Sorry State of Affairs in the Forestry Industry

[britman101]

Sorry state of affairs in the Forest Industry in BC. From the link below the writer does not hold out much hope for the forest industry in B.C.

https://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/opinion/james-steidle-inept-shady-unaccountable-leadership-led-to-canfor-pulp-layoffs-6370223

Have to wonder where did all the money go when the lumber prices went through the roof.:roll:

And more information to digest on the state of the forest industry in this province:

the finger pointing and “it’s not our fault” excuses from Canfor were as loud as a chainsaw from the outset of the company’s Wednesday announcement that it was axing its pulp line at its Prince George Pulp and Paper Mill, along with the 300 jobs that come with it.
It’s because of the closed sawmills in the Prince George area (Canfor’s choice), they said. It’s because of the reductions in the annual allowable cut (the B.C. government’s choice) and the difficulty getting “cost-competitive” fibre, they said.

Recommended reads for you:
Mayor Yu weighs in on Prince George Pulp and Paper mill closure (https://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/local-news/mayor-yu-weighs-in-on-prince-george-pulp-and-paper-mill-closure-6371064?itm_source=parsely-api)
Pulp line at Prince George Pulp and Paper closing permanently (https://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/local-news/pulp-line-at-prince-george-pulp-and-paper-closing-permanently-6366167?itm_source=parsely-api)




The “cost-competitive” part means fibre at a price where Canfor can still make a substantial profit.
Like their $211.5 million in earnings in the third quarter of 2022, the $644.3 million in earnings the quarter before that and the $839.9 million in earnings during the first three months of last year.
As an industry analyst explained in a Glacier Media story last October about the crisis in the B.C. pulp sector (https://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/local-news/bc-pulp-and-paper-sector-is-in-crisis-5976863), a lot of fibre gets left in the bush after logging because it’s cheaper to burn it than haul it out and take it to the nearest pulp mill.





In other words, we’ve arrived at this week because of the greed and incompetence of the big forest companies and the provincial government more interested in milking every cent out of the sector on a month-to-month basis to bolster their revenues than on the long-term management and protection of this invaluable resource.

[adriaticum]

No, everything is perfect according to the forestry gang on HBC.
BC will go the way of the Puebloans in the Chaco Canyon.

[broke]

When I started working in the forest industry over 2 decades ago (ironically for Canfor), the companies put a ton of investment into BC mills. We had state of the art sawmills, second to none. The last decade has seen every up cycle of lumber prices spent in the US. Canfor and West Fraser are now the proud owners of dozens and dozens on mills south of the border. Will any PG families get transferred to Louisiana...???

Companies have no obligation to be loyal to one jurisdiction or another, so we only can hope they invest and stay in BC. And when they don't we'll have to find other places to work (I left forestry for mining a decade ago). The govt thinks too short term, is easily influenced and every ~15 years flips between 'capitalist far right' to 'socialist far left'. Hard to manage a resource like our forests with no long term commitment from the companies and no vision from our politicians beyond the next election cycle.

Sad for the PG families for sure, but at least there's lots of work up north.

[Gun Dog]

My dad worked for Evans Forest Products in the 60's at a plywood mill on the Fraser River in Vancouver. They closed in the 70's. It was simple - the cost of production in BC was higher than the cost of production at their US mills. Lumber is a commodity so the cheapest producer makes the most money.

BC has a thriving TV & movie industry because tax incentives makes us the low cost destination. Too bad the government doesn't care about dirty resource industries.

[dakoda62]

Vaagen in the West Koot's has curtailed operations also, they do not have a timber licence and as such have to buy on the open market, can't afford so shutting down.

[Imdone]

Again, government is the one to point most of the blame on for the state we are in now with possibly thousands of forestry workers.
Provincial and Federal government allowing huge exports of raw material to be milled elsewhere.
It's sickening and sells out the residents of this province and country.
I wouldn't be advocating for anyone I know to get into this industry from a faller to a mill worker to a truck driver.

