30 X 30 conservation targets, suggests a new poll. The survey, conducted by Leger for Organizing for Change, a coalition of 12 B.C. environmental groups, found 85% of those polled support protecting 30% of land and water by 2030. …Protected areas now cover about 15.8% of the land base in B.C., which means the province would need to nearly double protected areas to meet its 2030 target. …This target aims to protect 30% of all land and water by 2030 in a bid to protect Earth’s biodiversity and mitigate climate change. The top areas that people support conservation in are habitats with species at risk such as old-growth forest (88%); areas of natural beauty and intact watersheds (86%); places where wildlife move between habitats (84%); outdoor recreation areas (81%); and culturally significant land to Indigenous people (67%).
As of June 28 there were only 88 active wildfires in B.C. — mostly in the northeast part of the province — with none considered to be wildfires of note (a fire that is highly visible or poses a threat to public safety). Seventy-four of those fires were under control, and 12 (all in the northeast) were out of control. Two were listed as “being held”, one of them the Tiffin Creek wildfire near Lillooet, which was discovered on June 24 and listed at 151 hectares as of June 28. Rains in May and June have helped the drought situation, but snowpack levels are very low. …So far this year, B.C. has recorded 285 wildfires, with 57 (20%) caused by lightning. Fifteen fires (5%) are of undetermined origin. The remaining 213 wildfires — 75% of the total — were human-caused.
