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Timber supply review on tight timeline

An all-party legislative committee has been formed to evaluate and make recommendations concerning B.C.'s dwindling timber supply

A special all-party legislative committee has been formed to evaluate and make recommendations concerning the province’s dwindling timber supply, a consequence of the mountain pine beetle infestation.

The committee is to consider ways to increase timber supply, including direction on the potential scope of changes to land-use objectives, rate of harvest and conversion of volume-based tenures to area-based tenures. Public meetings will be part of the process.

A technical advisory committee that will include former provincial chief foresters Larry Pedersen and Jim Snetsinger will support it.

Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad is convener of the seven-MLA committee made up of four Liberals and three New Democrats. It has until Aug. 15 to produce a report.

An internal government document leaked last month warned the mountain pine beetle epidemic could cost thousands of jobs and wreak havoc on communities in B.C.’s Interior in the coming years. It suggested the government should consider harvesting smaller trees and review logging areas currently managed for their biodiversity, wildlife and scenic values.

– Central Interior Logging Association