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Serving North Central British Columbia lll#e\[gZZegZhh#Xdb
The Forest Examining the challenges that lay ahead
Since the mountain pine beetle infestation became an epidemic in 1999, an estimated 18.1 million hectares of forest land in British Columbia have been affected. The latest projections indicate that the beetle will have killed between 53 and 70 per cent of merchantable pine by 2021. The infestation has had a severe impact on the central interior of British Columbia where natural forests consist primarily of pine. Mortality levels in the central interior vary between and within timber supply areas (TSAs). The most affected TSAs include 100 Mile House, Bulkley, Kamloops, Mackenzie, Merritt, Morice, Prince George, Robson Valley and Williams Lake, with the highest pine mortality rates (above 45 per cent) in the Lakes and Quesnel TSAs and the Vanderhoof forest district. In response to the epidemic, harvest levels have been elevated since 2001 to capture salvage opportunities, with due regard paid to meeting existing environmental objectives for the areas involved. The province has also committed $884 million to initiatives related to curbing the effects of the mountain pine beetle — including $129 million for spread control and fertilization, and $71 million for energy development and infrastructure in beetle-affected communities. As well, provincial, federal and local governments have funded initiatives to assist forestrydependent communities diversify their economies. For example, since 2005 three beetle action coalitions have received $9 million from the province to prepare communities for transition to the post-epidemic economy. Over the next decades the timber supply in the interior will continue to decrease. When beetle-killed pine is no longer salvageable, the province’s overall supply of mature timber will be reduced, and 10 to 15 years from now it is forecast to be 20 per cent below the pre-infestation levels, a reduction that may last up to 50 years. The projected drop in timber in the allowable annual cut (AAC) for the central interior represents the timber necessary to keep approximately eight mills running. In areas with the greatest percentage of pine in the forest, shortages are already being noted and the drop in the harvest levels will likely exceed 20 per cent. The anticipated decrease in timber supply will have significant negative economic and social impacts on forestry-dependent communities and present major challenges to the industry.