[VLD43]

I worked in the forest industry back in the late 70's and early 80's for about ten years. It was apparent then that the forest industry was dying. Total mismanagement on the part of Government. You used to have to run a mill in order to have a tree farm license, but not now. Back then people were raising concerns with all the raw logs leaving on freighters and no one listened. Since then things have gone down hill because of little or no Government regulation or oversight. Past Governments never had the spine to slow things down and tighten regulations, because of the backlash from unemployed loggers and communities. The logging companies are a business and will go where ever they can make a profit and keep their costs down. its you and me who get to suffer the damage done by the forest industry, whether its washouts, erosion, habitat damage and loss or lack of investment. Back in the day the Government allowed the forest companies to cut down lots of old growth fir and sell it to Japan at wholesale prices, just to keep people employed. That stuff was high value wood, and instead of leaving it standing and selling at a premium, they gave it away. Now you have people like Mosiac (Teachers pension Fund) who advertises themselves as a "Land Management Company" clear cutting like there is no tomorrow and then loading it on ships for China. You cant blame them as they are looking after their pension investments for their cliental as anyone would expect if they had money invested in that company. And like any smart company when the trees are gone and they have sold off all the logged land they can, they will move on to their next investment. The only thing that allows them to do that is the Government you elect and either hold accountable or not. Being complacent with your democracy has consequences.

[MRP]

In the past years 7 PG mills have closed counting the plywood plant the burned and not rebuilt 4 are left. Rape and pillage then move on. Industry at its best no different the east coast Cod and B.C. salmon.

[ACB]

When I started in the pulp and paper industry in the mid 70's there were around 13,000 pulp and paper workers in B.C. in the 2 unions and the IWA was around 60,000 members in B.C.. What happened? The forrest companies were allowed to sell and ship raw logs over sea's. There were thousands of jobs that went on those boats with the logs and the trucks that go south of the border.

[ACE]

When I started in the pulp and paper industry in the mid 70's there were around 13,000 pulp and paper workers in B.C. in the 2 unions and the IWA was around 60,000 members in B.C.. What happened? The forrest companies were allowed to sell and ship raw logs over sea's. There were thousands of jobs that went on those boats with the logs and the trucks that go south of the border.

Less need for newsprint now with electronic media.
Log export subsidized domestic availability for the mills.

[Planer99]

Simple...move to a forestry model like Alberta. Industry makes a healthy sustainable profit and the government gets a steady flow of tax revenue. The huge ebbs and flows in bc are brutal on everyone, those huge profits last year the bc forestry companies made are now being covered up major losses right now.
The mill workers are the ones that suffer, they don't benefit during the highs and have to take layoffs on the lows. All the old trades guys are aging out and young trades guys are looking for more reliable work than pays more.

[Squire]

No, everything is perfect according to the forestry gang on HBC.
BC will go the way of the Puebloans in the Chaco Canyon.

Great contribution to the discussion; who could argue that the ex tree-planter who wrote the article isn’t the definitive expert on the condition of the industry especially when he can fit the catchy term “megacorps” into one rant multiple times.:roll:

The ‘forestry gang’ on HBC has never said everything is perfect in the forest industry and in fact most will tell you it is in crisis. The members who have worked in the management end of the industry just disagree with some uninformed opinions as to the reasons why it is in crisis and have attempted to elaborate to a mostly unreceptive, and often unsophisticated, audience.

[MRP]

It’s a catch 22, For those old enough to remember the saying. You can’t have it both ways, yes they have exported too many logs the jobs should say in the community. But we would still be running out of timber even if no raw logs were exported, you can’t complain about los of jobs and there was too much cutting in the bush at the same time. Boom and Bust: it’s the only thing the big money makers know. And all those who wont to get in on their portion of the big money gladly grab on to brown end of the stick and hold on until it’s yanked from there hands. With a resource that you can almost go count every tree, know how much is out there know how much is cut and still be so far over the regeneration rate is nothing but greed and piss on those that come behind me. It’s the way the world turns there’s not one country on this rock where things are any different. Rape it and move on.

[b72471]

Just to cover a few things again.
After the fires very little timber was taken out, most of it is still standing.
Beetle kill was a grab and run sale which included a lot of prime timber mixed in with beetle kill. Stumpage was almost nothing.
Raw log export.
Overcutting quotes and waste.

[ACB]

Less need for newsprint now with electronic media.
Log export subsidized domestic availability for the mills.
Sure with electronic media "NEWSPRINT" is less of a commodity, but last I looked people are still wiping their asses. Those newsprint machines can be refitted to producing tissue "aka ass wipe". Nobody wants a plastic bag anymore for groceries or house wares, so instead of shipping raw logs oversea's to made into paper bags and tissue why not make those recyclable paper shopping bags here and employ Canadians with Canadian natural resources? How does a log export subsidy help laid off mill workers, with EI, for how long?

