British Columbia (BC) is celebrating the centenary of its Forest Service.
One hundred years ago the province created the first government agency to preserve BC’s forests through forest fire prevention, use of timber management areas, tree planting and the diversification of tree-growing.
Since February 27, 1912, the BC Forest Service has been in charge of managing and protecting the province’s forests and range lands.
Milestones include the opening of one of the province’s first experimental forest nurseries in Victoria in 1927 and the planting of its one-millionth tree.
BC forest surveyors were used in the second world war for the D-Day invasion to fly over French territory and describe the topography, while helicopters were first used for forest inventory and mapping in 1955.
The creation of the styro-block and plug system in 1970 revolutionised the planting and growth of seedlings, leading to an exponential increase of seedlings planted.
The six billionth tree was planted in 2008.
During 2012 the Ministry of Forests will host celebratory events throughout the province.
