The Cariboo Regional District will make its presentation to the legislative special committee on mid-timber supply in 100 Mile House July 5.
Chair Al Richmond said while the final presentation was being pulled together the day after the board held a special meeting in Williams Lake on June 27, he could share the highlights.
“We went through a pretty in-depth analysis of what we have. We feel that the chief forester should report directly to the legislature so that he’s independent. We want to see some of the decisions based on science and the long-term interests of the forest,” Richmond said.
Additionally, the CRD recognizes there will be a reduction in the Annual Allowable Cut (AAC). The hope is that it can be a phased reduction to allow communities to transition into that cut reduction.
“One of the other things we’re making a very strong point on is that we need to have complete utilization of the fiber we have.”
He said huge slash piles are being burned in winter.
“We believe there’s opportunities for better utilization of fiber by other people. Just because one person logs it, it doesn’t mean there isn’t another use for that fiber.”
Some of it could be chipped for oriented strand board production, pellets, or maybe a small operator can use it for a value-added product.
“Right now we’re looking at three large piles of logging debris that are sitting within eight kilometres of an OSB plant in 100 Mile. It’s obviously not economical for the people logging, even though they’ve handled it, to haul it.
“The costs are so high that it’s more cost-effective for the owner to burn it rather than find other ways of utilizing it.”
Efforts have to be made to make it more cost-effective so the fiber doesn’t go to waste, he added. “Some forest licensees have suggested that perhaps up to 30 per cent of what they touch is staying in the bush in some cases.”
Richmond, along with Area C director John Massier, who also owns a woodlot license, will appear before the panel at 10:15 a.m.
The hearings take place in Williams Lake at the Pioneer Complex from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. July 5 as well.
Transcripts of the public presentations to date are posted at http://www.leg.bc.ca/timbercommittee/.