How is reforestation and rehabilitation being handled?
Licensees – including BC Timber Sales – are legally responsible to reforest any area that they harvest. The most productive growing sites are identified to ensure a return to fully stocked, free-growing timberlands as quickly as possible. British Columbia has also committed $161 million to Forests for Tomorrow – the reforestation plan designed to speed the recovery of forest values in areas affected by the mountain pine beetle. Site surveys and mapping, creating better growing conditions, and research into preventing future infestations are just some of the work being done through the Forests for Tomorrow program. Not all infested areas will be harvested, but they may need to be rehabilitated to restore forest ecosystem productivity. Discussions with various stakeholders and other government agencies are ongoing to ensure that any rehabilitation efforts are part of overall, long-term planning.
