Beetle-killed trees last longer in dry areas. In wet areas, the roots rot and the trees eventually fall over © DI Gerd Ebner
Yet 18 million sm³ of beetle-killed timber seems to be just one reason for the crisis in Canada’s westernmost province. Another one might stem from lack of surveillance of forest operations and an insufficient forestal data base. As theglobeandmail.com reports, the forest ministry’s compliance and enforcement program today conducts only a third of the number of inspections of forest operations compared with a decade ago, and the number of licensed science officers and foresters has dropped by 15% in the past five years.
As a result, the Forest Practices Board found that “there is a growing disparity between government’s estimate of the amount of salvageable timber and the actual economically viable timber available on the ground.” What is more, Canfor and West Fraser being under pressure of utilizing their regional processing capacity were caught earlier this year overcutting 938,000 sm³ worth of healthy trees in the Morice Timber Supply area where they where supposed to be harvesting the dead and dying pine. Hefty penalties were suspended after the companies committed themselves to operate within harvest managment plans.
