1. Socials 10 The Economy of British Columbia Evangelina Wardell Block 2
The Forest
Socials 10
The Economy of British Columbia
Evangelina Wardell
Block 2

2. A Brief History
B.C.’s forests have been utilized for thousands of years
First Nation’s used the forests for their food, shelter, clothing, tools and utensils
European’s first recorded uses of B.C.’s forestry resources in March of 1778 for repairs of Captain James Cook’s boat
The building of forts was the first major constructions (ex. Fort James 1806, Fort Langley 1827, and Fort Victoria 1843)
The gold rush of 1858 developed the interior of the province resulted in the increase of the demand for lumber
Large mills were being built
Origins of B.C. Forest Service can be traced back to the *Royal Commission of Inquiry on Timber and Forestry on July 9th, 1909
Today, the B.C. Forest Service is the steward of Timber, Rang and Recreation resources of B.C.’s un-reserved public forest land
*The Royal Commission was founded as “an act respecting inquiries concerning public matters”

3. Forestry in BC
* Merchantable Timber: the largest segment of British Columbia’s economy
45% of all wood logged in Canada and 40% of all Canada’s *merchantable timber gets logged in B.C. alone
The forestry industry is the largest segment of B.C.’s economy
Contributes more *value-added than any other industry in B.C.
Since the late 1800’s, B.C.’s wood has been shipped on a global scale
Logging and manufacturing of forest products provide more employment to British Columbian’s
Recently, concern have grown about sustainability of the forest
People are looking for new and innovative ways to add value to our harvested wood
Interest had been growing due to peoples realizations of our forests profound effect on British Columbian life
Forestry has shaped trading relationships and determined British Columbians standards of living
Enhanced B.C.’s artistic and cultural life
*Value-Added:
Economic value that is added through secondary production

4. The Importance
In the mid-1990’s, the total value of all forest products exported from B.C. was $1.5 billion
Employs about 30,000 people in jobs ranging from logging to furniture manufacturing
The forest industry has always followed the ups and downs of economic cycle (ie. Will lay off people when economic times are bad and will hire people when economic times are good)
Now people are thinking of the industry and forest itself in the long term, hoping trees can be a resource for all time

5. The forest sector accounted for 4. 6% of B. C. employment and 9
The forest sector accounted for 4.6% of B.C. employment and 9.2% of all economic activity in 2009
The forest sector generates $9.07 billion in economic activity for the province each year
In 2009, the value of B.C.’s forestry products accounted for 30% of B.C.’s total exports and 31% of Canada’s total for forest products exports
The pulp and paper sector is a large part of B.C.’s economy with total pulp and paper exports representing approx. 46% of the total value of B.C. forest products exported in 2009
Pulp and papers revenue amounted to$3.5 billion in 2009
British Columbia is a major player in the world-wide forestry sector – the province is the world’s largest exporter of softwood lumber to international markets 

6. The Problem: What Impact does Clear-Cutting have on the Environment?

7. CONS TO THE ENVIORNMENT:
74% of logging in Canada’s rainforest is clear-cut logging
46% of logging in Canada’s rainforest is taking place in the most productive Salmon *watersheds
Watersheds that provide spawning habitats for some of the habitats for some of the healthiest wild Salmon runs remaining in Canada
78% of logging in Canada’s rainforest has been in old growth forests – home to majestic old growth Cedar and Sitka Spruce
Proposed protection for the Great Bear Rainforest leaves 80% of White ‘Spirit’ Bear’s habitat at risk of logging
Since 2001, 83% of government approved logging plans in Canada’s Rainforests are in the critical nesting habitat of the Northern Goshawk
Only 35% of areas that the *CIT identified as being highly intact and with significant conservation value are currently proposed for protection – this leaves 65% of the most important ecosystems at risk of logging/ other forms of development
*A watershed is the area in which the water drains into a lake or river
*CIT stands for the Coastal Information Team

