British Columbia is to test a scheme to charge a lump sum for all the timber in a stand rather than by cubic metre of merchantable wood.
Forests minister Pat Bell said the idea was to reduce the 4 million m³ of wood left to rot after logging and use up trees attacked by mountain pine beetle. Licence holders would harvest the waste for biofuels, pulp and co-products.
“You are purchasing all of the fibre in that area for a single price,” Mr Bell said.
BC Timber Sales, which manages about one-fifth of the province’s annual cut, has begun advertising the licences in pilot areas.
Loggers’ groups have welcomed the concept, however, they say it is not clear how the government will value the wood and the lump sum will be charged up front, increasing risk and pressure on their finances.
