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QUADCO
At Quadco, we offer viable solutions for handling beetle damaged and blown down timber. Our harvesters/processors offer the greatest flexibility, power and durability in the industry, all reasons why your next purchase should be with Quadco.

BEETLE INFESTATION ADVERTORIAL

BC's new Liberal government is committed to working with the forest industry to combat the province's worst ever epidemic of the mountain pine beetle. A Caucus Task Force has been appointed under the chairmanship of Cariboo North MLA John Wilson to seek community input and develop a long term action plan. it will be built upon and be in co-operation with the mountain pine beetle emergency task force formed by the Cariboo Lumber Manufacturers' Association and the Northern Forest Products Association in partnership with the Ministry of Forests. 

It's conservatively estimated the beetle epidemic has spread across six million hectares of forest lands in west central B.C. and it continues to escalate. The beetles attack predominantly mature and over mature lodgepole pine, the species accounting for more than 50 per cent of the growing stock in the B.C. interior. 

Beetle infestation is concentrated in the Lakes, Vanderhoof and Quesnel forest districts and is gaining ground in the Morice, Prince George, Chilcotin, Horsefly and Williams Lake areas. An estimated 40 million cubic metres of timber have already been infected. the economic stability of 30 forest industry dependent communities in the region is threatened by the beetle epidemic, along with a continuing erosion of forest company profits and $6 billion in stumpage royalties to the Crown are at risk.  

There are calls to declare a state of emergency in the worst affected areas. Industry licencees and their logging contractors are on the front line of the beetle battle. Several companies have re-directed 100 per cent of their annual allowable cut in attempts to stall the beetle's progress and salvage merchantable timber. 

The government has increased the AAC by 38 per cent in the Quesnel Forest District and an increase is being contemplated in the Burns Lake area. As the pace of work accelerates, methods are evolving to streamline and speed up the harvesting approval and public input processes without compromising environmental standards enforced under the provincial Forest Practices Code. Innovative harvesting strategies are also being developed. Beetle infestations can be fought on several levels. 

They include pheromone baiting to contain the beetles to the treated area; single tree sanitation harvesting; felling and burning infested trees; snip and skid methods to remove infected trees scattered through an area; controlled burning; clear cutting and an injection of pesticides to individual trees. Infestation levels can be reduced through reductions in tree densities. What method or methods work best within a given area is a key harvesting challenge. In many cases, the type and concentrations of beetle infestations lend themselves to select harvesting techniques.

That in turn requires harvesting equipment that's reliable, nimble, speedy and efficient. It is paramount to have machinery with the ability to work in close quarters to fall and process specified trees while reducing damage to residual stems and the forest ground. Good equipment matched with conscientious operators will go far in determining the eventual outcome of the beetle wars. 

The Liberal government is fast-tracking the work of its task force. It expects a final plan to be delivered to the Ministry of Forests by mid-September. If that time frame is met the plan will be implemented in the 2001 - 2002 winter logging season. And none too soon: time is not an ally. But the right investments now have the potential to produce substantial future savings.

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This page last modified on Tuesday, February 17, 2004