New parameters for BCTS causes optimism for wood manufacturers

Expanding BCTS’ mandate

Photo: File

Kalesnikoff Mass Timber Inc. could benefit from changes to B.C. Timber Sales mandate.

A change is being made to B.C. Timber Sales’ (BCTS) mandate to allow the “unique needs of each community and wood manufacturers” to flourish, and a West Kootenay mill is already eagerly awaiting its effect.

Ken Kalesnikoff, president and CEO of Kalesnikoff Mass Timber Inc. characterized the announcement as a positive step with BCTS.

He said the specialty values added sector — which are mostly minimally tenured or non-tenured companies — rely heavily on BCTS for their fibre supply.

“Seeing volume being accessed by this sector will show these changes are working as intended, creating certainty and fair access to the people’s resource for those of us focused on value over volume and creating over 15,000 jobs,” said Kalesnikoff in a statement.

In a press release earlier this week from the Ministry of Forests, it was explained that BCTS is expected to move from a focus on auctioning publicly-owned timber and setting price benchmarks to now consider “broader goals around the strength and sustainability of the forestry sector.”

The expanded mandate is anticipated to allow BCTS to respond to “specific, unique needs of each community and wood manufacturers, allowing it to better serve forestry operations and local mills who are investing in existing or new local, independent or value-added forestry operations.”

If the expanded mandate proves to work as well as it is being touted, it could help increase performance, move more fibre, and better serve the current client base, including the primary sector.

“BCTS will now be able to make investments that are more strategic, focused on long-term resiliency and prosperity,” noted a BCTS statement.

Supersizing the mandate

The expanded mandate of BCTS is centred around four key cornerstones:

1. Build thriving communities, with good jobs for people;
2. Supporting manufacturing diversity;
3. Strong partnerships with First Nations and communities; and
4. Resilient forest ecosystems.

Task force recommendations

The work of the BCTS task force contains recommendations aimed at:

• creating forestry sector growth, competition and diversification;
• providing predictable and reliable market access to fibre;
• diversifying access to fibre for the manufacturing sector, including value-added facilities;
• strengthening partnerships with First Nations and communities;
• providing more jobs for contractors, workers and communities; and,
• leading in innovative, sustainable forest management and silviculture practices.

Implementing the changes

Some actions are underway and others will be achieved through a phased approach. Initial implementation actions include:

• auctioning commercial thinning sales that improve forest health by reducing the understory;
• utilizing BCTS to manage stewardship projects, wildfire risk reduction, dangerous trees removal, rehabilitation of range land and partial harvest;
• working toward doubling the dedicated fibre supply for value-added wood manufacturing companies to 20 per cent of BCTS forestry licences;
• making it easier for smaller companies to bid on auctions in groups;
• active long-term forest planning through planting a variety of climate-adapted species and other native tree species;
• continuing to increase the use of prescribed fire in planning for reforestation and wildfire risk reduction;
• continuing to build First Nations partnerships that support obtaining fair-market returns for timber under licences;
• developing methods to market and sell logging residuals, such as branches and tree tops, to support sectors, such as the pulp sector;
• exploring new tools that ensure local logs support local jobs where appropriate to ensure that BCTS is benefiting people and communities; and
• auctioning undeveloped timber sales in select locations, to expedite the salvage of damaged timber.