logging
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Credit: Reijo Telaranta/Pixabay
B.C.'s forests struggle to recover as logging and wildfires take their toll
As British Columbia grapples with the effects of over-logging and wildfires, experts warn that the province’s forests are rapidly depleting, leaving the forestry industry in crisis.
In short:
- B.C. has allowed excessive logging for decades, and its replanted forests are too young to harvest, leading companies to seek timber elsewhere.
- Wildfires and pest infestations have further devastated B.C.’s forest reserves, with many areas facing a biodiversity crisis.
- Experts argue that the province’s forest management system is outdated and inadequate to prevent ecosystem collapse.
Key quote:
“There’s a new normal that’s emerged. For us, it’s quite a terrifying one.”
— James Gorman, senior vice-president at West Fraser Timber Co.
Why this matters:
B.C.’s forestry industry is at risk, with shrinking tree supplies and ecosystems in danger of collapse. Mismanaged logging practices, combined with natural disasters, are threatening biodiversity and leaving a growing gap between sustainable practices and reality.
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Image by Harmony Lawrence from Pixabay
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Oregon State University researchers said private timberland values have declined $11 billion due to the threat of drought and wildfires.
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Image by Anna Persson from Pixabay
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