Spruce QuaLity Landscaping beetle outbreak poses harvesting challenges CoMMerCial & resiDential 2019 Readers Choice
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Christine Hinzmann
Industry and government are working with other partners to harvest the growing number of trees killed in the current spruce beetle outbreak. With more than 250,000 hectares in the Prince George district already damaged by the largest spruce beetle outbreak in more than 30 years, the clock is already ticking to log the dead trees while they still have commercial value. There is a seven-year look ahead plan that is key to battling the spruce beetle devastation. “The key to this thing is the area licensees, including Conifex, Canfor, Sinclar Group Forest Products, BC Timber Sales, Carrier Lumber, they are going to harvest, they are going to address where that beetle is and what they can get at, “ John Pousette, director for the Provincial Bark Beetle Response who was appointed to coordinate response efforts across the province, said. Every year plans are updated after an evaluation to consider the latest in monitoring. As far as controlling the spruce beetle infestation, the government is relying on harvesting
while taking extra care to keep the unaffected portion of the forest intact. In today’s market, spruce beetle killed timber has a five-year shelf life but longer if the wood is used as fibre for pulp or bioenergy. CNC was part of a multi-partner milling study that was done recently to see the grade and product value when processing spruce beetle killed timber and the results showed a reduction on lumber end-product value. Stumpage rates will be significantly lower now to reflect the downgrade of spruce beetle killed wood and to encourage salvage. Despite the lower stumpage fees, certain forest licensees have suggested some stands that were attacked by the spruce beetle early on are not profitable in the current market. BC Timber Sales has seen several “no bids” on spruce beetle impacted wood in the Mackenzie area. The Land Based Investment Strategy (LBIS) has spent about $1 million per year over the past five years in the Omineca Region on flights to identify impacted areas and surveys to INDUSTRY & TRADE | WINTER 2020