[358mag]

Sure with electronic media "NEWSPRINT" is less of a commodity, but last I looked people are still wiping their asses. Those newsprint machines can be refitted to producing tissue "aka ass wipe". Nobody wants a plastic bag anymore for groceries or house wares, so instead of shipping raw logs oversea's to made into paper bags and tissue why not make those recyclable paper shopping bags here and employ Canadians with Canadian natural resources? How does a log export subsidy help laid off mill workers, with EI, for how long?

Why ?? well one just has to look at the wages that are paid "over seas" for your answer . Its all about $$$$ and profit .
Are you willing to pay a higher price for products made in Canada or go shopping at Wal Mart for cheaper off shore Chinese made products ?

[Arctic Lake]

Geez what a mess ! One side vs the other . Makes one’s head spin !
Seems to me what the outcome should be in the Forest Industry is , Sustainability, Jobs , Profits , Taxes .
Hmm.. Anyway to provide all of this ?
Arctic Lake

[Squire]

Log exports are a coastal issue

Two thirds of the AAC comes from the interior

Prior to the NDP's log export prohibition in 1994, less than 1% of crown timber was exported

The NDP introduced the current surplus test log export policy in 1998 in a attempt to revive the industry

Cedar, Cypress and any log better than a coastal 'H' grade cannot be exported

The total costs (including stumpage) of bringing a log to the market on the coast exceed the domestic log values. Without selling some of the profile for more than logging costs no logs would come out of the woods, hence the domestic manufacturing subsidy.

No mill in BC ever shut down because of log exports

The amount of forested land lost to beetles, fires and new parks meant there had to be a significant reduction in AAC in the short term(40-50 years) and there would be some winners and losers in the subsequent reduction in manufacturing facilities.

Softwood logs aren't turned into toilet paper, Cottonwood and Aspen are.

[Arctic Lake]

Do they actively harvest Cottonwood and Aspen in B.C. ?
Man I have seen some gigantic cottonwoods back in the bush North East of Bear Lake which is North of P.G.
Arctic Lake
Log exports are a coastal issue

Two thirds of the AAC comes from the interior

Prior to the NDP's log export prohibition in 1994, less than 1% of crown timber was exported

The NDP introduced the current surplus test log export policy in 1998 in a attempt to revive the industry

Cedar, Cypress and any log better than a coastal 'H' grade cannot be exported

The total costs (including stumpage) of bringing a log to the market on the coast exceed the domestic log values. Without selling some of the profile for more than logging costs no logs would come out of the woods, hence the domestic manufacturing subsidy.

No mill in BC ever shut down because of log exports

The amount of forested land lost to beetles, fires and new parks meant there had to be a significant reduction in AAC in the short term(40-50 years) and there would be some winners and losers in the subsequent reduction in manufacturing facilities.

Softwood logs aren't turned into toilet paper, Cottonwood and Aspen are.

[KodiakHntr]

Do they actively harvest Cottonwood and Aspen in B.C. ?
Man I have seen some gigantic cottonwoods back in the bush North East of Bear Lake which is North of P.G.
Arctic Lake

Yes. In FSJ and Dawson Creek we have facilities that only use aspen and a minor (10-20%) component of cottonwood.

[Retiredguy]

I do not find this surprising at all. Really, if you look at what has been happening with the land base, everyone should have been able to see this coming. I do not believe for one minute it all boils down to shipping logs overseas. We have had years and years of cutting in this province. Then we have had many large fires in the last decade, several decades of beetle kill, and lets not forget the creation of huge parks all over the coast and the interior. All of the forested areas that have been taken out of the picture was bound to cause problems eventually. There are also issues with First Nations looming and they want control of the forests in the lands they are claiming. Partnerships have already been struck between First Nations groups and logging companies in many areas of the province. The funds going to the First Nations people further reduces the monies that would be going to the province from what the extraction generates monetarily. All combined...well it does not paint a very rosy picture...and no one should be surprised by what is happening.

[#49]

For all the money Canfor made they could afford to have those 300 sit in the lunchroom until things improve.We all know corporations are driven by greed,it's a shame our goverments have been too blind or just didnt care enough to police the wolves in the hen house.

[Downwindtracker2]

This isn't much of a surprise is it ? Those who listened have heard the warnings at least 10 years ago . Likely closer to 20 years ago. There Will Be Fiber Crunch ! There have been close downs of sawmills on both coast with the log exports and interior with the end of the beetle kill cut. 45 since 2005. But it comes down to having cut all the trees. We hunters have seen this first hand. I worked in the industry and saw it coming.

