Whereas forest health is essential to resource development and economic opportunities in our region; And whereas British Columbia communities continue to struggle with the effects of the pine beetle epidemic that was exacerbated by restrictions imposed by park and protected area designations, and a fir and spruce beetle infestation has now taken hold as a result of inadequate measures to control beetle infestation: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call on the provincial government to take a proactive approach to the health of the forest, with treatment of diseased trees taking precedence over park or protected area designations, as well as other restrictions such as mule deer winter range or old growth designations.
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations Rural Development The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development acts quickly and together with forest licensees to address risks to forest health, including the spruce beetle outbreak in the i9Omineca, to reduce the impact on timber supply, ecosystems and communities. Working Together: British Columbias Spruce Beetle Mitigation Strategy outlines the BC governments response to this forest health issue. It also builds on the tactical plans that have been implemented so far by the Ministry and forest licensees. Although the outbreak in the Omineca region is a concern, the potential damage to BCs forests is not on the same scale as the mountain pine beetle outbreak that has had a major impact on the timber supply in the Interior. The Ministrys priorities for reducing the impact forest health risks are: -preventing or reducing damage to ecosystems in areas that are susceptible to but not yet experiencing a spruce or Douglas fir beetle outbreak -recovering the greatest possible value from dead Douglas fir and spruce timber before it decays or is damaged by wildfire restoring forest resources in areas affected by Douglas fir and spruce beetle outbreaks