BC’s Wildfire-Damaged Timber Recovery is Underway

On Wednesday, the British Columbia government announced new measures to streamline the use of wildfire-damaged timber and support land recovery. The province hopes this will make it easier for the forestry sector to recover and repurpose damaged wood and regenerate forests.

Changes to the Interior Appraisal Manual, effective April 1st, have increased flexibility and established pricing policy for forestry operations and First Nations wanting to salvage wildfire-damaged timber in BC, according to the press release. Salvage allows for quicker reforestation efforts and land recovery after wildfires.

The updated pricing guidelines better reflect the price of wildfire-damaged wood in the government’s stumpage fees and in the associated costs of salvage logging, making it more economic for businesses to salvage damaged wood.

In response to the 2023 wildfires, salvage cutting permits have been issued for almost 1.4 million cubic meters of volume—equivalent to about 28,000 logging truck loads of wildfire-damaged wood recovered. Wildfire-damaged wood is used by industries like the pulp and paper sector to make household items, such as paper, packaging, and tissue paper.

Wildfire salvage opportunity agreements were created to increase salvage opportunities for First Nations in the forest sector and support timely salvage post-fire. Since agreements were established in 2022, First Nations have signed 13.

In addition, the province has also convened a wildfire salvage leadership committee, bringing together specialists across government, the forestry sector, and the First Nations Forestry Council. The committee has developed key recommendations and set targets to improve the salvage of wildfire-damaged timber following wildfires.