[ACB]

Do they actively harvest Cottonwood and Aspen in B.C. ?
Man I have seen some gigantic cottonwoods back in the bush North East of Bear Lake which is North of P.G.
Arctic Lake
Scott Paper used to farm Cottonwood on the islands on the Fraser in the Fraser valley to supply the old Scott plant at New Westminster to make bum wipe.

[ACB]

Log exports are a coastal issue

Two thirds of the AAC comes from the interior

Prior to the NDP's log export prohibition in 1994, less than 1% of crown timber was exported

The NDP introduced the current surplus test log export policy in 1998 in a attempt to revive the industry

Cedar, Cypress and any log better than a coastal 'H' grade cannot be exported

The total costs (including stumpage) of bringing a log to the market on the coast exceed the domestic log values. Without selling some of the profile for more than logging costs no logs would come out of the woods, hence the domestic manufacturing subsidy.

No mill in BC ever shut down because of log exports

The amount of forested land lost to beetles, fires and new parks meant there had to be a significant reduction in AAC in the short term(40-50 years) and there would be some winners and losers in the subsequent reduction in manufacturing facilities.

Softwood logs aren't turned into toilet paper, Cottonwood and Aspen are.
I beg to differ whether soft wood is used to make tissue/ toilet paper. The mill I worked at made soft wood bleached pulp, we used Hemlock, Cedar, Spruce, Pine and Fir (Coastal and Interior Doug Fir). The mill was owned originally by CanFor then sold to an Indonesian paper maker that has lots of tissue mills in China. 100% of the product that the mill I worked at went to the Tissue mills in China.

[Squire]

I beg to differ whether soft wood is used to make tissue/ toilet paper. The mill I worked at made soft wood bleached pulp, we used Hemlock, Cedar, Spruce, Pine and Fir (Coastal and Interior Doug Fir). The mill was owned originally by CanFor then sold to an Indonesian paper maker that has lots of tissue mills in China. 100% of the product that the mill I worked at went to the Tissue mills in China.

Because you didn’t name the mill but mentioned Indonesian owners I assume you’re referring to Paper Excellence, a subsidiary of the giant Sinar Mas corporation. None of their BC mills produces pulp exclusively for toilet paper as a quick Google search of their company will reveal. Granted, a portion of some of their product may indeed be used for tissue products at one of their APP facilities overseas. I don’t dispute your experience as it is possible that all the production from a ‘run’ lasting a specific duration was destined to produce tissue but long term the mill wouldn’t survive because it’s the demand for the higher value, longer, stronger strands characteristic of BC’s softwood pulp that sustains our pulp industry. The fibre suitable for tissue products is both abundant and cheaper in other areas of the world.

In my experience in BC, only Kruger in New Westminster (formerly Scott Paper) made pulp exclusively for tissue products and they converted Cottonwood logs into pulp at their plant. Although I was guilty of over-generalizing, this is what I was referring to. My statement could have more accurately read, “BC’s pulp industry isn’t based on converting softwood into toilet tissue”.

[wideopenthrottle]

they have developed a whole bunch of fast growing hybrid poplars that they have planted on many of the islands of the Fraser...

[ACB]

Because you didn’t name the mill but mentioned Indonesian owners I assume you’re referring to Paper Excellence, a subsidiary of the giant Sinar Mas corporation. None of their BC mills produces pulp exclusively for toilet paper as a quick Google search of their company will reveal. Granted, a portion of some of their product may indeed be used for tissue products at one of their APP facilities overseas. I don’t dispute your experience as it is possible that all the production from a ‘run’ lasting a specific duration was destined to produce tissue but long term the mill wouldn’t survive because it’s the demand for the higher value, longer, stronger strands characteristic of BC’s softwood pulp that sustains our pulp industry. The fibre suitable for tissue products is both abundant and cheaper in other areas of the world.

In my experience in BC, only Kruger in New Westminster (formerly Scott Paper) made pulp exclusively for tissue products and they converted Cottonwood logs into pulp at their plant. Although I was guilty of over-generalizing, this is what I was referring to. My statement could have more accurately read, “BC’s pulp industry isn’t based on converting softwood into toilet tissue”.
Yes, Paper Excellence. You're right not exclusively for making tissue, but 100% of the product that we made went to tissue mills in China to be added to the cheaper wood source for product strength, around 1,100 tonne's a day.

