INFTERNATIONAL FOCUS
Canada celebrates forestry week in an atmosphere of industry recovery
NATIONAL Forest Week celebrated across Canada from September 23 to 29 will also mark a recovery under way in the forest and forest products sector. This year’s theme – Forests for People – provides a great opportunity to reflect on the benefits forests provide; British Columbians make millions of trips into the forests each year for work, recreation, and pleasure. The Minister for Forests Steve Thomson said British Columbia’s forest sector continued to provide great economic benefits, accounting for more than 55,000 direct jobs supporting families all around the province and contributing $7.3 billion to the province’s GDP.
“With a number of mills reopening throughout the province, including mills in Kitwanga, Midway, Savona and Vavenby, hundreds of workers are back on the job and communities are seeing the benefits of the forest sector as it continues to recover,” Mr Thomson said. . “With lumber exports still on the rise and exponentially increasing demand from China, British Columbians will continue to benefit from
increased demand for wood products. “We are also diversifying the forest economy. More than 50 communities are enjoying the benefits of forestry by managing local community forests for local values. “As well, 144 ‘first nations’ are enjoying the benefits of forestry through revenue-sharing agreements and direct access to timber. “But forests aren’t only about jobs. We manage our forests for
a multitude of values including fish and wildlife habitat, water quality, cultural heritage and recreation, to name just a few.” Mr Simpson has urged citizens to get out into the woods during the week and take time to enjoy one of the 1200 recreation sites or 800 trails around the province. The celebration was first established in 1920 as Forest Fire Prevention Week when there was no apparent shortage of trees for industrial expansion and the greatest threat came from forest fires. Since then National Forest Week, as it was renamed in 1967, has evolved to encompass the many and varied human and environmental aspects of Canada’s forest resources – past, present and future.
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Page 16 | issue 239 | 17.09.12
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