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The New Forestry
by Andru McCracken - Robson Valley Times •
Wednesday May 31, 2006 at 03:25 PM
Sweeping changes to provincial forest policy are brewing a conflict of interest that stands to decimate forests across the province.
Robson Valley Times The New Forestry
Hang on tight, this new policy may hurt. Sweeping changes to provincial forest policy are brewing a conflict of interest that stands to decimate forests across the province. In the midst of this radical change, forest managers are doing their part ... by running the other way. Without actually completing a forest stewardship plan, one of our local forest companies has begun dabbling in the New Forestry with the sanction of the district manager. We are witnessing the ghost of our forest’s future, and it is a ghost worth being scared of. In the past, residents have had detailed plans that were built with the help of the forest service. No more. Gone are the days when a little bit of colour on a map represented a clear cut. Now we see maps of the whole valley with huge swaths of colour. Somewhere, in that sea of orangish-brown stripes will be some clearcuts (big), some roads (not sure where yet), and some landings. The system’s weakest link is that it makes it difficult for the public to understand what those plans mean to them. “This is where we are operating,” say the forest companies pointing to a murky area the size of some small European country. “What?” say the people. “Sure,” says the forest district, “See you in five years.” The local mill owner agrees that the public interest is not served when too much power lies with the companies. He understands the level of authority that the government wants to give him. He doesn’t want that much responsibility over what is, after all, a public resource. The most bizarre facet of the New Forestry is just how little forest managers are involved. “I can only comment on plans that I have before me,” cries the district manager. The trick is that he only has the plans before him after the review and comment period is up. The District Manager only looks at the plans after the public has had their turn. Unlike the public, who care deeply about many values in the forest, the district manager checks two things: that the plan complies with regulation and that the forest company has condescended to address the public’s comments. The only thing missing from the equation is good forest management. We’ve seen partial cuts approved in pine stands on wind facing slopes. What started out as partial harvesting turned into a clearcut because of windthrow. Is this forest management? Who approved this? The fundamental assumption of the New Forestry is that the forest company wants the best for the forest over the long term. In our valley, one mill is for sale and the other was up on the auction block a month ago! They are not in long term mode right now! Perhaps the forest service’s under-involvement is part of a continuing commitment to waste less and less resources on our valley since the closure of the McBride Forestry Office. Maybe too many Xs on unworthy plans would simply exhaust the ministry’s non-renewable pen supply. Maybe there isn’t anybody left on staff with the time, inclination or knowledge to make an X. Provincial politicians and forest managers are running away from the forest, and while residents should get all worked up over the coloured stripes all over our watersheds, trails and viewscapes, the real problem is the New Forestry. Call your MLA. This new system stinks. Andru McCracken
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