[msawyer]

We've known about "fall down" for going on 4 decades but nothing was done about it. I find it sadly ironic that the "forestry" discussion here on HBC revolves almost exclusively (but not entirely) around the economics and employment issues instead of, as I would have naively expected, revolving around the massive cumulative environmental effects associated with 7 decades of feverish industrial forestry. But there is no free lunch - you can't have functioning ecosystems with all of the benefits that brings (vibrant fish and wildlife populations and recreational opportunities) at the same time as maximizing fiber supply. Its also sad to remember that back in the day before industrial forestry that every small town in BC had several Gypo mills, a saw shop, mechanic shops and other service aspects of the forest industry and all employed many men in that industry. Subject to check, back in 1950 there were something like 4.5 man-years of employment per 1,000 m3 of raw logs harvested - that number has dropped down to (again subject to check) something in the order of 0.7 man-years per 1000 m3 of raw logs harvested. But at the same time the volume of raw logs harvested as exponentially increased. How do you explain that? The trade off was to increase the efficiency (and profitability) of the BC forest industry in return for more employment - it was a Lie that no subsequent BC government has had the vision and leadership to step away from. Lets face it though, the greed is not just limited to the multinational corporations but includes federal, provincial, regional and municipal governments, forestry dependent communities, unions, secondary and tertiary business and yes, the workers. In sum, all of us...

[Imdone]

Great post above

[Arctic Lake]

Hmm. Those small towns your Grandfather worked at the mill he retired , your Dad worked at the mill he retired you worked at the mill …..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzoVLDdHwW4

[VLD43]

[QUOTE=msawyer;2383728]We've known about "fall down" for going on 4 decades but nothing was done about it. I find it sadly ironic that the "forestry" discussion here on HBC revolves almost exclusively (but not entirely) around the economics and employment issues instead of, as I would have naively expected, revolving around the massive cumulative environmental effects associated with 7 decades of feverish industrial forestry. But there is no free lunch - you can't have functioning ecosystems with all of the benefits that brings (vibrant fish and wildlife populations and recreational opportunities) at the same time as maximizing fiber supply. Its also sad to remember that back in the day before industrial forestry that every small town in BC had several Gypo mills, a saw shop, mechanic shops and other service aspects of the forest industry and all employed many men in that industry. Subject to check, back in 1950 there were something like 4.5 man-years of employment per 1,000 m3 of raw logs harvested - that number has dropped down to (again subject to check) something in the order of 0.7 man-years per 1000 m3 of raw logs harvested. But at the same time the volume of raw logs harvested as exponentially increased. How do you explain that? The trade off was to increase the efficiency (and profitability) of the BC forest industry in return for more employment - it was a Lie that no subsequent BC government has had the vision and leadership to step away from. Lets face it though, the greed is not just limited to the multinational corporations but includes federal, provincial, regional and municipal governments, forestry dependent communities, unions, secondary and tertiary business and yes, the workers. In sum, all of us...[/QUOT

Well said and on the money. Could not agree more

[Squire]

We've known about "fall down" for going on 4 decades but nothing was done about it. I find it sadly ironic that the "forestry" discussion here on HBC revolves almost exclusively (but not entirely) around the economics and employment issues instead of, as I would have naively expected, revolving around the massive cumulative environmental effects associated with 7 decades of feverish industrial forestry. But there is no free lunch - you can't have functioning ecosystems with all of the benefits that brings (vibrant fish and wildlife populations and recreational opportunities) at the same time as maximizing fiber supply. Its also sad to remember that back in the day before industrial forestry that every small town in BC had several Gypo mills, a saw shop, mechanic shops and other service aspects of the forest industry and all employed many men in that industry. Subject to check, back in 1950 there were something like 4.5 man-years of employment per 1,000 m3 of raw logs harvested - that number has dropped down to (again subject to check) something in the order of 0.7 man-years per 1000 m3 of raw logs harvested. But at the same time the volume of raw logs harvested as exponentially increased. How do you explain that? The trade off was to increase the efficiency (and profitability) of the BC forest industry in return for more employment - it was a Lie that no subsequent BC government has had the vision and leadership to step away from. Lets face it though, the greed is not just limited to the multinational corporations but includes federal, provincial, regional and municipal governments, forestry dependent communities, unions, secondary and tertiary business and yes, the workers. In sum, all of us...

