In an aerial view, logs are seen stacked at Gorman Brothers Lumber sawmill, in West Kelowna, B.C., on Friday, April 4, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
GACVICTORIA - British Columbia's forestry industry is "under pressure from all sides," prompting the provincial government to bring in changes to expand the role of BC Timber Sales. including allowing some communities to manage their own forest resources. Â
Forests Minister Ravi Parmar says attacks from U.S. President Donald Trump, "increasingly intense" wildfires and climate change all put extra pressure on the industry.Â
A review of the work done by BC Timber Sales, an organization that manages 20 per cent of Crown timber, has generated 54 recommendations in a plan to help support a thriving forest economy.Â
One of the key recommendations includes expanding three community forests in Vanderhoof, Fraser Lake and Fort St. James., allowing them to manage and protect their forest resources, all while ensuring a stable supply of logs for the local mills.Â
The recommendations include making it easier for smaller companies to bid on timber at auctions, developing ways to market unused parts of the trees, like branches and tree tops, and building partnerships with First Nations and their communities.Â
Parmar said he wants the changes implemented as quickly as possible, but a number of them will require legislative change to move forward.Â
"It was clear to me when I became minister of forests (that) the BCTS sales targets were unacceptable," said Parmar.
"These recommendations took a lot of time and energy to build. But really, from my perspective, they point to the future of forestry, and that is stability, that is certainty, that is predictability."
BC Timber Sales manages about 20 per cent of the provincial annual allowable cut and was established in 2003 to provide open market access and generate income for the province.
Lennard Joe, CEO of the First Nations Forestry Council, George Abbott, a former B.C. government cabinet minister, and Brian Frenkel, a councillor with the District of Vanderhoof, were appointed by Parmar earlier this year to lead the review.
This report by ºÃÉ«tvwas first published Sept. 23, 2025.
The ºÃÉ«tv Press. All rights reserved.
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