LOGGING DIFFICULT FOR WFP
Western Forests Products (WFP) may pull out of logging on Haida Gwaii (formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands) off B.C.’s coast. The company, which is the largest forest licensee on the islands was quoted in the Vancouver Sun newspaper as saying if proposed land use objectives go ahead, it will “make it difficult, if not impossible, to operate on Haida Gwaii.”
The Integrated Land Management Bureau is currently reviewing public responses to the objectives, which were developed in consultation with the Haida Nation. WFP says a major impact of the objectives will be a 50 per cent cut in logging rights, which they say will cut logging employment opportunities on Haida Gwaii in half.
Western has also told the Sun that it is considering selling its timber tenures on Haida Gwaii to the Haida Nation, noting cost concerns as a factor in the company’s decision to discuss a sale. A 2007 land-use agreement between the B.C. government and the Haida Nation provided for an annual harvest on Haida Gwaii of 800,000 cubic metres of timber – a large enough volume to make logging viable for the region’s loggers. WFP had an annual cut on the islands in 2009 of just over 500,000 cubic metres but only cut 53,000 cubic metres due to depressed markets. WFP spokesperson Gary Ley told the Sun, “they have had a long interest in that area,” referring to the Haida Nation. “And it’s an expensive place to operate, so if we can work something out with them that makes sense for them and sense for us, that would be just fine.”
The land-use objectives were open for public comment until Feb. 12. They will be reviewed by the Integrated Land Management Bureau and its recommendations will be sent to B.C.’s Forest Minister Pat Bell.
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