Vancouver IslandB次元官网网址檚 forestry operations are expected to see a decline this year and remain below pre-pandemic levels of production, as the B.C. government calls forestry an industry in transition.
Mike Farnworth, B.C.B次元官网网址檚 minister of public safety and deputy premier, was the final speaker at this weekB次元官网网址檚 State of Vancouver Island Economic Summit in Nanaimo and said the province will continue working with industry to move from B次元官网网址渉igh-volume to high-value production.B次元官网网址�
The just-released State of the Island Economic Report, prepared by the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance, examined forest industry data from 2021 and noted that while overall production was up compared with 2020, it remained below 2019 levels. Harvest volumes in Campbell River and the north Island in 2021 were actually above pre-pandemic levels, but harvest volumes on the south Island werenB次元官网网址檛. Weather in 2021 was a factor, as the report noted that there were extreme fire conditions in the summer and heavy rains and snowfall late in the year that curtailed logging operations.
In late 2021, the B.C. government announced old-growth logging deferrals in 11 areas of the province, with five of those areas on Vancouver Island, and the report said the long-term impact of those deferrals is B次元官网网址渦ncertainB次元官网网址� for now. Meanwhile, protests in Fairy Creek continued B次元官网网址渂ut had little direct impact on logging operations in the area,B次元官网网址� the report suggested.
The report noted that employment in harvesting operations was down B次元官网网址渟lightlyB次元官网网址� in 2021 and B次元官网网址渢here are indications that it has continued to decline in the first half of 2022,B次元官网网址� though manufacturing employment has been stable.
VIEA calculated that the forest sector supported 9,200 jobs on Vancouver Island in 2021, with 59 per cent in forestry and logging, 23 per cent in pulp and paper manufacturing and 18 per cent in wood product manufacturing.
Close to four million metric tonnes of logs and forest products moved through Port Alberni and the Port of Nanaimo in 2021, up by about a million tonnes from 2020 but down from pre-pandemic.
B次元官网网址淟ooking forward, limited fibre supply and slowdowns in production are expected to persist. There is also the potential for reductions in allowable annual cuts in some areas of Vancouver Island,B次元官网网址� the economic report noted. B次元官网网址淎s a result, forest operations on Vancouver Island are expected to remain below 2021 levels.B次元官网网址�
Farnworth said part of forestryB次元官网网址檚 transition will be B次元官网网址済rowing B.C.B次元官网网址檚 forest bio-economyB次元官网网址� and said many Vancouver Island companies are leading the way, specifically mentioning the Atli Chip Plant on the north Island and the Kleekhoot Gold bigleaf maple syrup business on the west coast.
The deputy premier said forestry is one of the primary sectors in which the provincial government is exploring economic development opportunities with First Nations.
B次元官网网址淪ome of the work being done around forestry [is] ensuring that Indigenous Peoples are front and centre in the decisions that are made on their land, in their territories and working with the private sector and I think weB次元官网网址檙e seeing numerous examples of where that is working,B次元官网网址� Farnworth said.
Also on the topic of consultation, he said the province will be listening to advice from a in support of forestry workers, which he assured has plenty of Island representation.
B次元官网网址淔orestry has a storied past B次元官网网址� it also has a strong future in our province,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 why we share a vision to modernize forest policy in this province. A vision where ecosystem management, reconciliation, community involvement and innovation are top priorities.B次元官网网址�
FarnworthB次元官网网址檚 talk, on Thursday, Oct. 27, covered a range of provincial government priorities and projects. The deputy minister also touched on public safety, affordability and other topics.
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