Whereas there are decreasing amounts of dead wood harvest in the province due to the cost of salvage being greater than the market value; And whereas the pricing model for dead wood or fire impacted lands is the same or similar to live stands, and the permitting for fire impacted landscapes requires the same permitting requirements as live stands: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the provincial government to create a new pricing model to encourage more business opportunities that will increase the volume of dead wood being available to the market, thereby reducing wildfire risk; And be it further resolved that a special permitting system be established to ensure that fire impacted areas can have permits issued for salvage within 90 days, which will support the market for residual users and decrease dependence on subsidy programs.
Ministry of Forests With respect to harvesting dead timber, the stumpage system incorporates cost reductions for mountain pine beetle salvage, blowdown salvage, fir and spruce beetle salvage, and wildfire salvage. Additionally, there are several alternative options to facilitate harvesting including small scale salvage pricing system and comparative cruising with ribbonless boundary policy options for wildfire salvage. As of December 16, 2025, 43 percent of active cutting permits in the Cariboo Chilcotin Forest District are at minimum stumpage 25 centsm3. This accounts for the higher levels of salvage in the central Cariboo as well as the greater transportation costs associated with operating in far flung locations, like the far western portion of the district.