8. PROS FOR THE ENVIORNMENT:
Destructive to water, soil, wildlife, and the atmosphere
Removing the trees that hold water and top soil removes the trees which would otherwise have been transpiring large volumes of water and physically damages grasses, mosses, liches, and ferns that populate all the bio-mass normally retaining water
Prevents trees from shadowing riverbanks and rivers
Raises temperatures and contributing to extinction of some fish and amphibian species
Clear-cutting can destroy an area’s ecological integrity in a number of way –the destruction of buffer zones reduce the severity of flooding by absorbing and holding water – the immediate removal of forest canopy which destroys the habitat or many rainforest-dependent insects and bacteria – the removal of forest carbon sinks leading to global warming through increased human-induced and natural carbon dioxide build up in the atmosphere
PROS FOR THE ENVIORNMENT:
Clear-cutting can be practiced to encourage the growth of tree species that require high light intensity
Clear-Cutting can be used by foresters as a method of mimicking a natural disturbance and increasing primary succession species

9. Can help regenerate species that cannot compete in mature forests
Clear-Cutting has also proved to be effective in creating animal habitats
Can help regenerate species that cannot compete in mature forests
Leads to increased *vascular-plant diversity in the area
No significant changes in water temperature were observed when patch clear-cutting was done 100ft away from a river – this suggests that patch clear-cutting is a possible solution to concerns about water temperature rising due to clear0cutting
*Forest Managers have found that clear-cutting oak stands helps oak forests in areas of poor soil – the tree canopies in oak forests often shade out of the ground making it impossible for newly sprouted oaks to grow
*Forest Managers: someone who is responsible for managing forests and woodlands and oversee activities such as timber production, conservation, and recreation
*Vascular- Plant: a
Plant that is characterized
By the presence of conducing tissue

10. The Issue On a National & Global Scale
According to the Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI), clear cutting is the process by which all the trees in a given section of a forest are logged at once – leaving only a small number of trees left standing
OFRI indicates that although the trees are replanted after 2 years, the replanting does not undo all the damage that clear-cutting causes
Clear-cutting’s main main destruction is towards habitats, where it makes the habitats more vulnerable in the future to damage by insects, disease, acid rain, and wind
Removal of all trees from an area destroys the physical habitats of many species in wildlife
Clear-Cutting can also contribute to problems for ecosystems that depend on forests, like the streams and rivers which run through them
In Canada, the Black-tailed Deer population is at further risk after clear-cutting, like how many other species are at risk after losing their habitats and food sources

11. Clear-cutting can destroy an area’s ecological integrity in a number of ways (ex.
The destruction of buffer zones which reduce the severity of flooding by absorbing and holding water
The immediate removal of forest canopy, which destroys the habitats of many rainforest-dependent insects and bacteria
The removal of forest carbon sinks, leading to global warming through the increased human-included and natural carbon dioxide build up in the atmosphere
The elimination of fish and wildlife species due to soil erosion and habitat loss
The removal of underground worms, fungi and bacteria that condition soil and protect plants growing in it from disease
The loss of small-scale economic opportunities, such as fruit-picking, sap extraction, and rubber tapping
The destruction of aesthetic values and recreation opportunities )

12. A Solution To our Problem!!
Alternate Forestry:
Non-timber forest products, special non-wood minor alternative and secondary forest products are useful substances/ materials/ commodities gathered from forests which do not require harvesting trees
Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) have focused on their commodifiability for rural incomes and markets – as an expression of traditional knowledge or as a livelihood option for rural house hold needs - as a key component of sustainable forest management and conservation strategies
All research promotes products as valuable commodities and tools that can promote the conservation of forests
Improvement Cutting:
The elimination of less valuable trees in favor of more valuable tree growth
Typically in mixed, uneven-aged forests
This could be helpful to cut down older trees for new and healthy trees to grow in the place of old trees
Like with the oak forests in the ‘Pros’ section
Natural Regeneration/ Protection of Regeneration:
Regeneration: the renewal of a tree crop, whether by natural or artificial means

13. Websites Used Horizons (pg. 353-357)

14. THE END!!