Technology; and more specifically, automation. With competitive sources of fibre coming on line all over the world in an evolving global economy BC’s forest industry had to evolve with it or just die.
It’s naive to think our forest industry could insulate itself from the same market forces that allow me to buy a bigger and more technologically advanced television for less than the one I bought in 1981.
All stakeholders could have done better preparing and adjusting to a dramatically changing world over the last 50 years but I don’t find using hind-sight to assess blame nearly as admirable as figuring out how to move forward.

[Downwindtracker2]

A while back, someone posted a Liberal MLA's estimate of timber reserves as compared to the government's. When we say government that applies to both political parties. Both are guilty of allowing over cutting.

I did a shutdown in that mill once. The tradesmen will find jobs fairly easily, but the operators will have it tough. I've known a couple of operators from Island Paper. Domtar mismanaged that one to death.

Squire, the problem is a lack of raw material. BC's forestry industry was the world's leader in turning logs into lumber. I have been in sawmills where I swear, chuckle, the maintenance crew was larger than the operating crew. Talk about automation. Those mills are shut down now. No Logs.

[Squire]

A while back, someone posted a Liberal MLA's estimate of timber reserves as compared to the government's. When we say government that applies to both political parties. Both are guilty of allowing over cutting.

I did a shutdown in that mill once. The tradesmen will find jobs fairly easily, but the operators will have it tough. I've known a couple of operators from Island Paper. Domtar mismanaged that one to death.

Squire, the problem is a lack of raw material. BC's forestry industry was the world's leader in turning logs into lumber. I have been in sawmills where I swear, chuckle, the maintenance crew was larger than the operating crew. Talk about automation. Those mills are shut down now. No Logs.

I addressed the issue of fibre supply reduction in a prior post. I will elaborate by oversimplifying the situation so that everyone can easily get the picture by first stating that this is largely an interior and less of a coastal issue. Prior to chasing the beetle-killed stands the Allowable Annual Cut determined by scientific modelling(the accuracy of which is another debate altogether) was, for the purpose of establishing a benchmark, at 100%. In an effort to utilize beetle-killed wood within its shelf life of suitability for conversion to lumber, the AAC was increased to approximately 150% for a couple of 5-year cut-control cycles.
After this period, bringing the AAC back to a sustainable level in the short term would require a reduction to 50% of the pre-beetle AAC or 33% of the peak harvest volumes. I say short-term because theoretically after the 40-50 years required to regenerate the lost stands, the AAC could increase again if not return to prior levels.
Granted I am using round numbers for simplification and other factors like fires, parks, and first nations’ claims have all had an impact on the timber harvesting land base as well. I am only attempting to illustrate why the reduction in manufacturing capacity was entirely predictable.

The concept I was referring to in the post you referenced is the significant reduction in jobs per cubic meter that has occurred over time.

[breakaction]

I addressed the issue of fibre supply reduction in a prior post. I will elaborate by oversimplifying the situation so that everyone can easily get the picture by first stating that this is largely an interior and less of a coastal issue. Prior to chasing the beetle-killed stands the Allowable Annual Cut determined by scientific modelling(the accuracy of which is another debate altogether) was, for the purpose of establishing a benchmark, at 100%. In an effort to utilize beetle-killed wood within its shelf life of suitability for conversion to lumber, the AAC was increased to approximately 150% for a couple of 5-year cut-control cycles.
After this period, bringing the AAC back to a sustainable level in the short term would require a reduction to 50% of the pre-beetle AAC or 33% of the peak harvest volumes. I say short-term because theoretically after the 40-50 years required to regenerate the lost stands, the AAC could increase again if not return to prior levels.
Granted I am using round numbers for simplification and other factors like fires, parks, and first nations’ claims have all had an impact on the timber harvesting land base as well. I am only attempting to illustrate why the reduction in manufacturing capacity was entirely predictable.

The concept I was referring to in the post you referenced is the significant reduction in jobs per cubic meter that has occurred over time.

Just an observation, but is there anything to be said for the government being so apprehensive to adapt more extensive use of LiDAR or other technology to get an accurate picture of existing stock and real numbers behind old growth?

[adriaticum]

Excellent article in the tyee about what the forestry scoundrels are up to

https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2023/01/18/Running-Empty-BC-Forestry-Crash/

[horshur]

Just an observation, but is there anything to be said for the government being so apprehensive to adapt more extensive use of LiDAR or other technology to get an accurate picture of existing stock and real numbers behind old growth?

We use lidar maps every day working for BCTS(government)