BC Forest Research Articles

Talk and log: wilderness politics in British Columbia, 1965-96

Tables and Maps Preface Introduction 1. Perspectives on the Policy Process: Puzzling, 'Powering,' and the Constraining Importance of the Policy Legacy 2. The BC Forest Industry 3. The BC Wilderness Movement 4. Government Institutions and the Policy System 5. 'You Have to Break a Few Eggs': Environmentalism Challenges the Resource Development Juggernaut of the 1960s 6. The Ragamuffins and the Crown Jewels: Bob Williams Confronts the Forest Policy Orthodoxy 7. The Delegitimation of Social Credit Forest Policy, 1976-91 8. Containing the Wilderness Movement, 1976-85 9. 'Have a Good Day, and Try Not To Damage the Grass': Wars in the Woods, 1986-91 10. The Shifting Discourse of Wilderness Politics, 1986-91 11. The Rise of the Cappuccino Suckers 12. Sausage Making in the 1990s: Forest Practices and Allowable Cuts under the NDP Conclusion Appendices Notes Glossary of Acronyms Select Bibliography Index

The Wealth of forests: markets, regulation, and sustainable forestry

Introduction / Chris Tollefson 1. Economic Instruments for Promoting Sustainable Forestry: Opportunities and Constraints / Peter H. Pearse 2. Governing Instruments for Forest Policy in British Columbia: A Positive and Normative Analysis / W.T. Stanbury and Ilan B. Vertinsky 3. Compliance and Constraint: Economic Instruments for Achieving Objectives of Public Forest Policy in British Columbia / David Haley and Martin K. Luckert 4. Living Communities in a Living Forest: Towards an Ecosystem-Based Structure of Local Tenure and Management / Michael M'Gonigle and Brian L. Scarfe 5. Sustainable Practices? An Analysis of BC's Forest Practices Code / Tracey L. Cook 6. Priority-Use Zoning: Sustainable Solution or Symbolic Politics? / Jeremy Rayner 7. Sustained Yield: Why has it Failed to Achieve Sustainability? / Lois Dellert 8. The Pitfalls and Potential of Eco-Certification as a Market Incentive for Sustainable Forest Management / Fred Gale and Cheri Burda 9. Regulation, Takings, Compensation, and the Environment: An Economic Perspective / David Cohen and Brian Radnoff 10. Ecoforestry Bound: How International Trade Agreements Constrain the Adoption of An Ecosystem-Based Approach to Forest Management / Fred Gale

Preserving nature through intensive plantation forestry: The case for forestland allocation with illustrations from British Columbia

Historically British Columbia's forests were managed under the implicit assumption that virtually the whole forested land base would, one day, be available for timber production. The BC Forest Service and licencees incorporate non-timber values into timber production plans through a process of "integrated resource management" which attempts to consider wildlife, riparian habitat, recreation, water flows, grazing and other forest uses in each decision about each hectare where logging is to occur. Under this extensive form of management, silvicultural investments are low. This policy has clearly failed either to satisfy legitimate demands from the environmental community or to produce the predictably high levels of timber harvest needed to sustain the forest products industry and industry-dependent communities. The core problem is that, despite a vast forest estate in British Columbia, land has become scarce. It is therefore logical to substitute capital, labour and knowledge for land in forest production processes. Such a policy could lead to substantial higher, sustainable timber harvests as well as a system of parks that covers more than half the Province. Implementing such a policy requires a change in forest management approach to zone the landscape and manage each zone intensively for a specific purpose. For the bulk of commercial timber production, intensively managed plantations appear to represent the best technological option. New directions in British Columbia's forest policy — land-use zoning, a new forest practice code, and dedicated capital for silvicultural investments—generally move towards this objective, but implementation remains uncertain. Major impediments include dysfunctional forest tenure arrangements and a comparatively poor information base. Key words: forest policy, British Columbia, intensive plantation forestry

Variability in sub-regional impacts of dwarf mistletoe on mature lodgepole pine

Impact of lodgepole pine dwarf mistletoe was determined in six sub-areas of Forest Inventory Zone H, near Prince George, British Columbia, using a roadside survey and measurements of mature infected trees. Mistletoe effects on DBH were evident only in two of the sub-areas surveyed (Westlake and Nechako). After correcting DBH measurements for competition (stand density), dbh of 100–120 year old and 121–150 year old trees was reduced 10% and 17% respectively, in the highest mistletoe rating (DMR) category (4.5–6.0). Height/DBH relationships were affected by dwarf mistletoe only in the Nechako area. Mistletoe effects in the Nechako and Westlake areas, in stands older than 120 years with mistletoe ratings of 4.5–6.0, resulted in volume reductions of 28–42%, depending on the effects of mistletoe on height. Further losses might accrue in lodgepole pine stands if clear-cut harvesting were restricted by the BC Forest Practices Code, unless infected stems are selectively removed. Key words: roadside survey, dwarf mistletoe rating (DMR), Forest Practices Code

Sustainability in the crucible of competing demands

The need to integrate the conservation of biological diversity with social and economic goals is one of the world's most important challenges today. British Columbia's large area and variety of terrains and climates support extensive and diverse forest ecosystems. Historically, the harvesting of timber for forest products has been a primary factor in developing BC's social services and infrastructure. While forest products remain highly important to BC's economy, in recent decades increased environmental awareness has also brought a higher recognition of the richness of BC's biological legacy. Today, BC's forests must be managed sustainably to meet a wide range of management objectives and public demands. The necessary transition in management, which is still underway, has involved extensive public input and significant actions by government. These actions include the development of initiatives designed to conserve biodiversity through land-use planning—which identifies areas for protection and for harvesting—and through the legislated regulation of forest practices in areas suitable for harvesting. All the demands on the land base, and the capability of the land to meet various combinations of these demands, must be considered in determining allowable annual timber harvests.BC has made considerable progress in ensuring sustainability in forest management, but recognizes the evolutionary nature of this management and the inevitability of further change.

Can nonmarket values be used as indicators of forest sustainability?

A distinction is made between the economic benefits of recent BC forest policies and their income distributional consequences. Changes in employment and tourism are examples of the latter, while economic surpluses accruing to recreationists and citizens as passive-use values are an important form of economic benefits. Recent controversies about the contingent valuation method for detemining passive-use values are reviewed, as are estimates of the values residents attach to the protection of forest amenities in BC. It is argued that constantly updated estimates of annual nonmarket values can be used as an economic indicator of forest sustainability, to be compared against the sustainable rent from logging operations. Key words: Indicators of economic sustainability in forestry; contingent valuation of forest amenities; recreation benefits and tourism

Touch Wood: BC Forests at the Crossroads.

Touch Wood: BC Forests at the Crossroads.

Preparing the Forester for Pest Management — A View from Provincial Government

Development of forest pest management capability within the BC Forest Service is outlined. Appropriate specialized professional training of staff is emphasized. The ability to manage provincial forests must be based on a blend of inputs from forestry generalists and specialists. Greater awareness of the need for pest management and solution of our weaknesses in pest management training depend largely on more emphasis being given to it in our academic establishments. Recommendtions are made.

Trends in Taxes, Fees and Royalties Paid by the BC Forest Industry 1971-1979

The article combines the findings of Howard (1978) and White (1982) to review the revenues received by the British Columbia and Canadian governments from the BC forest industry between 1971 and 1979 inclusive. Revenues, particularly from timber sale stumpage are shown to fluctuate according to market conditions. General economic performance in the US, as measured by GNP, and the US housing and construction industries also impact significantly on the revenues received from BC forest industry.