{"id":829469,"date":"2026-08-29T05:58:25","date_gmt":"2026-08-29T05:58:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/829469\/"},"modified":"2026-08-29T05:58:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-29T05:58:25","slug":"b-c-to-pilot-forestry-model-to-assist-industry-improve-wildfire-mitigation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/829469\/","title":{"rendered":"B.C. to pilot forestry model to assist industry, improve wildfire mitigation"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A proposed new provincial forest model aims to assist B.C.’s struggling forestry industry and aid in wildfire mitigation, but environmentalists worry it may lead to conservation problems.<\/p>\n

The new model would divide the province’s woodlands into three zones.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A “working forest” zone would prioritize industry and timber harvesting. This would move away from permit-by-permit logging toward a more streamlined process, according to the province.<\/p>\n

A multiple-use zone would allow for wildfire mitigation activities, as well conservation and what Forests Minister Ravi Parmar called “light-touch forestry.”<\/p>\n

Finally, a conservation zone would be geared towards protecting woodlands. The province said this would support its commitment to protect 30 per cent\u00a0 of B.C.’s land base by 2030.<\/p>\n

“Given the challenges our forest sector is facing today, we need to build a working forest for working people,” said Parmar at a Thursday news conference.<\/p>\n

\"AA clear-cut area is seen on western Vancouver Island. The province will be piloting this model at a time when the B.C. forestry industry is struggling. (Michael McArthur\/CBC)Industry challenges<\/p>\n

The province said it will soon be testing this three-zone model in select areas, which will be announced this fall.<\/p>\n

This model aims to support a provincial goal of harvesting 45 million cubic metres of lumber each year. <\/p>\n

The announcement comes amid mounting obstacles to the province’s forestry industry.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In July, Canfor announced it would shut down<\/a> its Prince George mill due to unsustainable losses. This month, Domtar said it would be halting operations<\/a> at its Sunshine Coast pulp and paper mill.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Incoming 50 per cent tariffs from the U.S. are targeting certain wood products, and they’re expected to do outsized damage to B.C.<\/a><\/p>\n

Speaking in Summerland, Parmar also acknowledged the devastating Bald Range wildfire that forced the community’s residents to evacuate on Aug. 7. People have since been allowed to return.<\/p>\n

“Wildfire risk mitigation is going to be a critical point in this work,” he said. “A working forest landscape model allows us to be able to manage the forests of British Columbia for multiple values.”<\/p>\n

\"AThe Bald Range fire is pictured burning between Summerland and Peachland on Aug. 8. The province says wildfire mitigation will be a permitted activity in the multi-use zones. (Ben Nelms\/CBC)Conservationists, union react<\/p>\n

Environmentalists were quick to respond to the province’s plan.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“We are concerned that this proposed forestry model will create a new barrier for protecting the last old-growth forests,” said Joelle Burnie, forest campaigner with Sierra Club B.C., in a statement.<\/p>\n

“A ‘working forest model’ tied to an unrealistic timber target and without clear guardrails in place or clarity on how much forest will be zoned for conservation, could give industry a free pass to clearcut old growth to the brink.”<\/p>\n

Burnie called on the province to make widespread consultations and include First Nations in the dialogue.<\/p>\n

\"AThe United Steelworkers union, which represents 10,000 forestry workers in B.C., says the province needs to act quick to stem job losses. (Ben Nelms\/CBC)<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the United Steelworkers (USW) union, which represents about 10,000 forestry workers in B.C., said the model is a step in the right direction, but urged quick action.<\/p>\n

It also called on the province for a Forestry Jobs Protection Commissioner Act to prevent closures, preserve forestry jobs and cut red tape to help the industry weather U.S. tariffs.<\/p>\n

“There is no time to waste,” said Scott Lunny, USW’s Western Canada director, in a statement.<\/p>\n

“We need to secure a working forest, get fibre to local mills and pass a Forestry Jobs Protection Commissioner Act before we lose more mills and jobs.”<\/p>\n

WATCH | Workers devastated as Canfor closes another mill in Prince George:\"\"<\/p>\n

Workers devastated as Canfor closes another mill in Prince George<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Listen to this article Estimated 3 minutes The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":829470,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[192,79],"class_list":["post-829469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-environment","tag-environment","tag-science"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/829469","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=829469"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/829469\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/829470"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=829469"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=829469"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=829469"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}