Deforestation in BC? – Come for a drive

For the second time in my career in forestry I have just finished laying out a stand of timber for harvest that is younger than I am. Due to my advancing years that doesn’t have the same significance it used to but it still really struck me how fast trees grow and how resilient mother nature is.

To be clear, I am from the dry interior of BC and my observations and thoughts below pertain to these forested lands. They may or may not apply to the coastal forests or interior wet belt.

There have been plenty of negative press reports and pictures about alleged deforestation by logging in BC. These aren’t accurate and do the public a great disservice in insinuating these logged areas will be a wasteland forever.

5 years after harvest

I have lived and worked in the same area of BC for a long time and have seen clearcuts and burned areas rapidly regenerate with both planted and natural regeneration.  Not sure how much the authors of these alarmist reports get out and about but I would love to take them for a drive and point out what is actually happening out here.

We have vast areas of 50+ year old trees coming on strong and on very easily operable ground. Many people without a practiced eye don’t realize they are looking at second growth trees.

Is this a Forest?

61 year old Trees

This Stand is 6 years younger than me

It is impressive to watch these stands develop. A lot of good people put substantial planning and effort into achieving these results. With only a few exceptions any company or individual (Licensee’s) that conduct timber harvesting activities in BC are obligated to get the harvested areas sufficiently restocked within a specified time. Species, density (trees per hectare) and timing are planned by professional foresters based on site conditions. This planning takes place well before harvest occurs. The tree planting army mobilizes every spring and conduct their work shortly after the snow leaves. They work as hard, and in the most adverse conditions, as any worker I know.

Standards and regulations are constantly changing but one of the things I like about forestry is the long-term planning involved in every project. Good foresters think 100 to 400 years in advance. These foresters are often in conflict with people who have concerns with much shorter term economic (weekly) and political (4 year) cycles.

Some Licensee’s plant the bare minimum required to meet regulations and others go over and above to ensure future generations benefit from abundant and high-quality trees.

I have been a vocal critic of our planting programs. I have concerns about past planting practices that seemed to limit root development, low densities that grow low value wood and the focus on planting lodge-pole pine. I still have concerns and we have to improve, but I gotta tell you, we have a lot of trees growing out there and I am feeling positive.

I am a bit obsessed about forestry and read a lot. I know that these stands are not “natural” forests. I do question what many people describe as natural. The nature I know is pretty chaotic, ruthless and in constant flux.

There are lots of valid concerns about monocultures, biodiversity and sustainability. The MacLeod home estate in Scotland was a leader in plantation forestry for generations. After years of harvest/replanting cycles soil health and biodiversity became a concern. They are now leading the way in “re-wilding” their forest lands. Check out the work at this link:

MacLeod Estate Rewilding Update

We in BC will likely go that way soon but in the meantime, we have a lot of trees growing.

When we cut down forested land to make way for a new highway or subdivision it is removed from growing trees forever. Soils can’t absorb water when covered in pavement increasing the likelihood of damaging floods. Paved areas act as heat sinks elevating air temperatures. Homeowners on rural acreages that don’t manage adjacent forest land are more susceptible to catastrophic wildfires.  I think the Lower Mainland and other urban centers are the biggest environmental problems we have in BC.

I suggest the authors of these alarmist and inaccurate articles give me a call. Let’s grab a coffee and go for a drive in the bush. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.