BC Deputy Minister Tim Sheldan and newly affirmed Chief Forester Diane Nichols spoke of the challenges and opportunities related to BC’s future fibre supply

British Columbia Fibre Outlook

BC Deputy Minister Tim Sheldan and newly affirmed Chief Forester Diane Nichols spoke of the challenges and opportunities related to BC’s future fibre supply. Tim focused on the importance of having a “competitiveness lens” when considering policy changes and of removing barriers to ensure industry can continue to provide economic and community benefits. Diane focused on the transition to a lower AAC resulting from the Mountain Pine Beetle but also the opportunities represented by the fact that not all areas were as hard hit as originally forecast, the current AAC has not been fully utilized in many areas and because there is additional fibre opportunity outside the traditional AAC land base. The panel was moderated by Ric Slaco of Interfor.