British Columbia has launched new measures to facilitate the recovery of wildfire-damaged wood, aimed at supporting the forestry sector and hastening forest regeneration. Effective from April 1, 2024, these changes, announced by Andrew Mercier, Minister of State for Sustainable Forestry Innovation, simplify the salvage process and introduce flexible pricing policies to encourage the salvage of damaged timber.
The initiative has garnered support from industry stakeholders, including the BC Pulp and Paper Coalition and the BC Council of Forest Industries, highlighting the potential for salvaged wood in manufacturing and environmental restoration. With salvage permits issued for approximately 1.4 million cubic metres of timber, the move is set to stabilize forestry operations and contribute to the sector's sustainability.
The effort also involves the creation of Wildfire Salvage Opportunity Agreements to enhance First Nations' involvement in salvage operations, with 13 agreements signed since 2022. The province's collaborative approach, including the formation of a wildfire salvage leadership committee, aims to streamline salvage efforts and foster effective forest recovery strategies.
