David Elstone

The following is a summary of David Elstone’s presentation at the BC Council of Forest Industries Convention in Prince George, BC

Last January, upwards of 40% of the sawmilling capacity in British Columbia was affected by some form of curtailment or closure, which in turn affected a number of pulp and paper mills. How far will reductions in future lumber production go as the BC industry transitions? A similar path or can we change? …What do we dare to dream about for the sector in order to change its path? Indigenous forestry? Ecological regenerative forestry? Silviculture investment? New value-added products and manufacturing innovation? The vision paper, Modernizing Forest Policy In British Columbia offers many good intentions but there are large gaps in understanding how several of the initiatives can be achieved. …For the industry’s transition to a future prosperous sector, investment will be needed but current conditions lack predictability largely due to current policy initiatives. 

One solution to help further current government policy priorities while creating the specific parameters needed by industry, would be to create a strategic plan or economic strategy. An economic strategy would be coordinated with social and ecological objectives and include the following components: i) a long-term provincial vision for the sector based on regional economic strategies made in partnership with First Nations; ii)  a data-driven economic plan that reflects regional strategies, specific goals and a realistic timeline for implementation; and iii) appropriate metrics for change to help guide the changes that are occurring and need to occur. …Such a plan could help position British Columbia as a leader in value-added manufacturing, indigenous forestry and conservation management. If the oil sector can change direction, surely, a “green” renewable resource like BC forestry can change as well.